Artists whose last release was the best thing they ever did

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i.e. they reached their peak and then they split up, or died. No nominating artists who just happened to release something good last week

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:41 (seventeen years ago)

I'll start with the Libertines

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:41 (seventeen years ago)

many will suggest Talk Talk

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:44 (seventeen years ago)

mr bungle

SANJAY BLOGDAI SANJAY (John Justen), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:46 (seventeen years ago)

I have no recollection of the last Bungle album!

Like sicking a little bit of water into my mouth (HI DERE), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:46 (seventeen years ago)

california is a+++++++

SANJAY BLOGDAI SANJAY (John Justen), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:47 (seventeen years ago)

my bloody valentine ftw!

Steve (Not Stevie) (Stevie D), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:48 (seventeen years ago)

well, last album

Steve (Not Stevie) (Stevie D), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:48 (seventeen years ago)

fugazi (IMO)

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:51 (seventeen years ago)

California is A+++++++ but Disco Volante is A++++++++ imo

good shout tho

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:53 (seventeen years ago)

Wham!

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:54 (seventeen years ago)

california is a+++++++

oh right, I remember now, you are OTM depending on what mood I'm in (I think my default setting is "Stubb (A Dub)" is the best Bungle song ever recorded).

Like sicking a little bit of water into my mouth (HI DERE), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:55 (seventeen years ago)

My Bloody Valentine for sure. Big Star if they hadn't reunited... good case could be made for the Beatles, I think.

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:57 (seventeen years ago)

"Mr Bungle" is merely A++++++ :(

(this still means that it is a totally awesome riot)

MBV are doing more shit atm u fools

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:58 (seventeen years ago)

A lot of folks will disagree, but Slater-Kinney's The Woods is my favorite.

Moodles, Thursday, 16 October 2008 19:59 (seventeen years ago)

MBV are doing more shit atm u fools

will believe it when I hear it and am not getting my hopes up

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:00 (seventeen years ago)

I propose that reunions that occur more than 10 years after the break-up don't count...(so yeah, Big Star)...

henry s, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:01 (seventeen years ago)

lotta folks round here would say that "The Electrician" was the best thing the Walker Brothers ever did...

henry s, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:02 (seventeen years ago)

Grandaddy might be a valid answer, actually.

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:03 (seventeen years ago)

And you could very well argue for Hood's "Outside Closer", although their two late-90's albums juuust about pip it to the post imo. But fuck, maybe not. The other issue is that Hood may not be finished.

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:05 (seventeen years ago)

I'm tempted to say Duke Ellington's Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, though I wouldn't try to convince anyone that it's absolutely his best record.

Sara Sara Sara, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:05 (seventeen years ago)

Electrelane

loderunner, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:08 (seventeen years ago)

also lolz who is gonna say Slint oh lolz it's me oops

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:10 (seventeen years ago)

I like most Unwound, but Leaves Turn Inside You is the masterpiece.

z "R" s (Z S), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:20 (seventeen years ago)

the Beatles: Abbey Road

Bill Magill, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:29 (seventeen years ago)

J

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:29 (seventeen years ago)

oy Division

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:29 (seventeen years ago)

The Doors: LA Woman

kornrulez6969, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:30 (seventeen years ago)

Nick Drake

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:30 (seventeen years ago)

i sometimes think Oh La La is my favorite Faces record

flyover statesman (will), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:32 (seventeen years ago)

Holy crap, I'm surprised I didn't think of this sooner: the MC5, High Time.

Sara Sara Sara, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:32 (seventeen years ago)

Neutral Milk Hotel

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:33 (seventeen years ago)

Chameleons on the 10-year rule

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:33 (seventeen years ago)

Richard and Linda Thompson

mottdeterre, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:34 (seventeen years ago)

The Czars - assuming that b-sides collection doesn't count.

rentboy, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:34 (seventeen years ago)

J Dilla?

rentboy, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:35 (seventeen years ago)

Zombies, 10-year rule

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:36 (seventeen years ago)

Judee Sill (if you don't count the posthumous stuff)

mottdeterre, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:36 (seventeen years ago)

Nick Drake

― the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli),

This

Moka, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:37 (seventeen years ago)

miles davis
the clash
can

what U cry 4 (jim), Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:40 (seventeen years ago)

>>the clash

Surely you can't mean Cut the Crap?

mottdeterre, Thursday, 16 October 2008 20:42 (seventeen years ago)

You could make a case for the Velvet Underground, disregarding any live/reunion work.

mottdeterre, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:09 (seventeen years ago)

Lots of artists who only had one song by a particular outside songwriter. Like Animotion's "Obsession".

