Well, actually, They Might Be Giants put out several new records over that period, so I think you’re either confused or being snarky for no obvious reason.
The sequence:
1986 They Might Be Giants
1989 Lincoln
1990 Flood
1991 Miscellaneous T (B-sides compilation)
1992 Apollo 18
1994 John Henry
1996 Factory Showroom
1997 Then: The Earlier Years (amalgamation of first two records and Miscellaneous T)
1998 Severe Tire Damage (live record)
2001 Mink Car
2002 No!
And I’d say their first three records is a pretty good string for anybody.
And I’ll throw out a new name, Elvis Costello, for This Year’s Model and Armed Forces (or King of America and Blood and Chocolate – those even came out in the same year!)
And even though they were not heard by half of the audience they deserved, The Grifter’s One Sock Missing and Crappin’ You Negative were two back to back lo-fi masterpieces.
I’m going with OK Computer and Kid A for Radiohead. The Bends doesn’t do it for me.
How about Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play by Jethro Tull? It’s either the best two albums ever or, the biggest swing from good to bad, depending on who you ask. I like them both myself. Songs From the Wood, Heavy Horses, and Stormwatch makes three great albums in a row.
Opeth’s Blackwater Park, Damnation, and Deliverance makes a nice trifecta.
Tool’s Aenima and Laeteralus is a nice pair.
Marillion’s Script For a Jester’s Tear and Fugazi combo is damn good.
And not to be out done by Shoeless’s obscure British band knowledge, I’ll nominate IQ’s Tales From the Lush Attic and The Wake.
You’re putting a gun to my head and making me pare my list of 5 pairs and 2 trios down to only one pick? I’ll go with Tull’s Thick as a Brick and Passion Play.
People always forget Obscured by Clouds(1972). Although it was originally a film soundtrack, I think there is no reason it shouldn’t count as a regular album. There isn’t really one memorable song on it, but it’s very solid overall. It belongs in the list.
Hold up, people…frickin’ Eddie Murphey and Camel are name checked, but not David “second most influential British artist in Rock and Roll history” Bowie?!
Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Alladin Sane, Pin-Ups, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans, Station to Station, Heroes, Low, Lodger and Scary Monsters…that ranks with anybody, ever.
Hard to top the decade long runs of The Beatles and Bob Dylan, but Bowie comes close.
One last thing: can I get an “amen!” to the entire catalouge of Supergrass? They rule.
A few ideas from the top of my head (don’t think any of these have been mentioned yet):
•Goat and Liar from the Jesus Lizard
•Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders from Tribe Called Quest
•Comfort and Magnified from Failure
•Chief Assassin to the Sinister and Another Desert, Another Sea from 3 Mile Pilot
•Red Medicine and End Hits from Fugazi
•Perfect from Now on and Keep it like a Secret from Built to Spill
•Pure Guava and Chocolate & Cheese from Ween
•This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About and Lonesome Crowded West from Modest Mouse
Also, “me too’s” for these already mentioned:
Pixies SR and D
Sonic Youth, but I’d go with Daydeam and Goo
PE’s Nation of Millions and Fear of…
Tom Waits – SFT and RD
Charles Mingus: Blues and Roots / Mingus Ah Um. (I can’t say that I know that these were back to back, but both great albums)
The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart and The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back! were 1 and 2 on the album charts for 8 months in 1960. Behind the Button-Down Mind came next in 1961.
Frank Sinatra’s Songs For Young Lovers Swing Easy In The Wee Small Hours and Songs For Swingin’ Lovers were probably the 4 best pop music albums of all time when released 1954 - 56.