Bands that lasted TOO long

[wallofboingo]

I'm with Rotator on this one in regards to Devo. They didn't start getting worse till AFTER Oh No, It's Devo! in 1982. That was their last great album and I really do think it's GREAT. The synths on that album are so good, it's silly. Definitely give that album another listen.

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Mechi[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Frayo[/i]
<br>I just wish U2 would die.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/Rfrayo/nerd2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a> "I ain't a-Frayo-No Ghost!!!"
[/quote]

Ohhhh.. no!!!! I totally see that one coming.
Yes, U2 is not the same band that it was in the 80s (in my opinion, the first 4 albums are the best) but Bomb is a good album and they are so good live.
The thing is that when you have a very long career in music, people start measuring your work in comparison to previous one. And if you make an excellent album, you are very likely to have to listen for the rest to the career "it's not as good as....".


"Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
anything that may desert you so it cannot hurt you"

[/quote]

Actually my favorite U2 song is 'beautiful day' because it is so positive and I'd jsut got out of hospital when it came on Tv and cheered me up![;)]

Devolution is real

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Mechi[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by newwavepunkgirl[/i]
<br>STING! QUIT NOW FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD! I wish he'd quit when The Police broke up he hasn't done anything good since the early 90s, QUIT STING QUIT! (The latest I heard he's planning on doing a lute feuled album of medievil music, quit please[:0])[xx(][:(!]

Devolution is real
[/quote]

Ahhhh....you make the Sting fan that I have inside arise [;)]. I have to admit that certain solo Sting albums are pretty mediocre but there are others that are really good like Nothing like the sun, Ten Summoner's tales and Mercury falling. Those three albums are filled with good songs... nice arrangements and kick-ass lyrics [:D]. Of course, I like The Police better (god knows I love The Police... maybe more than Joy Division [:D]) but Sting as a solo artist has also made great albums.
Medieval-inspired album??? Let's see how that turns out.. I'm interested in it.

"Destroy everything you touch today
Destroy me this way
anything that may desert you so it cannot hurt you"

[/quote]

Oh yeah I like his earlier solo stuff just not heard anything I like since 1994. Poor old sting![;)]

Devolution is real

[SwampThing]

The Cure - Wish
U2 - Unforgettable Fire
New Order - Technique
Depeche Mode - Violator
Echo & The Bunnymen - Echo & The Bunnymen
Morrissey - Your Arsenal
Ministry - Twitch

Just like athletes, I think artists hit a wall when they reach a certain age and are unable to perform their craft at the same level they once did. Sure they might write a good song here or there and put on some great shows, but rarely will they create great albums.

<font size="1"></font>

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by wallofboingo[/i]
<br>I'm with Rotator on this one in regards to Devo. They didn't start getting worse till AFTER Oh No, It's Devo! in 1982. That was their last great album and I really do think it's GREAT. The synths on that album are so good, it's silly. Definitely give that album another listen.
[/quote]

Oh I've not got that one yet as only got into them this year personally, might have to check that one out! Cheers! I love DEVO![8)]

Devolution is real

[DevoManiac101]

I wonder who will be the firs to kill me when I say my favorite Devo album is 'Shout' and I love everything up to 'Smooth Noodle Maps'

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>The Cure - Wish
U2 - Unforgettable Fire
New Order - Technique
Depeche Mode - Violator
Echo & The Bunnymen - Echo & The Bunnymen
Morrissey - Your Arsenal
Ministry - Twitch

Just like athletes, I think artists hit a wall when they reach a certain age and are unable to perform their craft at the same level they once did. Sure they might write a good song here or there and put on some great shows, but rarely will they create great albums.

<font size="1"></font>
[/quote]

You have a fair point there. I guess it's keeping things fresh for a long length of time is kinda tough really, I mean when bands start they are hungry and full of passion and I guess it changes over time.But maybe not age persay because look at Johnny Cash he was being fresh til he died in this 70s and he was going for decades. Heavy Metal is as bad as new wave and punk for running out of ideas. The problem is once you've been going for while you have to either experiment or rehash the same formula and it's whether people like it or not, fickle public. LOL

Devolution is real

[SwampThing]

