They WERE good, but...

[harris]

I do not wish to "derail" this thread as they say, but it's much easier with directors:

Scorsese.

See?

Definitely qualifies as subtopic, thanks thom.

He got it at Taxi Driver and lost it after Casino.

Tim Burton?

[yesno]

I agree that the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd stuff is uneven.  But I cannot agree that Syd Barrett's solo work or career in general is overrated.  Even after years of rock critic adulation, I think those few songs are still underrated.  I will give Meddle a chance.

The turning point with the Stones is Exile on Main Street.  Goat's Head was good but they were clearly on a downward trajectory.  There are flashes of greatness after, of course.

Deep Purple is another 70s band that went downhill.  Probably because of the influence of posters in this thread, I got into them in the last few years.  It is unbelievable how good In Rock through Machine Head are.  Perhaps buffcoat would like to come in and defend Perfect Strangers but I don't think there's much controversy on this one.  (Or the Monkees.)

[masterofsparks]

I agree that the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd stuff is uneven.  But I cannot agree that Syd Barrett's solo work or career in general is overrated.  Even after years of rock critic adulation, I think those few songs are still underrated.  I will give Meddle a chance.

The turning point with the Stones is Exile on Main Street.  Goat's Head was good but they were clearly on a downward trajectory.  There are flashes of greatness after, of course.

Deep Purple is another 70s band that went downhill.  Probably because of the influence of posters in this thread, I got into them in the last few years.  It is unbelievable how good In Rock through Machine Head are.  Perhaps buffcoat would like to come in and defend Perfect Strangers but I don't think there's much controversy on this one.  (Or the Monkees.)

I like the same Deep Purple stuff you mention though I'd go further than Machine Head - I also think Who Do We Think We Are and even Burn (the first DP album with David Coverdale singing) are strong. In Rock is my favorite.

As for Pink Floyd, Meddle is great, though I think the best work they did is the Live at Pompeii DVD (the audio of which does not exist on a legitimate CD, for some reason). If you get a chance, watch that movie (if you're unaware, it's a concert film of the circa-Dark Side lineup setting up and playing among the Pompeii ruins). It's fairly mindblowing stuff.

I will also add Joe Walsh to this list. His work on the first three James Gang LPs (and even the first Barnstorm) is terrific, but once he did stuff like go solo and join the Eagles, things got bad for those unfortunate enough to be around when his stuff was playing.

[yesno]

The decent new Flaming Lips album may put them into that category, as well. (I didn't care for The Soft Bulletin and its successors but I love their more rocking stuff.)

I think they were great and are now too over the top. It's like every song on the new record had to be this loud boisterous mess. (And not the 'good' loud)

You've got to put your cards on the table with this band.  I think their best album was Clouds Taste Metallic, then the other 90s albums, then the new one, then the 2000s albums (Soft Bulletin counts as one of these), then the 80s albums.  I think their experiments with electronic sounds make them sound bad, not because I don't like electronic music (I love it), but because they're not good at it.  They remind me of Perry Farrell's jungle album.

[masterofsparks]

One more I thought of is Little Feat. Most of their stuff is unspeakably awful, but their debut album is a lost classic in the vein of Mick Taylor Stones/Flying Burrito Brothers bluesy/slidey country rock, and their second album, while a step down, features one of the greatest songs ever written, Willin'. After that, you can pretty much forget it. That debut is really something special though.

[dave from knoxville]

I do not wish to "derail" this thread as they say, but it's much easier with directors:

Scorsese.

See?

Definitely qualifies as subtopic, thanks thom.

He got it at Taxi Driver and lost it after Casino.

Tim Burton?

I am working on best directors of the oughties; so far Tim Burton is #1 (I am going alphabetically).

[Dan B]

up through side 1 of My War

[Pat]

up through side 1 of My War

I'm in the minority when it comes to liking the second half and a good portion of their discography after that. 

[Christina]

Tim Burton?

I am working on best directors of the oughties; so far Tim Burton is #1 (I am going alphabetically).

I generally don't like his movies 'cause I cannot stand that twee horror shit, but looking on the IMDB, I did like a few of his movies more than I expected to, like Sleepy Hollow. I don't remember it very well but I remember being amused at what a coward Johnny Depp was. Also really dug Mars Attacks and Ed Wood. And Pee Wee of course.

[erika]

Beetlejuice!!

But yes, he definitely falls into that category.

[Christina]

Beetlejuice!!

But yes, he definitely falls into that category.

Yeah, forgot that one too! It's weird how his stinky movies have sorta obliterated the good ones.

[NJL]

I am working on best directors of the oughties; so far Tim Burton is #1 (I am going alphabetically).

No P.T. Anderson?  Others might suggest Wes Anderson or Darron Aronofsky or something, I don't know.

[cutout]

Then there's Chris Cornell. Was he ever good? My brief teenage like of Soungarden is not to be trusted.

[masterofsparks]

I like almost everything Soundgarden did, but I'd suspect I'm in the minority here.

[dave from knoxville]

I am working on best directors of the oughties; so far Tim Burton is #1 (I am going alphabetically).

No P.T. Anderson?  Others might suggest Wes Anderson or Darron Aronofsky or something, I don't know.

Here's where I stand at the moment. Flame on!

1) Tim Burton
2) Danny Boyle
3) Brad Bird
4) Pedro Almodovar
5) Darren Aronofsky
6) Wes Anderson
7) Robert Altman
Steve Buscemi!!!
9) Andrew Adamson
10) PT Anderson