Which bands have kept up a consistently high standard throughout a long career?

stickyfiddle

Some of you lot need higher standards. I love the Stones and ACDC but the idea that either of them maintained high standards is laughable - neither has recorded more than 1 or 2 great songs since 1982

REM and Radiohead are definitely good choices. I love REM's Accelerate and Collapse..  - it's the couple before those where the biggest dip happened.

I would make an argument for U2. Absolutely fantastic form until the last 3 records or so, and still one of the greatest live acts around. 

Grangousier

Two slightly left-field examples: Sparks - I'm not so keen on their mid-period stuff, but that's mainly a thing with the production, the songs are excellent, and everything they've done for the last twenty-five years is wonderful. Similarly, They Might Be Giants - if you're the kind of person who likes Lincoln or Flood, everything that's come out since is just as enjoyable (though I do realise they kind of annoy a lot of people). 

TheBigDipper

I can only agree with some already listed:

• Radiohead
• Richard Thompson (is he the best songwriter still working and being creative after a 50yr career?) 
• Joni Mitchell 

And to add:

• PJ Harvey
• Laura Marling
• Van Der Graaf Generator/Peter Hamill - also 50yrs into their careers and still being innovative and creative with something to say

PhilW1

Clutch

Alterlifeson

stickyfiddle said:

I would make an argument for U2. Absolutely fantastic form until the last 3 records or so, and still one of the greatest live acts around. 

I would agree. Their last 2 'Songs of' albums have been a little underwhelming but they are still decent with a good selection of pop/rock songs on each. The public image has gone downhill with them though and a lot of my muso friends see them more as a nostalgia act now rather than the continuously evolving thing that they have been their whole career. The band seems to stand by their last few albums more than their fans.

NLOTH was great I though!

darthed1981

I love REM's Accelerate and Collapse..  - it's the couple before those where the biggest dip happened.

Reveal was alright - it was Around The Sun that the band themselves disowned.

They said the issue was they started recording it then did their whole best of campaign, so by the time they came back they didn't want to go back to those songs.  You can hear it as well, "Leaving New York" sounds less like a paean to one of the world's great cities and more like it should be about how the only good thing in Hull is that big aquarium.

digitalkettle

darthed1981 said:

..."Leaving New York" sounds less like a paean to one of the world's great cities and more like it should be about how the only good thing in Hull is that big aquarium.

Deep, man.

stickyfiddle

Alterlifeson said:

stickyfiddle said:

I would make an argument for U2. Absolutely fantastic form until the last 3 records or so, and still one of the greatest live acts around. 

I would agree. Their last 2 'Songs of' albums have been a little underwhelming but they are still decent with a good selection of pop/rock songs on each. The public image has gone downhill with them though and a lot of my muso friends see them more as a nostalgia act now rather than the continuously evolving thing that they have been their whole career. The band seems to stand by their last few albums more than their fans.

NLOTH was great I though!

I generally agree. Though both HTTAAB and NLOTH suffered from poor quality control. Great moments let down by utter rubbish. For every as good as All Because of You or Breathe there is I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Get on Your Boots and Crumbs from Your Table. 

euan

I’d add Mogwai as they are still putting out excellent work and are bigger than ever as a live band. 

CoolCat

Each to their own. My choices are;

Fleetwood Mac
Eagles
Rolling Stones

mo6020

Pearl Jam instantly come to mind for me. 

Ally

Mark Lanegan. Amazing output right up till his death in Feb this year. Also a consistent performer and collaborator. 

sev112

TheBigDipper said:

• Richard Thompson (is he the best songwriter still working and being creative after a 50yr career?) 

I refer /also again to Ralph McTell, even longer it would seem, and just completed a tour of his recent new album.  

RocknRollDave

stickyfiddle said:

Alterlifeson said:

stickyfiddle said:

I would make an argument for U2. Absolutely fantastic form until the last 3 records or so, and still one of the greatest live acts around. 

I would agree. Their last 2 'Songs of' albums have been a little underwhelming but they are still decent with a good selection of pop/rock songs on each. The public image has gone downhill with them though and a lot of my muso friends see them more as a nostalgia act now rather than the continuously evolving thing that they have been their whole career. The band seems to stand by their last few albums more than their fans.

NLOTH was great I though!

I generally agree. Though both HTTAAB and NLOTH suffered from poor quality control. Great moments let down by utter rubbish. For every as good as All Because of You or Breathe there is I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Get on Your Boots and Crumbs from Your Table. 

FWIW, I think Songs of Innocence is a very strong album - by far my favourite of the post Achtung Baby releases - and Songs of Experience is actually pretty good…not a classic but far from a dud too.

I know it’s not the general consensus amongst fans but for me Zooropa, Pop, ATYCLB and HTDAAB are all weaker overall than the last three albums.

Jfingers

Bowie

Lou Reed

Tom Waits

Nick Cave

Mark Lanegan

The Damned

The Cure

Beck

Eels

Bob Dylan

Neil Young

Howe Gelb

REM

Jack White

distressed

Nomeansno

Stuckfast

What all this seems to show is it's much easier for solo artists to keep the standard up over a long career than it is for bands. Not surprising I suppose. 

Fleetwood Mac is a good shout though.

Ally

euan said:

I’d add Mogwai as they are still putting out excellent work and are bigger than ever as a live band. 

I'd agree with Mogwai. Going from strength to strength. Going to see them play tomorrow. 

blobb

Ozrics

LastMantra

The Charlatans.