Thread: 4 Album Bands

What is a '4 Album Band'?

A band that

1. Released four albums;
2. During the Album Era (roughly from '65 when LPs displaced singles as the commercial unit until 2000, when Napster came);
3. Of excellent quality (factors to consider, none exclusive):

• All killer -- no filler
• Some amazing songs, or a lot of really good ones
• Thematic cohesion or artistic integrity
• Addictive like crack
• Influential
• You have listened to the album many, many times--and still hold it in esteem
• When you add up the 'lifetime enjoyment amount' using enjoyment units, it's a really high number!

4. That has wide appeal among many or most fans of rock generally, even if band isn't your cup of tea

Beatles
Stones
Zep
Floyd
Who

Maybe:
Pixies
Fleetwood Mac
DMB
Motley Crue
Kinks
U2
Queen
Ramones
Clash
AC/DC
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
CCR
Jimi
Pavement
Velvet Underground
Rush
Eagles
Talking Heads
Van Halen
Black Crowes
Simon & Garfunkle
Roy Orbison
Stevie Wonder (?)
Garth Brooks (?)
Jefferson Airplane
Metallica

Any others? Any of these that shouldn't be on the list?

I'd say some others to consider would be:

Rush
Eagles
U2
Queen
Kinks

Being contrarian on the Pixies:

"4. That has wide appeal among many or most fans of rock generally, even if band isn't your cup of tea"

I don't think they have a wide appeal among most fans of rock. At least among most fans of those classic bands you mention.

Originally Posted by aberdien

Being contrarian on the Pixies:

"4. That has wide appeal among many or most fans of rock generally, even if band isn't your cup of tea"

I don't think they have a wide appeal among most fans of rock. At least among most fans of those classic bands you mention.

They toured with U2?

Originally Posted by Hawgdriver

They toured with U2?

I don't think that necessarily proves they have a wide appeal among most fans of rock.

They still seem very underrated and not well-known by your average fan of rock music (the people into those consensus bands in the OP at least). They are critics darlings and worshipped in indie/alt circles, and on that basis I would include them, but I'm not sure about the strength of their appeal to most rock fans.

I’m going to ask the same question!

What level of success (And how are we measuring success?) to qualify?

I submit for consideration:

Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted, Crooked Rain, Wowee Zowee, Brighten the Corners
The Clash - The Clash, Give Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Combat Rock (Sandinista is great but a triple album is bound to have some songs that aren't needed)
Talking Heads - 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Remain in Light, Fear of Music
Velvet Underground - & Nico, White Light/White Heat, VU, Loaded
Ramones - Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, Road to Ruin

The list could be long, lol


1. Van Halen- I, II, Diver Down, 1984, 5150
2. Ratt- Out of the Cellar, Invasion of Your Privacy, Dancing Undercover, Reach for the Sky
3. Megadeth- Peace Sells, So Far So Good, Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction
4. Alice in Chains- Facelift, Dirt, Sap, Jar of Flies
5. Korn- S/t, Life is Peachy, Follow the Leader, Issues
6. W.A.S.P.- S/T, The Last Command, Inside the Electric Circus, The Headless Children
7. Napalm Death- Harmony Corruption, Fear Emptiness Despair, Time Waits for No Slave, Apex Predator
8. Type O Negative- Bloody Kisses, October Rust, World Coming Down, Life is Killing Me




Almost:

Smashing Pumpkins- Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie
Motley Crue- Too Fast for Love, Shout at the Devil, Dr. Feelgood

I know it's personal opinion, but I'll never understand how The Pixies have sold 60 million records

Originally Posted by CoachChaz

I know it's personal opinion, but I'll never understand how The Pixies have sold 60 million records

This might not be a popular opinion either, but I would think some of it has to do with Kurt Cobain.

Originally Posted by aberdien

Being contrarian on the Pixies:

"4. That has wide appeal among many or most fans of rock generally, even if band isn't your cup of tea"

I don't think they have a wide appeal among most fans of rock. At least among most fans of those classic bands you mention.

Yea, the Pixies dont come to mind when i think of popularity. Granted, i know most on my list fall under the same category but no way the Pixies fit that narrative.

Originally Posted by Northman

The list could be long, lol


1. Van Halen- I, II, Diver Down, 1984, 5150
2. Ratt- Out of the Cellar, Invasion of Your Privacy, Dancing Undercover, Reach for the Sky
3. Megadeth- Peace Sells, So Far So Good, Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction
4. Alice in Chains- Facelift, Dirt, Sap, Jar of Flies
5. Korn- S/t, Life is Peachy, Follow the Leader, Issues
6. W.A.S.P.- S/T, The Last Command, Inside the Electric Circus, The Headless Children
7. Napalm Death- Harmony Corruption, Fear Emptiness Despair, Time Waits for No Slave, Apex Predator
8. Type O Negative- Bloody Kisses, October Rust, World Coming Down, Life is Killing Me




Almost:

Smashing Pumpkins- Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie
Motley Crue- Too Fast for Love, Shout at the Devil, Dr. Feelgood

You couldn't add Girls, Girls, Girls and/or Theatre of Pain to Motley Crue?

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

This might not be a popular opinion either, but I would think some of it has to do with Kurt Cobain.

Hadn't thought of that, but yeah...it didn't hurt to have him promote them like he did

Originally Posted by Northman

Yea, the Pixies dont come to mind when i think of popularity. Granted, i know most on my list fall under the same category but no way the Pixies fit that narrative.

I think many of the bands on your list - Van Halen, Motley Crew, Alice in Chains, Megadeth - are more popular to most rock fans than Pixies.

Pixies blow them all out of the water, of course....but still.

Originally Posted by CoachChaz

You couldn't add Girls, Girls, Girls and/or Theatre of Pain to Motley Crue?

I like certain tracks off both albums dont think they are great from front to back.