The second album is their most straight-ahead rock album, and also the weakest. The album feels like the solo work of separate artists rather than a band.
The band’s first album showcases the band’s punk roots most obviously. Despite the subject matter and the acoustic guitars, there’s no mistaking the punk roots.
Alabama Thunderpussy’s Erik Larson’s The Resounding is exactly what a solo album should be: Ideas and emotions which don’t fit what the main band is doing.