or is the standard the same no matter who/what/when releases it? it's a question that's been kicking around in my head for a few weeks. i asked a few friends and their responses were pretty mixed. some said they like giving new artists the benefit of the doubt (helps fill the ipod i guess). another said he was more interested in how bands develop their sound so he was biased towards followups.
(posting the question here because i was inspired by this thread.)
― yours fondly, harshaw. (mrgn), Monday, 17 April 2006 17:44 (twenty years ago)
Debut album: no expectations, so anything good is a nice surprise.
Follow-up album(s): expectations in place and rarely lived up to.
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 17 April 2006 17:51 (twenty years ago)
The 3rd album is the key one. That's when a band/singer really cements their reputation, ie The Clash London Calling, White Stripes White Blood Cells or Steely Dan Pretzel Logic.
Lots of bands have two great albums in them, but few have three.
― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 17 April 2006 18:26 (twenty years ago)
definitely the follow up. for instance, i don't see how the arcade fire could possibly top "funeral". if they somehow do, i'll be vastly impressed, but they have the most intimidatingly large expectations to live up to it'll be quite a feat.
― Emily B (Emily B), Monday, 17 April 2006 19:12 (twenty years ago)
This all depends: am I already blown away/aware of the band, or is this just their second or third record and everyone's finally like "Who the hell is this? They're fucking AWESOME!"
The former (for a lot of people) = The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow, Radiohead - The Bends, or OK Computer, or Kid A (depending on when Radiohead hit your radar screen in the first place), Talking Heads - Remain in Light or Speaking in Tongues, Elvis Costello - This Years Girl
The latter = Green Day - Dookie (had a coupla records out, but NOBODY knew who they were before Dookie), Death Cab for Cutie-Translanticism (where most of their newly acquired audience got on board), Live - Throwing Copper, Nirvana - Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Cue post by NoCal punk circa 1991 who went to high school with Tre Cool and knew all about Green Day well before Dookie. Please bear in mind that I am speaking for most of humanity, and in certain instances, not even myself.
― M. Biondi (M. Biondi), Monday, 17 April 2006 19:42 (twenty years ago)
or
Elvis Costello - This Years Model, rather
― M. Biondi (M. Biondi), Monday, 17 April 2006 19:43 (twenty years ago)
so by design we're doomed continue hyping the new same-old-thing and hating the old same-old-thing...
lament, the music blogs, for they know no other way
― yours fondly, harshaw. (mrgn), Monday, 17 April 2006 22:04 (twenty years ago)