"the greatest four-record run in rock history"

Stevie Wonder - Talking Back Innervisions/ Fulfillingness First Finale/ Songs in the Key of Life

Or, maybe the Velvets (boring I know)

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book/ Innervisions/ Fulfillingness First Finale/ Songs in the Key of Life

5th Fairports' album is better than the 1st (reissued one at least) (xpost)

Also hard not to include the Beatles, though which four? -- I'd take Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Magical Mystery Tour as the best string.

Also Can: Monster Movie ---> Ege Bamyasi

And I'd give Roxy Music 5, for each album through Siren.

Todd Rungren almost it pulled off - "The Ballad of Todd Rundgren" ---> "Todd" - but not quite.

First four Steeleye Span albums = all good.

Incredible String Band, if you count "Wee Tam" and "The Big Huge" as separate albums - but I don't.

Somebody should nominate Chic, too, by the way. And Donna Summer.

Beefheart - Safe as Milk to Lick My Decals Off

... so that's a yes!

you rated it pretty highly in Stairway!

Also (unpopular choice?), Pavement.

CCR is correct, as is Dylan (but which four will inspire no end of argument).

Getting slightly outside "rock," how about Randy Newman?

I had an editor ween me quickly from using the word "arguably" in a review. It's reduntant, since the fact that you're saying it already means it's being argued. Besides, anything and everything can be "argued."

"Brick" is arguably the worst packaged Talking Heads boxed set since the last one.

Anyway, CCR wins.

springsteen: born to run/darkness on the edge of town/the river/nebraska

Cats and Dogs, Thank You, Sweet Sixteen, Accelerator, Veterans of Disorder, Pound For Pound (choose any four in order!)

Bad Attitude
Oblivion
Rainbow People
Heading To The Light

Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (CD) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (Mispress) (2xLP) Tresor
Berlin / Late Night (12") Pow Wow Records
Beyond / Dark Matter (12") ULR One
Dark Matter (12") Undertow Records
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (CD) Pow Wow Records
Beyond... / Dark Matter (12") Two Thumbs
Confidentials 5-8 (12") Axis
Cycle 30 (12") Axis
Growth (12") Axis
The Extremist (12") Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (CD) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (LP) Tresor
The Purpose Maker (12") Axis
Confidentials 1-4 (12") Axis
Mix-Up Vol. 2 (12") Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Mix-Up Vol. 2 (12") Sony Techno (S3)
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) Purpose Maker
Shifty Disco EP (12") International Deejay Gigolo Records
The Dancer (12") Purpose Maker
The Other Day (Promo) (12") Axis
The Other Day EP (12") Axis
Very EP (12") Axis
Force Universelle EP (12") Purpose Maker
Inner Life / Medusa (12") React
Kat Moda EP (12") Purpose Maker
Kat Moda EP (Mispress) (12") Purpose Maker
More Drama (12") Axis
Our Man From Havana (12") Purpose Maker
Steampit EP (12") Purpose Maker
Steampit EP Mispress (12") Purpose Maker
The Other Day (CD) Sony Techno (S3)
The Other Day (CD) React
The Other Day (CD) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Tomorrow (12") Axis
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (Detroit Cut) (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (Re-release) (2xLP) Tresor
From The 21st (CD) SMEJ Associated Records
Purpose Maker Live Series (12") Purpose Maker
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) Neuton
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) React
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) 541
Purpose Maker Compilation (2xLP) Purpose Maker
The Art Of Connecting (CD) Hardware
Vanishing Act EP (12") Purpose Maker
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (CD) Tresor
Apollo EP (12") Axis
If / Tango (12") Purpose Maker
Preview (12") Tomorrow
Skin Deep EP (12") Purpose Maker
Circus (12") Purpose Maker
Lifelike (CD) Music Man Records
Lifelike (CD) SMEJ Associated Records
Lifelike (CD) Labels
Lifelike EP (12") Axis
Lifelike EP (12") Music Man Records
Metropolis (CD) Tresor
Metropolis (12") Axis
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) So Dens
The Art Of Connecting (CD) Nextera
The Other Day (CD) So Dens
4 Art / UFO (12") Axis
At First Sight (CD) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
AX-009 A/B (2x12") Axis
AX-009 A/B (Mispress) (2x12") Axis
Conquest (12") Axis
Jet Set (12") Purpose Maker
Metropolis 2 (12") Tresor
The Electrical Experience (12") Purpose Maker
Time Machine (12") Axis
Actual (2x12") Axis
Actual (CD) Axis
At First Sight (CD) 541
At First Sight (2xLP) React
At First Sight (CD) React
At First Sight (CD) True People
At First Sight (2xLP) True People
At First Sight (CDr) React
Late Night (Archiv #04) (12") Tresor
Time Machine (CD) Tomorrow
Alarms (Ben Sims Remixes) (12") Axis
Condor To Mallorca (Ken Ishii Remixes) (12") Axis
Kana (12") Purpose Maker
Medium (2x12") Axis
Medium (CD) Axis
See The Light Part 1 (12") Axis
See The Light Part 2 (12") Axis
See The Light Part 3 (12") Axis
The Divine EP (12") Purpose Maker
Twilight Scenario (12") NSC Records
Absolutespecial (7") Axis
Axis Copper Edition (12") Axis
Contactspecial (7") Axis
Exhibitionist 12" Sampler (12") React
Exhibitionist EP (12") Music Man Records
Expanded (12") Axis
From The 21st Pt. 1 (12") Axis
From The 21st Pt. 2 (12") Axis
Highlightspecial (7") Axis
The Tomorrow Time Forgot (12") Axis
Three Ages (CD+DVD) MK2 Music
Three Ages (CD) MK2 Music
Three Ages / Present Age (Part One) (12") MK2 Music
Connectionspecial (7") Axis
Contact Special (CD) Axis
Illuminationspecial (7") Axis
Infinitespecial (7") Axis
Scenariospecial (7") Axis
Suspense / Dramatized (12") Axis
Syntheticspecial (7") Axis
The Bells (DVD Single) Axis
Three Ages / Keaton's Theme (Part Three) (12") MK2 Music
Three Ages / Roman Age (Part Two) (12") MK2 Music
Time Mechanic EP (12") Axis
Transformationspecial (7") Axis

like...STEP TO ENCHANTMENT for example

Qs and comments.

I def. prefer Get Happy to My Aim is True. My Aim is True has a lot of home runs, but some songs sound slight and/or underdeveloped.

If the Rolling Stones best 4 is not beggar's --?exile, then what? Now --> Aftermath?

Are we saying CCR is CCR --> Willy (doubt it) or Bayou --> Cosmo's (a strong candidate)?

I am a big pavement fan and I'd say they have a great argument for best three-record run, but not four.

Which Randy Newman ? s/t --> Good Old Boys (Is 12 songs being reissued soon?)

Nope that's just right..first four are by FAR the best!

other than that, StanM says what I'd say: those first four Nick Cave solo joints are to my mind the most incredible four-album run ever

The Return of Doug Saldana
Doug Sahm and Band
Texas Tornado
Groover's Paradise

I assume you're going by release date rather than by recording date (i.e. you're not including Mirror Man) in order to make that 4 - but even so, Strictly Personal wasn't exactly one of Don's crowning achievements.

I'd be more inclined to go by recording date (thus conveniently moving Mirror Man back before Trout Mask Replica) ans suggest TMR > Decals > Spotlight Kid > Clear Spot.

american fool
uh-huh
scarecrow
the lonesome jubilee

over much of what has been argued here.

1980 Dirty Mind Warner
1981 Controversy Warner
1983 1999 Warner
1984 Purple Rain Warner
1985 Around the World in a Day Paisley Park
1986 Parade Paisley Park
1987 Sign 'O' the Times Wea

The Name of this Band ... did not make P+J, but Xgau himself liked it (A-) and concluded his review:

Five years and not a misstep--think maybe they're gunning for world's greatest rock and roll band?

For consistent brilliance, I repeat the Ramones and add Tom Waits (any four starting with Swordfishtrombones, obvs).

