One Album Wonders?

Amazotheamazing

What bands managed to record one great album, that stands head and shoulders above their other work, to make them qualify as one album wonders? I've heard the Beach Boys and the Stone Roses described in such terms, but I'm thinking more in terms of the Bluetones, Moby Grape or even Pete Yorn, anyone else spring to mind?

blu_sonic

Gomez, tho i hear they're making a come back

Jamey

the darkness?

Creamy Goodness

weezer

although they ain't a one hit wonder i consider them to be a two hit wonder. saying that though their two hits are probably in my top5 records of all time.

walrusgumble

travis - the man who

first album hardly know bar u-16 girls, then comes album 2 any they healine every summer festival at this side of the world in 1999/2000. then comes next album which was ok but still no were as good man who. then relegated to supermarket radio

Serbian

Moby - Play. His other stuff is so intolerably bad for me.

goo

Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights (although Antics managed to scupper my impression of it)
The Strokes - Is This It (same story)
Polysics - Neu (all the rest still seems crap to me)

comet

The La's eponymous classic debut album
(even if they had released another album it probably wouldn't have come close to this one)
Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern (great album)

Garret

Electric Soft Parade - Holes In The Wall

are they even still around?

youcancallmeal

The Strokes - is this it

Basq

My picks (even the last two or three are disputable but we haven't heard much apart from one album from each of them)..

All-Time Quarterback
The Postal Service
Razorlight
Keane
Bloc Party

youcancallmeal

basquille wrote:

My picks (even the last two or three are disputable but we haven't heard much apart from one album from each of them)..

All-Time Quarterback
The Postal Service
Razorlight
Keane
Bloc Party

It doesnt really make sense to list Bands who only have one album released in the last 2 years, give them a chance to release another one and then I suppose you could call them one album wonders?

Basq

Yeah.. i suppose i just think of these bands as these ever-increasing circle of bands who have one album take off hugely and spent years touring and whoring (heh.. rhymes! ) this album off as the next big thing and then release something that will typically disappoint...

.. i'm sure these bands have follow-up albums in development but can't help shake that feeling.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Ram Jam

zeptar

Rival Schools. United by Fate is a quality album.

sweetie

Delakota - One Love

kermitdfrog

Gomez, tho i hear they're making a come back

Disagree, they've had a few great albums and are still going strong.

lucernarian

Serbian wrote:

Moby - Play. His other stuff is so intolerably bad for me.

Very true. Though it is hard to improve on Play anyway I feel. His style of music was perfected in it.

comet wrote:

Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern (great album)

What about "six"?? That has some great tracks on it and I use the fast forward button less than usual for this album. A good album has little or no filler on it.

blu_sonic

youcancallme>al wrote:

The Strokes - is this it

how true, how true

Litcagral

Amazotheamazing wrote:

What bands managed to record one great album, that stands head and shoulders above their other work, to make them qualify as one album wonders? I've heard the Beach Boys and the Stone Roses described in such terms, but I'm thinking more in terms of the Bluetones, Moby Grape or even Pete Yorn, anyone else spring to mind?

What about "Forever changes" by Love. Fantastic album released in 1967 but can't recall any follow up.

Amazotheamazing

Litcagral wrote:

What about "Forever changes" by Love. Fantastic album released in 1967 but can't recall any follow up.

They released 3 other albums, 2 before and one after (and after that there was numerous band reshuffles), Forever Changes is a great album but their other stuff is pretty good too.

chomsky

Love are not a one album wonder. Forever changes is class and beautiful also.:D

Garret

youcancallme>al wrote:

The Strokes - is this it

First Impressions is a brilliant album and upon reflection I think Room On Fire suffered the Second Coming Syndrome tbh

Definitely not one album wonders

youcancallmeal

I kind of thought Is This It was a quality album and then Room On Fire was terrible. Definitely candidates for one album wonder imo

Amazotheamazing

Just can't get into Room on Fire at all, really disappointed with it.

Basq

Was the opposite - could get into 'Room On Fire' much easier than 'This Is It'

I enjoy both albums but 'Room On Fire' is much easier to listen to. In saying that, i reckon 'First Impressions..' is a bit pants!

