Artists whose fourth album is their best

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Let's hear 'em, if they're out there

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Royal Trux - Cats & Dogs

― Omar (Omar), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Townes Van Zandt Delta Momma Blues

― Trip Maker (Sean Witzman), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

Belle and Sebastian

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

The Clash - Sandinista. (OK, just me there)

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

Isn't EVOL Sonic Youth's fourth album? Hex Enduction Hour is the Falls, right?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

I mean not counting EP weirdness and live records, of course.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday?

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

I don't think either Hex Enduction Hour or Younger Than Yesterday are their best albums but that's another thread

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

Orbital, In Sides

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

I'm not even sure I think Younger Than Yesterday is the best Byrds album actually.

Belle and Sebastian

Fold Your Hands might be twice as good as most people say it is (and much better than the next two) but no way is it the best.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

Julian Cope - "Peggy Suicide"

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

so what makes these albums the best ones?

i always feel that a fourth album disrupts the harmony the previous trilogy can assume. people talk about 'difficult' second or third albums but surely the fourth is more difficult to make? what can be said beyond three albums that isn't just re-iteration? often this can have benefits as it will result in the artist throwing caution to the wind and experimenting more (Sandinista?), other times it ends up as nothing more than proof they're all out of ideas (Oasis and Fatboy Slim sprang to mind, Prodigy too I guess). But for it to be considered the best of their career strikes me as quite an achievement for any artist.

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

Parliament, Mothership Connection

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

madness - rise and fall ..

― mark e (mark e), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

replacements, let it be (if you count stink as an album)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

If Stink counts as an album, the Replacements

(x-post!)

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

Stevem - do you really believe in the persistence of a third or fourth album syndrome? It all depends on the artist, surely? I thought this was just a bit of fun.

madness - rise and fall ..

Ooh - spot on.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

Black Sabbath Vol 4!

― 57 7th (calstars), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:10 (twenty years ago)

Some would say Zeppelin.

― Legend of the Salad Woman, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

Missy Elliott - Under Construction
Tori Amos - From The Choirgirl Hotel
PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

some (many, even) would say xtc.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

The Groundhogs, Split

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

maybe Daft Punk's fourth album will be their best...

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:16 (twenty years ago)

radiohead - kid A
sleater-kinney - the hot rock

― rajeev, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love

This is her third album, unless you're counting "4 Track Demos" (I wouldn't count it as a "proper" album).

Def Leppard -- "Hysteria"

and if we discount "Artifakts BC" (= not a proper album, sort of), then

Plastikman -- "Closer"

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

The fourth album they recorded or the first album they released?

If the the former then (treating Mirror Man as 2nd / 3rd) Captain Beefheart with Trout Mask Replica!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

Many would say Remain in Light. Not me though, I loved Krusty.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant

― mrjosh (mrjosh), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

Fairport Convention, Liege & Lief.

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

... I almost said that except, on reflection, I don't think it's their best album

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Scott Walker, Scott 3

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

I did like Brighten the Corners most for a while, now I don't think so though. But it's still really good!

― sleep (sleep), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

Off The Wall.

― BARMS, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

This is her third album, unless you're counting "4 Track Demos" (I wouldn't count it as a "proper" album).

I was thinking that. I was also thinking that Is This Desire? might be her best album anyway. Assuming Dance Hall At Louse Point doesn't count - but then those three are kind of the pinnacle of her career anyway.

In The Zone isn't better than Britney, but it's damn close.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

Squeezing Out Sparks by Graham Parker is a good one (live albums don't count)

Also, perhaps...

Uncle Tupelo: Anodyne
Led Zeppelin IV
Velvet Underground--Loaded
Wilco--Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (not counting Mermaid Avenue w/Billy Bragg)

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

Almost forgot...

Unforgettable Fire--U2

Everybody has a different U2 favorite, but this has always been mine.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

The Small Faces, Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

... but only just over the preceding album

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:33 (twenty years ago)

korn - me too on the U2. though 'loaded' is probably the worst proper velvets album in my book....

