Bands/artists who you liked better later in their career?

[marcosgt]

In the absence of live music we've had lots of 'bands/artists who..." threads, but no apologies for raising another.

I was listening to (of all bands) Abba yesterday and thought how much I (generally) liked their early material more than their later (The Day Before You Came, excepted) and then I thought about other bands and artists and I really couldn't think of a single band who I preferred later in their career compared to their earlier material.

I did come up with the Human League, where I like Dare better than their earlier albums, but it was downhill from there, imo. Madonna's voice definitely improved over time, but it's only the Ray of Light album by her that I really like.

So, are there any bands who you like better later in their material?

I'm sure a lot of bands and artist get technically better, but that's not the same as you (me anyway!) liking them better (of course, to you, it might be that element you appreciate more than me).

I guess for me a lot of bands and artists lose their spark and originality as they become more commercial or indulged.

Any candidates for bands or artists who you like their later material better than the earlier stuff?

M

[MikeT66]

For me, it would be The Beatles - much more adventurous in writing and recording after 1965, probably mid-way through their very short lifespan. The songs massively improved as they developed their skills and artistry.

[crofty1984]

Megadeth seem to be having a bit of a second wind. Dystopia and 13 were good albums.
Am I allowed to say I quite liked Chinese Democracy?

[silvagod]

Pink Floyd. I have all their albums but much prefer their work from Dark Side onwards.

[parakitaMol.]

Noel Gallagher (High Flying Birds)

I utterly loathed Oasis and the pair of them. But I really like Noel's stuff now.

As much as it pains me.

[bigandclever]

Nick Cave and Paul Simon are two for me.

[mickyh7]

parakitaMol. said:

Noel Gallagher (High Flying Birds)

I utterly loathed Oasis and the pair of them. But I really like Noel's stuff now.

As much as it pains me.

Saw them in Dublin where they supported U2.
They did a full Oasis set. Nothing else.
Awesome.
And I didn't notice the shouty one wasn't there!

[Rod200SX]

crofty1984 said:

Megadeth seem to be having a bit of a second wind. Dystopia and 13 were good albums.
Am I allowed to say I quite liked Chinese Democracy?

I loved Chinese Democracy. When I saw them in 2006 they played a few songs off the album and it was great.

[StevieBee]

ELO.

For me, it wasn't until A New World Record in 1976 that they found form. From then on, top drawer stuff, in the main.

[Walter Sobchak]

I’ve never really liked pre Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd or pre OK Computer Radiohead but enjoy everything from those albums onwards by both bands.

[Yidwann]

I'd have to agree on the Noel Gallagher thing, I liked Oasis growing up, it was my generation but if I go back to listen to anything of their stuff now its what Noel has done post splitting up.

The Dreams We have as Children gig at the Royal Albert hall is an incredible set, mainly acoustic with some strings thrown in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF-VBKnL37s

Also I think High Flying Birds is some of the best music he's written.

[thewarlock]

Opeth.

Earlier stuff was more black/death metal, more recent stuff is more proggy folky rock metal.

I prefer the newer stuff. The last 3 studio albums in particular.

[Halmyre]

The Beatles
Talk Talk
David Bowie
Depeche Mode

[Sebastian Tombs]

Take That.
I couldn't stand them when they were first around. Crap disposable music for teenage girls.

But I really liked the comeback album they did (the one before Robbie Williams came back). I suppose Barlow et all had been improving their musicial knowledge, working on songs and saving them up for years, so they came back really strong.

Sadly they went downhill again after that. Maybe they should have left it at that.

[entropy]

I'm more of a fan of the darker sounding, mid-phase The Jesus And The Mary Chain stuff like Honey's Dead, Automatic, The Sound Of Speed.

[sticks090460]

Pink Floyd, and especially Depeche Mode.

[Roofless Toothless]

Status Quo.

[witteringon]

Johnny Cash - The American Recordings series of albums in collaboration with Rick Rubin

[drab]

Radiohead didn't really get going until album 3

Rolling stones... Something like 10 studio albums before they peaked?

REM

TOOL

Blur

Pantera

[generationx]

Another vote for Pink Floyd, from Obscured By Clouds although as mentioned they really got in to their stride from Dark Side.