[quote]You have a fair point there. I guess it's keeping things fresh for a long length of time is kinda tough really, I mean when bands start they are hungry and full of passion and I guess it changes over time.But maybe not age persay because look at Johnny Cash he was being fresh til he died in this 70s and he was going for decades. Heavy Metal is as bad as new wave and punk for running out of ideas. The problem is once you've been going for while you have to either experiment or rehash the same formula and it's whether people like it or not, fickle public. LOL[/quote] There are always exceptions. Johnny Cash went through a very long period without creating much of anything. He hooked up with Rick Rubin and did mostly cover songs and re-workings of his some of his old songs, all of which I really enjoy. I'm really talking about new material. When fans of an artist start defending the later stuff you often here them say things like "They wanted to go a new direction", "They final made the album they always wanted to", "They wanted to experiment with a new sound", "They took a new approach to songwriting". This is the nice way of saying "Don't compare it to the old stuff because you'll just be disappointed."

I still think age still has something to do with it. As we get older our minds and body start to go. We make up the difference with wisdom and experience. I can't help but to think the creative process is effected by age as well. <font size="1"></font>

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>[quote]You have a fair point there. I guess it's keeping things fresh for a long length of time is kinda tough really, I mean when bands start they are hungry and full of passion and I guess it changes over time.But maybe not age persay because look at Johnny Cash he was being fresh til he died in this 70s and he was going for decades. Heavy Metal is as bad as new wave and punk for running out of ideas. The problem is once you've been going for while you have to either experiment or rehash the same formula and it's whether people like it or not, fickle public. LOL[/quote] There are always exceptions. Johnny Cash went through a very long period without creating much of anything. He hooked up with Rick Rubin and did mostly cover songs and re-workings of his some of his old songs, all of which I really enjoy. I'm really talking about new material. When fans of an artist start defending the later stuff you often here them say things like "They wanted to go a new direction", "They final made the album they always wanted to", "They wanted to experiment with a new sound", "They took a new approach to songwriting". This is the nice way of saying "Don't compare it to the old stuff because you'll just be disappointed."

I still think age still has something to do with it. As we get older our minds and body start to go. We make up the difference with wisdom and experience. I can't help but to think the creative process is effected by age as well. <font size="1"></font>
[/quote]

LOL yeah it can send alarm bells ringing when they say that. For example I did like Metallica's Black album but if I'd sat and compared it to previous efforts then not as much you know? There again I can listen to the last Rush studio album and like that and take it as a whole because they are constantly changing because those kinda bands always do. So maybe it is the type of band if that makes sense. Some change gradually and some change overnight. I'm waiting for age to give me any wisdom it hasn't so far LOL[;)]

Devolution is real

[Grunch]

[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>[quote]I'm really talking about new material. When fans of an artist start defending the later stuff you often here them say things like "They wanted to go a new direction", "They final made the album they always wanted to", "They wanted to experiment with a new sound", "They took a new approach to songwriting". This is the nice way of saying "Don't compare it to the old stuff because you'll just be disappointed."
[/quote]

Or.........fans could simply enjoy their new material. If I only bought music from longer-term artists because they made sure not to ever change, I guess I'd have very little music to listen to. To simply say that anyone who says things is trying to tell you how disappointed you will be is pretty far. Just my opinion. A good example for me is the group Love, and their quintessential release Forever Changes. Nothing else they ever did could ever come close to this masterpiece, IMO. BUT.....BUT.....several of their other releases - Da Capo, Four Sail, and their self-titled release, are majorly essential for me to have, and I enjoy the hell out of them. They could never duplicate Forever Changes, nor did they try. And I would have to tell anyone asking about Love that they will not hear the same sound as Forever Changes on their other releases. but that does in no way mean I am telling them they will be disappointed.

[newwavepunkgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by newwavepunkgirl[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by SwampThing[/i]
<br>[quote]You have a fair point there. I guess it's keeping things fresh for a long length of time is kinda tough really, I mean when bands start they are hungry and full of passion and I guess it changes over time.But maybe not age persay because look at Johnny Cash he was being fresh til he died in this 70s and he was going for decades. Heavy Metal is as bad as new wave and punk for running out of ideas. The problem is once you've been going for while you have to either experiment or rehash the same formula and it's whether people like it or not, fickle public. LOL[/quote] There are always exceptions. Johnny Cash went through a very long period without creating much of anything. He hooked up with Rick Rubin and did mostly cover songs and re-workings of his some of his old songs, all of which I really enjoy. I'm really talking about new material. When fans of an artist start defending the later stuff you often here them say things like "They wanted to go a new direction", "They final made the album they always wanted to", "They wanted to experiment with a new sound", "They took a new approach to songwriting". This is the nice way of saying "Don't compare it to the old stuff because you'll just be disappointed."