― rajeev (rajeev), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

Todd Rundgren, A Wizard, a True Star

... but, I suspect, only if you're into Todd as Psychedlic Pseer as opposed to Todd as Powerpop Potentate

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

cat power, moon pix
afghan whigs, gentlemen
some stereolab album maybe depending on how you count them

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

Scott Walker, Scott 3

hmm, what's the missing album in my scott collection that would make that his fourth?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

amon tobin : super modified (i think)

built to spill : keep it like a secret (love this album!!)

dismemberment plan : change (well arguably, cant decide if its better than emergency and i)

the who : who's next (was this their 4th? i'm not sure :)

2nd the small faces Ogden's Nut Gone Flake vote

― Mr Monket (apn99), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

Albums that possibly bear this theory out:
Saint Etienne: Good Humour
Beat Happening: Dreamy
Yo La Tengo: Fakebook
The Beatles: Rubber Soul (not counting the Hard Day's Night and Help! soundtracks)

Albums that don't:
The Feelies: Time For a Witness
The Raincoats: Looking in The Shadows

― mike a, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:43 (twenty years ago)

hmm, what's the missing album in my scott collection that would make that his fourth?

http://www.vinylvulture.co.uk/pages/images/records/scott-tv.jpg

Containing the totally wonderful "Country Girl"

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

Faith No More 'Angel Dust'

― dave q (listerine), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

yeah - i dont get the scott joke. ill say scott 4. also, fairport is otm. also, todd rundgren.

― peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

nah, not fakebook

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

ok - well, scott 4 > scott 3. whatever.

― peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

Queen - A Night At The Opera

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 8 March 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 50 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

The Jam--Setting Sons

― late adopter, Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:04 (twenty years ago)

Ege Bamyasi or Tago Mago (I don't know what to do w/Delay 1968) but the case could be made for either.

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:25 (twenty years ago)

I think I'd go for Sonic Youth - Sister. EVOL is their 3rd proper album surely? Unless you're counting Sonic Death or something?

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

Negativland Escape From Noise (after A Big 10-8 Place,Points, and Negativland)

Nomeansno Wrong (after Small Parts Isolated And Destroyed,Sex Mad, and Mama)

― donut debonair (donut), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

Black Sabbath Vol. 4

― donut debonair (donut), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Killing Joke- Night Time

Actually, the fourth Joke album would be Fire Dances, wouldn't it?

― donut debonair (donut), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

Gastr del sol - Camofleur
Nirvana - Unplugged

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

six years pass...

Bump. This is basically the theme for our next record club meeting.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 07:32 (thirteen years ago)

In Sides, Spirit Of Eden, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Mwng, Remain In Light, Kid A, Andorra, Ege Bamyasi, Stand!, Kill The Moonlight, No Shouts No Calls, loads and loads more.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 07:56 (thirteen years ago)

Beatles For Sale (my favourite, anyway)

― nate woolls, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 08:02 (thirteen years ago)

Kid A

you're kidding amirite

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 08:16 (thirteen years ago)

Well it's not my favourite but there's a pretty big weight of critical and public consensus behind it.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 08:20 (thirteen years ago)

Joni Mitchell - Blue

(although a case could be made for Court and Spark too)

― Lee626, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 08:29 (thirteen years ago)

Four albums which certainly disprove this notion:
Happy Mondays Yes Please
New OrderBrotherhood
Pogues Peace And Love
Gang of Four Hard

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 9 March 2005 10:33 (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Bortherhood and Peace and Love currently my favourite albums by these 2.

― Ned Trifle X, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 09:46 (thirteen years ago)

"Brotherhood and Peace and Love" - wasn't that the 4th Bros album?

― Ned Trifle X, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 09:47 (thirteen years ago)

If all of Lloyd Cole's work (Commotions and solo) can be counted as a continuum I would say he fits, his first (eponymous) solo album is the best thing he ever did.

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 10:43 (thirteen years ago)

Tindersticks - Simple Pleasure

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 10:46 (thirteen years ago)

Okkervil River, The Stage Names
Low, Secret Name

also, can't believe I'm first with:

Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 10:52 (thirteen years ago)

Steely Dan, arguably

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, March 8, 2005 2:35 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark

i don't know why i said this! Katy Lied is probably my least favorite of their '70s albums

― sock2transparent (some dude), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 12:31 (thirteen years ago)

Squeeze - East Side Story

― Colin Allstations (PaulTMA), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 12:42 (thirteen years ago)

There is certainly an argument to be made for Katy Lied being their best album. I don't know if I actually think it is currently, but it's definitely in their top two or three. Wall-to-wall hits.

― rustic italian flatbread, Wednesday, 28 September 2011 12:53 (thirteen years ago)

Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Kate Bush - The Dreaming

― Sebastian (Royal Mermaid Mover), Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:00 (thirteen years ago)

Bump. Our meeting is tonight and I'm still not 100% sure what to take. I'd like to take something non-rock. In Sides would be the obvious choice but it's more than 60 minutes long, and that's our limit.

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 14:48 (thirteen years ago)

AFX!