Also, the Replacements -- Hootennany to Pleased to Meet Me. And has anyone said REM yet?

It's the weakest one of the four certainly - but it's still better than Strictly Personal or Mirror Man.

sabbath? nah, i thought of them, but sabbath 4 has too much cocaine and not enough supernaut

forgot i ranked cheap trick's too-much-big-star second so much higher than their way superior first in stairway. guess i was listening to clock strikes ten over and over again that day or something.

prince's self-titled second album is better than anything he did after purple rain (hell, i'll probably take it *over* purple rain).

and nick cave??? i have no words.

(i do like the fall nomination, though.)

john cougar (and my name is john. i reside in chicago) wins, though, i think.

that's CRAZY!

you're missing out all the good stuff!

yeah but...you're...you know...chuck eddy!

?

though it must be:
rubber soul
revolver
sgt. pepper
white album
(magical... excluded. a 2x7" EP on inital release)

BUT nothing ever tops the velvets...

Pavement's actually not such a bad choice, though Wowee Zowee is the weak link in the Slanted & Enchanted -> Brighten the Corners chain.

Bossa Nova spoils this for the Pixies.

You could make a case for Sonic Youth for Sister -> Dirty.

Beefheart I don't think works because either you pick up Spotlight Kid or Strictly Personal or Mirror Man, any one of which are deal breakers.

The Wonderful and Frightening World of...
This Nation's Saving Grace
Bend Sinister
The Frenz Experiment

is one hell of a quartet.

any fall run would HAVE to include either live at the witch trials or hex enduction hour by definition (if not both, but that's impossible, right? i don't have my calculator handy); avoiding all the mediocrities they made after this nation's savings grace would also be a priority.

you're missing out all the good stuff!"

I assume you're referring to Tom waits and Swordfishtombones / Raindogs / Franks Wild Years? Great albums, but unfortunately they're sandwiched between One From The Heart (pointless, disposable drivel) and either Big Time (superfluous and less than inspiring live album) or (if you're discounting live albums and only counting studio ones) Night On Earth (boring and tedious).

Without Confusion is Sex, I don't think this list stands up.

Killing Joke makes more sense if you count Ha! instead of Fire Dances.

But there are some others...

Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren

Yo La Tengo: Painful, Electro-Pura, Heart Beating As One, And Then Nothing...

White Stripes: De Stijl, White Blood Cells, Elephant, Get Behind Me...

Husker Du: Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig, Candy Apple Grey

Drive-By Truckers: Pizza Deliverance, Soutern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, Dirty South

Radiohead: OK Computer----Hail To The Thief (add The Bends for 5)

Time Fades Away, On The Beach, Tonight's The Night, Zuma

This is pretty tough to beat.

You've forgotten Hissing of Summer Lawns (between C&S and Hejira), but that's not a problem as it just makes a great five-record run.

I think "arguably" is a good word if used sparingly; e.g., when making an argument that's nonintuitive or even counterintuitive, yet which stands up to scrutiny:

Good: Annie Lennox, arguably one of the best r&b singers of the '80s
Bad: Stevie Wonder, arguably one of the best r&b singers of the '70s
Worse: Limahl, arguably one of the best r&b singers of the '80s

xpost - Paul, thanks; I knew I was forgetting one ...

Face To Face > Something Else By The Kinks > The Village Green Preservation Society > Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire) > Lola vs. The Powerman & The Money-Go-Round (that’s five)

Astral Weeks > Moondance > His Band & The Street Choir > Tupelo Honey > St. Dominic’s Preview (another five)

Jefferson Airplane: ...Takes off, Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing at Baxter's, and Crown of Creation

This is obviously not the winner but it is a darn good run of four records.

De Stijl
White Blood Cells
Elephant
Get Behind Me Satan

...is pretty damn fine too.

Oh! --

Propeller - Vampire on Titus - Bee Thousand - Alien Lanes

Hail to the Thief is a mess, a failed compromise between OK and Kid. Amnesiac is NOT a good album

Or; if you don't count Come On Pilgrim as a proper album; Surfer Rosa > Doolitttle > Bossa Nova > Trompe Le Monde isn't that much less convincing.

*A Series Of Sneaks is really good, but somewhat lacking compared to what follows, in my opinion.

These are both pretty great. Hardly spoilers.

Why not play Marquee Moon and Adventure twice?

Crocodiles (1980)
Heaven Up Here (1981)
Porcupine (1983)
Ocean rain (1984)

Pardon my French, but Zuma is the greatest hard-rock (in Youngian terms, of course) album that NY ever made. Including Rust, TTN, blahblahblah.

and to substitute Harvest? ya gotta be kidding.

Sell Out / Tommy / Who's Next / Quadrophenia (with Live at Leeds in the midst)

eh? Funkadelic's classic run goes: Funkadelic, Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow, Maggot Brain, America Eats Its Young.

CCR run I referred to earlier is: Bayou Country, Green River, Willy and The Poorboys, and Cosmo's Factory.

(I find some of these nominations laughable - also, Stevie Wonder is not rock n roll, sorry).

The first four Pouges albums are also brilliant

ps. I am not a nerd (cough)

Fifth dimension to Sweetheart

Turn, turn, turn is a little weak. But Mr. Tambourine Man is their best album (although Sweetheart comes close)

Bringing it All Back Home/Highway 61 Revisited/Blonde on Blonde/John Wesley Harding

...which really has to be the winner.

Consensus? ILM?

And hey Matthew, Series of Sneaks is Spoon's best album! Soft Effects gives it a run for its money though.

In what sense? Was it really shorter than 25 minutes? (Not arguing, just asking.)

>, Stevie Wonder is not rock n roll<

Why? (Odd, hearing this from somebody who nominated Funkadelic.) (Whoever nominated Prince above and says he's not rock confuses me, too.)(Like, because he's not white?? Is there another reason?)

Land Speed Record and Metal Circus > Candy Ass Grey and Warhouse

High Voltage, If You Want Blood, and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (which one came last in Australia?) all > Back in Black

Orbital II/Snivilisation/In Sides/Middle of Nowhere

also (I'm probably the only one here who will rep for all four of these):

Lazer Guided Melodies/Pure Phase/Ladies and Gentlemen/Let It Come Down

"In what sense? Was it really shorter than 25 minutes? (Not arguing, just asking.)"

Originally only 6 songs (on 2 x 7"ers iirc) totalling less than 20 minutes. The other 5 tracks on the album version that's now about were originally the A- and B-sides of various other singles released around the same time.

d'oh! PWND! Well, kinda sorta... skin color doesn't have anything to do with it, its more that Funkadelic made pretty obvious use of rock tropes (LOUD GUITARS, psychedelic reverb effects, etc.) in a way that Stevie didn't.

music of my mind > talking book > innervisions > fulfillingness' first finale

what do i have to do to convince wonder lovers that "songs in the key of life" suxxxx?!?! or is at least not as good as "music of my mind"?

and CCR is seconded.

X-post

Well, that's not an EP (unless, like I said, all those odds and sods added up to less than 25 minutes). But I can see how it wouldn't count (like how Costello's *Taking Liberties,* say, wouldn't count.)

And lots of white bands on this thread don't have guitars as noisy as Funkadelic either, Shakey. I mean, I like CCR better than Stevie myself, but "Superstition" and "Living for the City" sure rock as hard as anything CCR (or the Beatles or Byrds etc) did to my ears.

hehe

Why is that people are disqualifying Stevie Wonder when the impetus for this thread was the Talking Heads? Mentalists.

Stewart, Strictly Personal is awesome and far superior to Mirror Man. Hell, I like it better than Safe As Milk!

And anyway Prince wins everything. Mentalists.

I'm sure there's an REM partisan waiting to make his bid. What about Kraftwerk? They kinda count as rock. Or Motorhead (who definitely do)?

I agree with pretty much everything you say (except wrt Radiohead - personally I think Amnesiac is the best album they've ever done!) however there's a big difference between consistent high quality and consistently high quality, which is what you seem to be demanding.

