I think it's a generalization in rock that it's a young man's game. Most bands do their best work early in their career, then lose their creative spark after a few strong albums. Maybe it's the rock n' roll attitude. As Neil Young said, "It's better to burn out than to fade away." But, not always. For every Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, and Sting, there are some seasoned vets that can put out some pretty exciting music, occassionally better than their earlier stuff. Here's a few examples that popped into my head:

Tom Waits - Bone Machine. One of Tom's finest moments, recorded nearly 20 years after the release of his first album.

Neil Young - Ragged Glory. Nearly 25 years after Young formed Buffalo Springfield, he put out this set of grungy rockers and resurrected his career, which was spotty throughout the 80s.

Lou Reed - New York/Songs for Drella. More than 20 years after the release of the first VU album, Lou proves he's got some life left in him with back to back great albums. The latter is even a collaboration with fellow old timer and VU bandmate, John Cale.

Who are some artists you feel have put out some great material late into their career?

I reckon Joni Mitchell's "Turbulent Indigo" would qualify.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hugh Jackman's Torso,

So would Howlin' Wolf's "Back Door Wolf"

I would guess it goes without saying that Dylan fits the bill as one whose game never really left. Another who was still doing great work toward the end of his life was Johnny Cash. Emmylou Harris is definitely one who keeps getting better with age. Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Ray Davies have all put out some good stuff recently. Maybe not better than their early stuff, but still good. One I think may be getting worse is Eric Clapton. Unless he's doing Cream or Bluesbreakers reunions, his efforts have been pretty weak.

I agree with Emmylou Harris. Red Dirt Girl was a stellar album produced late in her career.

I don't think I've enjoyed an Eric Clapton song that isn't a Cream or Derek & The Dominoes song. Like Sting, I think he started sucking when he went solo.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I agree with Emmylou Harris. Red Dirt Girl was a stellar album produced late in her career.

I don't think I've enjoyed an Eric Clapton song that isn't a Cream or Derek & The Dominoes song. Like Sting, I think he started sucking when he went solo.

I like some of his earlier solo stuff, and even some stuff off of Journeyman which I think came out in the late 80's was pretty good. But most after that when he's doing his own new material is not very good.

The flaming lips are much better now then they were when they started. the soft bulletin and yoshimi are pretty amazing

Bert Jansch has always been good but his most recent release, Black Swan, is as good as anything he released back in the '60s and early '70s.

As far as interpretive singers go, Linda Ronstadt is my favorite and she released her best album in ages this year. After so many hit and miss, genre hopping records, the folk cd recorded with Ann Savoy, Adieu False Heart, sounds so perfectly suited for Ronstadt, I wonder why it took so long for her to get there (but I'm glad she made it and hope she makes more in the same style).

Tom Petty. Does he even age? He's always been great in my book.

quote:

Originally posted by ryanryanryan102:
The flaming lips are much better now then they were when they started. the soft bulletin and yoshimi are pretty amazing

Soft bulletin was 7 years ago, and I don't think their new album supports the claim that they've gotten better with age.

Al Green. His two comeback albums with producer Willie Mitchell proves he still has the vocal grit and songwriting glory of his Hi Records era. His sound draws from both his chart-topping days and from modern times. Al's the best of all ages.

I think Alice Cooper is pretty timeless. His latest album is pretty good.'dirty diamonds' and 'weapons of mass distraction' are both very good songs of his Dirty Diamonds album. He went through a period of being a bit stale but his last few albums have been him back to his best.

Morrissey just gets better and better.

Maiden had some good albums late on in their career..

quote:

Originally posted by BContrat:

quote:

Originally posted by ryanryanryan102:
The flaming lips are much better now then they were when they started. the soft bulletin and yoshimi are pretty amazing

Soft bulletin was 7 years ago, and I don't think their new album supports the claim that they've gotten better with age.

I know the soft bulletin was seven years ago I'm just saying that the flaming lips formed in 1983 and didn't really create their masterpiece until 1999 which was sixteen years after they formed. Also, I liked at war with the mystics even if it wasn't the classic their last 2 were.

This discussion in the latest AV Club has some bearing here.

Tom Petty. Does he even age? He's always been great in my book.

[QUOTE I agree that Tom Petty still offers some good music. His last album, and especially the single "Down South" are great.]

I don't know if Petty's gotten better with age. He hasn't gone dramatically downhill (his new stuff is still pretty listenable), but I'd argue with anyone who says it's as good as his 70s and 80s output.

Listing Tom Petty, Lou Reed, Neil Young doesn't work with this thread. Yes, they've all made nice music late into their careers, but you've got to be kidding if you think they've gotten "better with age."

Here's a band that actually got better with age and that's the Wrens. Their 90's stuff is good, but Meadowlands is just awesome and I believe they were all in their late 30's if not 40's when it was released.

I agree with who mentioned the Flaming Lips, although they've since slipped back. Yoshimi was good, but wasn't as good as their previous 3 albums, and the new album is godawful.

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:
Listing Tom Petty, Lou Reed, Neil Young doesn't work with this thread.

I think they do. While I don't think Lou's outdone his early work, he had a nice little resurgance in the the late 80s/early 90s. Neil Young made a couple of great records in the early 90s too: Ragged Glory and Harvest Moon. And, I think Petty's best album is probably Full Moon Fever, which was released 13 years after his first album, just shy of his 40th birthday.