Acts whose entire album output has always been on the decline, with no exception
This must be trickier for any artist: it's easy to start off on a high and decline, but to start off on a low and be given the space to gradually improve is surely rarer.
In which case, Talk Talk must own this thread.
― Huey (Huey), Friday, 20 May 2005 09:33 (twenty-one years ago)
― $V£N! (blueski), Friday, 20 May 2005 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 20 May 2005 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 20 May 2005 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)
― The Lex (The Lex), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:16 (twenty-one years ago)
― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)
― rizzx (rizzx), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:23 (twenty-one years ago)
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)
― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:54 (twenty-one years ago)
― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)
― Huey (Huey), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)
― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 20 May 2005 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tom (Groke), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:03 (twenty-one years ago)
― Huey (Huey), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)
― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tom (Groke), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:42 (twenty-one years ago)
― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)
I guess Nick Drake works, though.
― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)
― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)
Belle and Sebastian sounds fair enough to me.
My Bloody Valentine seems fairly obvious.
― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Friday, 20 May 2005 11:59 (twenty-one years ago)
Spoon (although there may be a debate between Gimme Fiction & Kill The Moonlight)
― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 20 May 2005 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)
― Whiney G. Weingarten (whineyg), Friday, 20 May 2005 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)
― elgolfo (elgolfo), Friday, 20 May 2005 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)
unless of course you think they peaked with "sunny sundae smile," which they damn well might have.
― fact checking cuz (fcc), Friday, 20 May 2005 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)
More impressive, Stars of the Lid have got better with each of their six albums.
Devendra Banhart? Oh me oh my... < Black Babies < Rejoicing in the hands < Nino Rojo
The National? Sad songs for dirty lovers < Cherry Tree < Alligator
― dmun drive-in (dmun), Friday, 20 May 2005 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)
― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 20 May 2005 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)
― mike a, Friday, 20 May 2005 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)
― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 20 May 2005 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)
― dmun drive-in (dmun), Friday, 20 May 2005 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 20 May 2005 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)
Antony and the JohnsonsDevendra Banhart
And add:
Avil Lavigne!GrandaddyThe Unicorns
This is a tough thread for career artists to 'make'.
― Sean M (Sean M), Friday, 20 May 2005 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 20 May 2005 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)
― mitch dub (ano ano), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)
― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)
― mitch dub (ano ano), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)
― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)
― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Friday, 20 May 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)
― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 20 May 2005 19:37 (twenty-one years ago)
― dan. (dan.), Friday, 20 May 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)
― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 20 May 2005 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)
― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Friday, 20 May 2005 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)
― A homunculus of Darby Crash, .... created for the purposes of *EVIL* (ex machina, Friday, 20 May 2005 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)
― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Friday, 20 May 2005 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 23:19 (twenty-one years ago)
Also, Camper Van Beethoven seems way, way off to me.
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)
(And maybe Justin Timberlake, including *NSync if that counts?)
― xhuxk, Friday, 20 May 2005 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)
― John Fredland (jfredland), Friday, 20 May 2005 23:36 (twenty-one years ago)
i'm prob. the only one who think so,but animal collective
― Zeno, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 16:32 (eighteen years ago)
Mr. Bungle.
― chap, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 16:36 (eighteen years ago)
Enon
― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 16:57 (eighteen years ago)
Neko Case
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 17:08 (eighteen years ago)
Boards of Canada?
― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 17:15 (eighteen years ago)
― chap, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 17:36 (2 years ago)
― acoleuthic, Saturday, 20 November 2010 02:12 (fifteen years ago)
A strong case can be made for Half Man Half Biscuit as well
― acoleuthic, Saturday, 20 November 2010 02:13 (fifteen years ago)
Minor lol @ Devendra Banhart love upthread...goes to show that it's difficult to have monotonically improving albums if you keep releasing new ones.
― seandalai, Saturday, 20 November 2010 02:19 (fifteen years ago)
I can barely listen to any of them but you could argue that Animal Collective has improved with every album.
― skip, Saturday, 20 November 2010 02:48 (fifteen years ago)
Kind of yeah, though I'd say Strawberry Jam < Feels quite significantly. Once you put out a bunch of albums it's hard to keep the always-inclining crowd happy.
― seandalai, Saturday, 20 November 2010 02:53 (fifteen years ago)
LCD Soundsystem?
― Mark, Saturday, 20 November 2010 03:46 (fifteen years ago)
no
― nakhchivan, Saturday, 20 November 2010 03:55 (fifteen years ago)
― based lord sotosyn (The Reverend), Saturday, 20 November 2010 06:32 (fifteen years ago)
Supergrass fit in here for a long time, until they took a slight dip on "Road To Rouen" and then a more ill-advised and bigger one on "Diamond Ho-Haa"
― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 20 November 2010 10:19 (fifteen years ago)
I guess Fountains Of Wayne have dropped out of this list by now. Their fourth album was not at all bad, but still not up there with "Welcome Interstate Managers".
― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Monday, 22 November 2010 10:52 (fifteen years ago)
Dunno, I played their first two a lot, but "Achtung Bono" got one play and I feel that if had been 'better', it'd have got more.
― Mark G, Monday, 22 November 2010 11:00 (fifteen years ago)
trust fund
― imago, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 02:00 (seven years ago)
I understand others might feel differently but my first thought was Broadcast.
― umsworth (emsworth), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 03:16 (seven years ago)
Simon & Garfunkel
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 08:02 (seven years ago)
This Mortal Coil
My first thought was Japan, and I'm sure the band members that are still with us would agree, but on second thought I think their first album is better than their second.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 13:30 (seven years ago)
I posted in the other thread that the Midge Ure Ultravox belonged there. Funnily enough I would also say that the John Foxx Ultravox belong in this thread.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 13:45 (seven years ago)
deftones
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:01 (seven years ago)
Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub) at 11:43 20 May 05Belle and Sebastian
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:11 (seven years ago)
Black Flag
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:11 (seven years ago)
God fucking damn, wrong thread, durrrrr
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:13 (seven years ago)
trust fundsean mccannyouth lagoon/trevor powersmount eerierachel's (during their career)maybe joanna newsom?
this is tough
― meaulnes, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:14 (seven years ago)
Black Flag― MaresNest, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 2:11 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkGod fucking damn, wrong thread, durrrrr― MaresNest, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 2:13 PM (six minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― MaresNest, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 2:11 PM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― MaresNest, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 2:13 PM (six minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Please argue the case for it anyway.
― GG Allin: The Musical (Matt #2), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 14:20 (seven years ago)
Simon & Garfunkel is a good one
Many xps
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 15:00 (seven years ago)
Paramore
― kitchen person, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 16:32 (seven years ago)
Glass Hammer are a good example of a prog band who did this for like, 10 straight albums or so
Lemon Demon/Neil Cicierega is another good one
― frogbs, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 16:51 (seven years ago)
The Sound
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 17:19 (seven years ago)
Chastity Belt
― o. nate, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 17:47 (seven years ago)
the Beatles
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 17:56 (seven years ago)
I agree their early albums are borderline unlistenable, but no.
― Monica Kindle (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:21 (seven years ago)
maybe portishead
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:23 (seven years ago)
maybe not, lol
there are very few "good" answers to this, probably
― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:33 (seven years ago)
you could say the 1975
i'd disagree with you, but you could say it
― austinb, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:34 (seven years ago)
the Smiths
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:35 (seven years ago)
A case could also maybe be made for the MC5 (or even the Stooges?), and I think I know people who could make the case. But not me.― xhuxk, Friday, May 20, 2005 4:28 PM (thirteen years ago)
I would have agreed with the Stooges thirteen years ago (when Chuck posted that), but then other albums came along...
― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:37 (seven years ago)
Daphne & Celeste
― frogbs, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 18:42 (seven years ago)
> the Smiths
No way. High point is either "Hatful of Hollow" or "Meat Is Murder".
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:07 (seven years ago)
― austinb, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 11:34 AM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
too early imo
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:08 (seven years ago)
fugazi
Meat is Murder has the title track on it, so no
xp
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:16 (seven years ago)
Hatful Of Hollow isn't an album! basically an early Greatest Hits
Fugazi are contenders for sure but The Smiths S/T 1st one is way better than MIM for me.
― sleeve, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:19 (seven years ago)
― mookieproof, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 1:23 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
ding ding ding
― galaxy brian (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:28 (seven years ago)
this might be a minority opinion but Amon Tobin!
Could make solid arguments for Slowdive, Rival Consoles, Angel Olsen, and Jon Hopkins
― octobeard, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:39 (seven years ago)
british sea power are a good answer to this imho
― resident hack (Simon H.), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:41 (seven years ago)
Aesop Rock, IMO. His older stuff doesn't hold a candle to his newer stuff, and he seems to get better constantly.
