Bands Whose Later Stuff You Prefer

[Silent Majority]

The Beatles. They started writing and playing from their soul more after Rubber Soul.

[WestwayKid]

The Beatles. They started writing and playing from their soul more after Rubber Soul.

I almost agree with this. I probably listen to more Rubber Soul and beyond these days, though I still love A Hard Day's Night - which might be one of the best pop albums ever. But yeah, I do like their older stuff better these days.

[Flex]

Tom Waits

[Flex]

Bands who crashed out after a few years rather than decades will have a better time with this exercise. Like, if the beach boys had broken up after smile was made (or, hell, after Holland) theyd be in the mix but they kept going for another three decades.

[revbob]

Bands who crashed out after a few years rather than decades will have a better time with this exercise. Like, if the beach boys had broken up after smile was made (or, hell, after Holland) theyd be in the mix but they kept going for another three decades.

Know when to say when.

[Dr. Medulla]

On the whole, Swans are better since Gira restarted the name compared to their initial incarnation(s).

[msza2]

World Circuit Records has given second life to a heap of aging musicians from across the globe and I generally prefer all of their latter day works for that label. Orchestra Baobab, Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate, Ibrahim Ferrer and the entire Buena Vista Social Club network, among others.

I'm tempted to say the Skatalites as well because of the improvement in sound quality of their 90s albums, though it's hard to choose against Don Drummond.

[revbob]

Ministry improved a great deal after the first album/incarnation.

[Dr. Medulla]

Killing Joke … kinda. That is, their stuff since the original line-up got back together is much better than their middle period and compares well to the earliest material.

[Dr. Medulla]

Bands who crashed out after a few years rather than decades will have a better time with this exercise. Like, if the beach boys had broken up after smile was made (or, hell, after Holland) theyd be in the mix but they kept going for another three decades.

Mr. Love would like to have a word with you about the sales figures for "Kokomo."

[Mimi]

The Beatles. They started writing and playing from their soul more after Rubber Soul.

I agree with this. I do love their early stuff, but they got better with time.

[laxman]

Possibly because I have mellowed with age, but Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and the Manic Street Preachers.

[JennyB]

For Depeche Mode, I feel like Black Celebration - Music for the Masses - Violator - Songs of Faith and Devotion - Ultra was a glorious run. This is more their mid-career music.

[Flex]

This is kinda cheating, because it conveniently excludes the clash and incorporates a number of "& [band name]" but Joe's post-clash solo work was basically a consistent increase in quality from start to finish.

[Dr. Medulla]

This is kinda cheating, because it conveniently excludes the clash and incorporates a number of "& [band name]" but Joe's post-clash solo work was basically a consistent increase in quality from start to finish.

Earthquake Weather as a starting point for anyone would be a serious cheat.