A companion thread to this one... Biggest drops in quality ever
― Ned Trifle II, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:18 (fifteen years ago) link
how about talk talk: colour of spring to spirit of eden.
― davie, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:27 (fifteen years ago) link
spirit of eden is a ZzZzZ fest, like lite jazz FM kinda junk. I likes me some Austin post-rock, but I don't get why people bug out about that album.
― bart_stanberg, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Obvious: first to second Radiohead albums
― Hurting 2, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:33 (fifteen years ago) link
the Who, Live At Leeds far and away leaving Tommy in its dust. And if we're not counting live albums, it still applies: Who's Next over Tommy.
― Sara Sara Sara, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:38 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah counting live albums makes zero sense, especially considering that Live At Leeds features a bunch of pre-Tommy songs.
Meat Puppets to Meat Puppets II was a pretty big leap.
― Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:43 (fifteen years ago) link
The record is melodic, accessible, and quiet, so if you listen to it as background music, then yeah, that is all you will hear. I don't think that negates the possibility that at the same time, it has a lot of depth to offer people who listen closely. Which I think it does. It isn't nearly as good as Laughing Stock, but it is a great listen nonetheless.
― davie, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Soundgarden: Louder Than Love to Badmotorfinger Sepultura: Arise to Chaos A.D.
― rockapads, Friday, 18 April 2008 20:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Debut album to followup: Genesis, Van Morrison, David Bowie, The Moody Blues, The Zombies, Elton John and obviously lots and lots besides those.
Also:
ABBA: "Waterloo" to "ABBA" Supertramp: "Indelibly Stamped" to "Crime Of The Century"
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 18 April 2008 21:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Public Enemy Yo! to Nations
― Alex in SF, Friday, 18 April 2008 21:54 (fifteen years ago) link
Dinosaur Jr. s/t to You're Living All Over Me
― Alex in SF, Friday, 18 April 2008 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link
And as for "OK Computer" --> "Kid A", that one belongs here in this thread.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 18 April 2008 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
Tweez to Spiderland, I guess.
― Matt #2, Friday, 18 April 2008 22:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Ween's jaw-droppingly awful pre-GodWeenSatan material --> GodWeenSatan
― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 18 April 2008 22:20 (fifteen years ago) link
-- Alex in SF, Friday, 18 April 2008 21:54 (Yesterday) Link
Hmm...a 7/10 to a 10/10..
― Mister Craig, Saturday, 19 April 2008 07:53 (fifteen years ago) link
omgwtf 10/10 to 10/10
― jhøshea, Saturday, 19 April 2008 08:22 (fifteen years ago) link
"The Big Express" --> "Skylarking"
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 19 April 2008 09:39 (fifteen years ago) link
(And arguably "Bleach" to "Nevermind" although I know some will disagree)
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 19 April 2008 09:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Heartattack and Vine --> Swordfishtrombones is nearly unique in that it came so far into Tom Waits' career.
― bendy, Saturday, 19 April 2008 10:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Peter Gabriel 2 (the "scratch" cover) --> Peter Gabriel 3 ("melt" cover)
― turkey, Saturday, 19 April 2008 10:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Prince: "Parade" (4 great songs, rest of the album kinda meh with several pointless interludes) -> "Sign O' the Times" (a double album where every song is good or brilliant, his best album ever).
― Tuomas, Saturday, 19 April 2008 11:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Pole: "Pole" (a misguided attempt to make his siganture sound fuller, suffers from lame undie rapping and general downtempo mediocrity) -> "Steingarten" (a very succesful attempt to make his signature sound fuller, also a cool, experimental step into a new direction few others have gone to).
― Tuomas, Saturday, 19 April 2008 11:08 (fifteen years ago) link
blur, from LEISURE to MODERN LIFE IS RUBBISH.
― pisces, Saturday, 19 April 2008 13:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Underworld, Change the Weather --> Dubnobasswithmyheadman
― Paul in Santa Cruz, Saturday, 19 April 2008 14:32 (fifteen years ago) link
The Cure:
The Top (their absolute worst) --> The Head on the Door (in my opinion, their best)
― stephen, Saturday, 19 April 2008 14:39 (fifteen years ago) link
the cure:
km, km, km to dis int e grat ion
― Charlie Howard, Saturday, 19 April 2008 15:11 (fifteen years ago) link
Q and Not U: No Kill No Beep Beep to Different Damage.
