# Artists who never released a disappointing album **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820 "2009-02-28T20:28:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/21 "2009-03-01T02:36:34Z")
Nick Drake Traffic John Renbourn (solo) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/22 "2009-03-01T02:57:03Z")
King Crimson Mike Keneally ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/23 "2009-03-01T03:09:26Z")
Steely Dan. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/24 "2009-03-01T04:55:10Z")
All of **Ben Folds Five** ’s three albums are tight. Ben Folds on his own, however - his first album and most recent album are not so good. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/25 "2009-03-01T09:40:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > \*\*Nirvana’\*\*s three main albums are all good Compared to the two others, and the live album, I would say that Bleach is disappointing. > [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > WILCO I find AM and Sky Blue Sky definitely sub par to their other albums. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Beatles Compare Beatles for Sale with Revolver for a second. How can you not be disappointed? Consider Honey Don’t, Kansas City and not least Mr Moonlight. Now my suggestions for you to ridicule: Raconteurs (Obviously not true for everyone, but) The Velvet Underground Fiano Apple Elastica The Knife Muse ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/26 "2009-03-01T09:49:59Z")
**Dream Theater**. 9 1/2 studio albums and a slew of live recordings, most all of it excellent. _Falling Into Infinity_ has its weak moments, but I wouldn’t call it disappointing. **Spock’s Beard**. 9 studio albums, and several live albums, and again mostly excellent. _Feel Euphoria_ is admittedly borderline. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/27 "2009-03-01T10:37:18Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > The White Stripes Agreed completely. Although can we hold their recent appearance on Conan against them? Good god. And I think I expected more from Get Behind Me Satan. It was good (so The White Stripes still qualify for the thread), but very clearly their weakest. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Ben Folds on his own, however - his first album and most recent album are not so good. Blasphemy! Rockin’ the Suburbs is fantastic. > [@mr.jp](#): > > Fiona Apple Good one. I loved Extraordinary Machine more than any other CD the year it was released. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/28 "2009-03-01T10:43:02Z")
I haven’t bought [Bonnie Pink](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Pink)’s last three albums yet (I keep forgetting), but every album so far has had at least 90% of the songs listenable and at least one or two really good songs. ---
**Author:** ![Omgalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/41988e/32.png) [@Omgalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omgalion)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/29 "2009-03-01T11:13:02Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Muse Totally agree. I doubt they’ve done a disappointing concert, either. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/30 "2009-03-01T11:55:47Z")
My totally subjective list submitted for mockery: Bruce Springsteen - although Magic came close for me, but he redeemed himself with Workin’ On A Dream. John Mellencamp The Eagles. Also Don Henley’s solo albums. Nerf Herder These are artists whose albums I’ll immediately pick up when a new one is released without having heard any advance singles or reading any reviews. As with any poll like this, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/31 "2009-03-01T12:19:10Z")
> [@Rufus\_Xavier](#): > > Steely Dan. Should have been on my list above. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/32 "2009-03-01T13:46:11Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Bruce Springsteen - although Magic came close for me, but he redeemed himself with Workin’ On A Dream. Even Human Touch and Lucky Town? ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/33 "2009-03-01T13:53:15Z")
Every choice is by definition subjective. I’d say Porupine Tree. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/34 "2009-03-01T15:13:25Z")
> [@Rufus\_Xavier](#): > > Steely Dan. Correct. They are a no-suck zone. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/35 "2009-03-01T15:23:12Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Fiona Apple I didn’t think I had heard all her albums, thought for sure she had more than three. She definitely belongs on this list. Never mind disappointing albums I haven’t heard one that I didn’t think was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/36 "2009-03-01T15:55:02Z")
The Decemberists (4 studio albums and a handful of EPs so far) Bright Eyes (10 albums and many EPs) Okkervil River (5 albums, 5 EPs) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/37 "2009-03-01T16:01:53Z")
I’ll agree with the previously mentioned Pixies and Alice in Chains. I’d add Talking Heads to the mix. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/38 "2009-03-01T16:33:59Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Compare Beatles for Sale with Revolver for a second. How can you not be disappointed? Consider Honey Don’t, Kansas City and not least Mr Moonlight. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be dissapointed with Beatles for Sale or Revlover, but they’re both fantastic albums. Revlover perhaps the Beatle’s best, but Beatles for Sale…there’s nothing really bad on there. And if you are dissapointed with Beatles for Sale, it’s only in retrospect. In the chronology of albums, they all build on where they left off, so I don’t think they’ve really disappointed at any point. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/39 "2009-03-01T17:14:15Z")
the **Foo Fighters** and **Toad the Wet Sprocket** for me. I might even go so far to say **Incubus** as well. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/40 "2009-03-02T23:28:22Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Even Human Touch and Lucky Town? Yes, even Human Touch and Lucky Town. I bought them both on the day they were released (they came out simultaneously). They are among two of my favorite Boss’s albums. Great under-rated albums, great songs. The title tunes, Better Days, Local Hero, Leap of Faith, 57 Channels and Nothin’ On, The Big Muddy. The only Springsteen album I would say sucked balls is The Ghost of Tom Joad. So for me it’s 99% never disappointing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820.md?page=3)