Bossa Nova and Trompe Le Monde may not be as good as Surfer Rosa and Doolittle; and Something Else and Lola may not be as good as Village Green or Face To Face; but they're still extremely good albums.

If consistently high quality is the criteria, then I'd have to start by taking issue with the suggestion that would then be inherent in the premise of the thread that More Songs About Buildings And Food is as good as '77, Fear Of Music Or Remain In Light - 'cos it just ain't!

"I'm sure there's an REM partisan waiting to make his bid. What about Kraftwerk? They kinda count as rock. Or Motorhead (who definitely do)?"

I already done dat.

I second Sabbath, Velvets, and...

Brian Eno: Here Come the Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain, Another Green Day, Before and After Science (arguably Discreet Music is somewhere in the middle there screwing things up)

Misfits: Static Age, 12 Hits From Hell, Walk Among Us, Earth A.D.
(arguably one of the most underappreciated runs in punk rock history)

RZA (arguably the architect of these releases, which came out over the course of two years): Wu Tang's Enter the 36 Chambers, Method Man's Tical, ODB's Return To The 36 Chambers, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., GZA's Liquid Swords (arguably, 5 records)

Wire: Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, 154 (arguably, only 3)

Minutemen: The Punch Line, What Makes A Man Start Fires, Howl and Buzz Under The Influence of Heat, Double Nickel on the Dimes (arguably)

Stooges: The Stooges, Fun House, Raw Power, Metallic KO (argh)

Yeah, this is fun...

yeah, you should HEAR the albums...

*rimshot*

Has Dylan ever done 4 really great records in a row?

You could make a case for three, with "Subterranean Homesick Blues"-"Blonde On Blonde" and "Planet Waves"-"Desire", but four? Not really.

As far as the last ten years, may I submit:
Queens of the Stone Age > R > Songs for the Deaf > Lullabies to Paralyze

The most recent one is far from their best, but I think it's a very admirable run.

The other archetype is when you throw a sprawling, inconsistent double album in the mix eg

Fleetwood Mac > Rumors > Tusk > Mirage

If Tusk had been a single LP we'd be going for it like CCR (who had some filler in there, people).

I am shocked, shocked at all the negativity towards Hail To The Thief, that's my favorite album of theirs by far.

The Stones still win, but if we count stuff that was heard on bootleg first, then you have to give it up for Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, The Basement Tapes

What about Gram Parsons? Sweetheart of the Rodeo/Gilded Palace/GP/Grevious Angel is a pretty impressive run.

murmur (masterpiece)
reckoning (a bit rushed)
fables (brilliant, the best of the lot)
life's rich... (very good)
document (very good)
green (very good)

so it would have to be fables -> green

the rest is not worth mentioning (!)

Dark Side Of The Moon
Wish You Were Here
Animals
The Wall

...or did I miss something?

I'll second (fifth?) REM, along with Dinosaur Jr - Dinosaur - Green Mind

Would other people choose My Aim Is True instead of Trust?

Maybe because it didn't? Read, like, the first post (and my answer a few posts down)

How about The Rod Stewart Album, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells A Story and Never A Dull Moment?

For the past ten (eleven, actually...) years, I'd submit the Blue Album, Pinkerton, the Green Album and Maladroit.

The Residents: Present The Third Reich And Roll > Fingerprince > Eskimo > Commercial Album

Camper Van Beethoven: II >>>> Key Lime Pie

Cocteau Twins: Garlands > Head Over Heels > Treasure > Victorialand

all favorite runs of mine, also Half Japanese's 1st 4

Also: Al Green (from Al Green Gets Next To You to Call Me, people!

I would say Springsteen's first four records, but the second disc of the River kills it for me.

As far as hip-hop is concerned, you really have to give Outkast some props. Either from Southernplayalistic to Stankonia, or from ATLiens through Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, depending on your taste. I think I like the second sequence here. They might (have?) be(en) the only carreerists in hip-hop so far.

And what about Hendrix? If you count Band of Gypsies (or some of the posthumous stuff, which is pretty good) he rattled off a pretty nice run before passing.

What about Built to Spill, from There's Nothing Wrong With Love --Ancient...??? Oh yeah, that last one kinda sucks. So close though!

I'd probably nominate Cam'ron for this too, but we all know that his best work is yet to come. He's seriously the best rapper in the game right now.

And Steely Dan! In fact, the ran shit throughout the Seventies, if you ask me!

Why not just remove Greatest Hits and add Life?

Mellow Gold -> Stereopathetic Soulmanure -> One Foot in the Grave -> Odelay

Second, I am indignant at the lack of indignation over the defamation of "Something Else." It is as good as or better than Face to Face and Village Green.

even not counting the singles as an album, the first four stand up as well as the first four talking heads albums.

I'd say he doesn't qualify. The first three were excellent, but he has never managed a good four album run.

whhhaaaaa-??

I totally agree with this!

>Would other people choose My Aim Is True instead of Trust?
I'd say he doesn't qualify. The first three were excellent, but he has never managed a good four album run.<

I totally agree with this, too!

But the only four good Squeeze albums were the first 4 (including *UK Squeeze,* and even their fourth one is pushing it.)

World Gone Wrong
Time Out of Mind
Love and Theft
plus the next one

please - disco - actually - introspection

if disco doesn't count (being a remix album) then the fourth would be behaviour, which makes the whole thing iffier

peng > transient random-noise bursts > mars audiac quintet > emperor tomato ketchup

congregation > gentlemen > black love > 1965

and i'm surprised no one has mentioned rush (that i've seen). but i'm not gonna do so.

"Love Me Til The Sun Shines" also has not been mentioned and it RULES.

The Immortal Otis Redding - Atco 33 252 * 6/1968

Love Man - Atco 33 289 * 6/1969

Tell The Truth - Atco 33 333 * 7/1970

ditto to whomever upthread mentioned the bunnymen (up to and including ocean rain).

given all of the numanoids here, i am rather shocked that tubeway army, replicas, pleasure principle, and telekon have not yet been mentioned (or, for those who don't like tubeway army, add dance at the back-end for yer foursome).

re zappa: i rather pedantically note that lumpy gravy was NOT credited to the mothers -- so the run from freak out! to uncle meat (all of which WERE credited to zappa AND the mothers) can be unsullied.

-- o. nate

Only in comparison! Like I said: "A"s among "A+"s. (Or A-, Velvets-wise.)

Then again, there's THIS:

Brother, Brother, Brother -> 3+3 -> Live It Up -> The Heat is On -> Harvest For the World -> Go For Your Guns -> Showdown

The Isleys had to be at least the second-best R&B act of the '70s.

New Order's Movement, PC&L, Lowlife and Brotherhood is pretty special.

Also Soft Machine 1,2,3 and 4.

And Autobahn/Radioactivity/Trans-Europe Express/Man-Machine/Computer World (That's Five!)

Can I have Unknown Pleasures/Closer/Movement/PC&L? Oh,alright then.

you don't have to ignore 4-track demos because it's better than rid of me. but dance hall at louse point is a better choice than stories; thus, 4-track demos, to bring you my love, dance hall at louse point, is this desire?

also missy elliott, fools:

supa dupa fly, da real world, miss e...so addictive, under construction

(also, stretching of 'rock' definition there for Otis and Missy)

like, because it rocks too hard and lacks silly little-fishies-in-the-water cabaret shtickola where her voice gets louder and quieter for no reason? sorry, i don't buy it. she sounded more adventurous when she wasn't trying so hard to sound "adventurous," seems to me.

"Controversy > 1999, Purple Rain, or Sign of the Times (honest)."

When I moved out, I took almost all of my albums. A small number, due to space issues, stayed behind. Controversy stayed behind, along with diamonds and pearls. Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, Lovesexy, Sign O'The Time, Parade all made the trip.

Was I horribly mistaken?

Xpost

how many 'copycat' threads has this spawned??

more directly on topic...