Eazy, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:17 (seventeen years ago)

[x-post] that has the get-out clause of having been made and released by Bernie Rhodes under the Clash's name

still, neither Combat Rock nor Should I Stay are their best

MBV are doing more shit atm u fools

aside from the fact they haven't released jack shit atm, covers of We Have All The Time In The World and Map Ref 41°N 93°W are far better arguments u fool

Joe, Joe The Plumber (sic), Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:27 (seventeen years ago)

Hood's "Outside Closer"

Damn, I didn't even know they broke up. That sucks. I guess this is OTM, then.

Pillbox, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:36 (seventeen years ago)

Not sure if Abbey road is the best Beales album but it's my personal favourite.

Was Black night crash the last Ride single? if so, that..probably.

Sven Hassel Schmuck, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:37 (seventeen years ago)

Having said that, Abbey road was just their last recording and far from their last release.

Sven Hassel Schmuck, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:38 (seventeen years ago)

You could make a case for the Velvet Underground, disregarding any live/reunion work.

― mottdeterre, Thursday, October 16, 2008 5:09 PM (27 minutes ago) Bookmark

OTFM! Squeeze was 100x better than all their other albums combined!

Pillbox, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

Well, they're of ambiguous status. Nobody really knows tbh. xxxpost

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

Sorry SHS, but Ride = so so so so so wrong

Pillbox, Thursday, 16 October 2008 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

Hood's "Outside Closer"

Have to disagree. Cycle of Days and Seasons or Cold House for me were their best works.

Treblekicker, Friday, 17 October 2008 10:29 (seventeen years ago)

Japan OTM is you count the "Ghosts" single as their last. "Oil On Canvas" was pretty much pointless though, like virtually all live albums.

Geir Hongro, Friday, 17 October 2008 11:22 (seventeen years ago)

31 Japan European Son Single Jan 1982
5 Japan Ghosts Single Mar 1982
24 Japan Cantonese Boy Single May 1982
9 Japan I Second That Emotion Single Jul 1982
26 Japan Assemblage (re-entry) Album Jul 1982
28 Japan Life In Tokyo Single Oct 1982
29 Japan Night Porter Single Nov 1982
38 Japan All Tomorrow's Parties Single Mar 1983
5 Japan Oil On Canvas Album Jun 1983

Clearly, it was not their last.

Hmm, "European Son" And "All Tomorrows Parties"....

Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2008 11:29 (seventeen years ago)

The Soft Boys with Underwater Moonlight, assuming a discounting of the 20-years-later Nextdoorland.

EZ Snappin, Friday, 17 October 2008 11:30 (seventeen years ago)

What about the "Only the Stones Remain" half-album?

Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2008 11:31 (seventeen years ago)

Uncle Tupelo--Anodyne
Oblivians--Play Nine Songs...

steampig67, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:00 (seventeen years ago)

What about the "Only the Stones Remain" half-album?

― Mark G,

Odds and sods cash-ins shouldn't count, even if stuff is unreleased (see Joy Division).

EZ Snappin, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:07 (seventeen years ago)

Japan's European Son isn't a cover. also, Japan is a poor answer imo.

don't agree with Electrelane but it's still a reasonable shout.

Joy Divison and Unwound mentioned previously, both otm

Pavement is obviously madness

the gum that i like has yet to come back in style (Roberto Spiralli), Friday, 17 October 2008 12:20 (seventeen years ago)

Fine Young Cannibals

mottdeterre, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:36 (seventeen years ago)

Dukes Of Stratosphear, ha-ha

zeus, Friday, 17 October 2008 12:54 (seventeen years ago)

I like the last Felt album (Me and a Monkey on The Moon) the best, but I'm sure no-one's going to agree.

Kim Tortoise, Friday, 17 October 2008 14:17 (seventeen years ago)

It's the only album of Felt I heard (apart from the Best Of), and was underwhelmed.

Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2008 14:19 (seventeen years ago)

Have to disagree. Cycle of Days and Seasons or Cold House for me were their best works.

― Treblekicker, Friday, 17 October 2008 10:29 (3 hours ago) Bookmark

I DID say it was only a POTENTIAL, and that I may well prefer their two late-90's efforts (Cycle and Rustic, both amazing)

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Friday, 17 October 2008 14:23 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah Rustic's pretty good, although pretty hardcore miserablism (even by their standards)

Treblekicker, Friday, 17 October 2008 14:30 (seventeen years ago)

Gram Parsons? Grievous Angel is a masterpiece, but is it better than The Gilded Palace of Sin or Sweetheart of the Rodeo? Damn, that's a tough decision (for me at least). An embarassment of riches there.

Pillbox, Friday, 17 October 2008 22:03 (seventeen years ago)

You can count it as the last release by the solo artist Gram Parsons no matter what.