― MacDara, Saturday, 19 April 2008 15:25 (fifteen years ago) link
And like 6 of the most amazing pop records ever before that, tho.
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:07 (fifteen years ago) link
This isn't the "who made a bad album once" thread, guys.
― Whiney G. Weingarten, Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Journey Styx Birthday Party Germs Zoviet France
― sleeve, Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Robyn?
― Tracer Hand, Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:22 (fifteen years ago) link
"spirit of eden is a ZzZzZ fest, like lite jazz FM kinda junk."
YES THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
― scott seward, Saturday, 19 April 2008 16:23 (fifteen years ago) link
dude has weird ears.
no i'm not talking about mark hollis. although...
I'm with Matt #2 on Slint, "Tweez" -> "Spiderland"
― krakow, Saturday, 19 April 2008 19:25 (fifteen years ago) link
I never wanted to hear this - until now.
― Ned Trifle II, Saturday, 19 April 2008 19:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Boo Radleys: Everything's All Right Forever --> (aptly named) Giant Steps
― Pillbox, Saturday, 19 April 2008 20:21 (fifteen years ago) link
erm..Alright
― Pillbox, Saturday, 19 April 2008 20:22 (fifteen years ago) link
The correct answer re Boo Radleys is "Giant Steps" ------> "Wake Up!"
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 19 April 2008 20:27 (fifteen years ago) link
Public Image Limited First Edition to Metal Box
― Alex in SF, Saturday, 19 April 2008 21:09 (fifteen years ago) link
My Bloody Valentine - This Is Your Bloody Valentine to Isn't Anything
― Z S, Saturday, 19 April 2008 21:28 (fifteen years ago) link
ZS, you are certainly OTM on that, but assessing the transition from TIYBV to IA, without considering the numerous EPs which came in between is to ignore several distinct evolutionary steps from one thing to something completely different. It's like going from egg to butterfly, without explaining the larva or pupa stages or something.
― Pillbox, Sunday, 20 April 2008 00:42 (fifteen years ago) link
One of the most striking is Tom Waits before and after he married Kathleen Brennan. His 70s stuff is solid, he wrote a bunch of nice songs, but his classic 80s run is a huge improvement in every respect IMO.
― Mark Rich@rdson, Sunday, 20 April 2008 01:46 (fifteen years ago) link
(as bendy said above - missed that!)
― Mark Rich@rdson, Sunday, 20 April 2008 01:47 (fifteen years ago) link
Would agree about Genesis. "From Genesis to Revelation" --> "Trespass" whoa!
― Joe, Sunday, 20 April 2008 02:40 (fifteen years ago) link
two that changed when they really, really needed to change were Of Montreal and the Chromatics. Although, of those two, I think Of Montreal went from good fey beatles impressionists to one of the better pop bands in the 00s. the Chromatics are still kinda eh okay pretty good.
squarepusher pulled it out of a slump.
fugazi's red medicine was the album that made me actually pay attention and i was able to go back and appreciate some of their previous records. live they always ruled. recorded was still a questionable affair.
i may get hate for this, but sonic youth has pulled out of a many album slump. (even slumps have some pleasureable moments.)
― msp, Sunday, 20 April 2008 05:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Japan - Obscure Alternatives to Quiet Life
(Even though i really like the first two glam-rock Japan lps)
― Jack Battery-Pack, Sunday, 20 April 2008 05:55 (fifteen years ago) link
what a horrible lie. no other fugazi record comes close to repeater.
― davie, Monday, 21 April 2008 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Siouxsie: Join Hands to Kaleidoscope
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 21 April 2008 20:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Pulp for that matter, but I'll leave that to an expert
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, 21 April 2008 20:54 (fifteen years ago) link
"no other fugazi record comes close to repeater."
It's true. That's indisputably their suckiest record.
