A young band might have 5, 6 years to pull together their best songs for their debut. The real test is after that initial success, in a whirlwind year, to match the critics expectations et al. Who did it, and who didn't?

Great 2nd efforts:

BRMC - great 1st record, even better 2nd one
Interpol - ditto
The Libertines - I hesitate to comment cos they seem to infuriate so many pro and con... suffice to say I fall on the pro side.
Nirvana - I'm pretty sure Nevermind was their second, then if so it'd be tough to leave it off this thread.

Not sa great:

Siouxsie & the Banshees - Join Hands was a mess. The Banshees didn't really come into their own until Kaleidoscope.

2nd records we'll never see:

Jeff Buckley - I hear his mom is/has releasing some tracks, but that really ain't the same, is it?

Sophomore efforts I can't wait to hear:

BSP - I'm confident Yan and friends will pull it off
Cooper Temple Clause - I don't enough about them to say, but with their style of garage rock it could go either way.