Avoiding the Sophomore Slump - Panel Discussion

Join Grant, Paul Simon, Todd Evans and Eric Hansen as they discuss their favorite albums that avoided the dreadful sophomore slump.
@grantsrockwarehaus
Check out Grant’s Rock Warehaus at the following:
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.c...
TWITTER: / grantaddia
Grant's Rock Warehaus Merch:
www.teepublic....
Please like and subscribe to the following channels:
Rock Daydream Nation
/ rockdaydreamnation
Twitter: @roknrollcitizen
The Contrarians
/ @thecontrarians2438
Facebook: @tcontrarians
Ryan’s Vinyl Destination / @ryansvinyldestination...
Facebook: @ryansvinyldestination
My Music Corner
/ kidjohnnyc
LP Tremors
/ @lptremors882
Tim's Vinyl Confessions
/ timsvinylconfessions
bicyclelegs
/ bicyclelegsmusic
Davy's Cinema Flicks & Music Picks
/ @davysflicks
Mike LeBrain
/ mikelebrain
CANADIAN STUDMUFFIN
/ @csmuffin
Rachel's Ghost
/ @rachelsghost

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

0:23: ⚡ Panel discussion on albums that avoided the sophomore slump, featuring Paul, Todd, and Eric. 5:54: 🎵 Discussion on the success of Chicago's second album despite sound quality issues and the enduring popularity of its songs. 11:01: 🎤 Insight into the vocals of Queens Reich's 'Rage for Order' album and the impact of the production staff. 16:18: 🎵 Variety of versions of the CD release of the record with different mixes and details about the original and US mixes. 22:14: 🎵 Discussion on memorable 80s concerts, including Robert Plant's show with the Honey Drippers. 27:39: 🎸 Discussion on the band Stryper's career evolution, solo projects, and consistent recent albums. 33:05: 🎵 Pearl Jam's evolution from polished to raw energy in their MTV Unplugged performance and Versus album. 38:29: 🎵 Discussion on disappointment with the album 'Vitology' and preference for a more refined sound. 44:07: 🎶 Panelists discuss successful sophomore albums by Jefferson Airplane and encourage audience engagement. 49:29: 🎶 Evolution of Huey Lewis and the News' music from their first record to a successful release. 55:11: 🎶 Exploring the evolution of a band's sound from one album to the next, showcasing originality and overcoming challenges. Recapped using Tammy AI

[@H8llguard]

Alice in Chains - Dirt , is my pick

[@christianhaynes1954]

Great pick , one of my favorite bands

[@ericrobertson2024]

Ride The Lightning,a contender for not only best sophomore album but possibly best Metal Album ever in my estimation.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

excellent example!

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

Chicago II Steven Wilson remix is the definitive version production wise ❤

[@christianhaynes1954]

Great show 👍 appreciate the stryper mention , loved them eince 83' i believe ( great live band also ) .had an opportunity to meet and have. Robert play on my 3 song demo back in 97 . Hes a great guy and very talented musician . Thanks dudes 😁

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Rock on!

[@inmyhouse11]

Killers- Iron Maiden Rising- Rainbow Last In Line- Dio Shout At the Devil- Motley Crue Diary of a Madman- Ozzy Flirtin With Disaster- Molly Hatchet

[@ericrobertson2024]

2 of the great sophomore metal albums of the mid 80s from Metal Church and Overkill both have that feeling like they were try harder albums as Martin Popoff would say and they worked,2 phenomenal albums , The Dark + Taking Over.

[@heygringo7]

Clash - Give 'em Enough Rope XTC - Go2 Police - Reggatta de Blanc

[@garethallen4191]

Number 1 choice for me in this category would be R.E.M. : Recogning. Changed my life.

[@darcyska]

What a great discussion - love the genre diversity and takes, and moreover, what made each album so unique and as a nice step in the evolution of a band

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

thanks so much! Glad you dug it!

[@utvf68]

Fly By Night - Rush Van Halen II Queen ii Led Zeppelin II Don’t Look Back - Boston Double Vision - Foreigner Nevermind - Nirvana Purple - Stone Temple Pilots

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

I agree!

