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Eh, I liked 'em better when...

Posted at 11:48 AM on December 23, 2010 by Barb Abney (5 Comments)
Filed under: The Current Presents

This week on The Current Presents, we're taking a tongue-and-cheek approach to criticizing artists you know by comparing their early work with their newer material. In short, we're getting in touch with our inner music snob by saying "Eh, I liked 'em better when..."

Tune-in Sunday, December 26 @ 9 p.m.

Here's the playlist:

Vitamin C - "Smile"
R.E.M. - "Discoverer"
R.E.M. - "Radio Free Europe"
Snow Patrol - "Take Back The City"
Snow Patrol - "Starfighter Pilot"
Nada Surf - "Enjoy The Silence"
Nada Surf - "Popular"
Polyphonic Spree - "Running Away"
Tripping Daisy - "I Got A Girl"
U2 - "Get On Your Boots"
U2 - "I Will Follow"
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes "Home"
Ima Robot - "Dynomite"
Prince - "Laydown"
Prince - "Wanna Be Your Lover"
Eve's Plum - "I Want It All"

Comments (5)

Of Montreal is rife with possibility for this segment. (Though they have maintained a steady level of awesomeness.)

Posted by Maggie | December 23, 2010 2:49 PM

The definitive band for this topic is that Irish punk band from the 80s with the one-word album titles like War, October and Boy. I'm not sure what ever happened to them after they went soft. I heard they're still together, though.

Posted by Eryc | December 23, 2010 5:52 PM

you guys should definitely use the Falming Lips for this. Their earlier work is soooo different from this newer stuff, although Embryonic *did* sort of take a step back towards that direction.

Posted by Mikey | December 23, 2010 7:13 PM

Is it possible that an artist does his/her best work when he/she is just starting his/her career? Could that be when they have the freshest ideas, have no fan base to cater to and haven't been corrupted by fame and fortune?

Or is it more likely that maturity brings depth and richness to their songwriting, their musicianship improves dramatically and they get to a point where the record label execs don't mess with their 'vision' any more?

I don't really have an answer to these questions, they are just what is running through my mind as I consider the topic. For me, two examples come to mind: Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam.

For my tastes, Bruce Springsteen's musical pinnacle was "Nebraska." What an amazing album, with lyrics stark and bleak and so evocative, not to mention the intense and haunting music. I love his work prior to "Nebraska," and he did some great work after that album, but nothing since has measured up to that for me.

Then there's Pearl Jam, who burst into the grunge scene with a manic intensity, on fire lyrically and musically, especially in their second album, "Vs." I still love that album, which doesn't have one weak track on it, to me. They released many more quality albums after that, although none of them topped "Vs." Then they came out with "Backspacer" this year, which I think proves that they are as good as they've ever been. Better, maybe. It's a great listen.

I know I would cringe if I heard of new albums from The Rolling Stones or The Who, or other artists who are pretty much past their prime. (Then again, Robert Plant seems to be better than ever now.) I guess I'll call it a toss-up!

Posted by cal | December 24, 2010 9:35 AM

Nada Surf have been pretty solid throughout. You just have to pay attention.

And see them live...excellent band. I have also found some of my most favorite bands through them, The Long Winters, Delta Spirit and so forth.

Posted by Angie | December 28, 2010 8:14 AM

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