I find lots of Contrarian-ist suggestions above.
Here's more:
Archers of Loaf - all four of their studio albums
Pooh Sticks - Orgasm (or Multiple Orgasm) ==> Million Seller
Faces - (really stretching the 'rules') the 4 records of the 5 guys .. boxset
Fela Kuti -- take your pick
Tindersticks -- first four

beach boys -- Today!, summer days, pet sounds and smile(y smile)

1. Stevie Wonder
2. War
3. Gladys Knight & the Pips
4. Isley Brothers
5. Temptations

my new nomination, might even beat John Cougar!:

The Best of ZZ Top
Deguello
El Loco
Eliminator

(And you could probably substitute Tejas for Best of, or Fandango! and Tejas {or Tres Hombres and Tejas} for Best Of and Eliminator if you want).

Also, Don't Take Me Alive....also Haitian Divorce! ....Royal Scam is their "Presence"! Love it.

Agreed, UK Squeeze is surely an underrated album.

d00d, that's SOOOOOO wrong! LtP IS the weakest of the weak...3-4 songs good-10+=VERY BAD!
but, hey, they got 3 great albums out before it went to stinky.

CCR is obviously the winner here...

"Summer's Last Sound"-->"A Rock to Cling To"-->"Last Dance"-->"It's a Kid's World"

And considering that they're bookended by the "Science" and "Second Language" EPs, it could make a strong case as the best run of records in rock history, period.

that's an UBER-NEGATIVE!!!!
adore blows it, hands down, even BC himself admits as much...
now Gish-Mellon Collie (counting Picese Iscariot) work...

OK, third-best, but:

1. THE MOTHERSHIP
2. Stevie
3. Isleys
4. Mayfield
5. O'Jays

x-post.

xp #2 Chuck: and and and James Brown and Isaac Hayes and Sly (and the Family) Stone and man putting together a '70s R&B top five is harder than presidenting

Get Happy is definitely better than my Aim Is True. I don't know about Trust though.

Freak Out!, Absolutely Free, We're Only In It For The Money and Uncle Meat are actually Mothers Of Invention albums, whereas Lumpy Gravy is Frank Zappa solo.

Unfortunately however, Ruben And The Jets came between We're Only In It For The Money and Uncle Meat.

I would.

But I wouldn't describe Get Happy as a great album.

Or Trust for that matter.

Good call!

Couldn't we insert Vs. The Greatest Of All-Time for good measure? Although I'd settle for Icky Mettle getting the remaster treatement...maybe in 2008 for its 15th birthday? I digress.

is one hell of a quartet.

didn't I Am Curious Orange come out before the Frenz Experiment?

"even not counting the singles as an album, the first four stand up as well as the first four talking heads albums."

I love Pere Ubu but I don't think they have actually legitimately managed four truly great records in a row.

David Thomas otoh (if you count his work with The Pedestrians / Two Pale Boys / The Wooden Birds / The Foreigners / whatever as all being essentially "solo") has probably come just as close, if not closer.

Agreed, and Get Happy! is my favorite Elvis Costello record. I feel so out of step.

Still not seeing anything that tops CCR, mainly because of what someone said at the very beginning--they went on a run like crazy.

Maybe the thread helps demonstrate / explain why so many canonical acts are / have become canonical acts?

Pure
Head
Goat
Liar
Lash
Down
Show
Shot
Blue
Bang

Psychocandy
Darklands
Barbed Wire Kisses
Automatic

Maybe this one's pushing it a bit.

I have a small but persistently nagging suspicion that an infinitessimally small minority of ILM's collective girlfriends / boyfriends / partners / wifes / husbands might just disagree with you ever so slightly on a couple of extremely minor points of detail....

The rest of them would most definitely tell you that you're talking complete arse.

No. (And I like Frenz more anyway, personally!)

Twin Infinitives
Royal Trux
Cats and Dogs
Thank You

You've got a hell of a lot of support for Head through Down, at least

The Genesis run of no less than 9 most excellent albums in a row ended with "Duke".

beat that progression?

transmissions from the satellite heart
clouds taste metallic
zaireeka
the soft bulletin

69 love songs
i

soul rebels
catch a fire
burnin'
natty dread

In a priest driven ambulance
Hit to Death in the Future Head
Transmissions...
Clouds Taste Metallic

Can't say I've cared for much by them after CTM, but what a run...

My vote personally goes to Cheap Trick, though. If only for the fact that they made 4 almost flawless records and then did nothing but dreck from then on.

Outlandos d'Amour
Reggatta de Blanc
Zenyatta Mondatta
Ghost in the Machine
Synchronicity

oh god did i say that

simple minds:
reel to real cacophony => empires & dance => sons & fascination => sister feelings call
(yes i am cheating by counting the last 'double' album as 2 single ones, but i think 'new gold dream' is overrated)

yello:
solid pleasure => claro que si => you gotta say yes => stella
(and 'one second' almost extends it to 5)

comsat angels:
waiting for a miracle => sleep no more => fiction => land
(i believe most other comsat fans think the 4th is naff, but i don't)

magazine:
would have been in here if the last album hadn't been a bit weak (and a live one would have got in the way anyway)

other hon. mentions -
cabs:
crackdown => microphonies => covenant => code

devo:
nearly make it - though with albums 2->5 or even 3->6 for me (i like their synthpop phase)

t.dream:
the phaedra => rubycon => ricochet sequence peters out with 'stratosfear' unfortunately...
(oops - creaky puns purely accidental)

the chameleons:
if they had released a 4th album in the 80's...

& Dr C is OTM ref. kraftwerk

i'd say
after the goldrush
harvest
time fades away
on the beach
is the better run.

And on Tom Waits, no need to count One From the Heart or Night on Earth or Big Time, as they're all movie soundtrack albums rather than studio albums proper, and their faults have very much to do with that. So without them you get Heartattack & Vine > Swordfishtrombones > Raindogs > Frank's Wild Years > Bone Machine. Which is pretty damn amazing. You could go on and say that next came Mule Variations, but the many years' gap disqualifies it as part of any "run," I think.

And just a YES to The Modern Dance to Art of Walking.

Personally, I;d go with either the first four or American Stars n Bars, Comes a Time, Rust Never Sleeps, Hawks & Doves. Freedom, Ragged Glory, Harvest Moon, Sleeps with Angels is pretty groovy, too (doesn;t count the weird live records and comps released between).

But for all-time best four, it just doesn;t get any better than the Stones' run of Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile. Only thing even close is Beatles (Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers, Magical Mystery).

pretty fair run.

James Brown's

Soul on Top
It's a New Day
Sex Machine
Super Bad

is a good run. and yeah I am leaving out his Christmas album "Hey America." well, who else calls a Christmas album "Hey America" and then includes a rap about how he's pissed off at his wife/girlfriend, and makes not-so-veiled threats toward her during it? if that's not great, then what is? But for my money, start JB almost anywhere around 1969 and you get four really interesting albums--better that than the Talking Heads, for chrissake.

Pere Ubu I would go for as well. possibly CCR. not Sly, though, since "Stand!" isn't totally great, and besides, what came after "Fresh"? Funkadelic is strong: Let's Take It to the Stage/Tales of Kidd/Hardcore Jollies/One Nation. I'm leaving out the best-ofs on Westbound. Prince didn't have four great ones in a row. Costello had one boring one (his first one), one great one, one kinda good one, then that Stax/Motown whisky-and-cocaine one, then the other great one, "Trust." didn't he go Nashville in there somewhere? and then he re-made the Beatles on "Imperial Boudoir." the Beatles, sure, Please/With/Hard Day's/For Sale, that's the run I'd choose, while others would say Rubber/Revolver/Pepper...whoops! Magical Mystery Tour, so that run is screwed. or Help!!...nope, that one I always thought was one of their worst.

