The third album has long been seen as a difficult hurdle for a band/artist to successfully clear. Usually having been together for years before recording a debut and therefore have enough material to fill the first couple with tried and tested, great songs. When it comes to record number three, the well is often dry. The following is ten examples of a big middle finger to the dreaded, "third album curse". There already exists a million articles in cyberspace on such wonderful third albums like 'III' by Led Zeppelin, 'Master Of Puppets' by Metallica, 'Reign In Blood' by Slayer, 'OK Computer' by Radiohead etc, so please appreciate my slight deviation from the usual suspects. Maybe you will discover something new with the selections I have made. Also, please feel free to comment and leave suggestions of your own, I welcome your opinions and, I will maybe gain some musical education too. I present these in no order, other than placing them as I felt I was ready to write about them.
10. Unwritten Law - Unwritten Law 1998
When San Diego's punk band Unwritten Law released their third full length release, they decided to self-title it because of a new sound that saw them go from an-above-average skate-punk band, to a great SoCal punk influenced, Rock and Roll machine. They would fully complete the transformation four years later, on the stellar, 'Elva', which is one of the most engaging and versatile Rock records ever released. In 1998, it was all about this one though. The album keeps the hyper speed of earlier outings, 'Blue Room' and 'Oz Factor', on tracks like 'Harmonic', 'Coffin Text' and 'Close Your Eyes', but are ultimately, tighter and played with oodles more confidence and ability. You also have energetic tracks that aren't quite as fast that the "law" seem to excel at, such as 'Teenage Suicide' and 'California Sky', both being huge fan favorites. The band always had incorporated loads of melody, from the word go, but they perfected it here and wouldn't look back on using it as their finest asset. Singer, Scott Russo, had really grown into his voice by this point and was now a larger-than-life presence. This collection also saw a new found groove come into being, on the likes of 'Lonesome', and Underground', that gave the band a facet that was absent previously. The beautiful 'Cailin' (an ode to Russo's daughter of the same name) is the albums center piece and has a shimmering, summery and almost dubby feel, kind of like Marcy Playground, Sprung Monkey and Sublime all mixed into a refreshing, fruity cocktail. 'Before I Go' is equally as gorgeous, but also, much more reflective and sultry. It is the summer night to 'Cailin's', summer day. The hidden track, tagged on at the end, '418' is a surprise and shows the band becoming more and more diverse, with its mystical and hypnotising quality. Brandon Boyd and Mike Eizinger of fellow San Diego superstars, Incubus, guest here, with Boyd even adding some didgeridoo to proceedings, it
really works. This album raised UL's profile massively and also was the beginning of their two way love affair with Australia, that endures to the present day.