Those that should've quit while they were ahead

Recently I was listening to Boston's debut album and I starting thinking, "This is an amazing album" . No fluff. Every song has its' place. And every song rocks from start to finish.

Well, then I start thinking, what the heck happened to them after their impressive debut? Don't Look Back and Third Stage? Ouch. Well, as my mind sometimes wanders into places unknown, I start to think about other bands who may have had a similar fate: solid debut but then fall off the map after that.

I offer up my list my list of bands who have fallen prey to killer first album/lousy follow-up(s)

1. Guns N' Roses: They drop Appetite for Destruction, arguably one of the most influential rock albums of the last 20 years; full of angst; "dirty Sunset Strip rock'' as I like to call it. It's the type of rock where you lock up the women and children and hide the sheep!

This album could also be traced back to be the one album that may have put the first nail in the hair band coffin, and contributed to the grunge and rap/rock revolutions. Yeah, pretty heavy stuff.

I was a Sophomore in High School when it came out and it was like getting hit by a freight train......and then follow-up with Gn'R Lies; Use Your Illusion I & II, etc, etc. Nope. Not even close. I must admit that I'm a huge Gn'R fan. I own all of these albums. Heck, I even bought Chinese Democracy! That's for another time....


2. Boston: They bring us Boston. I was very close to switching #s 1 and 2. I actually gave Gn'R the edge based upon historic value. Let's just take a step back and take a look at this impressive debut.

• More Than a Feeling
• Piece of Mind
• Foreplay/Long Time
• Rock & Roll Band
• Smokin'
• Hitch a Ride
• Something About You
• Let Me take You Home Tonight

Wow. What else is there to say? And then they come back with ......Don't Look Back and Third Stage. Umm.....No further questions. Defense rests.


3. Van Hagar: This one took a little research, but with a little help from my friend Al Gore and the internets I present.....5150. The debut from the new Van Hagar lineup. This album I think resembles the the attitude that Van Halen brought us in the 70's, and provides a bridge to the prevalent sounds of that time. After that, they brought us such memorable albums as OU812 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Thud.


4. Buckcherry: Solid debut. Dirty L.A. rock is back! Oh wait..did I just hear them on Kiss 108 sandwiched between Beyonce and Taylor Swift? Dammit!


5. Wolfmother: They actually DID quit while they were ahead. Literally. Their drummer and bassist recently left the band! This choice is actually a speculative choice because I can't imagine them topping their debut.

It's actually nice nice formula for success- throw in some Deep Purple and Zeppelin stadium rock and add a dash of ELP and sorcery and wizard imagery. Fantastic debut album. We'll see what the revamped lineup brings us.