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Bands who got better

Alice in Chains

-Facelift: Good album
-Sap: Better album
-Dirt: A classic
-Jar of Flies: Even more of a classic
-Tripod: The epitome of what Alice in Chains was

Soundgarden

-Ultramega OK: Not bad
-Louder than Love: Good album
-Badmotorfinger: Amazing album
-Superunknown: Classic
-Down on the Upside: IMHO, this is their best work and where they were the most creative

In Flames

-Lunar Strain: Not bad
-Subterranean: Better. Hmm, 'Biosphere' was interesting.
-The Jester Race: Woah now, this is the same band!?
-Whoracle: Amazing album
-Colony: Classic
-Clayman: Yet another classic
-Reroute to Remain: IMHO, another classic

From there they went downhill, unfortunately.
 
Alice in Chains

-Facelift: Good album
-Sap: Better album
-Dirt: A classic
-Jar of Flies: Even more of a classic
-Tripod: The epitome of what Alice in Chains was

I actually think that AIC was better in the early stuff. I feel like they got really light at the end (not sure if I've heard Tripod) and they changed completely.
 
The Cure
Early few records - pretty good
Head on the Door thru Disintegration - brilliant

STP
Early stuff: grungy and kind of "bandwagony" for the time
Tiny Music -> forward: Awesome

The Beatles
early stuff: motown and rocakabilly covers and bubblegum pop - very cool
Hard Day's Night -> White Album: landscape changing
Side 2 Abbey Road: Greatest recorded sequence of all time!
 
Lamb of God, Burn the Priest is rough at best, New American Gospel is alright, but then they took off with three amazing albums in a row, Ashes of the Wake was amazing, then Sacrament got to the opitamy of a "polished" sounding record with not a single track that isn't incredible, then there newest album Wrath captured there raw live sound without compromising everything that makes them Lamb of God. IMO the greatest metal band to ever live.

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I actually think that AIC was better in the early stuff. I feel like they got really light at the end (not sure if I've heard Tripod) and they changed completely.

They definitely did lighten up when they started adding more acoustic elements to their songs, but I think some of their heaviest stuff also came on their later albums, like "Again", "Get Born Again", and most notably "Sludge Factory". The main reason I think they got better with time is because they started to have their own distinct sound that was completely original.
 
Beatles, agree with that.
Rush got an automatic boost by getting a new drummer after the first album.

I disagree with Pink Floyd, though. They didn't get "better" so much as they changed. The first album was all Syd; after Gilmour replaced him they became a different band. But I don't think they were ever weak.
 
They definitely did lighten up when they started adding more acoustic elements to their songs, but I think some of their heaviest stuff also came on their later albums, like "Again", "Get Born Again", and most notably "Sludge Factory". The main reason I think they got better with time is because they started to have their own distinct sound that was completely original.


I agree facelift sounds like an 80's hair metal band.
 
REM-

They did the ol' bell curve....

Their early stuff... Gardening at Night EP was horrible. Murmur had a couple good songs, but for the most part was kinda bad too. They really improved with their middle albums.... Reckoning... Lifes Rich Pageant...Document... Green... all the way to Automatic. Then from Monster (1994) til now... theyve sucked
 
REM-

They did the ol' bell curve....

Their early stuff... Gardening at Night EP was horrible. Murmur had a couple good songs, but for the most part was kinda bad too. They really improved with their middle albums.... Reckoning... Lifes Rich Pageant...Document... Green... all the way to Automatic. Then from Monster (1994) til now... theyve sucked

The album after Monster, New Adventures in HiFi, is my favorite REM album.

Then came Up, Reveal, and Around the Sun. Even they admit that stuff was bad. Then came Accelerate in 2008. Very good, and their new one that came out in March is solid.
 
Some newer bands to throw in the mix:

Thrice.
More of a lateral transition here than bad to good. If you're into the riff-heavy stuff the first few albums were awesome, but they've really developed as a band and shined in terms of song writing on the last few. The alchemy series didn't really wow me except a few tracks but beggars is amazing.

Brand New.
Not at all a fan of favorite weapon. Fine for the time I guess, but the song writing has gotten better, more mature, and a lot darker.

Not sure if it counts as a band but Sufjan Stevens has been doing some amazing stuff lately. Age of Adz is great, not sure if I'd say it was better than Illinois/Avalanche, but I like those over Michigan, Seven Swans, rabbit, sun, etc.
 
RHCP--Self Titled and Freaky Styley sounded like they recorded them in a bank restroom..
(Uplift was getting there)MM and BSSM was/is some of the best sh!t put on wax.

AND THE UNDISPUTED WINNER IS>>>>>>

John Mayer...thought he had been with a man on his 1st album...now, he's mostly what I listen to.