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Longest run of great / good albums justifying continued existence

funkycow [Edit] [Delete] 97 replies 13:59 March 22nd, 2013

(a positive spin on the Longest run of mediocre/poor albums)

I'd say that Yo La Tengo are doing pretty well so far, with even the least inspiring of their late output (Summer Sun, Popular Songs) still being 'pretty good' and having some die hard fans. Fade is excellent.

Which bands should just keep on going until they die?

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THE FALL

jessepinkmanslungs | 22 Mar '13, 14:26 | X | ^ This | Reply

EndlessWindow, silverfoxqpr, and Loui_Tacceh this'd this
- Came in to post ^this
  
  Never bad, only less brilliant...
  
  pentargo @jessepinkmanslungs | 22 Mar '13, 14:29 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  Icarus-Smicarus and LOLpop this'd this
  - ersatz gb
    
    first fall albums thats actually junk imo
    new one soon though to make amends :)
    
    jessepinkmanslungs @pentargo | 22 Mar '13, 18:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - I quite like Cosmos 7 and Taking Off
      
      Nate Will Not Return and Greenway should be terrible but are both so ridiculous they somehow end up great. The rest is pretty forgettable though.
      
      Icarus-Smicarus @jessepinkmanslungs | 22 Mar '13, 20:47 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - Monocard is creeping, lurching dread
        
        it's a pretty good album tbh
        
        Loui_Tacceh @Icarus-Smicarus | 23 Mar '13, 00:27 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - Nate Will Not Return and Greenway are incredible.
        
        TheWza @Icarus-Smicarus | 23 Mar '13, 00:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        Nate was fantastic live when I saw them last year
        
        even with MES wandering off the stage for about 2 minutes in the middle.
        
        Icarus-Smicarus @TheWza | 23 Mar '13, 13:31 | X | ^ This | Reply
Wire

bruised_blood | 22 Mar '13, 14:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
- with the possible exception of the 1980s, yes
  
  Send/Read And Burn is the greatest reformation project of all time, folks
  
  Loui_Tacceh @bruised_blood | 22 Mar '13, 19:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
Nine Inch Nails

robluvsnic | 22 Mar '13, 14:38 | X | ^ This | Reply

Antelope this'd this
Brainbombs

Kraftwerk
Morrissey
Stars of the Lid
Sufjan Stevens
Turbonegro

GayGuevara | 22 Mar '13, 14:40 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Don't know enough about three of those...yes to Sufjan and SOTL...
  
  big fat no to Morrissey.
  
  wonton @GayGuevara | 22 Mar '13, 16:23 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - It's all been pretty rosy since Southpaw Grammar
    
    I hope Morrissey keeps going 'til he dies. Hearing his voice is always a pleasure regardless of the music, and there's always some great lines on every album.
    
    in_limbo @wonton | 22 Mar '13, 22:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
    
    Sloame_Ocean this'd this
    - Years of Refusal was class
      
      yuggy @in_limbo | 23 Mar '13, 17:02 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Huge this to Brainbombs
  
  Obey is the one I don't listen to much, but if it was their only album I'd be hailing it as a masterpiece
  
  blisters @GayGuevara | 23 Mar '13, 23:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Brainbombs forever and ever
    
    poptimusgrime @blisters | 25 Mar '13, 13:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
The Mountain Goats for sure

Low are pretty much there, BSP are on their way, and while they were around I reckon Stereolab definetely would qualify for this.

EndlessWindow | 22 Mar '13, 14:45 | X | ^ This | Reply

wonton, Alex-in-Ciderland, and JaguarPirate this'd this
Prince

He could record himself taking a 74 minute dump and I'd pony up for the gatefold Limited Edition, no questions asked.

Sloame_Ocean | 22 Mar '13, 16:19 | X | ^ This | Reply
Explosions in the Sky

Never released anything less than very good.

Steved | 22 Mar '13, 16:23 | X | ^ This | Reply

Alex-in-Ciderland and Acquiescence this'd this
- I actually think that their latest one, Take Care Take Care Take Care, is their best offering yet. Probably not a very popular opinion though.
  
  Acquiescence @Steved | 23 Mar '13, 00:44 | X | ^ This | Reply
Pretty much my stock answer for a thread like this

but Phil Elvrum should make music forever.

wonton | 22 Mar '13, 16:26 | X | ^ This | Reply

pichaelmarker, johneggfish, politelydeclined, and heliolithic this'd this
Do Make Say Think

Raanraals | 22 Mar '13, 16:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
Kristin Hersh

Dinosaur Jr
Nick Cave

fenella | 22 Mar '13, 16:31 | X | ^ This | Reply
Dj Quik

Mark Kozelek (and all his bands/projects)
E-40
Sade
Steely Dan
Motorpsycho
Raphael Saadiq (and all his bands/projects)

theShipment | 22 Mar '13, 16:39 | X | ^ This | Reply
Isis

Mogwai

wewerewerewolvesonce | 22 Mar '13, 16:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
- ISIS who have split up?
  
