Rule of Three for Great Albums (and Films?)

[gravy boat]

Modest Mouse had back to back to back

• This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996)
  The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
  The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

I'll fly the flag of early Parker Posey films/choices: Party Girl, Daytrippers, and House of Yes in a two-year period.

[nec13]

Talking Heads: '77, More Songs about Buildings and Food, Fear of Music

I was thinking about this one too, Dave, but thought that it should go one album further: '77, More Songs about Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain In Light.  Basically, '77 plus the Eno collaborations.  I mean, one could argue that their whole discography up to - but not including - True Stories is a streak. 

I'd go FEAR OF MUSIC-REMAIN IN LIGHT-SPEAKING IN TONGUES, myself. And I actually think TRUE STORIES is the best of their last three records. It might not be the most consistent, but the highs are higher: "Wild Wild Life", "Love For Sale", "People Like Us", "Puzzlin' Evidence", etc.

Their first four studio albums are all great. But their best album overall is "The Name of This Band is Talking Heads" (re-mastered in 2004 by FOT Andy Zax).

If you were to include live albums, you would have one of the great album streaks in rock.

'77-More Songs-Fear of Music-Remain in Light-TNOTBTH-Speaking in Tongues-Stop Making Sense, all released from 1977-84.

[gravy boat]

And how could I have overlooked two of John Junk's favorites:

Fiery Furnaces
Gallowsbird's Bark (2003)
Blueberry Boat (2004)
Bitter Tea (2006) 

Pavement
Their run of studio albums is sick-
Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
Wowee Zowee (1995)
Brighten the Corners (1997)
Terror Twilight (1999)

Here's a pretty impressive hot streak by William Hurt, sadly not reaching to Mr. Brooks-
Broadcast News (1987)
Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)
Gorky Park (1983)
The Big Chill (1983)
Body Heat (1981)   

[dave from knoxville]

Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend, Altered Beast, 100% Fun (I also think the 4th album in this sequence, Blue Sky on Mars, also kicks ass, but since we have to stop at 3, that's a pretty killer run)

Yes indeedy. And how could I leave out

Temple of Low Men, Woodface, Together Alone

and

I'm With Stupid, Bachelor #2, Lost in Space

You also forgot:

King's X: Out of the Silent Planet, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, Faith Hope Love.  (Some might bump OotSP and put their self-titled fourth LP on the end of that run.  Not me!)

Frankly, I am ashamed for not coming up with this. And then it also suggests to me

Starless and Bible Black, Red, Discipline (even though that third one's like a whole different band)

[Barry Egan]

Fugazi - 13 Songs, Repeater, Steady Diet of Nothing

Pedro Almodovar - All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Bad Education

[thom]

Vertigo (1958)
North by Northwest (1959)
Psycho (1960)

fucking destroys. thread over. lock it up.

[Reeleyes]

Modest Mouse had back to back to back

• This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996)
  The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
  The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

Agreed!!! I'll admit and I know I'm probably alone on this but I thought their last full length with Johnny Marr was decent.

[Big Plastic Head]

Modest Mouse had back to back to back

• This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996)
• The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
• The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

Yep. Really good.

[dave from knoxville]

Another set I forgot

Stories From the City Stories From the Sea, Uh Huh Her, White Chalk

and this might be cheating a little, but

Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, Grinderman, Dig Lazurus Dig

[Steeley Chris]

Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars, Aladdin Sane
Waterloo, ABBA, Arrival
Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister, The Boy With The Arab Strap
Between The Buttons, Their Satanic Majesties Request, Beggars' Banquet
Slayed?, Old New Borrowed And Blue, Slade In Flame
The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead

 

[Big Plastic Head]

Modest Mouse had back to back to back

• This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996)
• The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
• The Moon & Antarctica (2000)

Yep. Really good.

Come to think of it the Night on the Sun EP could be added to that.

[masterofsparks]

Here's one that might be unprecedented - three good movies released in the same year:

Steven Soderbergh:
Che (2009)
The Girlfriend Experience (2009)
The Informant! (2009)

Just insane. It might even count as 4 if you count Che as 2 movies.

[herbsweal]

LEd Zeppelin I, II, III
U2 - The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby
I also agree with the Radiohead trio mentioned earlier.