Boo-yah

Cremo wrote:

weezer

although they ain't a one hit wonder i consider them to be a two hit wonder. saying that though their two hits are probably in my top5 records of all time.

The Green Album is a good simple/fun summertime album aswell but you're right in saying that it's the first two albums that are the classics (as well as the b-sides/unreleased songs from that era).

BolBill

Jamey wrote:

the darkness?

You're wrong there mate, both of their albums are sh*t.

People thought they were great but they were/are just a fad. They know it, we know it !

Marshy

New radicals - Maybe you've been brainwashed too

Tho "You get what you give" is arguably a one-hit wonder.

Rollo Tamasi

you must be joking! The Blue and Green Albums are two of the best indie/punk albums ever made.

Cremo wrote:

weezer

although they ain't a one hit wonder i consider them to be a two hit wonder. saying that though their two hits are probably in my top5 records of all time.

My own choice......Pulp - Different Class
Could name all their hits of that one album.

Another one hit wonder are Revelino with their album Broadcaster. Which, in my opinion is the greatest ever album by an Irish Band...EVER!
/me waits for the "ohh, but what about U2's {insert ablum title}" replies......

kc66

Definitely agree about Pulp. That was a great album imo.

For me The Streets- Original Pirate Material was excellent. The 2nd album was a bit of a let down for me and the new single from 3rd album sounds like something a few 4th class students put together.

Also The Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollócks has to be the ultimate one album wonder.

Alanis Morisette- Jagged Little Pill

herobear

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

Another one hit wonder are Revelino with their album Broadcaster. Which, in my opinion is the greatest ever album by an Irish Band...EVER!

so they actually released an album ?? wouldnt mind hearing that...
i was in their music video for their single 'step on high'
i had to buy my own copy of it though cheap bastids :mad:


ooh how about Relish ?
they played at my school when i was in transition year
edit: according to play they have 2 albums, interesting...

Pet

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill.

Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was excellent, but not half as good as JLP. And everything afterwards was dire muck.

Andy-Pandy

Jeff Buckley-Grace, but i supose he has an excuse.

Creamy Goodness

you must be joking! The Blue and Green Albums are two of the best indie/punk albums ever made.

well it's all about opinion.

sure blue went triple platnium and green went platnium and make believe just went platinum there.

i'm talking about the quality of the music which in my opinion the only albums from weezer worth a look-in are blue and pinkerton.

DerekD Goldfish

My own choice......Pulp - Different Class
Could name all their hits of that one album

I feel sickined people are calling Pulp a one album wonder the band lasted nearly a quarter of a century in different guises and are one of the best bands of the last 20 years.

Razzmatazz
Babies
Do you remember the first time?
help the aged
This is hardcore
Something changed
This is hardcore
Bad Cover version

all hits to an extent all not on Different Class
anyone that thinks Pulp are a one album band should invest in This is Hardcore the far superior follow up to Different Class

Also The Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollócks has to be the ultimate one album wonder.

yes but John Lydon went on to surpas the sex pistols criticly if not comercialy with Public Image Ltd.

Manchegan

DerekD Goldfish wrote:

all hits to an extent all not on Different Class

Not forgetting their first real shot across the bows, Lipgloss.

anyone that thinks Pulp are a one album band should invest in This is Hardcore the far superior follow up to Different Class

Sure, right after Lou Reed's Berlin and just before reaching for the valium and VSOP! Take the easier option - start with His 'n' Hers

Rollo Tamasi

herobear wrote:

so they actually released an album ?? wouldnt mind hearing that...
i was in their music video for their single 'step on high'
i had to buy my own copy of it though cheap bastids :mad:

fantastic album

John

DerekD Goldfish wrote:

yes but John Lydon went on to surpas the sex pistols criticly if not comercialy with Public Image Ltd.

Definitely agree with you about Pulp and all I'll say about PIL vs Pistols is that Metal Box is one hundred times better than Never Mind the Bollocks. PIL were a revolution, Sex Pistols were just same old rock and roll.

blu_sonic

there are so many bands that only have 1 album

blastman

Marshy wrote:

New radicals - Maybe you've been brainwashed too

Tho "You get what you give" is arguably a one-hit wonder.