  Raanraals @wewerewerewolvesonce | 22 Mar '13, 17:11 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - whoops
    
    wewerewerewolvesonce @Raanraals | 23 Mar '13, 19:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
Autechre
Steve Roach
The Necks
Bardo Pond

DriftingSkeleton | 22 Mar '13, 17:14 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Massive ^this to Autechre
  
  Exai is up there with their very best work
  
  Antelope @DriftingSkeleton | 23 Mar '13, 01:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  friday55 and heartworms this'd this
Sigur Rós

pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:16 | X | ^ This | Reply

RobbeVP this'd this
- Okkervil River
  
  although the last album puts them near the drop point for this thread.
  
  pichaelmarker @pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:18 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Yeah can't get into Okkervil River's last album at all...
    
    Especially the first 2 tracks which puts me off altogether.
    
    Love their other albums though.
    
    Elfrim @pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:21 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - I love Okkervil River
      
      and think the last album was among their best - certainly ranks higher than the Stand-Ins. Took 7 or 8 listens though...
      
      whatisthewhat @Elfrim | 22 Mar '13, 17:29 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - Thought the Stand Ins was great
        
        Trev @whatisthewhat | 22 Mar '13, 19:41 | X | ^ This | Reply
- if it wasn't for Med sud i eyrum... they only released excellent albums.
  
  Med sud i eyrum... still isn't that bad though.
  
  RobbeVP @pichaelmarker | 24 Mar '13, 21:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
Mew

Mirah
Radiohead

What are we classing aas a long enough run? 4/5+?

pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
- certainly 4 or 5 plus
  
  The truly excellent will have a mid to late discography without a significant dip in form.
  
  funkycow @pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
- nah, Radiohead are past it
  
  politelydeclined @pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 18:18 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  Raanraals and funkycow this'd this
  - nno
    
    Antelope @politelydeclined | 23 Mar '13, 01:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
Bob Dylan:

The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
The Times They Are a changin
Another side of Bob Dylan
Bringing it all back Home
Highway 61 revisited
Blonde on Blonde
John Wesley Harding
Nashville Skyline

Lo-Pan | 22 Mar '13, 17:21 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Not sure Dylan counts, even his fans admit he's released some poor records since Nashville Skyline
  
  pichaelmarker @Lo-Pan | 22 Mar '13, 17:23 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - But his best record came after - blood on the tracks!
    
    Lo-Pan @pichaelmarker | 22 Mar '13, 17:26 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - And his last 5 records have all been great as well!
      
      Lo-Pan @Lo-Pan | 22 Mar '13, 17:26 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - The above is an amazing run
    
    but yeah he's fallen off a lot since if we're going by who's STILL making great / good albums.
    
    Icarus-Smicarus @pichaelmarker | 23 Mar '13, 16:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
Pinback

Holy Fuck
Ween
Butthole Surfers

ryanwilson | 22 Mar '13, 17:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Veto Ween
  
  Whatever their standard is 12 Golden Country Greats is definitely below it.
  
  Steved @ryanwilson | 22 Mar '13, 17:45 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - nah 12 Country Greats is still good
    
    yes probably below the stupidly high standards Ween set but still a 7 or 8 out of 10 album
    
    ryanwilson @Steved | 23 Mar '13, 11:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
- That new Pinback album
  
  yeah?
  
  It was fucking shite
  
  Yesiamaduck @ryanwilson | 24 Mar '13, 04:22 | X | ^ This | Reply
Woods

An album a year and consistently great.

sadballadman | 22 Mar '13, 17:41 | X | ^ This | Reply

JaguarPirate, crosseyedsniper, and Dan_S this'd this
- Not a bad golfer too
  
  casinobay @sadballadman | 23 Mar '13, 18:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
pretty much each YLT album since james joined is killer

great answer.
in terms of newer bands, animal collective and the walkmen jumped out for me.
and the roots.

emmettcruddas | 22 Mar '13, 17:45 | X | ^ This | Reply
- This to The Walkmen
  
  pichaelmarker @emmettcruddas | 23 Mar '13, 08:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
Almost MF DOOM

JJ DOOM’s srsly jeopardising that...

whatisthewhat | 22 Mar '13, 17:49 | X | ^ This | Reply

emmettcruddas this'd this
boredoms

if only they' d release more

anal_schwarzenegger | 22 Mar '13, 17:53 | X | ^ This | Reply

johneggfish, Dan_S, and ClamingToBeOnTele this'd this
Bardo Pond

Trail of Dead?
Oneida

johneggfish | 22 Mar '13, 18:13 | X | ^ This | Reply
Some of these may have been mentioned

Nick Cave
Leonard Cohen
Bill Callahan / Smog
Bonnie Prince Billy / Palace etc.
Dirty Three
Cat Power
Caribou
PJ Harvey
Spoon
Dinosaur Jr
Low
Four Tet
Wilco
Tom Waits
Gillian Welch
Tindersticks

Trev | 22 Mar '13, 19:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Spoon are an excellent shout
  
  Leonard Cohen's 80s output was pretty patchy though.
  
  Steved @Trev | 22 Mar '13, 19:59 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  bowiecokemirror this'd this
  - I'd happily defend Various Positions & I'm Your Man all day
    
    His live sets heavily draw from these albums too.
    
    Trev @Steved | 22 Mar '13, 20:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Aye, Peej has barely put a foot wrong throughout her whole career.
  
  TheWza @Trev | 23 Mar '13, 18:17 | X | ^ This | Reply
CTRL-F Melvins

Melvins

moshymoshy | 22 Mar '13, 20:07 | X | ^ This | Reply
always happy to see kristin hersh

getting a mention, whether its her solo stuff, throwing muses or 50 foot wave i can honestly say i love it all. also,
pj harvey
yo la tengo,
nina nastasia,
animal collective,
andrew bird,
calexico,
nick cave & the bad seeds,
wilco,
destroyer
the new pornographers,
low,
marissa nadler,
maria mckee,
the national,
neko case,
radiohead,
the roots,
erykah badu,
tindersticks,
tom waits of course.

maximus | 22 Mar '13, 22:02 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Amazing
  
  You've created a great list of musicians who DON'T fit the bill.
  
  ThisTemporaryLife @maximus | 23 Mar '13, 20:57 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - oh shit
    
    I retract that. I thought I was posting in the thread about long runs of BAD records
    
    now I feel like a tool
    
    ThisTemporaryLife @ThisTemporaryLife | 24 Mar '13, 10:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
oh and spencer krug in all his guises

and gillian welch never lets me down
and i second bill callahan/smog

maximus | 22 Mar '13, 22:07 | X | ^ This | Reply
Acid Mothers Temple

Pretty patchy discography to be fair, but all of the 'not quite so good' stuff is worth it when they knock one out the park. Hope they keep on releasing 3 albums annually for the next 20 years.

Flaming Lips too - 16 albums deep and the vast majority are great

Dan_S | 22 Mar '13, 22:16 | X | ^ This | Reply
Fugazi

Unlikely we'll evervget anything new but they haven't officially split.

chadders | 22 Mar '13, 22:34 | X | ^ This | Reply
- ditto Unwound
  
  Severed799 @chadders | 23 Mar '13, 18:49 | X | ^ This | Reply
The Oh Sees

Loads of great albums albums and they're burning something fierce right now

GoatmeatMF | 22 Mar '13, 23:33 | X | ^ This | Reply
United/Alphabetical/It's Never Been Like That/Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Practically a flawless discography. I haven't really put proper time into the new one yet, so I can't comment there.

Acquiescence | 23 Mar '13, 00:42 | X | ^ This | Reply
Has no one mentioned Shellac yet?

Shellac.

petec | 23 Mar '13, 00:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
SWANS

Antelope | 23 Mar '13, 01:34 | X | ^ This | Reply

DaddyorChips this'd this
Ctrl F "Super"

Seriously guys, Super Furry Animals.

Lambchops | 23 Mar '13, 12:05 | X | ^ This | Reply
- This thread has me massively irked
  
  and the opposite thread has SFA's listed as well, which is bollocks
  
  Antelope @Lambchops | 23 Mar '13, 12:06 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - they've not released a good album since Radiator
    
    ryanwilson @Antelope | 23 Mar '13, 13:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - hahahahahahaha what mate
      
      Guerilla, Rings around the World, Mwng, Love Kraft are all classic. Even Gruff Rhys' Candylion is one of my favourite albums.
      
      yuggy @ryanwilson | 23 Mar '13, 17:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
      
      Olivarez and fiddygent this'd this
      - LOL
        
        you're one of those fanboys happy to lap up any old shit from their favourite band, i bet if SFA released an album of themselves wanking over pictures of Peter Beardsley set to a bossa nova drum beat you'd still buy it and eulogise about how great it was
        
        ryanwilson @yuggy | 23 Mar '13, 22:15 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        wow
        
        touched a nerve
        
        Severed799 @ryanwilson | 23 Mar '13, 23:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        Classic ryanwilson.
        
