Six 90s artists who released sophomore slump albums

As a child of the ’90s, I can fondly recall the days when rock music reigned supreme, and every other kid was singing along to “Walking In Memphis” or “No Rain.” The artists of that era seemed like gods among us, their albums selling like hotcakes and their concerts filling up arenas faster than you could say “grunge.

In contrast to the 2000s, which saw a resurgence of garage rock, the 1990s stand out as the era when rock music held an unrivaled grip on mainstream culture. Bands like The Strokes and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs from the 2000s may have made significant impacts, but they never achieved the chart-topping dominance that numerous ‘90s artists experienced during their peak years.

There’s a distinction between achieving a chart-topping album and sustaining a long-term career. Many ’90s bands enjoyed significant sales, but struggled to continue their success with subsequent albums. In an attempt to shed light on this issue, we’ve put together a list of artists whose second albums didn’t live up to expectations, even though they weren’t necessarily poor in quality.

The Rainy Season (1993) – Marc Cohn

1991 saw Marc Cohn as an unexpected breakout artist. His debut album, titled after himself, featured the hit single “Walking in Memphis,” which reached the top 20 charts and even earned him the Grammy for Best New Artist. With such a promising start, there was much anticipation surrounding his second album. However, when it was released, reactions were rather casual.

The “Rainy Season” album, in truth, is not a poor production at all, but unfortunately, it didn’t produce a major hit single. It appeared as though Cohn’s brief spell of popularity had come to an end, which was unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.

Second Coming (1994) – The Stone Roses

Absolutely, I can see how some might argue about The Stone Roses’ placement on this list. While their iconic debut album was released in 1989, much of the drama surrounding their second album unfolded during the ’90s. However, considering their significant impact and influence in the music scene, we thought it was fitting to include them.

The Stone Roses encountered difficulties with their record label, which hindered touring for much of the early part of the decade. Their album “Second Coming,” intended as a rejuvenation (as suggested by its title), disappointed many fans due to subpar production and an impression that the band was falling behind the times. While it’s listenable today, its flaws, particularly when compared to their debut, stand out.

Soup (1995) – Blind Melon

Blind Melon made it big in the mainstream by combining psychedelic and Southern rock in a distinctive manner. Their hit single “No Rain” is still memorable, and their self-titled debut album became four times Platinum in the US. Unfortunately, their subsequent album, Soup, did not achieve the same level of success.

The second record from the band was less conventional and more diverse, with lead vocalist Shannon Hoon’s growing substance use adding to the complexity. Most Blind Melon fans viewed it as a letdown, and unfortunately, Hoon passed away not long after its release. Despite this, the album itself is quite intriguing when you take everything into account.

Fairweather Johnson (1996) – Hootie & the Blowfish

Hootie & the Blowfish were a commercial powerhouse disguised as a laid-back bar band. Their music was easy to listen to and touched listeners deeply, and their first album, Cracked Rear View (released in 1994), astonishingly sold over 20 million copies.

With no other direction to move but downward, Hootie & the Blowfish found themselves there with their second album, titled Fairweather Johnson. This record made a powerful debut, yet it fell short in producing a hit single. Despite achieving double Platinum status, the album couldn’t help the band recover their career trajectory.

Humming (1998) – Duncan Sheik

Duncan Sheik, similar to Marc Cohn earlier, gained significant recognition as a talented singer-songwriter through his debut album. The song “Barely Breathing” quickly became popular, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Unfortunately, his second album did not receive the same level of acclaim upon release.

On the album “Humming,” the melodies are strong, but there was a significant change in the sound of mainstream music from 1996 to 1998. Sheik was one of the many artists who felt the impact of this shift. At the time of its release, this second album may not have been well-received, but it likely sounds better now than it did then.

Shapeshifter (1999) – Marcy Playground

Marcy Playground is most known for their hit song “Sex and Candy,” which was massive on alternative radio in 1997. It reigned at the top of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for an impressive 15 weeks, a record at that time. However, things changed when their album Shapeshifter was released.

The first track from the album, titled “It’s Saturday,” reached the top 25 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, only to vanish shortly after, taking the rest of the album with it. While Shapeshifter is an enjoyable listen, it became apparent that the band was heading towards becoming a one-hit wonder.

2024-12-06 00:00