• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bands who got better

#41
jmattbassplaya said:
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
Click to expand...

Heh, the first group than came to my mind when I saw this thread was AIC. I'm a big fan, but honestly don't care much for Facelift, the later material definitely got progressively better (individual songs notwithstanding, "Man In The Box" from Facelift is one of their best IMO).

I notice you left off Black Gives Way To Blue; you one of those who think they should have changed their name when Layne died? He was great to be sure, but I saw them live with DuVall a couple years back and they were incredible--they've definitely never lost the essence of who they are.

To add it to your the list though, I think Black Gives Way To Blue is AIC's strongest album yet--the remaining individuals definitely matured as songwriters and musicians. A pity Layne couldn't have been around to take part, but I think he'd be proud of what they've become :cool:

Great band either way though.

-Dash
 
#42
Dash Rantic said:
Heh, the first group than came to my mind when I saw this thread was AIC. I'm a big fan, but honestly don't care much for Facelift, the later material definitely got progressively better (individual songs notwithstanding, "Man In The Box" from Facelift is one of their best IMO).

I notice you left off Black Gives Way To Blue; you one of those who think they should have changed their name when Layne died? He was great to be sure, but I saw them live with DuVall a couple years back and they were incredible--they've definitely never lost the essence of who they are.

To add it to your the list though, I think Black Gives Way To Blue is AIC's strongest album yet--the remaining individuals definitely matured as songwriters and musicians. A pity Layne couldn't have been around to take part, but I think he'd be proud of what they've become :cool:

Great band either way though.

-Dash
Click to expand...

I actually really like the new album, too. To me, it was one of the best rock albums that came out that year. I'm also a huge fan of Duvall and I think he sounds great in the band. I saw them live when they toured with Velvet Revolver and they sounded perfect with him on vocals.

That said, I don't think it's fair to compare AIC then to AIC now. They definitely have the same vibe going on, but there was something about Layne that gave their songs a lot more authenticity - at least in regards to what they were singing about. I'll still call them AIC, but I think Duvall still needs to prove himself a bit more.
 
#45
AIC have definitely improved over time. They are the rare band that retains their essence, while continuing to grow, without just going off the tracks (ala Metallica, etc). BGWTB is one of their finest - if not THE - best album they`ve ever made. Too bad most AIC fans from the day have written them off and not even given the album a listen; it is outstanding and unmistakably AIC. As big a part of AIC as Layne was, and as big a fan as I`ve always been, honestly I can`t say he`s terribly missed on the album - I surprised myself with that opinion. Can`t wait to see what they do next ! EDIT: saw a vote for Clutch, too - hell yeah ! Early on, they were a quirky metal band, but now they are a monster blues-rock-type band that kills !
 
#46
pnut166 said:
AIC have definitely improved over time. They are the rare band that retains their essence, while continuing to grow, without just going off the tracks (ala Metallica, etc). BGWTB is one of their finest - if not THE - best album they`ve ever made. Too bad most AIC fans from the day have written them off and not even given the album a listen; it is outstanding and unmistakably AIC. As big a part of AIC as Layne was, and as big a fan as I`ve always been, honestly I can`t say he`s terribly missed on the album - I surprised myself with that opinion. Can`t wait to see what they do next !
Click to expand...

Seriously?!? The single on the radio was horrible. "I've lost my mind, California, California, I've lost my mind..." Or something to that effect.
 
#47
Some good examples listed in this thread. Certainly I'd agree with the Beatles, Radiohead and Wilco. All were good bands from the very beginning but absolutely took things to a different level with later albums.

But I was thinking of bands that made an album where you really can't even believe it's the same group.

The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" is an album that is saccharine, overtly poppy and bordering on goofball, but it's also got some of the most amazing instrumentation, arrangements and vocal harmonies ever recorded.

Another band that came to mind was Talk Talk. Their first few albums were run-of-the-mill 80's new wave pop. They did that fairly well but there was nothing ground breaking or really interesting about it.

But then the "Laughing Stock" album came out of nowhere as this baroque rock/jazz influenced album with far more emotion packed into it than anything that came before and a sound that no doubt influenced a ton of post-rock bands that followed them.
 
#48
To piggyback off the Mr. Bungle guy... Faith No More!

We Care a Lot - pretty good, with some great tracks
Introduce Yourself - another solid album
The Real Thing - Mike Patton was a huge upgrade. Chuck Mosely was like... a rapping Bob Dylan. Oh, and the songs are pretty awesome.
Angeldust - Fantastic. Truly fantastic.

I don't think FNM has ever truly produced a "bad" album. After Patton came on board, there were definitely some difficult songs, especially in the middle of King for a Day.
 
#49
Beatles are an obvious choice. Continually evolved, always good, but ending up great.

Radiohead is a tough one for me. Pablo Honey is a mixed bag, but the Bends is still my favorite record by them. As much as I respect the experimental stuff, I just can't sit down and listen to Kid A or Amnesiac like I can the Bends, or even OKC. They are much more mood based, IMO.

High on Fire has gained a lot from better production values (as is the case with many bands).

Coheed and Cambria was the first band that came to my head, but also because I feel on Good Apollo and NWFT they finally had the budget to get all their ideas across. The writing is just as strong on the first records.

AiC definitely had the bell curve.

Opeth is a band who I think has put out consistently great albums since Blackwater Park, which was really the culmination of their sound. The first few records, while good, weren't as genre bending.

Mastodon, while many hardcore fans would fight me on this, has only gotten better with time.
 
#50
Inverness said:
To piggyback off the Mr. Bungle guy... Faith No More!

We Care a Lot - pretty good, with some great tracks
Introduce Yourself - another solid album
The Real Thing - Mike Patton was a huge upgrade. Chuck Mosely was like... a rapping Bob Dylan. Oh, and the songs are pretty awesome.
Angeldust - Fantastic. Truly fantastic.

I don't think FNM has ever truly produced a "bad" album. After Patton came on board, there were definitely some difficult songs, especially in the middle of King for a Day.
Click to expand...

Album of the Year is also tragically underrated IMO. Stripsearch, Last Cup of Sorrow and Ashes to Ashes are some of the best songs they ever wrote.
 
#52
BagelBruin said:
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.
Click to expand...

Well to be fair, I havent heard the new REM album. Accelerate had a couple good songs on it. I just think that Monster, New Adventures, Up, Reveal, and Around the Sun are all horrible, horrible albums.

New Adventures didn't feel like an REM album... it felt more like a hint of what REM was about to become... lame. The song with Patti Smith (E Bow) is ok. About 2 other decent ones, but most of the albums sucks... IMO, of course.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back