Personally I'll rank both of those other albums ahead of it though.

Geir Hongro, Friday, 17 October 2008 22:08 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, but the guy only put out two solo records, which is why I included the Byrds/FBB stuff.

Pillbox, Friday, 17 October 2008 22:11 (seventeen years ago)

Rustic, I have decided, is England's answer to Black Metal. One day I'll write an article about that.

100 tons of hardrofl beyond zings (Just got offed), Friday, 17 October 2008 22:15 (seventeen years ago)

Pavement.Most will not agree.

I will agree unreservedly. Pavement were better the more straightforward and less lo-fi they became.

ilxor, Saturday, 18 October 2008 03:55 (seventeen years ago)

I will also ride for Terror Twilight.

bear, bear, bear, Saturday, 18 October 2008 04:03 (seventeen years ago)

Can anyone think of a rapper or rap group who's released at least three albums and fits this criteria (and also isn't challops answer or LOL bullshit)

jigglepanda.gif (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 18 October 2008 05:46 (seventeen years ago)

A case could be made for Pac, I suppose

jigglepanda.gif (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 18 October 2008 05:48 (seventeen years ago)

UGK - depending on if you'd rate Underground Kingz over Ridin' Dirty

It's sad how, for many of the artists listed in this thread, the demise came because of a death and not b/c they decided to quit while ahead.

Pillbox, Saturday, 18 October 2008 05:50 (seventeen years ago)

Richard and Linda Thompson

― mottdeterre, Thursday, October 16, 2008 8:34 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

Nah, I don't buy it. Judee Sill OTM though. I have a friend who was sort of turned off by her first album, but man Heart Food is so good. It makes me want to hit people over the head with it.

ian, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:13 (seventeen years ago)

Kate Bush, maybe...?

ian, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:14 (seventeen years ago)

Stars of the Lid.

ian, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:15 (seventeen years ago)

Some might say The Shadow Ring.

On a related tip, Idea Fire Company's last album is their finest yet.

ian, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:17 (seventeen years ago)

the dead texan

bart_stanberg, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:18 (seventeen years ago)

the soft boys

ciderpress, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:41 (seventeen years ago)

otm ian re: ifco!

nerve_pylon, Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:51 (seventeen years ago)

Skip Spence. Thanks.

inhibitionist, Saturday, 18 October 2008 09:36 (seventeen years ago)

go betweens - oceans apart

Michael B, Saturday, 18 October 2008 12:15 (seventeen years ago)

Neu! perhaps

Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Saturday, 18 October 2008 12:33 (seventeen years ago)

disagree w/go-betweens, but robert forster's last is certainly his best.

nerve_pylon, Saturday, 18 October 2008 14:17 (seventeen years ago)

This thread is sort of ruined by shouts for bands who only put on 2 or 3 albums anyway.

a shark shall fuck you (wanko ergo sum), Saturday, 18 October 2008 14:24 (seventeen years ago)

put OUT

a shark shall fuck you (wanko ergo sum), Saturday, 18 October 2008 14:24 (seventeen years ago)

that's what she said

a shark shall fuck you (wanko ergo sum), Saturday, 18 October 2008 14:24 (seventeen years ago)

The Turtles

abanana, Saturday, 18 October 2008 16:28 (seventeen years ago)

KMD

Granny Dainger, Saturday, 18 October 2008 17:50 (seventeen years ago)

Kyuss

StanM, Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:07 (seventeen years ago)

The Beatles, IMO (Abbey Road, not Let It Be).

chap, Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:08 (seventeen years ago)

Cop Shoot Cop, IMO. (Controversial, perhaps, but I just like Release best.)

StanM, Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:11 (seventeen years ago)

Thin White Rope (doesn't matter if the live album counts: if it does, that's it, if it doesn't, The Ruby Sea is)

StanM, Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:14 (seventeen years ago)

the dead texan

Artists whose last only release was the best thing they ever did

z "R" s (Z S), Saturday, 18 October 2008 18:43 (seventeen years ago)

"Kyuss"

Really?

Bill Magill, Saturday, 18 October 2008 22:58 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, it's the one I find I like most, after all this time.

StanM, Sunday, 19 October 2008 04:42 (seventeen years ago)

Galaxie 500.

Their time's limited, hard rocks, too (mehlt), Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:04 (seventeen years ago)

Portishead

van smack, Sunday, 19 October 2008 05:20 (seventeen years ago)

^^^ You never know what they might have in store for us in 2019.

Pillbox, Sunday, 19 October 2008 08:35 (seventeen years ago)

The Verve just lost this honour a few months ago.

Geir Hongro, Sunday, 19 October 2008 19:07 (seventeen years ago)


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