# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/41 "2009-03-02T23:59:52Z")
> [@Linty\_Fresh](#): > > Shane Macgowan. I loved every record he ever put out, whether it was with the Pogues or the Popes or the voices in his head. Even singing through his candy-cane teeth with a hoarse whisper, he has always managed to do it for me. I could never see him live, because it would truly hurt to see what he’s done to himself, but man, there’s no such thing as a bad Shane Macgowan album. Even the _terrible_ ones kick ass. God bless his alcoholism and bad dental hygene, but you are right. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Superhero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Superhero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Superhero)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/42 "2009-03-03T00:13:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > “Never” is the term that keeps me from listing anybody who meets the criterion, but if “seldom” can be substituted, I can list a few from back in my record-buying days that would get close. > …Miles Davis… > > But every one of them had at least one dud. Usually their dud(s) would have been from their last one or two projects as they were on their way out of the picture. Boy, you got that right. Miles’ last album, “Doo Bop,” stinks on ice. Bad enough to instantly disqualify Miles from this question, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/43 "2009-03-03T00:24:11Z")
Penguin Cafe Orchestra ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/44 "2009-03-03T00:27:17Z")
Jeff Buckley Mary Margaret O’Hara Kate Bush ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/45 "2009-03-03T01:49:36Z")
The Pixies are probably the most consistently great band I’ve ever heard. If it weren’t for their first album, Radiohead would make the list for me. Tom Waits is always worth listening to. I haven’t heard all their albums, so I can’t be sure, but Manic Street Preachers have been pretty amazing on every one of their albums I have heard. The Afghan Whigs never made a bad record. I can enjoy any album by The Loud Family or Archers of Loaf. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/46 "2009-03-03T02:00:05Z")
Crap, **Purd Werfect** I think I like your post better than mine, totally agree on Tom Waits and the Afghan Whigs. Also someone mentioned Okkervil River, they’ve been extremely consistent; I think _Black Sheep Boy_ is their best so far. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/47 "2009-03-03T02:12:56Z")
The Cardigans - Six studio records plus a great full length CD of rarities on the ‘Best of’. You can also throw in the two records that Nina Persson has done with ‘A Camp’ as well. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/48 "2009-03-03T02:17:24Z")
If it weren’t for Sky Blue Sky, I’d say Wilco. It’s an okay album, but if it had been the first Wilco album I listened to, I probably wouldn’t have been interested in checking out their other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/49 "2009-03-03T02:22:49Z")
**Rage Against the Machine** (except maybe the Renegades album, but that was all covers) **Fugazi** **The Pixies** **Fishbone** ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/50 "2009-03-03T02:31:14Z")
Definitely Led Zeppelin. I love all nine of their albums. And Wolfmother, even though they just have the one album. And, as much as I’d love to say Rush, I do have to admit that Roll the Bones isn’t a very good album. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/51 "2009-03-03T04:17:17Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > King Crimson > Mike Keneally I’ve liked a LOT of King Crimson’s work, but they’ve had SEVERAL disappointing albums. When you’re turning over personnel and changing genres as rapidly and regularly as they did, it’s inevitable that some of the output isn’t going to work. And “Lizard” flat out sucked. ---
**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 3, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/52 "2009-03-03T05:33:15Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > And “Lizard” flat out sucked. Balls. That’s not only Crimson’s _best_ album, it’s one of the best albums by anyone, ever. One of the two or three first titles that come to mind for the traditional desert island list. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/53 "2009-03-03T06:36:19Z")
Easy answer: [The La’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_La%27s_(album)). Every song on that album (their only album) is perfect, regardless of what Lee Mavers says about Steve Lillywhite’s production. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/54 "2009-03-03T06:39:53Z")
Arcadia ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/55 "2009-03-03T07:10:01Z")
After reading more, I have to concur with: Pixies Cardigans Fishbone and **P! J! HARVEY!!!** ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/56 "2009-03-03T07:10:43Z")
> [@sco3tt](#): > > Easy answer: [The La’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_La%27s_(album)). Every song on that album (their only album) is perfect, regardless of what Lee Mavers says about Steve Lillywhite’s production. Well, if we’re counting one album wonders, then Clor HAS to be up there. The perfect first album, then gone ☹ ---
**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 3, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/57 "2009-03-03T08:39:39Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > And, as much as I’d love to say Rush, I do have to admit that Roll the Bones isn’t a very good album. Hmmm. For me that was their last **good** album. Everything since has been a major disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![AqualungBats5th](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@AqualungBats5th](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AqualungBats5th)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/58 "2009-03-03T11:16:58Z")
Another vote for Kate Bush. Also, Iron & Wine has never let me down. I want to say XTC, but I’m mostly bored by _The Big Express_ ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/59 "2009-03-03T12:24:11Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Hmmm. For me that was their last **good** album. Everything since has been a major disappointment. You don’t like Counterparts?! That’s a fantastic album. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820/60 "2009-03-03T15:01:49Z")
**Warren Zevon** , if you don’t count his very first, very different album that no one remembers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-never-released-a-disappointing-album/487820.md?page=4)