I think the reason album #2 is always so much better is that the band have toured (usually) and have got there own sound sorted out, instead of sticking to pre-written script. Two good examples are the Foo Fighters and Radiohead. The Foo Fighters first album The Foo Fighters was basicly boring, Nirvana copying grunge, but by the second The Colour and the Shape they had devoloped a totaly independent style of there own. Radiohead did the same. The first album Pablo Honey was a stright ahead, no nonsence britpop album and had nothing in it to didtinguish it from the pack. Howerver album #2 The Bends was compleatly different. They forged their own style and refused to be influensed by any one else.

P.S. If anyone out there is a huge Radiohead fan, as i am, set up a forum so we can chat.