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Bands whose full back catalogues are essential

in_wainbows [Edit] [Delete] 86 replies 19:23, 17 June '14

Although I'll allow 1 bad/mediocre album.

For example: The Smiths

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  • None

    confrontedbybears | 17 Jun '14, 19:47 | X
    TVDenimChap and georgiabeth this'd this
  • *The Velvet Underground

    in_wainbows @confrontedbybears | 17 Jun '14, 20:02 | X
  • first!

    japes @confrontedbybears | 17 Jun '14, 20:43 | X
  • do we count Squeeze?

    though to be honest, I don't think I'd be at all interested in Loaded without the VU connection.

    feedthecollapse @in_wainbows | 17 Jun '14, 22:03 | X
  • The Specials
    The Birthday Party
    Magazine
    MC5
    Afghan Whigs
    Broadcast
    Portishead

    Loads more but can't think at the moment.

    Sullivan | 17 Jun '14, 22:13 | X
  • Most bands

    are ravaged by record companies. The simple answer to the question, although just my answer would be Joy Division. 2 perfect studio albums - which raises my point. All them needless Polygram 'Best of's, etc. Most bands are taken to town and held at the mercy of their record companies. Bands / artists that take control of their material also are mostly doing this for attention. For example Prince who thought he was a 'slave' for a while yet he's signed back to Warners.

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 22:28 | X
  • Joy Division

    Portishead
    Aphex Twin
    The Blue Nile
    Boards of Canada
    Burial
    The Go Betweens
    The Smiths
    The Velvet Underground (provided we ignore Squeeze)

    bornin69 | 17 Jun '14, 22:41 | X
  • Loaded is great

    bornin69 @feedthecollapse | 17 Jun '14, 22:42 | X
  • Life Without Buildings

    Rites Of Spring
    The Avalanches
    Lauryn Hill
    DFA 1979

    marckee | 17 Jun '14, 22:47 | X
  • Minor Threat

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 22:48 | X
  • eh, I'd say it's easily topped by the versions on either Live 1969 or the Fully Loaded bonus disc

    feedthecollapse @bornin69 | 17 Jun '14, 23:00 | X
  • Beastie Boys

    Even the slightly weaker albums (pained me to write that). Only band I can think of that have really held off a major (EMI / Capitol) that I can think of right now. I would say Radiohead nearly but they do have some significantly below par albums. Also The National expect the reality is it took them a few albums to really find their feet.

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:01 | X
  • Mew

    Jordan_229_2 | 17 Jun '14, 23:12 | X
  • Curve

    TheGrudge | 17 Jun '14, 23:13 | X
  • Loop
    Galaxie 500
    GYBE!
    Bark Psychosis
    This Heat

    feedthecollapse | 17 Jun '14, 23:15 | X
  • nah

    I seem to be alone in not liking Doppelganger, but Come Clean is kind of bad as well.

    feedthecollapse @TheGrudge | 17 Jun '14, 23:16 | X
  • Husker Du

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:17 | X
  • LCD Soundsystem

    School of Seven Bells
    Boards of Canada
    Leftfield
    Slowdive
    Lush
    Telefon Tel Aviv
    Massive Attack

    xtrmntr | 17 Jun '14, 23:18 | X
  • Dead Kennedys

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:19 | X
    chadders this'd this
  • I think that Doppelganger and Come Clean are both great

    xtrmntr @feedthecollapse | 17 Jun '14, 23:19 | X
  • Massive Attack's last two have been kind of subpar though

    I'm haven't been as keen on the last two BoC as well. The first 3/5 of Campfire is great, but the rest is really fucking dull. I still don't get the excitement over Tomorrow's Harvest either.

    feedthecollapse @xtrmntr | 17 Jun '14, 23:22 | X
  • Portishead

    Nirvana
    Big Black
    Slint
    Spacemen 3
    Crass
    Depth Charge
    The Fall

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:22 | X
  • Doppelganger just isn't very memorable to me. it all kind of blurs together. Come Clean comes off as one of those embarrassing "Alternative goes 'electronica'" albums from the late 90s. I also don't remember much about Open Day or New Adventures.

    I like Pubic Fruit, Cuckoo, and Gift, but honestly I think Curve is one of those bands tailor made for a Best Of album (and who happens have a rather decent one)

    feedthecollapse @xtrmntr | 17 Jun '14, 23:28 | X
  • Dr. Dre

    Seriously. He's stayed in control of all the music he's created including artists under his wing. Not the cool answer to this thread but possibly the definitive answer given the sales levels.

    midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:33 | X
  • I can tell you are taking this very seriously

    confrontedbybears @midnightpunk | 17 Jun '14, 23:50 | X
  • Britney Spears?

    midnightpunk @confrontedbybears | 17 Jun '14, 23:52 | X
  • This artist is not in my database

    confrontedbybears @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 00:09 | X
  • R.E.M, obviously.

    (Around The Sun is shite, but that's allowed).

