"the greatest four-record run in rock history"

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