― Alex in SF, Monday, 21 April 2008 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
the cure:km, km, km to dis int e grat ion
RONG
― stephen, Monday, 21 April 2008 23:33 (fifteen years ago) link
WRIGHT
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 21 April 2008 23:43 (fifteen years ago) link
the Royal Scam to Aja
― Lolpez, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 00:10 (fifteen years ago) link
"Colour of Spring" is great, wtf? It's underrated like "Spirit of Eden" is overrated.
Animal Collective, "Sung Tongs" -> "Feels" (of course, many will disagree)
Winner!
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 10:59 (fifteen years ago) link
The only underrated Talk Talk albums are "The Party's Over" and "It's My Life". Both excellent.
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 12:29 (fifteen years ago) link
In fact "It's My Life" --> "The Laughing Stock" is one of the worst ever gradual drops in quality during four albums.
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 12:30 (fifteen years ago) link
-- Elvis Telecom, Monday, 21 April 2008 20:54
Ned will have something to say about this, but for my penneth:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Pulp-Freaks.jpg/200px-Pulp-Freaks.jpg
to
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6c/Pulp-Seperations.jpg/200px-Pulp-Seperations.jpg
is the biggest gain I think.
― CharlieNo4, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 12:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Freaks is great! Separations (the worst Pulp album) -> His N Hers is the big jump.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 12:55 (fifteen years ago) link
fightin' talk, is that.
― CharlieNo4, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 13:42 (fifteen years ago) link
I just misread the thread title as "Biggest Gains in Size Ever". I read far too much spam.
― Thomas, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 13:51 (fifteen years ago) link
Neil Young s/t -> Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:11 (fifteen years ago) link
And I can't really speak to this as I've only heard the singles off Go 2 (I think), but isn't Drum & Wires considered a marked improvement? It certainly is over White Music. (tho WM is fun in it's own right)
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Neutral Milk Hotel: On Avery Island----->In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Pavement: Perfect Sound Forever------->Slanted & Enchanted
The Replacements: Hootenanny------> Let It Be
Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan------>Bringing It All Back Home
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Randy Newman s/t --> 12 Songs
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:18 (fifteen years ago) link
seems that Bowie, Randy Newman, Elton John and Neil Young all came back hard on the sophomore effort
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:19 (fifteen years ago) link
& Prince?? But again, I don't own For You and really only know "Soft & Wet" and maybe a couple others
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 14:22 (fifteen years ago) link
Neutral Milk Hotel: On Avery Island<-----In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
― kamerad, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 19:26 (fifteen years ago) link
I've only heard the singles off Go 2
I should say "single", but I'm not even sure "Are You Receiving Me?" was on Go 2
― will, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 20:23 (fifteen years ago) link
All Talk Talk albums are amazing, even the synth-pop ones.
― TomDeath, Wednesday, 23 April 2008 10:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Sepultura: Arise to Chaos A.D.
You must be joking.
Mayhem: Deathcrush to De Mysteriis
― Siegbran, Thursday, 24 April 2008 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
stone temple pilots: core to purple wilco: am to being there smashing pumpkins: gish to siamese dream refused: songs to fan the flames of discontent to the shape of punk to come megadeth: so far, so good, so what to rust in peace
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 24 April 2008 15:34 (fifteen years ago) link
In the case of Prince I would rather say "Prince" --> "Dirty Mind". "Prince" has some good songs (as does the debut), but "Dirty Mind" was the first really special one.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 24 April 2008 23:54 (fifteen years ago) link
OTM
also OTM
― stephen, Friday, 25 April 2008 03:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Mobb Deep: Juvenile Hell <<<<<<<<< The Infamous
― J@cob, Friday, 25 April 2008 04:07 (fifteen years ago) link
You must be joking
-- Siegbran, Thursday, 24 April 2008 14:14
I stand by it. Unless I'm missing the point of this thread completely, it's not about whether an album is cooler in retrospect, but more about an evolutionary leap forward in their career. Arise is an undisputed classic, but Chaos A.D. was a significant leap forward in terms of production quality, playing (percussion especially), and songwriting which managed to boost them to fame and define that whole Brazilian roots, punk, thrash crossover thing that was (and always will be) instantly recognizable as Sepultura.
