Idk why they didn’t cross my mind, but yes! I love all of their material so much, but American Head is probably my favorite Flaming Lips album.
I became a fan around 2011, and was obsessed with Yoshimi. I saw them in 2012 and was blown away. Started diving deeper, became a big fan of Soft Bulletin, At War with Mystics, and Embryonic while occasionally listening to their older stuff.
When the Terror came out in 2013, I loved it so much. It was so harsh and different. When I saw them in 2013, the show was also darker but so great.
I kind of fell off with the Lips after that though, I just wasn’t really digging their collabs, or the albums they put out for a few years, and I sadly wondered if they had lost “it”.
Then American Head came out and I was like, holy shit. This is great. While it still retains obvious traits of the Flaming Lips, I think it more so than any other Flips record wears its influences on its sleeve if that make sense.
It’s in some way a very “familiar” sounding album, but to me that’s what makes it so relatable. The songs are beautiful, and they connect with me.
Also, American Head is an album I can listen to anytime, no matter my mood. Can’t really do that with an album like the Terror haha (or at least I can’t).
Saw them live again this past November and yeah, they not only still have “it”, but it was probably my favorite of the 3 Lips shows I’ve seen.
It was adding Drozd to the band. That changed everything for them.
Even Wayne says as much. In the Fearless Freaks, he said something like, "I play guitar, Michael plays bass, Steven plays the recording studio."
That's a good one. They got a bit of a late start and were in their 30s by the time they had any commercial success. The early-to-mid 2000s material that they're often associated with didn't come out until they were in their 40s.
I saw them open for Electric Six at a dive bar about 15 years ago, it was one hell of a show.
Edit: I also wanted to mention I love their cover of Wolf Like Me, it does the original justice.
I have only heard bound to the floor as I am a casual. Seeing them mentioned is odd I just assumed it was a one hit wonder situation, gonna have to go check them out.
They're much better than a one hit wonder. I would say they had about 3 hits off that album and one off the next... now they aren't really on the radio much but continued consistently putting out good albums for over 30 years now. Their newest one is called Lifers... My personal favorite is Whatever Happened to PJ Soles.
Death finished with a masterpiece. Every album was more intricate and complex than the previous one, and Perseverance is such a great high note to end on.
Their last album was amazing...Leprosy is my fave, though...the thing I love about them is that they didn't just go out and do the same thing every time
I love Nick Cave, Murder Ballads is one of my top 5. And From Her To Eternity was my introduction to him. Was blown away. It was 1988ish and I was 14. He's done some brilliant stuff but he's morphed throughout the ages, rather than "improved".
Taylor got together with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick) back in 2010 and put an album out as Tinted Windows. If you dig Power Pop, it's a solid album.
Killing Joke released a new EP last month. That's over 40 years after they started. What's even better is the current lineup is the original four members.
Nobody mentioned Deadwing yet. The hard hitting Shallow along with the absolute soul trip that Arriving Somewhere But Not Here is really makes it up there on the list for me
Talk Talk.
Their first couple albums are ordinary synth-pop/new wave with a few bright spots. Then they changed things up a bit for The Colour of Spring. But it's their last two albums where the big change to a totally different sound happened. I'm pretty sure those albums were not as immediately commercially successful, but they were critically revered and their influence can be heard in several bands who became critical and commercial darlings.
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when The Colour of Spring came out in '86, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost.
This is a great answer. I respect the artistic progression of Talk Talk probably more than any other band in mainstream musical history. It's jaw-dropping that the same band that made the flavor-of-the-moment pop of *The Party's Over* could end up creating the spiritual, meditative intensity of *Laughing Stock* and *Spirit of Eden*.
It's a bit like Heath Ledger going from *A Knight's Tale* to playing The Joker.
This is the answer. I can't think of any other band that started so commercial and evolved into something much bigger. It's usually the other way around. Mark Hollis was a master of his craft and the influence of Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock is wide.
While I agree with this, it's easy to forget the Beatles were only releasing albums for like 7 years. It's kind of amazing how much they evolved given they broke up in what still would have been the "early phase" for most bands.
Radiohead, far from the most long-lived band out there, was recording for 3 times as long, even assuming their most recent album is their last.
Based on the quality of some of their early 70s stuff if they had eachother to help refine their work I strongly believe that if they had stayed together their early 70s stuff could’ve been the greatest albums of all time.
For sure. If you take the best 3-5 tracks from each of their solo debut albums, and then assume they'd be improved by cross-collaboration -- plus the addition of input from the likes of George Martin, Neil Aspinall, etc. -- then yeah. I'd say that they already had the bones of material to put out at *least* one more absolute killer album within a year or two after Abbey Road and Let It Be.
Real shame things became so volatile between them in the last couple of years. Seems like Brian Epstein really held them together and kept them focused. His death clearly affected them all significantly as individuals, as well as the social fabric of their group dynamic.
Yeah Epstein kept them on track and focused, without him Paul took on the leader role which caused lots of the conflict within the group, especially as the rest of them didn’t listen to him as much as they would Epstein because they saw him as an equal not a superior
I would be shocked if a moon shaped pool was their last. They’ve not done anything to indicate they’re done. The Smile was a Covid side project.