I know plenty of people who could argue Neil Young. probably I have been in the same room when "Harvest" was playing, or that one which I do like, the album with "Cinnamon Girl." I do like "Cortez the Killer"--that's on "Zuma"? for that matter, Joni Mitchell if we're talking Neil Young. Melissa Manchester? Phoebe Snow? Dylan? Bringing It/Hwy. 61/Blonde/Nashville, is that how that goes?

anyway, I just wanted to put in my two cents--I honestly can't think of any four great rock albums in a row except for the Stones and maybe CCR and maybe Skynyrd, actually, when I think about them. but wasn't there one kind of dud in there, "Gimme Back My Bullets"? the Kinks? the only really great Kinks records are the Greatest HIts collection on Reprise, Face to Face and Something Else. I recently got as a gift the 3-disc Village Green reissue, and it put me to sleep. when it gets to "Phenomenal Cat," I just zone out. Arthur is lame, too. None of those British beat groups sustained four albums. The Move? the Hollies? Small Faces? Manfred Mann? Beefheart? Strictly Personal is no good, neither is Spotlight Kid except for one or two songs, and Clear Spot is fun but hardly great. except for maybe Doc at Radar Station and Safe as Milk, every single one of his records are deeply flawed, boring, misguided, something wrong with all of them.

so many of the people I really love, like George Jones or Haggard or Ray Charles or Gilberto Gil--they never made "four great albums in a row" that I know of. Chic didn't. and I mean, really, even Brown's Sex Machine has that dumb-ass version of "Spinning Wheel" on it. I guess I'm happy with all the imperfections of less-than-great albums all in a row.

Whoo, Lord.

High Voltage
Dirty Deeds
Let there be rock
Powerage

Corkers the lot of 'em. But if push comes to shove the Stones still take it.

I'm surprised nobody's said anything regarding Parliament. Mothership Connection, Dr. Funkenstein, Funkentelechy... you just have to pick Chocolate City vs. Motor Booty Affair as your bookend...

Sleater-Kinney is an excellent answer just in terms of, maybe none of the albums will ever enter the canon of Great Rock Records, but they all stand as testaments to the miraculous and rare feat of a working band being consistently VERY good and often great or excellent, certainly never bad. I do feel like All Hands isn't quite up there with what precedes it, but I still like it better than One Beat, so, whatever.

As far as Beck goes, my vote's for Odelay > Mutations > Midnite Vultures > Sea Change. Not only four EXCELLENT albums (much as my opinion on MV has waffled over the years), but covering a whole lot of different territory.

I wonder how much it's fair to not count SOME types of compilations. I mean, if a compilation collects a lot of non-album work from the same period as the surrounding albums, surely it fits in with what we're trying to get at here, the idea of bands being on a temporary creative high? If the Beatles had put out something like Past Masters 1.5 after Pepper, would that not have some relevance? For some reason, even though I don't think they qualify for thread anyway, I'm thinking about Modest Mouse's "Building Nothing Out of Something." Non-album stuff more or less contemporary with Lonesome Crowded West....

Oh hell, I'll go ahead and say it for the sake of hyping a contemporary band: Lonesome Crowded West > Building Nothing Out of Something > Moon & Antarctica > Everywhere & His Nasty Parlour Tricks.

How about Pussy Whipped > Reject All American > Julie Ruin > Le Tigre?

My for real, serious answer: The Ramones win Even with the bad slow numbers and the lame cover art on Leave Home. Those first four records manage to show a progression and yet feel like one continuous peak at the same time. Fabulous, and I really need to get my copies back...

"Whoo, Lord."

You were absolutely right to express surpise and alarm Tim; however we must always remember that in the final analysis it all comes down to a matter of personal taste, which of course is all entirely and intrinsically subjective, and we're all entitled to have our opinions.

Even Edd.

Even when he's so obviously and completely wrong.

Haha. No, it was, really. A double seven inch. Capitol made it an album by putting all the recent single sides on the B-sides. It has stayed an album in their catalog only because this has remained an easy way for these single tracks to be available. (They would have overloaded Past Masters Volume 2.)

And again, The White Album came out only a year and a half after Sgt. Pepper. That's hardly a big gulf of time, particularly in terms of how we think of artists working nowadays.

OTM about Safe as Milk being the Captain's most consistent record. Trout Mask is really difficult for me to listen to straight-through nowadays, though I used to all the time when I was younger (and partook more of the jazz-cigareet). I actually think that Shiny Beast is pretty consistently listenable all the way through. I used to hate "Candle Mambo" and "Love Lies" too, but now I like them.

Ha ha, that's the song that got me started on Beefheart on the first place (and i ain't finished yet)

I'd love to be able to start with Transmissions and go to Soft Bulletin, but the fact that Zaireeka, while actually a good record, really doesn't make the cut, even if it were a less unweildy format than the crazy 4 simultaneous cd release thing. If Zaireeka wasn't wedged in there, I'd even nominate Priest through Soft Bulletin as a five-record run.

Anyway, it wasn't a case for trying to get the Beatles in on a technicality or anything! Magical Mystery Tour is an awesome EP.

me too, Tim. I love what Lucas and Johnston did with it on the Fast 'n' Bulbous album this year. I love Beef--his albums are a bit like James Brown's, I guess, so strong and yet so flawed. No one could keep up that inhuman pace anyway. and speaking of "Sheriff of Hong Kong," sometimes I get into its flow and it sounds incredible, sometimes I feel like I'm riding go-kart on a muddy dirt track with two fat-bottomed gurls...which might actually be a good thing now that I type that...

xp

[Talking Heads first four albums] stand with any four consecutive albums ever made by anybody. (The Velvet Underground and Public Enemy aside, these are almost certainly the greatest first four albums in all of pop music.)

the smiths > hatful of hollow > meat is murder > the queen is dead

?

i will then.

Even so, More Songs ... and Fear of Music are two of the most colossally great rock records. No false notes on either album, especially the latter.

Timothy's monster > Blissard > Angels and deamons at play > Trust us

All equally great.

# Torch of the Mystics LP (Majora) 1990
# Dawn of the Devi LP (Majora) 1991
# Live from Planet Boomerang 2-LP (Majora) 1992
# Bright Surroundings, Dark Deginnings LP (Majora) 1993
# Valentines from Matahari LP (Majora) 1993
# Kaliflower CD/LP (Abduction) 1994

I'm ultimately down with Trust Us, which is probably my favorite record of all time, with AADAP as a great runner-up.

They've recently finished recording the new one, though their drummer left a few months ago so it's made only by Bent and Snah, and the first rumours about a new tour in the spring of 2006 are to be found on the MP-forum. Release is expected somewhere in feb/mar 2006. I guess.

The last one is a compilation of two EPs, but it's been an "album" as far as I can remember, and rivals any of Nick Cave's best solo work.
Birthday Party 80
Prayers On Fire 81
Junkyard 82
The Bad Seed/Mutiny 83

How Curtis Mayfield was overlooked is beyond me.
Curtis 70
Roots 71
Superfly 72
Back To The World 73

I'd say The Sound has an edge over Comsat Angels in that Heads and Hearts doesn't suck.
Jeopardy 80
From The Lions Mouth 81
All Fall Down 82
Heads And Hearts 85

Though I'm a little tired of her at the moment,
Debut 93
Post 95
Homogenic 97
Vespertine 01

Arto Lindsay may be the most underrated artist of the last decade.
Mundo Civilizado 97
Noon Chill 98
Prize 99
Invoke 02

Am I alone in thinking CCR didn't really make albums? They seemed to me to be just singles collections with filler. For someone like Otis Redding, it works. But when I borrowed the box set of all their albums, I really couldn't get into any of the so-called album tracks.

here we go:

Eno's 4 vocal albums (I know he did Discreet Music in between there, but these kind of form a set)

They Might Be Giants - s/t, Lincoln, Flood, Apollo 18

Van der Graaf Generator - H to He Who Am The Only One, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff, Still Life

Orbital - Orbital 2, Snivilisation, In Sides, Middle of Nowhere

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty

ELP - s/t, Tarkus, Trilogy, Brain Salad Surgery

The Orb - Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld, U.F. Orbus, Orbus Terrarum, Orblivion

Ween - The Mollusk, White Pepper, quebec, Shinola vol. 1 (ok counting Shinola is kinda lame but it's up there with the rest)

Gary Numan - Tubeway Army, Replicas, Pleasure Principle, Telekon

Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall
Genesis – Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Gets Next to You
Let's Stay Together
I'm Still in Love with You
Call Me
pretty fair run.

church

Black Vinyl Shoes, Present Tense, Tongue Twister, Boomerang. (I didn't check above--if anyone else mentioned them, colour me astounded.)

Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5, Confield

lp5, confield, draft 7:30, untilted

Mentioned towards the beginning, but there's a good long stretch of Royal Trux I'd consider. In my personal opinion, I might go with Cats & Dogs, Thank You, Sweet Sixteen, and Accelerator. It kinda kills me to stop short and not include Veterans of Disorder, though.

Maybe I have the order that these were released in wrong but:

A Love Supreme
Ascension
The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
Meditations

Miles Davis:

In A Silent Way
Bitches Brew
A Tribute To Jack Johnson
On The Corner

Oh wait "in rock history" duh. Scratch those.

nakh you have prompted me to give Draft 7.30 yet one more spin.

Station To Station, Low, Heroes, Lodger.

nice...it's awesome, not a glorious spring day sort of record though

<q>Ween - The Mollusk, White Pepper, quebec, Shinola vol. 1</q>

bow to frogbs, stevie wonder

If only Talk Talk had done something as a group after Laughing Stock.

also, Stevie Wonder is not rock n roll, sorry

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, October 26, 2005 3:22 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

smfh

Someone upthread had a problem with Kraftwerk because Radioactivity sits in the middle of Autobahn, Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine and Computer World. I would say this isn't a problem because Radioactivity is a better album than Computer World anyway. Therefore, Kraftwerk is the correct answer.

It's hard to pick a Genesis run. I slightly prefer the run starting from Selling England... maybe second side of Foxtrot to first side of Trick!

Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5, Confield

― ledge, Friday, 23 March 2012 14:53 (22 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Can't really agree with this, and I'm a massive Ae fan. Add EP7 in there and we can talk.

Led Zeppelin IV - Houses - PG - Presence

MLIR, Parklife, The Great Escape, Blur

^ tempted to say this is a strong contender. TGE is the weakest link, but seems to have undergone a bit of a reassessment of late.

Eep, I made a math error.

If you count Band of Gypsys (all-new material, not a posthumous/archival release), Hendrix:

Are You Experienced?
Axis: Bold As Love
Electric Ladyland
Band of Gypsys

Black Sabbath wins this. In fact they had the best 6 record run in rock history.

I’d go with Dylan whether you cheat a little (BIOBH to Basement Tapes) or not (BIOBH to JWH). The only thing more amazing about that body of work — the equivalent of at least seven single discs, all of it gold — is the fact that it was all recorded within a three-year period.

Was going to say Sabbath, but the right dude got there with it.

Van der Graaf Generator - H to He Who Am The Only One, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff, Still Life

All the more remarkable when you add the fact that Peter Hammill also had an awesome run of solo albums in parallel with these – The Silent Corner and the Emty Stage, In Camera, Nadir's Big Chance, Over

that reminds me , I definitely need to pick up a copy of Over

Crazy Rhythms
The Good Earth
Only Life
Time For A Witness

Giants walk among us:

Wussy: Funeral Dress, Left for Dead, Wussy, Strawberry
Imperial Teen: Seasick, What Is Not to Love, On, The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band
Yo La Tengo: Painful, Electr-O-Pura, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out

(Also second the Feelies.)

Moby Grape?

^i honestly dont think ive heard a note from any of those bands. Ive heard OF Yo La Tengo, but not the other two.

xpost

Imperial Teen: Seasick, What Is Not to Love, On, The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band

^^^ excellent sequence

My Yo La Tengo (since we're including EPs) would be
May I Sing With Me, Shaker EP, Painful, Electr-O-Pura. After that, cracks started to appear, and they got overwhelmed by crapulence.

Giants walk among us:

Wussy: Funeral Dress, Left for Dead, Wussy, Strawberry

Yes Yes Yes Yes! There's not a bad song on any of those records.

Christgau just wrote a long thing on Wussy--he's given every album an A, maybe the first time ever a band's started off four-for-four with him.

http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Rock-Roll/The-Many-Reasons-to-Love-Wussy/ba-p/7259

No one's mentioned it yet but X's run of Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World is nothing to sneeze at.

Christgau just wrote a long thing on Wussy--he's given every album an A, maybe the first time ever a band's started off four-for-four with him.

http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Rock-Roll/The-Many-Reasons-to-Love-Wussy/ba-p/7259

― clemenza, Friday, March 23, 2012 1:31 PM (46 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh good, im glad to know that Christgau likes them, that way i dont have to go out of my way to try to listen to them, cuz I'll know they suck.

Consistency is not really the best ideal to shoot for in rock, I think. Good artists are consistent, great artists are not. The best 4-record run would be the one in which each album stands apart from the others as a unique creation in its own right. Too many of these suggestions are bands that hit their stride and then put out 4 examples of their signature style before falling off. Admirable, but not really thrilling. I think the best example so far of a band that reinvented themselves over a series of albums while still able to do no wrong was the Beatles from "Rubber Soul" through "The Beatles".

Using that criteria, I'd say the Velvets hands down.

Wow, in the six years since I last posted, there's at least one band I'd add. Still sort of a cult band that appeals to a small audience I suppose, but hard for me to imagine anyone who likes any sort of guitar rock not appreciating them, and the progress they made with each album.

Colour Haze

Los Sounds de Krauts
Colour Haze
Tempel
All

I'd add their earlier albums for a stellar 7 album run, or 8, if She Said ever comes out! I might add Ufomammut soon too...

Using o. nate's criteria, Neil Young's run of Everybody Knows > After The Gold Rush > Harvest > On The Beach totally qualifies.

they've been mentioned several times, but sonic youth's run from evol through goo is all-time for me, both by o nate's "constant reinvention" criteria, and just as albums i love from front to back

With the Who, I feel like you could start pretty much anywhere, as long as you ended with (or before, I still can't decide) Who Are You (and I'd include Live At Leeds).

Using o nate's criteria, I say Black Sabbath.

You skipped Time Fades Away, unless you're counting it as a live album--I wouldn't. (Even though it is...)

Bill Magill: whatever you think of Christgau, give this a listen--my favourite Wussy song, and one of my favourite songs ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGCTCi_NU84

I will definitely listen.

I actually think what o.nate says is really OTM, as easy and fun as it is to list great four-album runs, it's hard to do what he's talking about without skipping stuff, like say In the Court-Lizard-Lark's Tongues-Red

also, I think the four Eno vocal albums count! none of them are really like the other ones

Orbital's too. I guess it's not that hard

I am awaiting the fourth Portishead album so I can list them here

also, I think the four Eno vocal albums count! none of them are really like the other ones

yeah, that's easily one of my favorite four-record runs, and the progress from album to album is remarkable

this wussy song is odd. didn't initially like the dude's vocals or the jingle-jangle guitar style, but i love the female singer and the way their voices work together. and the fuzz guitar provides such a massive lift when it comes in. not an immediate all-favorite song or anything (youtube uploader compares it w "fairytale of new york" ffs), but damn good. now want to hear more wussy.

god, that name

I actually think what o.nate says is really OTM, as easy and fun as it is to list great four-album runs, it's hard to do what he's talking about without skipping stuff

i dunno, i kind of hate prescriptive music-evaluation rules of that sort. "progress" is or can be of value, but it's not an absolute good, and music isn't necessarily any worse for its apparent absence.

Wow...I had the exact same reaction. Something about the guy's vocals smacked of folkie earnestness, but I still want to hear more of their stuff.

xp

i dunno, i kind of hate prescriptive music-evaluation rules of that sort. "progress" is or can be of value, but it's not an absolute good, and music isn't necessarily any worse for its apparent absence.

