Sophomore Albums

The last two months have seen the release of sophomore albums by two
of 2004's breakout artists, Franz Ferdinand and Kanye West. I liked
both of their first releases, so the question is: do the new albums
meet expectations? In short, yes. Both artists make enough of a
step forward without losing the elements that made them appealing in
the first place. Are these new albums better than the first?
Possibly, but since the first albums were both so good and so
popular, I have a feeling most people will be more attached to the
debuts.

Originally, this entry was going to be a review/ description of both
albums, but they've been out long enough for more eloquent writers to
discuss them. Instead, I'm going to use this space to defend
sophomore albums. I noticed there is a conventional belief out there
that follow-ups to strong debuts tend to disappoint, so I've decided
to make a list of great second albums...most of these can easily fit
onto a greatest albums of all time list. Some of these are even the
defining album by their respective bands.

Here they are:

Doolittle by the Pixies
The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
In An Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
Closer by Joy Division
Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros
A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets
Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys
Straight Outta Compton by N. W. A.
There's Nothing Wrong With Love by Built to Spill
The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse
Chutes Too Narrow by the Shins
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain by Pavement
Power, Corruption and Lies by New Order
The Bends by Radiohead

need I go on...