[@daveycretin664]

Interesting topic, men. Another fun-filled, fine fettle show; filled with a rock and metal glow. One comment made by Eric is something l sort of pondered many moons ago. When he mentioned that Michael Sweet reminded him of Dennis DeYoung from Styx, I think he was on to a salient point. I always thought that “Calling on You” by Stryper from their To Hell with the Devil album was “the best Styx song that Styx never did.” Hearing Eric say it out loud, reminded me of that old thought of mine. Paul’s Veruca Salt choice was another good pick. I used to play their sophomore CD a lot back in the day. I thought that Todd would bring the prog ethos here, but he surprised me by switching it up! THAT’S why he’s so darn cool, man. And, as usual, Grant handles the reigns with his usual charm and aplomb, all whilst STILL bringing the ruckus! Keep up the groovy work, gents. Cheers from The Big Apple. 🍎 Rock Out, Prog On and Pogo! Your pal and ours, ~ The Dusty Diesel and Artist’s Easel that is Davey Cretin from CRETIN CLASSICS.

[@Paul_Simon]

Mahalo nui, Davey, always love your take on these! 🤙🏽

[@daveycretin664]

@@Paul_Simon ~ Thank you, sir! It’s late in the evening and l have to go inside the building for work now.

[@lance98541]

Tried to give a super thanks, but it never works on KZbin anymore. I click buy and nothing happens.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Lance, it's all cool! I'm not sure that the issue is with KZbin, but I appreciate it!

[@mickward7769]

Gotta agree with Paul's comparison of Pearl Jam's Vs to their debut! One hell of an analysis there nicely done \m/

[@Paul_Simon]

Thank you! Glad you dug it!

[@georgemathie8123]

There are some fantastic second albums and a whole bunch that might have already been picked but here are a few of my top choices the fixx reach the beach, the teardrop explodes wilder, Ric ocasek this side of paradise, the police regatta de Blanc, Jefferson starship red octopus, wishbone ash pilgrimage and Eddie money life for the taking there are a lot of great ones to choose from

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

I agree with them all, but did "Life for the Taking" sell better than the debut? I don't that "Life for the Taking" got better reviews.

[@georgemathie8123]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus life for the taking and his third album playing for keeps kind of came and went with little fanfare but it's a darn good album and I like to give these little underdog albums a little love to

[@ericrobertson2024]

I did like the 2nd Veruca Salt album more than the debut...I also liked Resolver and the others after.Louise Post is like a chameleon not only in her versatility as a musician but she literally looks like a different woman in every era lol.Always thought she should've joined a big name Heavy Rock act,,,missed opportunity - ala Patty Smyth almost joining Van Halen....For those unfamiliar with Veruca Salt,just listen to these tracks =I'm Taking Europe With Me,One Last Time and Only You Know.

[@damienfoyer]

Dark Throne "A blaze in the northern sky" avoids the slump big time. Huey Lewis played harmonica on Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous" as a guest.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

I had no idea that Huey played on an Thin Lizzy album! I'm not surprised though

[@ericrobertson2024]

That made me think of Dark Angel,whose 2nd album Darkness Descends is such an improvement over their debut.

[@ericrobertson2024]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus Midge Ure from Ultravox actually joined Thin Lizzy when Gary Moore departed in mid 1979...Snowy White then replaced Ure to record Chinatown.

[@mrbuckets1106]

Tool - Aenima Mastodon - Leviathan Baroness - Blue Record

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Tool... perfect example

[@tomp8463]

Metallica - Ride the Lightning Black Sabbath - Paranoid Led Zeppelin - II King's X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska

[@noheamike5036]

Crowded House, there second album being Temple of Low Men. Not the highs of the first album, but pretty darn close. Where the debut slides of at the end in my opinion, Temple is solid the whole way through and actually steps up at the end where the debut fades some.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Temple of Low Men I think is way better than the debut (but that may be just me)

[@ericrobertson2024]

I also thought the 2nd Neil Finn solo album was an improvement over the first.The one with Wendy Melvoin,One All was the title in the states...Now i need to relisten to the first 2 Split Enz albums.