― Sick Mouthy (Scik Mouthy), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 15:05 (thirteen years ago)

Gas - Pop (though the s/t imo is better)

― The Sunspots In Your Eyes Are Actually Cataracts, Mr. Rudich (AWALL), Tuesday, 11 October 2011 15:58 (thirteen years ago)

yeah nothing wrong with saying Kid A there

― frogbs, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:05 (thirteen years ago)

here are my picks:
Cake - Comfort Eagle
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
The Orb - Orbus Terrarum (if you could Pomme Fritz)
Orbital - In Sides
Faust - Faust IV
Can - Ege Bamyasi
They Might Be Giants - Apollo 18
Yellow Magic Orchestra - BGM
Cornelius - Point
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward
Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, a True Star
Yes - Fragile

― frogbs, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 16:11 (thirteen years ago)

Alice Coltrane - Universal Consciousness
Idris Muhammad - House of the Rising Sun
Yello - Stella
Burnt Friedman - First Night Forever

― Tuomas, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:12 (thirteen years ago)

Keep It Like a Secret
Rust In Peace

― rustic italian flatbread, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 18:25 (thirteen years ago)

I agree with a lot of albums already suggested especially Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Spoon and Madness.

Also,

Sparks-Propaganda
EPMD-Business Never Personal
OMD-Dazzle Ships
Stereolab-Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Pulp-His 'n' Hers
Labelle-Nightbirds
Velvet Underground-Loaded
Betty Wright-Danger High Voltage
Hot Chip-One Life Stand
My Morning Jacket-Z
Erykah Badu-New Amerykah Part One

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 19:44 (thirteen years ago)

beyonce duh

― uberweiss, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 20:00 (thirteen years ago)

brandy and t.i.

― uberweiss, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 20:05 (thirteen years ago)

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships
Super Furry Animals - Mwng (this one of course could be debated endlessly, though)

If we're counting the two Tubeway Army albums as 'Gary Numan' albums (and lets face it, most fans do, including myself), then Telekon is easily one of his finest (although not my favourite)

Rush - 2112, also.

― Turrican, Tuesday, 11 October 2011 20:11 (thirteen years ago)

most of these are essentially "artists who had great 4th albums"

only some of these are their best.

― billstevejim, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 17:07 (thirteen years ago)

I'd also add Soweisoso to the list.

― frogbs, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 17:22 (thirteen years ago)

I think the Van Halen one is quite possibly correct.

― Josefa, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:18 (thirteen years ago)

Steely Dan, arguably

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, March 8, 2005 2:35 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark

i don't know why i said this! Katy Lied is probably my least favorite of their '70s albums

― sock2transparent (some dude), Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:31 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark

whoa what? least favorite?

― 69, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:23 (thirteen years ago)

Sparks-Propaganda

I had considered this. Although I think I prefer Indiscreet, Propaganda may be the correct answer.

― Blue Doggie Sweater (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:33 (thirteen years ago)

Superchunk? Foolish?

― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:35 (thirteen years ago)

lil wayne arguably

― prego, Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:36 (thirteen years ago)

Good call on Rust In Peace. Also 2112.

― You're a notch, I'm a legend (Bill Magill), Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:48 (thirteen years ago)

@frogbs, agreed, Sowiesoso is irrefutable.

I'll rep for Idaho's Alas.

― doug watson, Thursday, 13 October 2011 14:52 (thirteen years ago)

Arguably Pet Shop Boys - Behaviour

― LeRooLeRoo, Thursday, 13 October 2011 21:34 (thirteen years ago)

The Fall, whether you count Slates or Hex as #4, I couldn't choose between them

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 14 October 2011 16:36 (thirteen years ago)

Jay-Z - Vol. 3

― gospodin simmel, Friday, 14 October 2011 17:08 (thirteen years ago)

Pavement seconded.

― o. nate, Friday, 14 October 2011 19:57 (thirteen years ago)

many would say Beck - Odelay

According to this, One Foot in the Grave is Beck's fourth album, in which case I'd nominate it.

― Maybe more Danson and Galifianakis would help (Eazy), Friday, 14 October 2011 20:18 (thirteen years ago)

Pavement thirded (I know that's not a word). Let's get a tally going here.

― Melle Mel and the Coconuts (thewufs), Friday, 14 October 2011 20:31 (thirteen years ago)

Its hard to count Golden Feelings though, especially when Beck himself quashed the reissue.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 14 October 2011 20:31 (thirteen years ago)

Queen?

― kwhitehead, Thursday, 20 October 2011 04:20 (thirteen years ago)

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