Someday We'll Know was a better song though, IMO. Hard to forgive him for giving Life Is A Rollercoaster to Ronan Keating.

Doctor J

Amazotheamazing wrote:

What bands managed to record one great album, that stands head and shoulders above their other work, to make them qualify as one album wonders? I'm thinking more in terms of the Bluetones,

The Bluetones? Which album are you referring to as the one hit wonder? They've three excellent albums in my mind, and Luxembourg wasn't too shabby either.

Dodgy would qualify for this, Free Peace Sweet is just so much better than what came before or after. Happy Mondays too, Pills N Thrills being the one that has survived the test of time. Neither Elastica album did much for me but the second one was especially weak.

Oasis?

uncle ernie

Litcagral wrote:

What about "Forever changes" by Love. Fantastic album released in 1967 but can't recall any follow up.

the follow up was called 'four sail', clever bastards eh. didnt come close to forever changes (not many do) but the two love albums prior to it 'Love' and 'Da Capo' were pretty good.

funktastic

The Sundays- first album Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, two albums after this but nowhere near as good.

Chumbawumba- Tubthumper

4 Non blondes- I'm sure they had an album with What's Up? on it.

Crash Test Dummies- I'm sure someone here has their back catalogue taped, but MMM,mmm,mmm,mmm was the only song i ever taped from the radio in '93. God Shuffled His Feet

Atlantic 252 favourites of the same time, The Connells, '74/'75 on Ring, although their early albums are supposed to be good.

blu_sonic

Crash Test Dummies- I'm sure someone here has their back catalogue taped, but MMM,mmm,mmm,mmm was the only song i ever taped from the radio in '93. God Shuffled His Feet

i have this album, its not entirley terrible, just remotely horrible
honsetly i can put it on but i don't think i'd recomend it, I wouldn't consider them 1 album wonders though, 1 hit wonders yes. but overall 1 song doesn't make an album

ctrl-alt-delete

Garret wrote:

Electric Soft Parade - Holes In The Wall

are they even still around?

that was an excellent debut, i have their 2nd album, didnt listen to it too much, dont know what they are up to now.

super_furry

sweetie wrote:

Delakota - One Love

True, that was an absolutly brilliant album.

brianon

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

My own choice......Pulp - Different Class
Could name all their hits of that one album.

What the f**k?!?!?
Pulp...One album wonders !!!!!!! That is THE single most ridiculous thing i have EVER heard !
Their greatist hits album is 100% pure gold ! And only a handful of its 20 or so tracks are from Different Class.

But then thats just my opinion...although...c'mon man, in all fairness !?!

brianon

DerekD Goldfish wrote:

I feel sickined people are calling Pulp a one album wonder the band lasted nearly a quarter of a century in different guises and are one of the best bands of the last 20 years.

Razzmatazz
Babies
Do you remember the first time?
help the aged
This is hardcore
Something changed
This is hardcore
Bad Cover version

Snap

Rollo Tamasi

brianon wrote:

What the f**k?!?!?
Pulp...One album wonders !!!!!!! That is THE single most ridiculous thing i have EVER heard !
Their greatist hits album is 100% pure gold ! And only a handful of its 20 or so tracks are from Different Class.

But then thats just my opinion...although...c'mon man, in all fairness !?!

fair enough, maybe it is down to me not being too familiar with the rest of their stuff but you would have to admit that the album different class made them and from there on they went down hill...as in not being able to continue on in a sucsessful manner, which is what i would consider a one album wonder, maybe not in the musical sense but certainly in the commerical sense.

brianon

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

fair enough, maybe it is down to me not being too familiar with the rest of their stuff but you would have to admit that the album different class made them and from there on they went down hill...as in not being able to continue on in a sucsessful manner, which is what i would consider a one album wonder, maybe not in the musical sense but certainly in the commerical sense.

Every album sice different class has been critically acclaimed.
No, they weren't as commercially successful as Different Class but, persoanally, thats not how I judge what makes a good album.