Batman Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 Elliott Smith From a Basement on the Hill was one of his best and he had a 8-10 year career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_s_1987 Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted November 4, 2008 Report Share Posted November 4, 2008 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". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeBB Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 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 AvalonSimon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water!! Hmm, I think I need to go and listen to some of those right now... LBB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 good choices Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 - 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 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...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 Roxy Music lasted 10 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 The Beatles lasted 7 years. It's not much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 (edited) 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 I don't think the band's timespan is as important as the quality of their opus Ah, I fully agree with you there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted November 14, 2008 Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 Or Janis Joplin... she had only four albums released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted November 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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