I know what you mean, if an artist has four great albums, I don't care if they're similar, alike, purple, green, as long as they're great, I have enough variety on my 'pod - however it does kinda change leave this as a "post your favorite" thread

Compare Sabotage or Sabbath Bloody Sabbath to Paranoid. Those were completely different bands. Plus you have the superheavy space-rock psychedelia of Master of Reality and the coked-out California jazz-metal from hell of Vol. 4. Oh, and the debut album that started the most enduring sub-genre of rock music. Take your pick of which four you want to put in a row, and it blows any band on this thread to pieces.

yes, but you're bill magill, so...

i dunno, i kind of hate prescriptive music-evaluation rules of that sort. "progress" is or can be of value, but it's not an absolute good, and music isn't necessarily any worse for its apparent absence.

I agree, and I never used the word "progress". I'm just saying that to me the process of reinvention (not progress towards some imagined ideal) makes for a harder challenge and a more interesting run of albums to consider.

well, okay, sub "reinvention" for progress. i apologize for paraphrasing you badly, but my objection is still the same. i'm not sure it's any harder to find four truly great and radically divergent albums in a row than it is to find four great and similar ones. i suppose that die-hard fans of a particular favorite sound might be relatively easy to please, but there are plenty of undiscerning fans of "progress", "reinvention" and "originality" on the other side to balance the scales.

i'm not sure it's any harder to find four truly great and radically divergent albums in a row than it is to find four great and similar ones.

I do think it's harder, but on the other hand I don't think that just because something is harder to do, that makes the end result more valuable. No doubt there are many great bands who found one great style and largely stuck to it, and often I prefer listening to them.

yes, but you're bill magill, so...

― Fozzy Osbourne (contenderizer), Friday, March 23, 2012 3:57 PM (44 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

meaning?

you have been known to like you some black sabbath, bill

not THE best, but Steve Miller Band's first four albums (five, even) has to be one of the very best rock album runs of the 60s.

you have been known to like you some black sabbath, bill

― Fozzy Osbourne (contenderizer), Friday, March 23, 2012 4:45 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag

hahahah, got it. yes, i'm biased, i admit it.

sabbath is one of the most loved bands in ilx history!

The Smiths
Meat Is Murder
The Queen Is Dead
Strangeways, Here We Come

Boom.

whimper

Thanks for mentioning Wussy. I've only sampled a few songs, but they seem promising, and I love "Wrist Rocket".

hmmm not sure about this Wussy, seem like a poor man's Ass Ponys

ha did you read the christgau writeup? that's basically literally true

They'll be covering this in the Sound Opinions show tomorrow: http://www.soundopinions.org/episodes

“The best grand slams in pop history.” It (show #518) should be available for streaming tomorrow morning, and download in iTunes.

I started writing about four album runs, but got more interested in six album runs, heh: http://fastnbulbous.com/who-had-the-best-six-album-run/

A Quietus review of a Pavement reissue 9 years ago with some hyperbolic statements about that band prompted me to do this: http://fastnbulbous.com/whos-the-best-band-of-the-90s/

I control+F'd Kanye on that post and nothing came up

Well, I tried it and it came up once.

Six album run - how bout Nursery Cryme/Foxtort/Selling England by the Pound/The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway/Trick of the Tail/Wind and Wuthering ?

The first six TMBG albums. I don't care, I love 'em.

First six Elvis Costello albums too. Well, you have to kick out Almost Blue.

Gentle Giant from Acquiring the Taste to Free Hand. Flawless, every one of them.

I dunno, Magma? Kinda hard to think of them in terms of albums but 1001 Degrees Centigrade to Attahk is a hell of a run.

Yes, you can go TYA/Fragile/Close to the Edge/Tales/Relayer/GFTO. Now that I like Tales I'd say this one works.

Grotesque/Hex Enduction Hour/Perverted By Language/The Wonderful and Frightening World Of.../This Nation's Saving Grace/Bend Sinister

nothing else comes remotely close IMO

(if you want to count Slates as an album then the span gets even stronger)

the problem with that is that Room To Live is in there between Hex and Perverted, otherwise I totally agree

dammit

RTL is kind of a mini album though

I still think it's fine.

Overkill/Bomber/Ace of Spades/Iron Fist/Another Perfect Day/Orgasmatron - after that a definite drop.

And I'm not sure if you can honestly put Slayer there - unless you're counting live albums, the drop after Seasons In The Abyss is too big.

Call the Doctor / Dig Me Out / The Hot Rock / All Hands On The Bad One / One Beat / The Woods / No Cities To Love

Sleater-Kinney's output is remarkable.

duty bound to complement this hilarious decade-old thread with On Land And In The Sea through Guns

The Residents, first 7 albums.

Super Furry Animals' five album run from 1997-2003: Radiator, Guerrilla, Mwng, Rings Around The World and Phantom Power. Their golden period. Anything they did after that just couldn't compete, and didn't.

4 album run: Judas Priest.

Sad Wings of Destiny / Sin After Sin / Stained Class / Killing Machine

Gish / Siamese Dream / Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness / Adore

steve miller band

actually it was a five classic album run:

children of the future/brave new world/your saving grace/sailor/number 5

also

santana
abraxas
santana
caravanserai

bad timing / eureka / insignificance / the visitor
katy lied / the royal scam / aja / gaucho
sung tongs / feels / strawberry jam / merriweather post pavilion
station to station / low / heroes / lodger
another side of bob dylan / bringing it all back home / highway 61 revisited / blonde on blonde
iv / houses of the holy / physical graffiti / presence
hermaphrodite / alien in a garbage dump / strange days / waco taco combo /BONUS- limbo
returnal / replica / r plus seven / garden of delete
young prayer / person pitch / tomboy / panda bear meets the grim reaper
1999 / purple rain / around the world in a day / sign o the times
paranoid / master of reality / vol. 4 / sabbath bloody sabbath
bleach / nevermind / incesticide / in utero
rubber soul / revolver / sgt pepper / the white album
spiderman of the rings / bromst / america / gliss riffer
freckle wars / way / yesterday's work / who's who in paradise?

ooo I like the Dan Deacon one. they really are all great records.

1999 / purple rain / around the world in a day / sign o the times

Yer missin Parade

fuck... i cant cosign on purple rain / around the world in a day / parade / sign o the times

The first four Devoes

fuck... i cant cosign on purple rain / around the world in a day / parade / sign o the times
--flappy bird

Yup, frustrating

acrobatic tenement -> in/casino/out -> vaya -> relationship of command
tremulant -> de-loused in the comatorium -> frances the mute -> amputechture

Throwing Muses -> House Tornado -> Hunkpapa (fuck the detractors) -> The Real Ramona

Pfft the only correct answer is Pink Floyd.

Meddle - DSOTM - Wish You Were Here - Animals

Although, technically it's actually the greatest 15 record run in rock history. Choose were to start:

Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Saucerful of Secrets - More - Ummaguma - Atom Heart Mother - Obscured by Clouds - Meddle - DSOTM - Wish You Were Here - Animals - The Wall - The Final Cut - Momentary Lapse of Reason - Division Bell - newonewhat'sitsname

Pink Floyd rules.

Al Green Gets Next to You through Call Me

Asides from PF:

Can was already mentioned and I think they have one of my favorite record runs (6 in total): Monster Movie thru Soon Over Babaluma are all great records. Even their dull moments are interesting to me.

Stereolab is one of my favorite bands so I'm biased but the run of Peng - Dots and Loops (5 records if you don't count b-side compilations in between them) is also a favorite.

Not really rock but Bjork, anyone? Debut - Post - Homogenic - Vespertine is an awesome run.

Also not strictly rock but Jorge Ben also has some amazing album runs in the 60's and 70's.

I kind of wish Fleetwood Mac had released the frankly dull Mirage after Tango in the Night so they could qualify. The run of Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - Tusk is great.

Yes indeed (xp)

Meddle - DSOTM - Wish You Were Here - Animals

Pink Floyd rules but Obscured By Clouds falls kinda short and unfortunately was released between Meddle and DSOTM.