    Oh, and Eels. Every single album is wonderful. I couldn't do without any of them.

    mil_c | 18 Jun '14, 00:42 | X
  • Don't think anyone would regard best ofs as part of the discography in this context

    Icarus-Smicarus @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 00:58 | X
  • Underground Lovers

    PaintyCanNed | 18 Jun '14, 01:00 | X
    robluvsnic this'd this
  • Not too sure about Reveal though (or even their last 2)

    in_wainbows @mil_c | 18 Jun '14, 01:09 | X
  • Pavement

    Stringly | 18 Jun '14, 01:10 | X
  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience
    Blur (Leisure allowed)
    The Verve (Forth allowed)
    Pixies (Indie Cindy allowed)
    The Beatles (Yellow Submarine allowed)
    My Bloody Valentine
    The Clash (Cut the Crap allowed)
    This Heat
    Kanye West

    in_wainbows | 18 Jun '14, 01:24 | X
  • nah on MBV

    The Dave Conway years would keep them off.

    feedthecollapse @in_wainbows | 18 Jun '14, 01:33 | X
  • oh

    do the mini albums count? Completely forgot about them.

    in_wainbows @feedthecollapse | 18 Jun '14, 03:38 | X
  • Kraftwerk

    Radio Dept
    Cut Copy

    ThirstyDog | 18 Jun '14, 04:09 | X
  • some interesting interpretations of the word "essential" here

    robluvsnic | 18 Jun '14, 05:27 | X
    andyvine this'd this
  • Radiohead

    ethricdouble | 18 Jun '14, 07:51 | X
  • indeed.

    even allowing for the dafty pointless "I'll allow 1 bad/mediocre album" caveat.

    TheWza @robluvsnic | 18 Jun '14, 08:48 | X
  • Nick Drake

    (assuming solo artists allowed)

    toffeedaz | 18 Jun '14, 09:17 | X
  • PJ Harvey

    8 studio albums over 20 years with maybe only Uh Huh Her dipping in quality. Real varied back catalogue too.

    toffeedaz | 18 Jun '14, 09:27 | X
    andres and MrScagdenSir this'd this
  • I'd agree not all of their releases are essential

    But Doppelganger stands up well and is no more of a sinner on being one dimensional than the majority of nugaze acts. I still find myself listening to Pubic Fruit, Doppelganger and Gift more than The Way Of Curve, regardless of the quality control issues, primarily because their albums (and even the EP collection) were well sequenced.

    Funny how the "alternative goes electronica" trend has resurfaced in the last couple of years as "guitars go synth". Ho hum.

    funkycow @feedthecollapse | 18 Jun '14, 09:45 | X
  • One dimensionality is certainly my biggest complaint about a lot of newer Shoegaze acts, but it still doesn't excuse Doppelganger from committing the same sin.

    Either way, Curve has better albums, but are fairly hit or miss as a whole.

    feedthecollapse @funkycow | 18 Jun '14, 12:05 | X
  • You meanie you

    What do you reckon on the new Spotlight Kid, arrived in the post yesterday and I'm quite partial to it

    funkycow @feedthecollapse | 18 Jun '14, 12:10 | X
  • funkycow | 18 Jun '14, 12:10 | X
  • two duff albums

    Hello_Sadness @ethricdouble | 18 Jun '14, 12:21 | X
    plasticniki, in_wainbows, and andyvine this'd this
  • Any band/artist that you love

    or alternatively none.

    static | 18 Jun '14, 12:37 | X
  • It is a meaningless term with which to describe music

    Demonstrated admirably by this thread.

    confrontedbybears @robluvsnic | 18 Jun '14, 12:43 | X
  • yeah the bends is shit

    ethricdouble @Hello_Sadness | 18 Jun '14, 12:45 | X
  • I interpret it as meaning

    'should be on your shelf if you're a fan'

    in_wainbows @robluvsnic | 18 Jun '14, 13:37 | X
  • That's because nobody's perfect.

    in_wainbows @TheWza | 18 Jun '14, 13:37 | X
  • I can't recall if I listened to the whole thing

    I don't recall disliking it, but I got a somewhat similar vibe to the first record where it was enjoyable at first, but very samey to the point where I couldn't remember one track from the next.

    feedthecollapse @funkycow | 18 Jun '14, 13:49 | X
  • Dre's only had 2 albums

    both of which are great, and yet he's still managed to turn himself into a bit of an embarrassment. Can't remember the last time someone was hyped on a Dre beat.

    *Unless selling headphones >>> musical credibility.

    littlebirds @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 13:53 | X
  • Shield Your Eyes

    At The Drive In
    ISIS

    wewerewerewolvesonce | 18 Jun '14, 13:59 | X
  • Drexciya

    felson | 18 Jun '14, 14:04 | X
  • Can

    Stereolab
    Tortoise
    Beastie Boys
    Urusei Yatsura
    Super Furry Animals

    felson | 18 Jun '14, 14:06 | X
  • Cardiacs, obviously.

    Probably Half Man Half Biscuit.
    Judas Priest.

    silverfoxqpr | 18 Jun '14, 14:41 | X
  • if you discount the last decade of both artists' work

    inside-outside @mil_c | 18 Jun '14, 15:12 | X
  • FUGAZI

    Every one a molten heap of amazeballs

    inside-outside | 18 Jun '14, 15:13 | X
  • I think this is the first correct answer.

    Although Husker Du is also allowed if you are talking about the big 5. Also, there should be a minimum requirement. 1 or 2 albums is hardly a back catalogue.

    fellover @inside-outside | 18 Jun '14, 15:49 | X
  • cant believe you've referred to fugazi as amazeballs

    ffs

    gonad @inside-outside | 18 Jun '14, 15:55 | X
    fellover and inside-outside this'd this
  • I love The Fall

    But not even I would suggest them for this thread. Given the length of their career it would be miraculous if all their albums were essential. Every Fall album has at least one great track on it, but there are fair few the average casual fan could easily live without (I've got them all by the way)

    bornin69 @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 18:11 | X
    Icarus-Smicarus this'd this
  • I'm a massive Kraftwerk fan and thought about suggesting them

    The truth is though that the pre-Autobahn stuff is interesting rather than essential and Electric Cafe is very missable

    bornin69 @ThirstyDog | 18 Jun '14, 18:16 | X
  • the bonus track on good kid maad city was pretty good

    i quite like compton as well, but most people don't seem to

    can't think of anything else though

    noise_ramones @littlebirds | 18 Jun '14, 18:18 | X
  • *9

    noise_ramones @Hello_Sadness | 18 Jun '14, 18:19 | X
  • can?

    surely none of their albums after soon over babaluma could be classified by anyone as essential

    noise_ramones @felson | 18 Jun '14, 18:21 | X
    feedthecollapse and bornin69 this'd this
  • List bands you like.

    Wooly31 | 18 Jun '14, 18:24 | X
  • there's a couple of punk/whatever bands whose complete discography things are great

    who released maybe one album and an ep at most. I guess minor threat is the classic example. also:

    - cap'n jazz
    - jerome's dream
    - dna
    - ike yard

    Drive Like Jehu have 2 albums. they qualify, right. can't think of anyone with more than two albums. probably some, though.

    noise_ramones | 18 Jun '14, 18:29 | X
  • Arctic

    monkeys.

    Might be bias but listened to all of their albums this afternoon and they have an amazing amount of records.

    would love to see them in hyde park

    dispatchwood | 18 Jun '14, 18:36 | X
  • I like Tomorrow's Harvest more than Geogaddi

    I don't know why, maybe because it's easier to like.

    These 2 Massive Attack albums you're talking about are a bit subpar to their high level of quality of the previous albums. For other bands these would be the peak of their career.

    xtrmntr @feedthecollapse | 18 Jun '14, 18:38 | X
  • Three 'essential' albums

    Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi and Future Days

    Three brilliant but patchy ones:

    Monster Movies, Soundtracks and Soon Over Babaluma

    The six that follow are 'interesting in parts' at best

    bornin69 @noise_ramones | 18 Jun '14, 18:55 | X
  • Joy Division are the ultimate answer to this

    Because you can sensibly argue that every track they recorded is 'essential', never mind every album

    bornin69 @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 18:56 | X
  • arsequake

    shucks | 18 Jun '14, 19:08 | X
    Icarus-Smicarus this'd this
  • talking heads

    True Stories being the one shitty one.

    cliquester | 18 Jun '14, 19:16 | X
  • #detox2014

    georgiabeth @midnightpunk | 18 Jun '14, 19:49 | X
  • no, bumsnogger

    georgiabeth @shucks | 18 Jun '14, 19:49 | X
  • I feel like I'm alone in thinking Geogaddi is by far BoC's best

    I don't know about the two MA album's being career peaks for other bands. They're not bad albums, but I don't think they're very interesting. Even Protection had quite a bit of filler, but it's best tracks were absolutely great, which is something neither of the last two albums can claim.

    feedthecollapse @xtrmntr | 18 Jun '14, 23:42 | X
  • Love The Spotlight Kid CD

    Deserve to have a higher profile. They are my 2nd most seen band live all time on 44. Good friends with them all too.

    TheGrudge @funkycow | 19 Jun '14, 14:29 | X
  • Yeah

    You're right

    midnightpunk @bornin69 | 19 Jun '14, 14:45 | X
  • Mclusky

    Fugazi
    Hot Snakes
    Kyuss (maybe not their first one)
    Nirvana

    steinbolt | 19 Jun '14, 15:04 | X
  • totes amazeballs

    funkycow @gonad | 19 Jun '14, 17:38 | X
  • Stereolab??

    Nah

    blisters @felson | 23 Jun '14, 11:53 | X
  • Everything post-Remain In Light being the shitty one

    blisters @cliquester | 23 Jun '14, 11:54 | X
  • The Birthday Party

    in_limbo | 23 Jun '14, 12:26 | X
  • Buffalo Springfield

    Flying Saucer Attack
    The Clean
    Loop
    Wooden Shjips
    Comets On Fire
    Plastic Crimewave Sound

    blisters | 23 Jun '14, 12:29 | X
  • sorry, should have said

    Sha-mazeballs

    inside-outside @gonad | 23 Jun '14, 12:46 | X
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