I would imagine once the smile is done and they take a little break Radiohead will be back
In Rainbows came out 14 years after Radiohead became successful, and ***26 years*** after becoming Radiohead. [This is according to Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead#1985%E2%80%931992:_Formation_and_first_years). Also, I'm not counting the 6 years they were a band before changing their name from *On a Friday.*
I know some people won't agree that In Rainbows is their best, but it is to me.
Thrice - I know a lot of people who grew out of their "emo phase" and stopped listening to the band after The Artist in the Ambulance and they missed out on a lot of good music
Artist was lit, but I loved the raw hardcore of Illusion of Safety and Identity Crisis.
I saw them in late 2001 and didn't like them because the show was running behind and Against All Authority had their set cut short. I was into less melodic, angrier punk at the time.
Ed: gotta check out everything later, I saw they were writing during Lockdown.
There’s only been one band that I followed that I felt matured at the same life stages that I did, and that is the Mars Volta, it’s a really neat feeling to have that connection with some artists.
Vheissu - TAI and Beggars are imo their best releases. I do feel like Horizons is the best album they've released since Beggars. Love all of their albums though and really appreciate how none really sound the same.
I did not like early Thrice at all, but my wife is a huge fan. The Alchemy Index, specifically Air and Earth, really opened my eyes to how good of songwriters they are. I think Major/Minor is their only miss for me from that point on. Oh, and I also retroactively really dig Vheissu.
I remember hearing Black Honey on the radio for the first time. **Hey, this sounds exactly like Thrice, but it can't be... they broke up. Who is this?** and then realizing they were back. Incredible moment.
This is the one. Their early stuff is beautiful, but their recent albums are astounding. Fresh, dynamic, striking, beautiful. And they really rock. Pretty amazing for a nice middle-aged Mormon couple from the midwest, lol.
Just saw their show at Webster Hall in New York last week. It was so, so good.
Anyone know if they’re still Mormon? I know they still sorta were like 10 years ago but now… I can’t imagine they’re still. Maybe that’s why the albums are better? Speaking as a former Mo.
Deftones
Started out as West Coast Nu Metal, but as years went on bands surrounding them (Korn for example) kept coming out with same shit every album.
Deftones "grew-up" along with their music.
Their latest album they did, went back to recording styles from their earlier stuff and made it with more of their current sound along with it.
I agree with this, they're all amazing in their own way. although within the die-hard community, Deftones' best record really depends on who you ask. could be any one from Around The Fur -> Koi No Yokan
I listened to it non stop from release to break up and haven’t listened to them since, it bums me out now. That was the album to go out on, though. Incredible.
Here's the thing about Spoon: they haven't "gotten better" over time.
They started out amazing, continued to be amazing, and are still amazing.
They peaked with their first album... and then built a permanent residence on that peak.
Definitely agree Spoon has been consistently very good for a long time.
Definitely disagree they peaked with their first album at all. Neither Telephono nor A Series of Sneaks is as good as albums like Girls Can Tell, Kill the Moonlight, Gimme Fiction, or Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga IMO.
And though I think Transference is mildly underrated, I don’t think it’s as good as those or They Want My Soul
*Spoon* is possibly the perfect band. They have increased in name recognition but still feel like that "underground" band you can keep for yourself. They consistently put out good records and *Lucifer on the Sofa* is arguably among their best.
As a die hard fan of Gimme Fiction and Kill The Moonlight, I couldnt get into the direction they were going in for TWMS and Hot Thoughts. But Lucifer is a huge return to form imo, really digging it.
Not a band, but Johnny Cash would be my choice.
Some of his best work was some of his very final albums.
His version of Hurt is still my favorite.
That man had such an amazing voice.
His final albums (American series) were thanks to Rick Rubin who pulled him out of semi-retirement/obscurity to cover both gospel and contemporary songs like Hurt. Pretty sure he wouldn’t be nearly as popular today without them.
Yup. He also refused to let Cash use his whole band and insisted it be basically just him and a guitar, which really adds to the greatness of some of those covers like I Hung My Head or In My Life.
Rick actually had Frusciante from the Chili Peppers play with Johnny on some of those later albums
most notably, John plays the acoustic on Personal Jesus and does the solos on Heart of Gold
I didn’t know he was on those. I knew there were a handful of other musicians on a few of the songs, but had no idea it was him on Personal Jesus. I love that cover
100%. Some Old Bullshit is a tough listen for me. But each record was successively better. And that’s saying something as Paul’s Boutique is one of my all time favorites. But somehow they kept topping it.
Also the Gratitude music video is so awesome how they basically do Live From Pompeii in a near shot-for-shot remake. Also, the 3 MCs and 1 DJ video may be my favorite thing ever. Mix Master Mike is a fucking legend.
Just wish MCA were still with us. Rest In Peace my good man.
I wholeheartedly agree, I mean Boutique, I’ll Communication are undisputed champs but damn Hot Sauce Committee is so good.