Sucks they went all nu metal on their next one, but I still think Chaos was the Reign in Blood of their career and qualifies for this thread.
Oh and btw: Hell Awaits to Reign in Blood
― rockapads, Friday, 25 April 2008 06:53 (fifteen years ago) link
on reflection, the clash should probably win this thread.
record 2 was a clunky, plodding misstep. record 3 was vital, assured and one of the greatest rock statements ever.
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 8 January 2009 09:06 (fifteen years ago) link
for Bowie it's got to be the jump from The Man Who Sold The World to Hunky Dory
― Paul, Monday, 24 November 2014 22:12 (nine years ago) link
Dead Can Dance (which I do like) to Spleen And Ideal. songwriting aside, even on a sonic/arrangements level.
― Paul, Monday, 14 January 2019 19:11 (five years ago) link
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:54 PM (ten years ago)
Geir OTM!
― i stan corrected (morrisp), Monday, 14 January 2019 19:14 (five years ago) link
These New Puritans' improvement in quality between all three albums of their is pretty pronounced
― obnoxious pun (ultros ultros-ghali), Monday, 14 January 2019 19:19 (five years ago) link
the jump between Motorpsycho's debut album (Lobotomizer) and Demon Box is really striking
― frogbs, Monday, 14 January 2019 19:32 (five years ago) link
MJ: Forever, Michael ---> Off the Wall
― Lee626, Monday, 14 January 2019 20:10 (five years ago) link
Yeah, but that leaves out the Jacksons albums, especially Destiny on which he sang lead, and co-wrote, all but one of the songs.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 14 January 2019 20:25 (five years ago) link
true enough (Destiny always felt like a prequel to Off the Wall to me)
― Lee626, Monday, 14 January 2019 20:49 (five years ago) link
ok how about.... Aretha Franklin - Take It Like You Give It ---> I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
― Lee626, Monday, 14 January 2019 20:57 (five years ago) link
Good call.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 14 January 2019 21:05 (five years ago) link
And it's not like her Columbia records were seriously sub-par or anything (far from it), but the leap when she went to Atlantic was so so huge.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 14 January 2019 21:06 (five years ago) link
Agreed; that last Columbia effort is actually one of my favorites from the Columbia era. FWIW, I find Michael Jackson's Motown albums quite listenable too, especially the first two.
― Lee626, Monday, 14 January 2019 21:51 (five years ago) link
warren zevon: wanted dead or alive ---> warren zevon
seven years and seven million light years from album #1 to album #2
― fact checking cuz, Monday, 14 January 2019 23:06 (five years ago) link
Kustom Karnal Blackxploitation -> imperial f.f.r.r.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Monday, 14 January 2019 23:30 (five years ago) link
Unrest definitely a candidate for the "acts who got better with each release" list
― Οὖτις, Monday, 14 January 2019 23:31 (five years ago) link
I agree (sort of)... until Kustom Karnal, where the "first wave" of the band peaked! ...and then I guess I think of the B.P.M. era as sort of a different thing altogether (also good, but I don't love it as much as the early stuff).
In other words, Jersey Al *not* OTM! Nothin' beats KKB (yeah u know me)
― i stan corrected (morrisp), Monday, 14 January 2019 23:37 (five years ago) link
Kyuss's jump from Wretch to Blues for the Red Sun was pretty dramatic. All hail Chris Goss.
― Good cop, Babcock (Chinaski), Tuesday, 15 January 2019 17:46 (five years ago) link
Afghan Whigs first record to whatever point you choose (Up In It, certainly Congregation) is the one that comes to mind for me.
― campreverb, Saturday, 19 January 2019 16:38 (five years ago) link
Sleater-Kinney ---> Call The Doctor
― form that slug-like grex (outdoor_miner), Saturday, 19 January 2019 18:17 (five years ago) link
Japan's Obscure Alternatives to Quiet Life. I think their second album has some great stuff on it, but I think it's a step down from their first and nowhere near what came after.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 19 January 2019 21:42 (five years ago) link