Post by kds on Mar 28, 2019 13:02:42 GMT -5
I made a similar thread on the old PSF, so I figured I'd resurrect a thread about really good late career releases.
How late? For argument sake, let's make the bands / artists Rock and Roll HOF eligible at the time of release, 25 years after their debut. Mainly, because I don't think albums like Abbey Road and LA Woman really come to mind when I think of late career releases (even if it's technically true in those cases). And.....here.....we.......go
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio (2012 - 50 years after their debut) - I can easily look past the autotune and Foskettness of this release and marvel at the fact that, somehow, some way, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston, released a new Beach Boys album in 2012, and it's really really good.
The Who - Endless Wire (2006 - 41 years after their debut) - Also the first Who LP in 24 years, and the first since the death of John Entwistle. A good collection of songs in the first half, including Mike Post Theme, Fragments, Black Widow's Eyes, and It's Not Enough give way to the mini opera Wire and Glass on the second half. Really solid material.
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death (2006 - 26 years after their debut) - For my money, no band has been producing such consistently good later era material and putting on great live shows as well as Iron Maiden. Since Bruce Dickinson's return to the band, they've released five really good albums. This one was so good, the band decided to play it from start to finish on their 2006 tour.
Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (1994 - 27 years after their debut) - After two albums in the 1980s that were essentially Roger Waters and David Gilmour solo projects respectively, the post Waters Floyd hit a high mark with their final proper album. Thanks in part to Richard Wright's return to the songwriting fold, this album sounds more like a true Pink Floyd band album than anything since Wish You Were Here.
Deep Purple - Infinite (2017 - 49 years after their debut) - Purple look to be pretty close to calling it a day on a great career, but two years ago, they released what might be their most consistent album post Ritchie Blackmore / Jon Lord. Bob Ezrin manages to get some really solid material from Purple on this loose and fun album.
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (2012 - 34 years after their debut) - OK some of the material dates back to before VH's debut was released. But, the first (and so far only) album of the Roth and the three Van Halens lineup delivers exactly what you want from a VH album. Big fat hard rock with blistering solos, and Diamond Dave being Diamond Dave. The only real shame is that, other than a 2015 tour, the VH camp has been silent since this album's release.
Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution (2005 - 30 years after their debut) - Rob Halford returned to the band, and they released a great mix everything that's great about the mighty Priest. There's fast, thrashy songs, mid paced fist pumpers, a couple ballad, and a 13 minute song about the Lochness Monster?? OK, maybe that wasn't a great idea, but otherwise, the album's great.
I'm sure I'm missing a few, and may post later. Feel free to add.
How late? For argument sake, let's make the bands / artists Rock and Roll HOF eligible at the time of release, 25 years after their debut. Mainly, because I don't think albums like Abbey Road and LA Woman really come to mind when I think of late career releases (even if it's technically true in those cases). And.....here.....we.......go
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio (2012 - 50 years after their debut) - I can easily look past the autotune and Foskettness of this release and marvel at the fact that, somehow, some way, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston, released a new Beach Boys album in 2012, and it's really really good.
The Who - Endless Wire (2006 - 41 years after their debut) - Also the first Who LP in 24 years, and the first since the death of John Entwistle. A good collection of songs in the first half, including Mike Post Theme, Fragments, Black Widow's Eyes, and It's Not Enough give way to the mini opera Wire and Glass on the second half. Really solid material.
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death (2006 - 26 years after their debut) - For my money, no band has been producing such consistently good later era material and putting on great live shows as well as Iron Maiden. Since Bruce Dickinson's return to the band, they've released five really good albums. This one was so good, the band decided to play it from start to finish on their 2006 tour.
Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (1994 - 27 years after their debut) - After two albums in the 1980s that were essentially Roger Waters and David Gilmour solo projects respectively, the post Waters Floyd hit a high mark with their final proper album. Thanks in part to Richard Wright's return to the songwriting fold, this album sounds more like a true Pink Floyd band album than anything since Wish You Were Here.
Deep Purple - Infinite (2017 - 49 years after their debut) - Purple look to be pretty close to calling it a day on a great career, but two years ago, they released what might be their most consistent album post Ritchie Blackmore / Jon Lord. Bob Ezrin manages to get some really solid material from Purple on this loose and fun album.
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (2012 - 34 years after their debut) - OK some of the material dates back to before VH's debut was released. But, the first (and so far only) album of the Roth and the three Van Halens lineup delivers exactly what you want from a VH album. Big fat hard rock with blistering solos, and Diamond Dave being Diamond Dave. The only real shame is that, other than a 2015 tour, the VH camp has been silent since this album's release.
Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution (2005 - 30 years after their debut) - Rob Halford returned to the band, and they released a great mix everything that's great about the mighty Priest. There's fast, thrashy songs, mid paced fist pumpers, a couple ballad, and a 13 minute song about the Lochness Monster?? OK, maybe that wasn't a great idea, but otherwise, the album's great.
I'm sure I'm missing a few, and may post later. Feel free to add.
