bands with long careers who have a good last album

[Batman]

Most bands who have a long run tend to have a really great early/middle period, and then fade out into mediocrity. One prime example would be Led Zeppelin, who started out by making what is considered the cream of the crop as far as rock n roll is concerned, and ended with "In Through The Out Door," which even if you're a Zep fan, you gotta admit is pretty sub-par by any standard. So I'm wondering...what do you guys think are the bands and artists who broke this mold and ended on a high note? I was thinking Nick Drake would be a good example, who's last album was Pink Moon (one of the best albums of all time in my opinion), but then I realized he doesn't really count since he was only around for 3 years anyways. Can anyone think of a good example?

Edited November 4, 2008 by Guest

[scott]

Elliott Smith

From a Basement on the Hill was one of his best

and he had a 8-10 year career.

[Batman]

Oh good call.

I wonder if musicians who die during the height of their career should count though? I think what would be really interesting is if someone could think of a band who was really great and realized they were about to go downhill, so they just stopped?

[scott]

Elliott Smith might still count then

....He did kinda stop.

Pavement.

a 9 year career that ended with Terror Twilight, which had some excellent tunes

then the band broke up.

The Beatles

Let it Be was the final release, and it was sub-par (not bad, but not beatles good)

but Abbey Road was the last thing they recorded, now I personally don't listen to Abbey Road all too much, but it definitely has some great songs on it, and a lot of people love it a lot.

[MindCrime]

One prime example would be Led Zeppelin

I wonder if musicians who die during the height of their career should count though?

Led Zeppelin discontinued recording any new albums because of John Bonham's death.

[scott]

But Led Zeppelin was being used as a prime example of a band who faded into mediocrity, not one that ended strong but only so due to a death.

[MindCrime]

I'd say Creedence Clearwater Revival's final album Mardi Gras was pretty good, not as great as the previous but still a good album.

[Batman]

If you count Abbey Road as the last Beatles album they would fit this topic better than anyone. That is one of their best albums for sure.

[c_s_1987]

I think what would be really interesting is if someone could think of a band who was really great and realized they were about to go downhill, so they just stopped?

I think Cream fit that description pretty well, though they weren't around for long.

[c_s_1987]

Also, I am known to be very biased towards these two bands, but I think Cold Chisel and Powderfinger deserve a mention here. Cold Chisel were together for about 32 years (their last performance was in 2005), and I don't believe any of their albums were mediocre. Powderfinger formed in 1989, released a very mediocre debut album, but have been consistently great ever since. Part of these bands success owes to the fact that since the releases of their debut albums, their lineups have remained unchanged.

Though I guess these two bands could still reform and finish off with mediocre albums...

Edited November 4, 2008 by Guest

[TheLizard]

The Doors ended with LA Woman, a great album by anyone's standards. Of course, I don't know if they count as having a "long career".

[LeeBB]

Oh this is easy!

• The Police ended with Synchronicity, a superb album, almost certainly their best.
  
• The Smiths ended with Strangeways Here We Come, considered by some (including Johnny Marr) to be their best.
  
• The Pixies' Trompe Le Monde was not the hardcore fans' fave, but a great album and a great place to start if you're a bit timid.
  
• Pulp... We Love Life... fantastic.
  
• Roxy Music's Avalon
  
• Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water!!
  

Hmm, I think I need to go and listen to some of those right now...

LBB

[Farin]

good choices

[Batman]

If someone asked me if I was a Pixies fan I would say yes, even though the only albums I really enjoy are Doolittle and Surfer Rosa.

[Ombre Vivante]

- Japan's Tin Drum or their live album Oil On Canvas.

- Steely Dan woulda made this cut as well with Gaucho, although their last two albums weren't half-bad either.

[edna]

But Roxy Music, Japan, Simon&Garfunkel, Smiths or Police didn´t last long... in that case, I would say that The Beatles dropped the curtain with an amazing "Abbey Road"...

(as it´s already been posted twice in this same hread)

Maybe we shoud think of bands that were some 20 years or more on the road...?

[Ombre Vivante]

Roxy Music lasted 10 years

[edna]

But that´s not much... REM or Cure are still on the road, Talking Heads were active for 17 years, etc... The Cars had a short life too, some 5 or 6 albums and 12 years...

[Ombre Vivante]

The Beatles lasted 7 years. It's not much?

[edna]

7 years is not much... compared to other bands. CCR also lasted very little (seven years as CCR). The Doors disbanded when they were 8 years old...

[Ombre Vivante]

aerosmith has been around since forever - and they've sucked for all of that time. I don't think the band's timespan is as important as the quality of their opus Japan was only around for 5 years and they managed to dwarf 30 years of Duran Duran.

Ah. I see the title is "long careers." Hahah. How long is a long career?

Edited November 14, 2008 by Guest
Didn't read the title of the thread.

[edna]

I don't think the band's timespan is as important as the quality of their opus

Ah, I fully agree with you there...

[Batman]

I guess the "long careers" title is just meant to discount bands who ended on a positive note because their careers were so short. Like Jimi, who's last album (Band of Gypsys) was amazing, but he was only alive to make four albums anyways.

[edna]

Or Janis Joplin... she had only four albums released.

[Batman]

Yeah true. I guess mostly I just didn't want this thread to be a discussion of great musicians who died young, because that conversation's been had too many times.