I still think age still has something to do with it. As we get older our minds and body start to go. We make up the difference with wisdom and experience. I can't help but to think the creative process is effected by age as well. <font size="1"></font>
[/quote]

LOL yeah it can send alarm bells ringing when they say that. For example I did like Metallica's Black album but if I'd sat and compared it to previous efforts then not as much you know? There again I can listen to the last Rush studio album and like that and take it as a whole because they are constantly changing because those kinda bands always do. So maybe it is[;)] the type of band if that makes sense. Some change gradually and some change overnight. I'm planning to spend my retirement sat in the pub and shopping most of the old people do around here! I guess writng memoirs is cool too.

Devolution is real
[/quote]

Devolution is real

[SwampThing]

Grunch, you make some great points as usual, and as I stated before there will always be expections. It's been my experience that for every band I like with a long career their output during their 20's and early 30's is what I like best. I don't expect a band to stay the same but will admit to having higher expectations with each release.<font size="1"></font>

[Grunch]

I'd agree with that also. They are probably in the prime of their musical careers. I must admit there are artists that have blown me away as they aged and continued to release music. Van Morrison comes to mind. John lee Hooker also. Then there are thos groups that do get back together and maybe try to recapture the magic they once had, and it doesn't work. Not that they aren't still capable, but maybe their chemistry was just not there anymore, or couldn't be rekindled. I think some of that must have to do with how well they liked each other when they were together, maybe how thier loves evolved after a breakup - did they remina close, supportive, etc....so that when they regrouped, it's like they've always been a group but without any releases. Maybe that does not factor in at all, I don't know??? An example for me of a band seemingly well past their prime is Barclay James Harvest. Clearly their masterpieces were in the 70s, but a few years ago I picked up a release from the 90s and I have to admit I was floored. While they didn't try sound like the BJH of old, their musicianship, songwriting, tight sound and incredible vocals and harmonizing were right there still. They amazed me, and I was thankful they had made the effort to give us another great release to enjoy.

[Frank_Chickens]

ABC - Their first album doubles as a best of.

Devo - The whole amount of quality tracks they released in the 80s can be fitted into an album, the rest is just filler.

Depeche Mode - After Vince Clark left and they decided to go 'darker'.

Duran Duran - Should of stopped when the members started to leave.

Morrisey - After he left the Nosebleeds.

Stranglers - Sold out after Golden Brown and lost their credibility, should of stopped then.




--

"As chairman of the Cradle of Filth fanclub I'm the most insensitive man in Britain, but even I can see there's tension there"

[SomebodySomewhere]

I was going to pick New Order... but then I remembered they never had a good album.

Agree completely on The Clash (and who wouldn't) and kinda on ABC. I don't think ABC ever really followed up "The Lexicon of Love." There were some fine singles after that, but...

I loved "Oh No! It's Devo!" Very underrated. But definitely should have packed it in before "Shout." What a mess.

There are just so many new wave bands that just seem to be clueless when it's time to fold the tent that I resigned this list to some of the most egregious examples.


R.E.M. - Have been thoroughly useless since "Automatic for the People." "Final Straw" about sums it up.

Echo & The Bunnymen - Not much worth hearing after "Ocean Rain."

Blondie - After "Eat to the Beat." "Autoamerican" and "The Hunter" had 2 standout singles each surrounded by an island of soulless filler, and since they quit after that, I wouldn't have even mentioned them but for the fact that they decided to reform as a drugged-out, listless shell of their former selves. Embarrassing.

Pet Shop Boys - Although never favorites of mine, most of their singles from 1985-1988 are memorable. After "Introspective," they hit the skids, their hooks dried up, and they've spent the last 18 years not getting the hint that they're OVER!

The Human League - It's tough to pinpoint the exact album since there are so many bad ones, but I'll concede that "Hysteria" had some decent stuff on it (despite being very uneven and very thinly-produced) and go with "Crash" as the point where they, well, did. They completely lost their way after that one, and seemed like they weren't even trying to make good albums anymore. I guess if one song is a hit, it don't matter if the rest is shit?