First time is always best...

Posted by: Pigeon_Fancier on 04 May 2009

Recent upgrades have revived my interest in a bunch of stuff that I haven't listened to for a while and I've discovered something new about every band that I've gone back to - their first album is the best one! More accurately, the first one that I bought is the best although in a fair few cases that is their first too. Why is that? I guess because it's wrapped up with the magic of discovering a band that is new to you. Of course there are any number of albums that grow on you, but that first one, and maybe even the first track that you liked - it endures. Test it for yourselves!
Posted on: 04 May 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
their first album is the best one!
Brian Eno once expressed that theory and he was definitely right in terms of Roxy Music. I would venture to say it holds true for The Pink Floyd, Gryphon, Steppenwolf, Steamhammer, Amboy Dukes, Strawberry Alarm Clock and Jo Jo Gunne, but I don't think it holds true in general.

I would not say HMHB first album was their best, nor would I say this was true for the Beatles, Kinks, Deep Purple, Hawkwind, Amon Duul II, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Bonzo Dog Band, Jefferson Airplane, Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, String Driven Thing, Strawbs, Spirit, Electric Light Orchestra and so on.

I'm not sure if it is true for Atomic Rooster though.

I hope it is not true for Basia Bulat and she comes up with an even better elpee than her first album, but that would be a big ask, as they say these days.
Posted on: 04 May 2009 by saxondale
Just to add to the above - Amon Duul II haven't made a 'bad' album , they're all good Cool

The first 5 Roxy Music albums are all rather spectacular IMO - the 80's stuff can be somewhat turgid mind

Pink Floyd haven't made a good 'cohesive' album have they ? - if they did then it passed me by , although the 60's stuff is OK now & again in small measure

HMHB continue to get better whereas some groups , U2 for example , continue to get worse ...

it's an easy thing to spot in general - something along the lines of believing their own self importance as artists by the time they've rolled out 3 albums which seems to trigger a carte blanche approach to rolling out any old crap thereafter .... Radiohead would be another good example here I feel ?!!
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by kevj
On the classical side - I usally prefer the recording that I listened to first, at the point where I was getting to know a piece. Later, although I can intellectually recognise that another recording is 'better', to my ears I (almost) invariably feel that the first one is more 'right'...
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by Pigeon_Fancier
Interesting views. There is definitely an element of the process of discovery as you point out. That said, can I change my theory?! Actually, it's kind of a different side to the same coin. I had the good fortune to see Pulp back in 1992/3-ish (one of the few bands that I didn't discover 10 years too late) and have just been listening to the Peel Sessions CD. Some of the later stuff that I have neglected is great. There's always a gem lurking somewhere around side 2, track 13 on your not so favourite album. Love it when I stumble across those. Smile

By the way, HMHB = I think Half Man Half Biscuit
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by tonym
Dire Straits, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones - IMO their first albums were definitely their best.
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Sorry for being thick but who is HMHB?
The greatest band in the land, of course - please click hear to hear them, but be warned you'll be on Amazon soon ordering their complete works.
Posted on: 05 May 2009 by Mat Cork
Pixies first was not their best, but Joy Divisions was. The LA's was, Jeff Buckley's was...etc etc.