As a soundtrack! I think the run qualifies. Soundtracks are commissioned work and since they are supposed to fit a film they rarely fit the rest of their oeuvre.

checked thread and it appears that this run has not yet been given love :

ELO : Eldorado -> Face The Music -> A New World Record -> Out Of The Blue.

for me, this is a absolutely fantastic run of 4.
that said, i could start at FTM and go to Discovery.
or even, ANWR and end up at Time (lets ignore xanadu despite the love for picture discs!)
however, i would suggest that starting at Eldorado is the perfect year zero for the purpose of this thread.

The ark: We are the ark/In Lust We Trust/State of the ark/Prayer for the Weekend

That one's as good as it gets.

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend/Revolution/Four the record/Platinum is pretty good too.

"Pink Floyd rules but Obscured By Clouds falls kinda short and unfortunately was released between Meddle and DSOTM."

Opening of 'Childhood's End' off Obscured by Clouds and how they used the VCS as a clicking throb is pretty much the dry run for the whole Dark Side On the Run/Time segment. I think it is a fairly obscure release between the most popular LP of the rock era and a hit LP, but it's one I want to listen to now as it isn't as played out by classic rock radio. The ambient instrumentals are really good and definitely have some atmospheres, tones and use of slow queue fades they revisited in the next couple LPs, especially on Dark Side as they use that to weave the sides into one big long piece. I definitely think you can look at elements on it and Meddle both that they revisited and refined in Dark Side to perfection.

As a soundtrack! I think the run qualifies. Soundtracks are commissioned work and since they are supposed to fit a film they rarely fit the rest of their oeuvre.

More was a soundtrack too. Although it's probably one of the best things they ever did, and Obscured By Clouds is definitely not.

the beginning of obscured by clouds reminds me of john carpenter.

Metallica

Kill 'Em All
Ride The Lightning
Master of Puppets

I would include the Garage Days EP here because ...And Justice For All was where Metallica started losing me but there's enough solid material there that I can include that in lieu of a covers EP if I must.

Kate Bush: Never For Ever/The dreaming/The Hounds of Love/The Sensual World

modest mouse- long drive, lonesome crowded west, moon & Antarctica, good news

bee thousand, alien lanes, and under the bushes under the stars + the first two pollard solo albums released around that run ~ not in my airforce and waved out. dude was on fire

Two great Jandek runs:

Ready For The House/Six And Six/Later On/Chair Beside A Window
Modern Dances/Blue Corpse/You Walk Alone/On The Way (and you could add the Living End)

More was a soundtrack too. Although it's probably one of the best things they ever did, and Obscured By Clouds is definitely not.

The other way round if anything, anyway I'd rather listen to OBC than DSOTM any day of the week.

Hm, well tbh it's been a while since I've listened to OBC, maybe it's time to revisit. Have always thought More was lovely though.

Show is up - http://www.soundopinions.org/show/518
Greg - Stevie Wonder, Sleater-Kinney, Kanye West, Hüsker Dü
Jim - Led Zeppelin, Blur, XTC, The Velvet Underground

Haven't listened to it yet, but it should be entertaining hearing Jim justify Blur.

She's The Boss -> Primitive Cool -> Wandering Spirit -> Goddess In The Doorway.

I know this is overgrumpy but there should be a diff thread for Good-to-Great Four Album Runs and this one for The Greatest Four-Album Run In History

Is this not the "name four albums in a row without missing one?"

Ha ha, yeah Jandek. He might make my top 500? I'm sure Matt DC is joking about solo Jagger.

Regarding the Sound Opinions show, they do a great job talking about music, but not sure they can pull off justifying Songs in the Key of Life, The Hot Rock, 808s And Heartbreak, Candy Apple Grey, Mummer, or all the Blur albums!

Greg doesn't defend the bloaty Songs in the Key or 808s, but does a decent job with The Hot Rock (S-K are lower in my own list). Jim justifies Led Zep III but doesn't really need to. I like all these artists, but Blur? Come on! I liked them at the time, but don't listen to them anymore because their sum is lesser than their parts. You just can't justify ranking them over The Jam, The Kinks, erm The Beatles (I assume they are counting the TV soundtrack Magical Mystery Tour to count them out?).

idiocy - magical mystery tour is my favorite beatles record

don't be so hard on yourself

this is a long drive...
the lonesome crowded west
the moon and antactica
good news for people...

modest mouse- long drive, lonesome crowded west, moon & Antarctica, good news

― all my friends are vampires (art), Friday, October 30, 2015 8:35 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is a long drive...
the lonesome crowded west
the moon and antactica
good news for people...

― nicky lo-fi, Friday, October 30, 2015 12:50 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

cosigned - and they're all double albums!

Born Sandy Devotional/In The Pines/Calenture/The Black Swan

Brave Words/Submarine Bells/Soft Bomb/Silver Bullets

Smeared/Twice Removed/One Chord To Another/Navy Blues

L'Echappee Belle/Immobile/Faux Mouvement/Autour De Lucie

Realistic/Apartment Life/Long Distance/In The Clear (not forgetting Guestroom)

Gala/Spooky/Split/Lovelife

Don't know if these all qualify for *greatness* but I love 'em.

In on the Killtaker / Red Medicine / End Hits / The Argument

Some would say Fugazi had a 6-album run but I never quite got into their first two. Good, but I don't love them. I'm ignoring Instrument Soundtrack too.

If Gala counts I'd start with Kaleidoscope World for the Chills.

Ry Cooder's first four albums (Ry Cooder, Boomer's Story, Into the Purple Valley and Paradise and Lunch).

Alice Cooper: Love It To Death/Killer/School's Out/Billion Dollar Babies

A River Ain't Too Much To Love - Woke on a Whaleheart - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle - Apocalypse.

I could happily push this to five by including Supper if it wasn't for the inclusion of Driving.

Orbital 2, Snivilisation, In Sides, The Middle of Nowhere.

Tubeway Army, Replicas, The Pleasure Principle, Telekon.

The Shape of Jazz to Come / Change of the Century / This Is Our Music / Free Jazz

Head / Goat / Liar / Down

Ten Spot / Funeral at the Movies / Get Your Goat / Pony Express Record

For Respect / Don Caballero 2 / What Burns Never Returns / American Don

Amber, Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5

Streetcleaner / Pure / Selfless / Songs of Love and Hate

The Shape of Jazz to Come / Change of the Century / This Is Our Music / Free Jazz

Some of my favorite rock LPs right there.

Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5, Confield

y'all are being absurd so fine

peng/transient random-noise bursts/mars audiac quintet/emperor tomato ketchup
congregation/gentlemen/black love/1965
painful/electr-o-pura/i can hear the heart beating as one/and nothing turned itself inside out

prob beggars banquet thru exile tho

have we named all the rock bands yet

re: Modest Mouse, 'Good News' kinda stinks. now if 'Building Nothing Out of Something' counts ... (which it shouldn't)

We haven't mentioned Status Quo yet.

The Punch Line/What Makes a Man Start Fires?/Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat/Double Nickels on the Dime

Tbh my Jandek post was kind of in jest because we'd jumped the 'name 4 album's shark by then. Many xpost.

a thousand leaves / *SKIP NYC GHOSTS & FLOWERS* / murray street / sonic nurse / rather ripped

album by a band / another album by the same band / next album by the same band / album after that

Little Feat
Sailing' Shoes
Dixie Chicken
Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Menstrual Samples
Let There Be Shit
Fuck Frenzy
Ecstasy Of Death

Little Feat
Sailing' Shoes
Dixie Chicken
Feats Don't Fail Me Now

― henry s, Saturday, October 31, 2015 3:05 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

co-sign. i might go Sailin' Shoes thru The Last Record Album, though.

X-Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, More Fun in the New World.

Top THAT run!

nobody else repping for santana, smdh

From Me To U/Back Like Cooked Crack 1/Back Like Cooked Crack 2/ What The Game's Been Missing

Morning glory, be here now, masterplan, sosg

I know jazz should be probably judged a bit differently than most other popular music, but it's kinda hard to beat Herbie Hancock's record: 14 great albums in 12 years, starting from his solo debut: