Acts whose entire album output has always been on the decline, with no exception

Extreme?
Ratt?
Roxette?
Quarterflash?
Loverboy!!

I kind of agree with the Butthole Surfers, though I think it's very possible they may have improved when they finally sold out in the early '90s (arguments might be made for White Zombie and maybe even Soundgarden along the same lines, though I'm not sure Soundgarden ever actually sold out, come to think of it.)

Not to pick on your selections only, but being you're listing the rap stuff (which I know more about), that's where my opinions may be more relevant.

Beastie Boys - I think Check Your Head is half assed, whereas at least Licensed to Ill feels like a better executed version of Check Your Head, so I have to disagree. And I think it is kinda universally accepted that Paul's Boutique is better than Licensed to Ill. That's my opinion at least, and I love Licensed.

Public Enemy - Same thing. Their 2nd album was better than their first for sure, so nope not them. Sadly, the deabte over whether album 2 or 3 are better rages on. I'm a Nation of Millions fan, and always encounter the notion that Black Planet is better. Ugh.

*Russians/Russophiles will know what I'm talking about.

**No, I did not mean Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute.

The Pogues?
Fishbone? (Though again, I know zilch about their later stuff.)

Liz Phair is just so wrong.

Yeah, on every level. I wish I'd never heard her.

That logic would only work if every track on their second album was as good as "How I Could Just Kill a Man." When in actuality, no tracks are.

I think Criminal Minded is incredible if taken out of context. It's raw, minimal, and passionate...however, it was so disconnected from the massive blossoming process that Eric B/Marley Marl/Bomb Squad were discoering thanks to the SP1200 and Ultimate Beats & Breks series.

For me and my little rap buddies between 86-88, the growth was THE excitement of Hip-Hop, so Criminal Minded seemed like a step backwards at the time.

Over the years, I've learned to appreciate it on its own.

Then Scott La Rock Died, they changed direction, and they released My Philosophy as a single, which sounded up to date and great...but I got the album and was bored.

I've only revisted it a couple times since then, and I remained bored...so maybe you're right. BDP is not my area of expertise.

And Paul's Boutique is better ;-)

Also, I'll give you this: Boces < SYOTOS

But no way to this: SYOTOS < Deserter's Songs

Eric B and Rakim might hold true. I think the first 3 songs of their second album are their strongest, but then the album sounds rushed. Their first was a collection of a couple of singles, and the album...so it's a bit disjointed - but if you didn't hear those singles prior...

EPMD fucking mumble over Zapp. I like thier first few singles, but lost interest quick.

Run DMC's debut changed my life. Their 2nd album seemed to me like the first marketed piece of Hip-Hop...like, let's cash in on our image and let's make a song for every situation or whatever. That damned reggae song and such. I think the intro on that album is the best thing on it. Raising Hell was mostly a stronger marketing album, with some superb Rick Rubin driven tracks next to some Rick Rubin driven novelties. Their 4th album is sorely overlooked. Beats to the Rhyme is incredible.

Fat Boys...

I think this back-and-forth can easily stir up more thoughts on Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons marketing and visions than anything else. Rick's use of the 808 is the cornerstone of Bass music. Russell's marketing schemes made Hip-Hop known, but tarnished many of the acts. Beastie Boys, Fat Boys, and Run DMC all fall into this to some degree.

Grandmaster Flash's work is before my time, so I just buy it and lisen and sing along and forge no opinions about its relevancy.

No more bait taking for a bit. I need a bite to eat.

They had more than one album?

Liz Phair's most recent album is either her best one or her second best one (after the debut), depending on what my mood is that day.

Totally disagree with Motley Crue.

Surprised no one's said Elvis yet.

Nope.

Rum, Sodomy > If I Should Fall >> Red Roses >> Peace And Love >>> the "rump" Pogues as an album band

(xpost)

"Boys for Pele" better than "From The Choirgirl Hotel" and "To Venus and Back"? Nope.

Oh yeah, also: Whitechocolatespaceegg > Whip-Smart

I retract my enthusiastic endorsement of Douglas' nod to Liz Phair on the basis of fact. In my defense, I can only say that I was beitched by the magnitude of the post-Exile drop-off.

I like Choirgirl OK, but I just don't think it's got the goods to beat, say, "Blood Roses," "Professional Widow" and "Marianne." Although the Choirgirl-era b-sides are my second-favs, so I guess I could give you that.

(xpost)

Dom P OTFM. And I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

Counting Crows

Well the quality difference between the debut and Shout at the Devil is negligible, but beginning with Theater of Pain the downhill slide began gaining speed.

does MIA count or was Kala better than Arular?

Oh damn I had a great example of this today that I can't remember

xp re Magazine I think I like The Correct Use of Soap more than Secondhand Daylight but it's close

Stevie: Arular beats Kala, but then Matangi beats MAYA!

strongly disagree with the inclusion of M.I.A. I still think MAYA is her best album and Kala and Matangi are also both better than Arular.

a friend suggested Laurie Anderson - thoughts? I’ve only heard the first two records so I can’t speak

Secondhand Daylight is the one Magazine record that I would rescue from the fire/take to the desert island etc.

I also think Second Toughest... is Underworld's best album.

It is. Also, Beaucoup Fish is better dubno.

a friend suggested Laurie Anderson - thoughts? I’ve only heard the first two records so I can’t speak

― flappy bird,

Strange Angels is her best.

Oblivion With Bells is also much better than A Hundred Days off and I'd wager Barbara Barbara is a better album than Barking

I'd put Underworld Dubo thru Fish, this list. Hundred Days thru Barbara, the incline list. Crazy body of work!

Rocket From The Crypt

Mudhoney?

Ride is a good example imo

― nostormo, Monday, 3 December 2018 20:55 (two weeks ago)

Are you including last year’s comeback album in that?

The newish Ride album has one peak era tune on it and a couple of other 3rd album quality tunes and then loads of nonsense iirc

My answer which I believe to be true (and not to everyone's taste maybe) is Mercury Rev.

If Suede hadn’t reformed, they would have worked (I’m not fond of their 3 latest albums but at least one is better than their 5th... and apparently many people consider them great).

Strongly co-signing on Mercury Rev.

Beat Happening

otm

Oh it's decline right..sorry

Quite the opposite for Beat Happening.

I still have time for Revolution Come and Gone more than anything else in their back catalog so yeah, quite the opposite

Pink Floyd

flatline is no decline

I like Animals more than WYWH or DSotM. And even though I love Syd, I think Echoes is my favorite.

Pink Floyd only works if you start counting at Meddle for me. And then yes.

And when I wrote Echoes, I obv meant including the other half of Meddle haha.

This is more or less true for most bands. Only a few reach a peak at the end. Immediately springing to mind: Talk Talk.

The 3rd and the Mortal