From U2 to NewDad: Irish sophomore albums past, present, future

With the release of acclaimed second albums by For Those I Love, M(h)aol, and Far Caspian, plus others to come from Sprints and NewDad this month, 2fm's Dan Hegarty looks at other sophomore releases by Irish acts from years past...

Just Mustard - 'Heart Under’ (2022)

There’s only one way that you can truly encapsulate ‘Heart Under’ by Just Mustard; a brilliant second album from an outstanding band. On the eve of the release of their third album, it seems even more fitting to include it on this list.

Opening with ‘23’, it’s a marriage of moods and tones. Haunting and thought-provoking are two descriptions that come to mind throughout listening to this album. ‘Mirrors’ and ‘Early’ are two of the best tracks, but there isn’t a bad song on this album.

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U2 - ‘October’ (1981)

U2 have reached those dizzying heights of success on so many occasions that you would be forgiven for overlooking some of the chapters of their career. ‘October’ isn’t the first album from the Dublin band that you might think of.

While it wasn’t their debut or breakthrough album, it does feature some of the magic that helped the then young band become what they are today. ‘Is That All’ and ‘Stranger In A Strange Land’ bloom with youthful energy, and the title track still ranks as one of their most heartfelt and stunning recorded moments.

Bicep - ‘Isles’ (2021)

Arriving in January of 2021, ‘Isles’ served as a much needed distraction to the global turmoil of the time. Looking back now, it has joined a list of esteemed names in becoming one of the defining sounds of the early 2020s.

From the rhythmic beauty of ‘Sundial’ and ‘Atlas’ to the blissful sounds of ‘Lido’ and ‘Cazenove’, it has all the components that a classic album requires. In the years since its release, it has been name-checked numerous times as an influence to a wide array of artists the exist far beyond the electronic realm.

Into Paradise - ‘Churchtown’ (1991)

Here is a band like many of their era has been swallowed up by time. Those that were fans remember them fondly, but generations that followed may not know them.

‘Churchtown’ was their second and arguably their finest album, though some may debate this! Styles and sounds do come back around, and tracks like ‘Rain Comes Down’ and ‘Dreaming’ sound strangely current in the year 2025. Often compared to The Cure’s ‘Pornography’ album, it sounds little like it. Echo & The Bunnymen would be a more accurate comparison, but in truth Into Paradise carved out their own sound.

The Altered Hours - ‘Convertible’ (2021)

The Altered Hours are perhaps the most underrated Irish band from the past couple of decades. The follow-up to the 2016 debut ‘In Heat Not Sorry’ has all the spark and attitude that made the debut special.

You can hear their growth as a band through songs like ‘Thistle’ and ‘Street Sinner’. Fontaines D.C championed them at the time, so if you don’t take my word on how great they are, take theirs! The Cork band’s third album lands later this month - it’s realistic to expect something memorable.

The Cranberries - ‘No Need To Argue’ (Island Records - 1994)

What can you say about ‘No Need To Argue’ that hasn’t been said already? After making a major breakthrough with their debut album ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We?’, ‘No Need To Argue’ brought the Limerick band to what is often described as the next level.

Featuring four singles ‘Ode To My Family’, ‘I Can’t Be With You’, ‘Ridiculous Thoughts’ and the iconic ‘Zombie’, it has become one of the classic albums of its time. When you consider how much time the band spent touring during this part of their career, you would be forgiven for wondering how they found the time to write and record such a strong album.

JJ72 - ‘I To Sky’ (2002)

JJ72 are a band that I wish were still around today. After releasing their hugely successful debut album in 2000, they followed it with the excellent ‘I To Sky’ in 2002.

Listening back all these years later, it’s hard to see how this didn’t build on the success of their debut. Tracks like ‘Oiche Mhaith’ and ‘I Saw A Prayer’ are exceptional, as is the album’s first single ‘Formulae.’ A third album was recorded, but remains unreleased.

Adebisi Shank - ‘This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank’ (2010)

There can be little confusion over where this album appears chronologically when you’re talking about Adebisi Shank’s catalogue of music. Featuring some genuine cult classics like ‘Europa’ and ‘Genki Shank’, this is an album that is packed with explosive energy.

Like acts such as Gilla Band and Rollerskate Skinny, Adebisi Shank have been hugely influential on the younger generations of Irish artists. You may not be far wrong if you think that you can hear echoes of tracks like ‘Bones’ and ‘Century City’ in the music of acts today.

Orla Gartland - ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ (2024)

As humans, we tend to compare artists to one another. It’s not always a bad thing, as it’s often simply a reference point for others. Orla Gartland has received plenty of comparisons over the years, but ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ has established her as an artist of immense talent and by default, someone that is now used as a reference point for others.

Winning the prestigious Ivor Novello awards for Best Song Musically and Lyrically award for her track ‘Mine’ only goes some way to underline how strong this album is. ‘Backseat Driver’ is a highlight, as is ‘Three Words Away’, while the single ‘Kiss Ur Face Forever’ is one of the best Irish singles in recent years.

Mexican Pets - ‘Humbucker’ (1997)

If you time travelled back to 1997, you’d quickly realise that there were few more-talked-about Irish bands than Mexican Pets. What was all the talk about? That year it centred around their ‘Humbucker’ album, which arrived three years after their debut mini album ‘Nobody’s Working Title’.

Led by the single ‘Supermarket,’ on first inspection it’s an album that is bursting with alternative anthems in the making. As you listen further, the band’s pop sensibilities start to reveal themselves. Buried beneath the noise of tracks like ‘If Only Never’ and ‘Used Getting Used’ are pop gems. If this band landed in 2025 with this album, it’s hard to imagine them not to being adored.

Dan Hegarty hosts The Alternative on RTÉ 2FM, Mon-Thu @ 11pm - listen back here

From U2 to NewDad: Irish sophomore albums past, present, future

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