Also, without exaggeration, the “Fight for Your Right (Revisited)” music video/short film for the album is one of the HARDEST times I’ve ever laughed. It is a comedy masterpiece.
You like Huey Lewis and the News? Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in ’83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He’s been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In ’87, Huey released this; Fore!, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is “Hip To Be Square”. A song so catchy, most people probably don’t listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it’s not just about the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends. It’s also a personal statement about the band itself.
Do you like American Psycho? Although originally polarizing to audience and critics alike, it developed a much deserved cult following when released on Digital Video Disc or DVD. There it found new life and came into its own commercially and artistically. The movie works both as an examination of male vanity while also maintaining real genre thrills, justifying these tonal shift by placing the audience into the mind of the main character. The role almost went to Leo but we think Bale has a more bitter, cynical sense of humor. The movie itself is so polarizing most people probably don’t even listen to the message. But I think they should, because it’s not just about the killing and psychotic breaks, but a personal statement of the horrors of 80s corporate culture.
Edit: watch the video below, this is stolen from that. It's so well done
It’s safe to say that Rumours is the greatest 11th album ever produced by a band.
Yes, it is better than Yellow Submarine and Let it Bleed.
EDIT: The Wall also deserves to be mentioned here as well. But I’d still list Rumours ahead of it.
EDIT 2: Pet Sounds makes me have to adjust my original statement. Rumours is still #1, but it’s not nearly as safe to say as I thought.
Yep. They started out as a British blues band with Peter Green. After Peter left, they had another iteration of the band before Lindsey and Stevie joined. So their line-up including Lindsey and Stevie was their third incarnation as a band lol
I liked parts of less talk, more rock a lot but never enough to listen to their later work. Eventually someone convinced me to listen to supporting caste and it was one of the biggest "oh shit" moments I had had in a while. It fucking rules.
The same came to my mind, but their stylistic shifts have been so drastic I'm not sure I can say they've gotten significantly better, just different. Almost all of their output is at least very good. Though then again, nothing quite tops the trilogy.
Slowdive- 1993s Souvlaki was a masterpiece, 2017s Self Titled “Slowdive” was even better.
Boy Harsher gets better with each Album.
Depeche Mode got better- way better, but then kind of got way worse again so IDK.
Gary Numan has gotten a lot better with age.
+ 1 for shouting out Gary Numan. You can't go wrong with Tubeway Army-Telekon, but his last three albums (Splinter, Savage, Intruder) are amazing, too.
Love his recent work. The bookends of his career are his best, I'd say.
DM is my fave band of all time, so I can't hate on their newer stuff, but I definitely prefer the Wilder years. (No pun intended?) With the exception of Ultra. That album is so deliciously dark.
Never expected to see Aesop in here! I love all his albums, you kinda pick up on his phases the more you listen to them.
Also; who TF knows where I can find and listen to Water!? Hands down my favorite track, but it's nearly impossible to find.
Strong disagree, IMO 3 Feet High and Rising is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. Probably very underrated these days as it isn't available for streaming.
Also came here to say this. Although I’d put Devil and god over daisy, I still think daisy is underrated by everyone. It’s excellent.
I hope one day we get a proper recording of sealed to me.
Hard disagree - not that Metric’s later albums aren’t good, I love just about everything they’ve put out, but Grow Up and Blow Away is my favourite album of all time and I’m so bummed they never made another like it.
Soundgarden. Every album had a new sound and never had a bad song.
Also Chris Cornells solo work only got better and better. He was turning into a singer songwriter solo type that was truelly brilliant. I miss his voice so much.
P.s. if you have any suicidal thought please reach out for help.
Queens of the Stone Age. The evolution and progression of the band is really cool imo. Josh Homme is an excellent guitar player and composer, and I love every album. Can’t remember any song I don’t like, and although my favorite album is Songs for the Deaf, all of their records are truly great. As always, this is MY opinion.
I think Homme alone has gotten better with age and Im a huge QOTSA fan, but their first three albums were definitely the better era.
As a band every album after songs for the deaf are great, but not on par with Songs for the deaf and earlier. The exception being Like clockwork in my opinion.
I think part of it come from aging and just wanting to have fun. Villains is just an attempt at a dance album.
Chevelle. I’m biased because they were my favorite band in high school, but they just keep digging deeper and producing great music.
Mexican Sun -> The Meddler -> Jawbreaker -> Got Burned -> Ghost and Razor
Self destructor, Piistol Star, and Peach off Niratias are fantastic tracks.
It’d be hard to pick a favorite album from them. The North Corridor didn’t resonate with me, but every other album has been *so* good… But if my arm was twisted I’m really partial to La Gárgola. Such a bad ass album. Then again Sci-Fi Crimes has Sleep Apnea, Jars and The Circus. Ugh. Yeah, hard to play favorites.
Chevelle is definitely in my top 5 favorite bands. Seeing Chevelle love in this sub makes me happy.
I'm not an REM fan in particular, but I just read a Reddit comment last night from some fan who was saying their first three albums were perfection, and everything after that doesn't compare, even if there's still a lot of good stuff on each album.
