Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted September 2, 2012 Volunteer Posted September 2, 2012 As a variant of the best debut albums thread I thought I'd seek out opinions about whether anyone has any bands they feel have *improved* with age. My feeling is that for pop/ rock music, most bands/artists are at their creative best in their first few albums but tend to lose that magic. On the other hand I think Blues and Jazz artists are more likely to improve with age. Thoughts?
LuzArt Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I think Eric Clapton is an excellent example of someone improving with age. His playing now is amazing. 1
LogicprObe Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I think the Beatles and The Stones improved..............but only to a point. The Beatles had a the sense to give it away though. 1
Batty Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 Predictably from me, I believe that Marillion have improved.
rantan Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I reckon Marillion should have a sub forum on this board 1
RockandorRoll Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 Kid Rock - wouldnt touch with a 20ft pole before Born Free Opeth - love the direction of Heritage, there were glimpses throughout the career, but this album makes the best bits perfect Anathema - finely tuned machine now Katatonia - Seem to have found the sound they have been hunting for Clutch - Big one, its like 2 different bands! Entombed - after Wolverine Blues when the Death and Roll started
Vortexjah Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 Not sure if many people here are into Black Metal but a few bands that have gotten better with age are: Emperor ( and all ihsahns new albums) , Ulver ( well they are not even black metal anymore), and enslaved. Bright Eyes got better after 'Lifted' , but then his latest album seems to have taken some steps back. The list could go on and on. Actually I used to be a ' their first album is the best' sort of person, but I lot of my favourite artist just seem to get better and better each album they release.
RockandorRoll Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I have Shadows of the Sun by Ulver. It appears they went the same way as Anathema and now Opeth. Death Metal be gone and welcome Atmo So much progression in metal. One album can be totally different to the last while they 'hone' their sound
Luc Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 Eww...I dunno about ole slow hand, I reckon he's been playing the same stuff for yonks now with bugger all variation but each to his own. I think Trev's right; there aren't too many bands/individuals who get better than their original first few albums. Guitarists get a style and they run with it; Clapton/Methany/Beck/Santanna/Buchannan/Page/etc etc. Opera singers definitely get better with age up to a certain point an then they go down hill.
Jake Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 Johnny Cash. His America series was outstanding. 1
sligoriverblues Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I like what John Coltrane recorded in his last couple of years more than anything he did before that. Interstellar Space is a masterpiece IMHO Tim Buckley is another example. Not before Happy/Sad and not after Starsailor, so not sure if that counts... Actually, even Jimi Hendrix with his Band Of Gypsys I like better compared to his earlier output. Sepultura was getting better with Roots and Chaos A.D.
mickj1 Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 The stayers in the trade don't all fall into one category- Some, like the Stones and Clapton, show a more or less normal distribution: continuous,then spectacular improvement and then decline Some like Dylan are more sinusoidal -more or less regular peaks and troughs Some like Elvis and Little Richard start spectacularly and then exhibit a radioactive decay curve Some like Van Morrison show a sharp increase in ability, a long plateau and then a steady decline Then there's the mesa men who rise sharply to their best, stay there for yonks and only decay when they're just about dead: e.g. Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. Cheers mick
caddisgeek Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I think Eric Clapton is an excellent example of someone improving with age. His playing now is amazing. But his songs are very very boring (IMHO), much prefer his stuff with Cream and Yardbirds
Vortexjah Posted September 2, 2012 Posted September 2, 2012 I have Shadows of the Sun by Ulver. It appears they went the same way as Anathema and now Opeth. Death Metal be gone and welcome Atmo So much progression in metal. One album can be totally different to the last while they 'hone' their sound Nice, i missed your post directly above mine, DOH! i just listened to Opeths 'Heritage' via spotify, very nice indeed, the piano on the first track just drew me in, just sublime. I really have to delve into Opeth a bit more, i have friends in Brisbane that are Opeth freaks, but for ages i had the mentality that if its not from Norway its no good, which stems from my close minded black metal teenage years, luckily im a lot more open minded these days when it comes to music, although IMO with alot of genres there does seem to be a certain quality of music that comes out of Norway, alot of my favourite jazz comes from Norway. Johnny Cash. His America series was outstanding. I have never minded Johnny Cash, but his American series is where it is at IMO. Very well recorded, and very emotional.
soundfan Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) I think Eric Clapton is an excellent example of someone improving with age. His playing now is amazing. Really? I think his playing is mediocre now compared to his Cream, Yardbirds and 70's output. A guitarist can be technically brilliant, but boring as hell. I wouldn't call EC boring these days (but he's heading there), but the sparks long gone. IMO. * Just noticed caddisgeek1's post which basically mirrors my thoughts. Edited September 3, 2012 by soundfan
soundfan Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) Johnny Cash. His America series was outstanding. Agree. Rick Rubin did wonders with Johnny's last decade. Edited September 3, 2012 by soundfan
hired goon Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 G'day, Talk Talk -- started out all 80s synth pop, getting much better with Colour Of Spring before changing style completely for Spirit Of Eden and Laughing Stock (long, hushed organic tracks) --Geoff
RoHo Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 Really? I think his playing is mediocre now compared to his Cream, Yardbirds and 70's output. A guitarist can be technically brilliant, but boring as hell. I wouldn't call EC boring these days (but he's heading there), but the sparks long gone. IMO. * Just noticed caddisgeek1's post which basically mirrors my thoughts. Similar to Robbie Robertson. These guys seem to have gained large music industry credibility and awards while becoming decreasingly artistically interesting. Grammy = big business acceptance = boring. 1
Grumpy Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 Similar to Robbie Robertson. These guys seem to have gained large music industry credibility and awards while becoming decreasingly artistically interesting. Grammy = big business acceptance = boring. You should check out RR's North American Native style
RoHo Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 You should check out RR's North American Native style Will do!
Phill451 Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 I think Radiohead improved on every album up to In Rainbows, they may have plateaued at that point. a good run in my opinion. 1
LuzArt Posted September 3, 2012 Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) Really? I think his playing is mediocre now compared to his Cream, Yardbirds and 70's output. A guitarist can be technically brilliant, but boring as hell. I wouldn't call EC boring these days (but he's heading there), but the sparks long gone. IMO. * Just noticed caddisgeek1's post which basically mirrors my thoughts. You should both check out any of the Crossroads concerts or the show with Steve Winwood, Clapton's playing is exceptional. I've not heard a studio album of his in years but his live playing is awesome, much better than when in Cream IMO. Perhaps my example doesn't quite fit the trend following the question, seems to be more about the artist overall and certainly including recorded output. Fair enough. On Radiohead, I found Kid A and Amnesiac both very boring with only one or two highlights each, where's In Rainbows, Hail To The Thief a return to form. King Of Limbs is quite good but not my favourite. Edited September 3, 2012 by LuzArt
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