[@noheamike5036]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus both albums came out during my stint in Columbus, though didn't get to see them during that phase.

[@noheamike5036]

@@ericrobertson2024 I probably like the first a hair more, but One All/One Nil is still a fav and no sophomore slump. Did see Neil 4 times on that tour! Johnny Marr guested in the first 3 shows. Wendy and Lisa joined in the L.A. show.

[@michaelholycross2633]

Beauty Stab is incredible!

[@patriottex4813]

Grant Seven and the Ragged Tiger is not a slump IMO. You had the hits The Reflex, New Moon on Monday, Union of the Snake, plus deep tracks like Tiger Tiger and The Seventh Stranger. I also think the next album Notorious is also a great album. Duran Duran's catalogue can be uneven, but even on the lesser albums there are great tracks on them.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

I must not have made myself clear. Ragged Tiger is not a slump. None of the Andy Taylor era is. The Arcadia album would have been a wonderful Duran Duran album had it been released under that banner. It's the albums post Andy that I think think suffer in quality.

[@patriottex4813]

@@GrantsRockWarehaus I would say take another listen to Notorious, it's fantastic. They lose some of the rock edge without Andy for sure. I like the funk of Notorious. I think Warren Cucurillo brought some edge the years he was in the band. Thanks for the great music discussion in the Warehouse.

[@Paul_Simon]

@@patriottex4813 I agree 100% on the Cucurillo addition

[@ericrobertson2024]

Sad Wings Of Destiny,Waterloo,Bayou Country,Shout At The Devil..

[@seed_drill7135]

Jethro Tull's Stand Up. Switching from Abrahams to Barre pretty much made it a whole new band.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

tru dat

[@ElGuapo8]

I say this respectfully, because all music taste is subjective. I just don't find Stryper to be dynamic or exceptional in any form. Competent? Sure. But nothing too memorable. I have no problem with religious lyrics (Trouble is one of my favorite bands), but I find Stryper's music to be a little bland. Your mileage may vary.

[@airock937]

@Aces_Eights Competent does qualify. Like I mentioned in the video, a very consistent band also. I will say they have a very recognizable guitar tone too. Thanks for watching!

[@D3epFaik]

Nevermind

[@nasticanasta]

That "sophomore slump" is really just someone who was propped up and being exposed

[@seed_drill7135]

Often it was just someone who was signed too soon or pushed back into the studio too quickly. The old saying, you have your whole career to come up with your first album worth of songs, you get three months to write for your second.

[@frankies9465]

Van halen 2 comes to mind. Paranoid by Sabbath also. Good topic. No love for Queensryche and especially Pearl Jam, though. So, thank god for fast forward button. Lol . Good job, though !

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Excellent! We all like what we like... thanks for sharing!!!

[@cabowabodude]

agree to disagree about duran's post ragged tiger material!!!

[@Paul_Simon]

Same here, for what it's worth I LOVE that album.

[@cabowabodude]

@@Paul_Simon i adore notorious, big thing, the wedding album, all you need is now, astronaut, and future past. in my opinion, they haven't made a bad record, just differnt degrees of good and great!!

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

which album?

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

That's awesome!

[@Paul_Simon]

@@cabowabodudeThe Wedding Album is one of the best “comebacks” in the genre, in my opinion (some wouldn’t call it that, but let’s face it, it exploded in comparison). Truly great material!

[@christianhaynes1954]

Hey brother , was wondering if you ever listen to and or review new music ? New bands ?

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

Not too much. What do you recommend me checking out?

[@christianhaynes1954]

In a band called Torn Sky , was wondering if you would be open to listening to our EP "" higher " .our newest single is " song to the wicked " . I know your busy brother , but I think you'll appreciate our stuff . Either way thanks for your text . ​@@GrantsRockWarehaus

[@garyjoyce2160]

Everyone knows this is no where near Neil YOUNG. Axis bold as LOVE/. Jimi HENDRIX. PARANOID/ Black SABBATH The CARS/ Candy -0️⃣. 👍💯