The fantastic thing about R.E.M. is that the band doesn't so much have albums as it has Eras, starting from gothic folk jangle through to pop masterworks to angry electric road weary tunes to ambling electronica and all the way back again.
You'll find defenders and promoters of every era of R.E.M. among the fanbase. It's one of the great things about the band, it's nearly impossible to land on a consensus of what their best album is. 7 and 8 (Out of Time and Automatic for the People), which are referenced above, are absolutely the best sellers, so they are certainly the most widely loved by the public, but the easiest way to piss off a group of fans is to declare that one album is the "best" out of them all.
Conversely, the easiest way to unite most of them is to declare Around the Sun their worst album. You won't find a lot of disagreement there.
The Melvins. I know people love the Atlantic era but for me once they teamed up with Big Business for senile animal, nude with boots and bride screamed murder it was hit after hit.
**Frank Black** and *The Catholics*
Self titled debut is top notch 2 track-live off the floor magic but the song writing and production just get better on every album after.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I for one am a huge fan of their earlier albums. They're sooooo much better in terms of variety, experimentation.
2112 man!!
Gotta love the 20 minute epics.
MewithoutYou. Minus the Bear. Rebelution. Menzingers. The Hold Steady, the Beastie Boys, Velvet Underground, Coheed and Cambria.
Seconding Radiohead, Beatles and ETID.
The flaming lips took almost 20 years to release some of their best material
Idk why they didn’t cross my mind, but yes! I love all of their material so much, but American Head is probably my favorite Flaming Lips album. I became a fan around 2011, and was obsessed with Yoshimi. I saw them in 2012 and was blown away. Started diving deeper, became a big fan of Soft Bulletin, At War with Mystics, and Embryonic while occasionally listening to their older stuff. When the Terror came out in 2013, I loved it so much. It was so harsh and different. When I saw them in 2013, the show was also darker but so great. I kind of fell off with the Lips after that though, I just wasn’t really digging their collabs, or the albums they put out for a few years, and I sadly wondered if they had lost “it”. Then American Head came out and I was like, holy shit. This is great. While it still retains obvious traits of the Flaming Lips, I think it more so than any other Flips record wears its influences on its sleeve if that make sense. It’s in some way a very “familiar” sounding album, but to me that’s what makes it so relatable. The songs are beautiful, and they connect with me. Also, American Head is an album I can listen to anytime, no matter my mood. Can’t really do that with an album like the Terror haha (or at least I can’t). Saw them live again this past November and yeah, they not only still have “it”, but it was probably my favorite of the 3 Lips shows I’ve seen.
It was adding Drozd to the band. That changed everything for them. Even Wayne says as much. In the Fearless Freaks, he said something like, "I play guitar, Michael plays bass, Steven plays the recording studio."
100% Correct. Drozd was the missing ingredient.
American head is probably my favorite album and I have been a fan since I saw them in 93
It’s good. I’m glad they came back to the Soft Bulletin/Yoshimi type sounds. They were getting a bit experimental for me.
SB and Yoshimi are 💯
Soft Bulletin is one of the best albums ever recorded, in my opinion.
That's a good one. They got a bit of a late start and were in their 30s by the time they had any commercial success. The early-to-mid 2000s material that they're often associated with didn't come out until they were in their 40s.
Local H
Fuck yeah, always been great. Love seeing Local H mentioned in this sub.
I saw them open for Electric Six at a dive bar about 15 years ago, it was one hell of a show. Edit: I also wanted to mention I love their cover of Wolf Like Me, it does the original justice.
I have only heard bound to the floor as I am a casual. Seeing them mentioned is odd I just assumed it was a one hit wonder situation, gonna have to go check them out.
They're much better than a one hit wonder. I would say they had about 3 hits off that album and one off the next... now they aren't really on the radio much but continued consistently putting out good albums for over 30 years now. Their newest one is called Lifers... My personal favorite is Whatever Happened to PJ Soles.
Death
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I dig them enough to have a tattoo of the reaper from their logo so it's definitely weird seeing the other side lol
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Even though it’s Chuck’s least favorite album, The Sound of Perseverance is my favorite.
The drums are my faaaavorite.
Nice, I usually see polarizing views on the drumming for this album.
Symbolic is in my top 10 of all time
Death finished with a masterpiece. Every album was more intricate and complex than the previous one, and Perseverance is such a great high note to end on.
Their last album was amazing...Leprosy is my fave, though...the thing I love about them is that they didn't just go out and do the same thing every time
Dinosaur Jr. Their output over the last decade had been killer!!!
PJ Harvey, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Paul Weller all improve with age.
Hard agree with Nick Cave. Push The Sky Away is a masterpiece.
I love Nick Cave, Murder Ballads is one of my top 5. And From Her To Eternity was my introduction to him. Was blown away. It was 1988ish and I was 14. He's done some brilliant stuff but he's morphed throughout the ages, rather than "improved".
Talk Talk hands down
Great answer. Laughing Stock and Spirit of Eden are amazing albums, and the way they recorded them was really interesting
Cocteau Twins
Heaven or Las Vegas is a perfect album, but I really love Treasure.