        Antelope @ryanwilson | 24 Mar '13, 02:44 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        heartworms and funkycow this'd this
        
        considering I only got into SFA in 2011 via Radiator and Love Kraft
        
        NOT REALLY.
        
        yuggy @ryanwilson | 24 Mar '13, 16:42 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - Sorry, sunshine
      
      ...you're completely off your tits on this one.
      
      Yvash @ryanwilson | 24 Mar '13, 03:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
BECK

jigglypuff | 23 Mar '13, 12:42 | X | ^ This | Reply

Icarus-Smicarus this'd this
- Different people will draw the line in a different place*,
  
  but he's closer to being a definition of the term Diminishing Returns that I can think of.
  
  *after Midnite Vultures, for me, though I know there's love out there for Sea Change. Either way, it feels like he's never gonna come up with anything to match Mellow Gold, Odelay or Mutations.
  
  TheWza @jigglypuff | 23 Mar '13, 18:26 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - that = than anyone else
    
    TheWza @TheWza | 23 Mar '13, 18:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - I dunno about that
      
      I think The Information and, to a slightly lesser extent, Modern Guilt were up there with Odelay and arguably better than Midnite Vultures. I think he's pretty consistent in terms of churning out good quality, interesting pop music.
      
      jigglypuff @TheWza | 23 Mar '13, 19:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
      
      emmettcruddas and Icarus-Smicarus this'd this
      - Modern Guilt is his second best album
        
        Blew my mind when it came out, listened to every day for like 3 weeks. I was 16 I think.
        
        yuggy @jigglypuff | 23 Mar '13, 23:33 | X | ^ This | Reply
- he's released 3 very good albums in Odelay, Mellow Gold and Guero
  
  the rest are somewhere between average and a tad above average
  
  ryanwilson @jigglypuff | 23 Mar '13, 22:12 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Beck's a tough one for this thread
  
  as he's put out several amazing albums but has a tendancy to kind of drift, especially of late.
  
  Odelay, Mutations and Midnight Vultures are what I'd consider to be the three essential Beck albums as they represent the most varied and best facets of his songwriting. They're also conveniently in a consecutive three album run. There's a lot to be said for Mellow Gold and Sea Change and to a lesser extent, Guero, which has some great songs on it but is a pale imitation of Odelay ultimately. The last Beck album I bought was The Information and while it wasn't bad, it felt distinctly hollow in comparison to most everything that came before.
  
  Yvash @jigglypuff | 24 Mar '13, 03:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  Loui_Tacceh this'd this
Converge

Still as much hunger and still the head of their genre

dave9cakes | 23 Mar '13, 19:19 | X | ^ This | Reply

suedehead, Severed799, and SarahIsPi this'd this
- Truth
  
  Don't think they ever released a bad record, but everything since Jane Doe has been a step above most of their peers. They're one of those bands who make others around them justify their existence. Sort of like how MBV dominate the shoegazey space: if you're gonna go down that road, you need to get out from their shadow.
  
  hexagram @dave9cakes | 25 Mar '13, 09:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
Ty Segall

And he's getting better & better

blisters | 23 Mar '13, 23:22 | X | ^ This | Reply
Eels

might have had a slight dip with End Times and Tomorrow Morning but to me Wonderful, Glorious is my AOTY so far and his fourth best overall.

yuggy | 23 Mar '13, 23:33 | X | ^ This | Reply

Lambchops this'd this
califone probs

Shuffles | 24 Mar '13, 04:43 | X | ^ This | Reply

theShipment this'd this
Four Tet

untrue | 24 Mar '13, 21:58 | X | ^ This | Reply
Obligatory Scott Walker post

The last four, his 'art pop wtf' phase, isn't the longest run of albums, but it certainly is a long span of time: 28 years!

Climate of Hunter (1984)
Tilt (1995)
The Drift (2006)
Bish Bosch (2012)

If you start the run with his songs on Nite Flights (1974), then it's a 39-year run of form.

hexagram | 25 Mar '13, 09:40 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Hmm
  
  Could get pedantic and say that his two soundtrack albums weren't much cop, but that seems mean.
  
  chanticleer @hexagram | 25 Mar '13, 10:19 | X | ^ This | Reply
DEFTONES

18 years:
Good album
Great album
All-time genre classic album
Unfairly overlooked, amazing album
At the time underwhelming but in retrospect still above average album
Great album
Amazing album

I've written the word album too much and it's lost all meaning.

ThierryEnnui | 25 Mar '13, 10:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
of Montreal

LOLpop | 25 Mar '13, 13:03 | X | ^ This | Reply

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