X & Y is wretchedly dull and self-important. Coldplay lost it when Chris Martin contracted Bono-itis and disappeared up his own arse.

Shame.

Though I haven't heard It's Art Dad, their collection of B-sides, I think that The Clientele have yet to record something that isn't very good.

My Morning Jacket for sure. Simon and Garfunkel. The Clash. I'd also probably include Radiohead and the New Pornographers, although I don't have Pablo Honey. (A sin of a lot of Radiohead fans, I think)

I'm tempted to say Sufjan Stevens (not a band, I know) but Enjoy Your Rabbit is hard to sit through.

I think that it is possible for an album to be great and to have a lot of respect for the artist but still skip songs. This doesn't have as much to do with the quality of the music as it does to personal whims. Don't you skip to your favorite tracks even if you love the album?

quote:

Originally posted by KafkaMnky:
The Clash

I like the Clash a lot, but I have three words for that: "Overpowered By Funk". The rottenest of eggs.

Interesting topic. Not sure anyone qualifies, really. Even my favorite bands (Beatles, Yo La Tengo, ...) have at least a few stinkers, but they also had long careers.

I can't think of a bad Nick Drake song. Velvet Underground come close.

The Velvets certainly would qualify, if you stopped at Loaded; unfortunately the band themselves didn't....

quote:

I like the Clash a lot, but I have three words for that: "Overpowered By Funk". The rottenest of eggs.

Don't forget Hitsville UK, Lose That Skin, and a good 1/3rd of Sandinista. London Calling is probably my favorite album ever but Sandinista has some really bizarre songs on it.

I'll throw out Wilco. AM isn't fantastic but it's pretty far from being terrible. Even the Mermaid Avenue stuff is ok. But I do tend to skip the drone part at the end of Less Than You Think, so maybe they don't qualify.

It's weird but I thought about Kid Koala for this thread. OK, not many of his tracks are masterpieces or legendary, but he never produced a single bad track.

quote:

Originally posted by stereo:

quote:

Originally posted by A-n-t-h-o-n-y:

quote:

ah ah...franz what? the second recrd is rubbish...

I know music is subjective, and yeah, we all approach it differently, but the second record is far from rubbish.
It's not as surprising as the first, but it is more polished, and the songs are stronger overall.

Agreed.
I didn't think about FF, they definitely fit this thread.

I love Franz Ferdinand, so I guess I'll agree, but then again, they only have two albums. I think this thread should have been narrowed to bands/artists that have at least three or four releases. Given that, I don't think there are any. The Beatles would come the closest for me. As far as a newer band, the Pernice Brothers would probably lead the way.

I think more realistically the question should have been just related to albums and not singles too.

A list of artists that have consistently made good albums (artists with 3 or more albums only):

-The White Stripes (The first band I thought of when I saw this topic.)
-LCD Soundsystem
-Animal Collective
-The Beatles
-The Distillers (An odd pick, I know, but they are the only "today" punk band that I think are good.)
-Godspeed You! Black Emperor
-The Knife
-Radiohead (Yeah, Pablo Honey isn't their best work, but it's still a good grungy album.)
-Pixies
-Sigur Rós (People bash Von only because Ágætis Byrjun overshadowed it. I still love Von and think it's great.)
-Björk
-Stars
-Xiu Xiu

quote:

Originally posted by Sebtron:
I think more realistically the question should have been just related to albums and not singles too.

I think you may have gotten the wrong impression. To clear it up, I was referring to albums (and all songs on those albums), not singles.

So non-album tracks don't count? I'm pretty sure someone mentioned Nirvana - they recorded some killer albums, but if any of you have listened to With the Lights Out, it's fairly clear that they recorded a lot of crap as well. (particularly "Beans")

quote:

Originally posted by paradox:
So non-album tracks don't count?

Yeah, that's what I intended, but I guess didn't make clear enough. I think you're safe to include Nirvana on the list.

I've been listening to Mew's first album Frengers lately, and even though they only have two albums, I'm going to add them to my list. I don't think they are capable of making a bad-sounding song.

I'm also going to add M. Ward and Destroyer to my list. And I'll second the Nick Drake nom above.

quote:

Originally posted by Vancea Mihai:
Nah, the second FF album didn't do it for me.

I would say Coldplay but I'm afraid I'll be lynched.

I'm hoping to actually like Coldplay for once, now that they have God in the studio.

*Cough*

I mean, Brian Eno.

quote:

I've been listening to Mew's first album Frengers lately, and even though they only have two albums, I'm going to add them to my list.

They actually have 3 albums. Their debut is "Triumph for Man", not "Frengers"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JGlass,

The coming of Eno was foretold in the ancient scriptures.....the One will arrive to save music....ENO/ONE...its all true people....I mean, look, he took Tiger Mountain by Strategy.....by strategy....

but nothing can save Coldfish.....

quote:

-Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Actually, that's not a bad choice, but it's hard to rate Godspeed song for song since each one has two or three parts to it. None of their "tracks" are bad, but some of the parts are not so good.

quote:

Originally posted by Jglass:
They actually have 3 albums. Their debut is "Triumph for Man", not "Frengers"

Do you have it? If so, is it good? It's freakin' $38 on Amazon new, and even used it's $26.

WILCO.

The greatest band making music today. Everything they've done is magic. And the new album coming out in May, might just be their best.

Although the thread has bands in the title, I'm sure that single artists apply. Having said that, Billy Joel certainly fits the criteria. His very worst album, Glass Houses, isn't bad at all, and everything else is great. He may not be everyone's favorite artist but his talent and work can't be denied.

In regards to My Morning Jacket....
This is one of my absolute favorite bands going but, I consider The Tennessee Fire to be borderline at best and Chapter 1 - The Sandworm Cometh to be horrible.

On the other hand, Sigur Ros is an excellent choice. Von is nearly flawless, as is their entire catalog.