― days of being riled (zchyrs), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:46 (seven years ago)
can't really get behind Bazooka Tooth as better than Labor Days
― President Keyes, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:53 (seven years ago)
oh wait I'm on the wrong thread. BSP offtm
― resident hack (Simon H.), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 20:57 (seven years ago)
xp yeah I realized that immediately after posting. I tend to forget about that album.
― days of being riled (zchyrs), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:02 (seven years ago)
The Sound― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 9:19 AM (three hours ago)
Gerald, you're my favorite poster here for a reason.
I'm gonna venture outside of the popular music area for a bit and say Gustav Mahler and Franz Schubert.
Trying to think of a jazz person that this could apply to, but those folks all have huge catalogues, so it's hard.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:02 (seven years ago)
really the only candidates for this thread are ones with pretty limited/proscribed discographies. Anyone who's been recording for more than a decade is going to have some clearly identifiable peaks and valleys.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:03 (seven years ago)
trust fund is a great answer because they split up this year having released an album about splitting up that also happens to be an indiepop monument - i.e. there's an actual arc to their whole recording career
their four albums basically went: decent juvenilia -> again, with stronger tunes and more of a sense of self -> super little weird record -> masterpiece
i basically just wanted to talk about them, but there have been some cool wrong suggestions itt since
― imago, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:06 (seven years ago)
Steely Dan
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:41 (seven years ago)
nah
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 21:58 (seven years ago)
I mean Gaucho is great but my favorite album is actually the first one lol
yeah my favorite atm iis Aja but it's often Gaucho and The Royal Scam is a solid 3rd behind them.
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:01 (seven years ago)
Steely Dan made more than one album?
(FP ME, IDGAF)
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:02 (seven years ago)
but which one did they make, Austin?
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:05 (seven years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/The_Best_of_Steely_Dan_-_Then_and_Now.jpg
― We're in 2009—it's time to take risks, (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:08 (seven years ago)
Haha, that's what will actually get me FP'd.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:08 (seven years ago)
jesus, is that a Stonehenge made of cars?
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:21 (seven years ago)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carhenge
― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:22 (seven years ago)
Yep!
Anyway, to answer your question:https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1JOM-koWOL._SX466_.jpg
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 4 December 2018 22:22 (seven years ago)
Buncha things to respond to itt:
> Meat is Murder has the title track on it, so no
I heard "Meat Is Murder" when I was 17 so I'll admit to some temporal bias but I still love every heart-on-his-sleeve bit of it more than the rest of their catalog. It's full of amazing sounds (especially given that my copy included "How Soon Is Now").
> British Sea Power
Their catalog has been inconsistent for me, and I'll rep for most of it. The debut is great, then a couple of good but lesser albums until "Valhalla Dancehall" which I adore, then lesser returns on the next couple of albums (not counting the soundtrack work, which is fine but not my thing).
> Gerald, you're my favorite poster here for a reason.
Cheers, Austin! The Sound is one of those amazing bands where each album feels like a triumph for very different reasons. "Jeopardy" is a punch in the face, "From The Lions Mouth" tones it down but adds wonderful texture, "All Fall Down" is a left-turn full-on post-punk masterpiece, "Shock Of Daylight" is a perfect pop EP, "Heads And Hearts" takes that pop and inverts it and "Thunder Up" crystallizes everything Borland was trying to accomplish. And then his solo albums almost continue that upward climb but "Brittle Heaven" and "Cinematic" are a bit weak.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 02:21 (seven years ago)
I think 3 albums is the sweet spot:Vampire WeekendJanelle MonaeSolange
― enochroot, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 03:00 (seven years ago)
potential challop: Jawbreaker
― resident hack (Simon H.), Wednesday, 5 December 2018 03:02 (seven years ago)
post flagged
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 03:07 (seven years ago)
xposts more bands should nick Manic Street Preacher albums for their own.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 12:29 (seven years ago)
Beat happening lol
― nostormo, Monday, 14 January 2019 17:45 (seven years ago)
Hum
― nostormo, Sunday, 5 July 2020 16:05 (five years ago)
Radiation City (3 albums)Scrawl (6 albums!!)Secret Cities (3 albums)
Someone mentioned Joanna Newsom - only up to "Have One On Me" though ("Divers" < "Ys" in my opinion).
― ernestp, Tuesday, 14 July 2020 16:13 (five years ago)
clipping
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 14 July 2020 16:18 (five years ago)