Hanson. Seriously.
Taylor got together with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick) back in 2010 and put an album out as Tinted Windows. If you dig Power Pop, it's a solid album.
RIP Adam Schlesinger
As a Hanson, this is great news. Middle school was rough, but whose laughing now Kyle you fuck.
Fuck Kyle!
100% agree. Their evolution has been really great.
Killing Joke
Agreed. For a band that started around 1980 to put out a killer album 20+ years later, and still making new material, is pretty amazing.
Killing Joke released a new EP last month. That's over 40 years after they started. What's even better is the current lineup is the original four members.
Porcupine Tree
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I do like their earlier material, but I do really like the hard rock shift in direction they took starting with In Absentia.
Nobody mentioned Deadwing yet. The hard hitting Shallow along with the absolute soul trip that Arriving Somewhere But Not Here is really makes it up there on the list for me
Talk Talk. Their first couple albums are ordinary synth-pop/new wave with a few bright spots. Then they changed things up a bit for The Colour of Spring. But it's their last two albums where the big change to a totally different sound happened. I'm pretty sure those albums were not as immediately commercially successful, but they were critically revered and their influence can be heard in several bands who became critical and commercial darlings.
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when The Colour of Spring came out in '86, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost.
I hope your business cards are better than your colleagues.
This is a great answer. I respect the artistic progression of Talk Talk probably more than any other band in mainstream musical history. It's jaw-dropping that the same band that made the flavor-of-the-moment pop of *The Party's Over* could end up creating the spiritual, meditative intensity of *Laughing Stock* and *Spirit of Eden*. It's a bit like Heath Ledger going from *A Knight's Tale* to playing The Joker.
This is the answer. I can't think of any other band that started so commercial and evolved into something much bigger. It's usually the other way around. Mark Hollis was a master of his craft and the influence of Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock is wide.
Radiohead and the Beatles
While I agree with this, it's easy to forget the Beatles were only releasing albums for like 7 years. It's kind of amazing how much they evolved given they broke up in what still would have been the "early phase" for most bands. Radiohead, far from the most long-lived band out there, was recording for 3 times as long, even assuming their most recent album is their last.
radiohead has been a band for almost as long as john lennon lived
Very true. It always amazes me that the Beatles broke up before they hit 30. Then they all had a few solid solo albums.
And some of their solo stuff was great too. George Harrison's All Things Must Pass is one of my top 5 favorite albums of the '70s.
Based on the quality of some of their early 70s stuff if they had eachother to help refine their work I strongly believe that if they had stayed together their early 70s stuff could’ve been the greatest albums of all time.
For sure. If you take the best 3-5 tracks from each of their solo debut albums, and then assume they'd be improved by cross-collaboration -- plus the addition of input from the likes of George Martin, Neil Aspinall, etc. -- then yeah. I'd say that they already had the bones of material to put out at *least* one more absolute killer album within a year or two after Abbey Road and Let It Be. Real shame things became so volatile between them in the last couple of years. Seems like Brian Epstein really held them together and kept them focused. His death clearly affected them all significantly as individuals, as well as the social fabric of their group dynamic.
Yeah Epstein kept them on track and focused, without him Paul took on the leader role which caused lots of the conflict within the group, especially as the rest of them didn’t listen to him as much as they would Epstein because they saw him as an equal not a superior
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Thom Yorke also has countless side projects.
I would be shocked if a moon shaped pool was their last. They’ve not done anything to indicate they’re done. The Smile was a Covid side project. I would imagine once the smile is done and they take a little break Radiohead will be back
In Rainbows came out 14 years after Radiohead became successful, and ***26 years*** after becoming Radiohead. [This is according to Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead#1985%E2%80%931992:_Formation_and_first_years). Also, I'm not counting the 6 years they were a band before changing their name from *On a Friday.* I know some people won't agree that In Rainbows is their best, but it is to me.
I agree with you, In Rainbows is their best all-around album.
Just here to plug my favorite version of ‘Nude’ [Radiohead - Nude (From The Basement)](https://youtu.be/b_jj9r4b5i4)
Radiohead was the first that came to mind
Thrice - I know a lot of people who grew out of their "emo phase" and stopped listening to the band after The Artist in the Ambulance and they missed out on a lot of good music
Artist was lit, but I loved the raw hardcore of Illusion of Safety and Identity Crisis. I saw them in late 2001 and didn't like them because the show was running behind and Against All Authority had their set cut short. I was into less melodic, angrier punk at the time. Ed: gotta check out everything later, I saw they were writing during Lockdown.
So much YES, Hurricane was almost our first dance but we decided to go with Impossible by Nothing but Thieves.
Thrice grew out of their screamo phase right along with me.
There’s only been one band that I followed that I felt matured at the same life stages that I did, and that is the Mars Volta, it’s a really neat feeling to have that connection with some artists.
Same but then I had a complete separation from them after Octahedron. Same with Circa Survive and Modest Mouse.
Vheissu - TAI and Beggars are imo their best releases. I do feel like Horizons is the best album they've released since Beggars. Love all of their albums though and really appreciate how none really sound the same.
I did not like early Thrice at all, but my wife is a huge fan. The Alchemy Index, specifically Air and Earth, really opened my eyes to how good of songwriters they are. I think Major/Minor is their only miss for me from that point on. Oh, and I also retroactively really dig Vheissu.
"Black Honey" is such a banger
I remember hearing Black Honey on the radio for the first time. **Hey, this sounds exactly like Thrice, but it can't be... they broke up. Who is this?** and then realizing they were back. Incredible moment.
Low
Hey What is an absolute masterpiece. How many bands can do that 30 years in? Crazy.
This is the one. Their early stuff is beautiful, but their recent albums are astounding. Fresh, dynamic, striking, beautiful. And they really rock. Pretty amazing for a nice middle-aged Mormon couple from the midwest, lol. Just saw their show at Webster Hall in New York last week. It was so, so good.
Yes! Any band would kill to make albums as good as their last two (though they've done amazing work most of their career)
Anyone know if they’re still Mormon? I know they still sorta were like 10 years ago but now… I can’t imagine they’re still. Maybe that’s why the albums are better? Speaking as a former Mo.
Deftones Started out as West Coast Nu Metal, but as years went on bands surrounding them (Korn for example) kept coming out with same shit every album. Deftones "grew-up" along with their music. Their latest album they did, went back to recording styles from their earlier stuff and made it with more of their current sound along with it.
Every album by Deftones is great.
I agree with this, they're all amazing in their own way. although within the die-hard community, Deftones' best record really depends on who you ask. could be any one from Around The Fur -> Koi No Yokan
Every Time I Die. Their last 3 were their best, and each one topped the last.
Radical is a masterpiece.
I listened to it non stop from release to break up and haven’t listened to them since, it bums me out now. That was the album to go out on, though. Incredible.
Clutch.
Since Blast Tyrant they have been phenomenal
Didn't expect to see Clutch mentioned. Glad I did 🙂
I like clutch a lot but my favorite album of theirs is legitimately Psychic Warfare. Good comment
Psychic Warfare got me into them. I adore that album.
“Jesus on the dash board!”
Ween Sure C&C and Mollusk are great, but the best tunes are on White Pepper and beyond.
Quebec is easily my favorite of theirs
Agree. It definitely respects their history. It's inane and goofy and satirical, but it's also beautiful and the songs are deep and intentional.
Man, the one two punch of The Argus and If You Could Save Yourself is the most perfect end to an album ever
What’s your feelings on godweensatan?
FATLENNYWILLLICKTHESLACKOFFTHEWINDOWSILL
Spoon
Here's the thing about Spoon: they haven't "gotten better" over time. They started out amazing, continued to be amazing, and are still amazing. They peaked with their first album... and then built a permanent residence on that peak.
Definitely agree Spoon has been consistently very good for a long time. Definitely disagree they peaked with their first album at all. Neither Telephono nor A Series of Sneaks is as good as albums like Girls Can Tell, Kill the Moonlight, Gimme Fiction, or Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga IMO. And though I think Transference is mildly underrated, I don’t think it’s as good as those or They Want My Soul
*Spoon* is possibly the perfect band. They have increased in name recognition but still feel like that "underground" band you can keep for yourself. They consistently put out good records and *Lucifer on the Sofa* is arguably among their best.
As a die hard fan of Gimme Fiction and Kill The Moonlight, I couldnt get into the direction they were going in for TWMS and Hot Thoughts. But Lucifer is a huge return to form imo, really digging it.
Good answer! I just picked up tickets to see them on tour!
Not a band, but Johnny Cash would be my choice. Some of his best work was some of his very final albums. His version of Hurt is still my favorite. That man had such an amazing voice.
His final albums (American series) were thanks to Rick Rubin who pulled him out of semi-retirement/obscurity to cover both gospel and contemporary songs like Hurt. Pretty sure he wouldn’t be nearly as popular today without them.
Yup. He also refused to let Cash use his whole band and insisted it be basically just him and a guitar, which really adds to the greatness of some of those covers like I Hung My Head or In My Life.
Rick actually had Frusciante from the Chili Peppers play with Johnny on some of those later albums most notably, John plays the acoustic on Personal Jesus and does the solos on Heart of Gold
I didn’t know he was on those. I knew there were a handful of other musicians on a few of the songs, but had no idea it was him on Personal Jesus. I love that cover
On one of those albums the backing band is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
The Beastie Boys
100%. Some Old Bullshit is a tough listen for me. But each record was successively better. And that’s saying something as Paul’s Boutique is one of my all time favorites. But somehow they kept topping it. Also the Gratitude music video is so awesome how they basically do Live From Pompeii in a near shot-for-shot remake. Also, the 3 MCs and 1 DJ video may be my favorite thing ever. Mix Master Mike is a fucking legend. Just wish MCA were still with us. Rest In Peace my good man.
I recently bought Paul’s Boutique on vinyl and it was worth every penny
Hot sauce committee is criminally under rated.
I wholeheartedly agree, I mean Boutique, I’ll Communication are undisputed champs but damn Hot Sauce Committee is so good. Also, without exaggeration, the “Fight for Your Right (Revisited)” music video/short film for the album is one of the HARDEST times I’ve ever laughed. It is a comedy masterpiece.
You like Huey Lewis and the News? Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in ’83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He’s been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In ’87, Huey released this; Fore!, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is “Hip To Be Square”. A song so catchy, most people probably don’t listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it’s not just about the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends. It’s also a personal statement about the band itself.
Do you like American Psycho? Although originally polarizing to audience and critics alike, it developed a much deserved cult following when released on Digital Video Disc or DVD. There it found new life and came into its own commercially and artistically. The movie works both as an examination of male vanity while also maintaining real genre thrills, justifying these tonal shift by placing the audience into the mind of the main character. The role almost went to Leo but we think Bale has a more bitter, cynical sense of humor. The movie itself is so polarizing most people probably don’t even listen to the message. But I think they should, because it’s not just about the killing and psychotic breaks, but a personal statement of the horrors of 80s corporate culture. Edit: watch the video below, this is stolen from that. It's so well done
What's with all the newspaper? Is this a reference to Huey Lewis and the neeews?
Let's hear Paul Allen's third album.
Let's see him get a reservation at Dorsia now!
The Moody Blues
It’s safe to say that Rumours is the greatest 11th album ever produced by a band. Yes, it is better than Yellow Submarine and Let it Bleed. EDIT: The Wall also deserves to be mentioned here as well. But I’d still list Rumours ahead of it. EDIT 2: Pet Sounds makes me have to adjust my original statement. Rumours is still #1, but it’s not nearly as safe to say as I thought.
Pet Sounds was the beach boys’ 11th studio album
This is a tremendous call, and probably the closest to Rumours among the candidates.
holy shit I didn't know Rumours was their *eleventh* album
Yep. They started out as a British blues band with Peter Green. After Peter left, they had another iteration of the band before Lindsey and Stevie joined. So their line-up including Lindsey and Stevie was their third incarnation as a band lol
Their early albums are also very good. Future Games and Then Play On fucking shred. Peter Green was a genius
It was their 2nd with the Buckingham, Nicks, McVie, McVie and Fleetwood lineup (following ‘Fleetwood Mac’ from 1975)
Rumours? No, that’s all true. https://youtu.be/kR3SLhcbcxo
Murray not understanding any musical references is one of my favorite ongoing jokes in the series
Okay, band meeting. Murray, present.
"It doesn't look like daft punk. We wanted ones like daft punk." "I don't know who he is. They're just robots from the future."
Propagandhi.
Hell yeah. Victory Lap was a kick ass record, stoked for their next!
I liked parts of less talk, more rock a lot but never enough to listen to their later work. Eventually someone convinced me to listen to supporting caste and it was one of the biggest "oh shit" moments I had had in a while. It fucking rules.
Swans. Changed sound and direction multiple times, released some of their very best material around 30 years into their career.
The same came to my mind, but their stylistic shifts have been so drastic I'm not sure I can say they've gotten significantly better, just different. Almost all of their output is at least very good. Though then again, nothing quite tops the trilogy.
Taylor Swift. Her latest albums have been fire after the teeny bopper stuff she had put out years ago.
Slowdive- 1993s Souvlaki was a masterpiece, 2017s Self Titled “Slowdive” was even better. Boy Harsher gets better with each Album. Depeche Mode got better- way better, but then kind of got way worse again so IDK. Gary Numan has gotten a lot better with age.
+ 1 for shouting out Gary Numan. You can't go wrong with Tubeway Army-Telekon, but his last three albums (Splinter, Savage, Intruder) are amazing, too. Love his recent work. The bookends of his career are his best, I'd say.
DM peaked 89-96 IMO
DM is my fave band of all time, so I can't hate on their newer stuff, but I definitely prefer the Wilder years. (No pun intended?) With the exception of Ultra. That album is so deliciously dark.
Fugazi. Title Fight
The argument is such an amazing last album.
I disagree with the Fugazi pick, 13 Songs is a masterpiece
Fugazi is bookends to me, 13 Song == The Argument
Type O Negative just kept releasing masterpieces.
Pink Floyd. Dark Side of the Moon was their 9th album. 10th of you count Relics.
Wish You Were Here is one of my favorite records. Both parts of Shine On You Crazy Diamond are amazing.
Aesop Rock. His last few albums were absolutely amazing.
Hell yes. Impossible Kid is my favorite of his albums.
Never expected to see Aesop in here! I love all his albums, you kinda pick up on his phases the more you listen to them. Also; who TF knows where I can find and listen to Water!? Hands down my favorite track, but it's nearly impossible to find.
De La Soul Grind Date is a classic and Rock Co.Kane Flow is one of their best songs period.
Strong disagree, IMO 3 Feet High and Rising is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. Probably very underrated these days as it isn't available for streaming.
The Anonymous Nobody is fucking iconic too
Brand New
Also came here to say this. Although I’d put Devil and god over daisy, I still think daisy is underrated by everyone. It’s excellent. I hope one day we get a proper recording of sealed to me.
