Seems like a common, though not universal, occurrence that an artist's or band's first record, or maybe first few records, are their most liked ones.

I am interested in hearing opinions on why this often happens.

Also interested in hearing examples of artists or bands that are exceptions to this rule.

When I've heard it regarding anything I've been a part of, I think "are you fucking nuts? We barely knew what we were doing then, and it was slopped together in a weekend and put out by someone with no clue how to release music.."

So I keep that in mind when judging other artists. I've done it before no doubt, but it feels like a snotty and immature thing to say the older I get. If I really like something, why wouldn't I want to go on the journey at least a little bit, maybe try to imagine why someone started dabbling with synths on later records, and so on.

Unless something truly turned to shit pretty quickly, then it's fine to point out cough cough Bad Brains..

jfv wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:21 pm I am interested in hearing opinions on why this often happens.

What's that quote, "you've got your whole lifetime to write your first record, and 6 months to write your second one..."?

I think Prince got better as he went on, his first few records are fine, but Dirty Mind is his first great one, IMO.

jfv wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:21 pm
Also interested in hearing examples of artists or bands that are exceptions to this rule.

Low is a good recent example, they were chugging along pleasantly with a attentive cult audience, but their last two records definitely broke them bigger than ever.

I know there are people (some who even post here!) who wouldn't say those are their best records, but they've definitely brought them more attention.

Hmmm, I bet I have a bunch of these.

The first Neu! is superior to everything after.
Same with the first Son Volt.

losthighway wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:23 pm The first Neu! is superior to everything after.

I like '75 better now. Isi is the perfect distillation of what they set out to do, and the drummer's party rock songs are a hoot.

penningtron wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:47 pm I like '75 better now. Isi is the perfect distillation of what they set out to do, and the drummer's party rock songs are a hoot.

"Ridin' through the niiiiiiight".

Both Wire and Mission of Burma released bracing works in their latter years. Not really sure if MoB counts, though, as their second LP was released twenty-something odd years later.

rsmurphy wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 5:59 pm Both Wire and Mission of Burma released bracing works in their latter years. Not really sure if MoB counts, though, as their second LP was released twenty-something odd years later.

Yeah, I used to hear this about Wire all the time. I listen to their later works more often than the first 3.

As to why this might happen:

1) hipsters
2) nostalgia (everything was better back in the day)
3) combination of 1 and 2
4) the band actually sucked as they went on

I wouldn't necessarily say that later Wire is better; leaving those contemplations for FM Penningtron.