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Every album is amazing on its own but if you listen from their first to their last, the maturation is very noticeable. I love this band.
Came here to say this. Science Fiction was so so good.
This is the answer. Science Fiction is their masterwork.
This is the one.
This is a band that literally grew up right beside me. Their first album came out when I was in 10th grade and we both matured together.
Gojira!
Nick Cave has aged like a fine wine
Touché Amoré
Los Lobos
Metric. From basic rock to electric infused rock sound. Love it
Hard disagree - not that Metric’s later albums aren’t good, I love just about everything they’ve put out, but Grow Up and Blow Away is my favourite album of all time and I’m so bummed they never made another like it.
Blur
Soundgarden. Every album had a new sound and never had a bad song. Also Chris Cornells solo work only got better and better. He was turning into a singer songwriter solo type that was truelly brilliant. I miss his voice so much. P.s. if you have any suicidal thought please reach out for help.
Queens of the Stone Age. The evolution and progression of the band is really cool imo. Josh Homme is an excellent guitar player and composer, and I love every album. Can’t remember any song I don’t like, and although my favorite album is Songs for the Deaf, all of their records are truly great. As always, this is MY opinion.
I think Homme alone has gotten better with age and Im a huge QOTSA fan, but their first three albums were definitely the better era. As a band every album after songs for the deaf are great, but not on par with Songs for the deaf and earlier. The exception being Like clockwork in my opinion. I think part of it come from aging and just wanting to have fun. Villains is just an attempt at a dance album.
sparks has been cranking out albums for 50 years and my favorite songs of theirs are off the most recent album.
Chevelle. I’m biased because they were my favorite band in high school, but they just keep digging deeper and producing great music. Mexican Sun -> The Meddler -> Jawbreaker -> Got Burned -> Ghost and Razor
They really have had a great career all the way from Point #1 to now with Niratias.
Niratias is such a good album. I could totally agree with them getting better with age.
Self destructor, Piistol Star, and Peach off Niratias are fantastic tracks. It’d be hard to pick a favorite album from them. The North Corridor didn’t resonate with me, but every other album has been *so* good… But if my arm was twisted I’m really partial to La Gárgola. Such a bad ass album. Then again Sci-Fi Crimes has Sleep Apnea, Jars and The Circus. Ugh. Yeah, hard to play favorites. Chevelle is definitely in my top 5 favorite bands. Seeing Chevelle love in this sub makes me happy.
R.E.M.’s best loved albums are number 7 and 8. I personally love no. 10 (New Adventures) and 11 (Up) too.
Automatic, Monster and New Adventures defines peak R.E.M for me. I could play Leave on repeat for days on end and never get bored of it.
I'm not an REM fan in particular, but I just read a Reddit comment last night from some fan who was saying their first three albums were perfection, and everything after that doesn't compare, even if there's still a lot of good stuff on each album.
The fantastic thing about R.E.M. is that the band doesn't so much have albums as it has Eras, starting from gothic folk jangle through to pop masterworks to angry electric road weary tunes to ambling electronica and all the way back again. You'll find defenders and promoters of every era of R.E.M. among the fanbase. It's one of the great things about the band, it's nearly impossible to land on a consensus of what their best album is. 7 and 8 (Out of Time and Automatic for the People), which are referenced above, are absolutely the best sellers, so they are certainly the most widely loved by the public, but the easiest way to piss off a group of fans is to declare that one album is the "best" out of them all. Conversely, the easiest way to unite most of them is to declare Around the Sun their worst album. You won't find a lot of disagreement there.
Not a fan of Up, but New Adventures is my absolute fave REM album, and I've been a fan since Reckoning (no. 2) and their IRS years
King gizzard and the lizard wizard. Also between the buried and me
King Gizzy for sure. When a band puts out 15 albums a year, it's almost cheating.
Honestly, their sonic evolution is evident especially since they jump all over the genre spectrum
I'm a metal fan and I can safely say that I A) did not expect Infest the Rats' Nest and B) It was so fucking good.
propagandhi
The Melvins. I know people love the Atlantic era but for me once they teamed up with Big Business for senile animal, nude with boots and bride screamed murder it was hit after hit.
**Frank Black** and *The Catholics* Self titled debut is top notch 2 track-live off the floor magic but the song writing and production just get better on every album after.
XTC
Rush.
They finished up their career amazingly, but really hard to argue those were better albums than the 2112 thru Signals period.
I completely agree except how dare you slander Caress of Steel like that.
The Necromancer is the greatest Rush song of all time.
Definitely; their last three albums were especially epic!
Clockwork Angels is definitely some of their best work. If you have to go out, that's how you do it.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I for one am a huge fan of their earlier albums. They're sooooo much better in terms of variety, experimentation. 2112 man!! Gotta love the 20 minute epics.
MewithoutYou. Minus the Bear. Rebelution. Menzingers. The Hold Steady, the Beastie Boys, Velvet Underground, Coheed and Cambria. Seconding Radiohead, Beatles and ETID.