Bands that have recaptured past form?

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Mr. Dick Purple I'm suprised you haven't mentioned Queen yet, Because imo their quality sucked for a couple of years with albums like:
"Flash Gordon",
"Hot space"(Failed attempt at disco music) ,
"The works"(Only 1 or 2 descent songs),

their "comeback" for me only started with "The miracle and Innuendo" So from 1981 up untill 1989 most of the music was pretty much below Queen standard

Excellent choice, and one i had totally forgotten about - truly dire in the early 80's, Queen somehow found inspiration again and 'The Miracle' and 'innuendo' are my favourite Queen offerings - for sheer album consistency i think they actually reached their peak with Innuendo

I could give credit about Flash Gordon and Hot Space (even though has great songs) Life is real, action, calling all girls, body language, anyway The works is an attemp to focus more into the pop culture at that time, for instance I want to break free, hammer to fall, is this the world we created, It's a hard life (personal fave) and then it comes A kind of magic with hits like who wants to live forever, a kind of magic, one vision, princes of the universe.
But I didnt post them cause I dont think they vanish, after The works and A kind of magic they still were huge and after the miracle and Innuendo they were reaching that level of inspiration that all bands seek, who knows what would've happend if Freddie would still be alive.
Next monday Freddie would have turned 60

[Izzy]

Mr. Dick Purple I'm suprised you haven't mentioned Queen yet, Because imo their quality sucked for a couple of years with albums like:
"Flash Gordon",
"Hot space"(Failed attempt at disco music) ,
"The works"(Only 1 or 2 descent songs),

their "comeback" for me only started with "The miracle and Innuendo" So from 1981 up untill 1989 most of the music was pretty much below Queen standard

Excellent choice, and one i had totally forgotten about - truly dire in the early 80's, Queen somehow found inspiration again and 'The Miracle' and 'innuendo' are my favourite Queen offerings - for sheer album consistency i think they actually reached their peak with Innuendo

I could give credit about Flash Gordon and Hot Space (even though has great songs) Life is real, action, calling all girls, body language, anyway The works is an attemp to focus more into the pop culture at that time, for instance I want to break free, hammer to fall, is this the world we created, It's a hard life (personal fave) and then it comes A kind of magic with hits like who wants to live forever, a kind of magic, one vision, princes of the universe.
But I didnt post them cause I dont think they vanish, after The works and A kind of magic they still were huge and after the miracle and Innuendo they were reaching that level of inspiration that all bands seek, who knows what would've happend if Freddie would still be alive.
Next monday Freddie would have turned 60

I've always wondered what Queen would have been like in the 90's - would it have been a sad tale of daft experimentation and decline, or a glorious new chapter? They just seemed to be getting better towards then end...

...maybe thats the best way it could have ended - they went out on a high, thats a great leacy, far better than slowly fading into irrelevance and mediocrity

[Grouse]

I've always wondered what Queen would have been like in the 90's - would it have been a sad tale of daft experimentation and decline, or a glorious new chapter? They just seemed to be getting better towards then end...

...maybe thats the best way it could have ended - they went out on a high, thats a great leacy, far better than slowly fading into irrelevance and mediocrity

I've always wondered the same thing, but I think that those last albums were so great because of freddie's illness I mean songs like; the show must go on, Was it all worth it, Mother love, These are the days of our lives etc...all those songs wouldn't have been written if Freddie wasn't dying.

[user FKA webmoster]

Cheap Trick, has anyone said them yet? Their new album is extremely good. A definite improvement and return to amazing music since their last few releases

[Megaguns]

Megadeth: They went all mainstream with Cryptic Writings and Risk (97-2000). They didnt suck too badly but they definately re claimed theyre place among the metal gods with TSHF(2004).

The world needs a hero(2001) wasnt too bad either...

[Mr. Dick Purple]

I've always wondered what Queen would have been like in the 90's - would it have been a sad tale of daft experimentation and decline, or a glorious new chapter? They just seemed to be getting better towards then end...

...maybe thats the best way it could have ended - they went out on a high, thats a great leacy, far better than slowly fading into irrelevance and mediocrity

Couldn't agree more, rather finish this way than a possibly mediocrity of albums

I would also dare to say Def Leppard but are they good these days? 

[mornintrain]

Aerosmith?  Honkin' on Bobo was great, returned them to their bluesy roots.

[liquidvirus]

Until a few years ago, I would have said that Aerosmith declined for many years and then came back very strong (Pump, Get a Grip).  Although it's a matter of opinion, they appear to be declining again.     (although I didn't mind their blues album)

Interesting thread!   

agreed. id have to also say a group many wont like but papa roach started off decent, then went lame and now there getting decent again.

Agreed bout P roach, listen to the new album, got some killer stuff on there....roses on my grave, alive, world around you, crash. All great songs.

[Eazy E]

I am not really a big fan... but I think Mariah Carey has been able to come out with strong material after years in the music industry.  She was just ripped apart in the media for her movie and her mental breakdown... but she bounced back with one of her most popular albums.  It's an extremely rare thing for an artist to do.

[Kujo]

Aerosmith?? Honkin' on Bobo was great, returned them to their bluesy roots.

Thats because all of the songs but 1 were covers. It was their best CD since Toys in the Attic for me, though.

[Gordi]

Prince
Oasis
New Order
Pearl Jam
Morrissey

They've all come back well in recent years.

[Danny Top Hat]

Speaking of Morrissey...

[Queen of Everything]

I 100% think u2!  and, sadly, greenday?  they have become alot more popular over the last two years if you havent noticed. 

and Van Halen didnt do it at the time, but they did it in the past.  With 1984.  Van Halen I -- some not so amazing -- 1984!

[Izzy]

Prince
Oasis
New Order
Pearl Jam
Morrissey

They've all come back well in recent years.

U miss the point of the thread - its about returning to past highs, not slightly improving over utter rubbish

Prince is not anywhere close to his Purple Rain esque highs - face it

Oasis - ha, if you can find anyone that claims DBTT is as good as DM then...well.....

Pearl Jam - honestly if you believe their latest offering rivals their best stuff you hold their best stuff in rather limited regard

[Neemo]

Pearl Jam - honestly if you believe their latest offering rivals their best stuff you hold their best stuff in rather limited regard

nah not their best but I'd say it'd fit nice back in around the vitalogy and vs stuff

[Yesterday]

U2
They ended the 80's as the biggest band, and at that point they were basically photographed in black and white and were somewhat way to serious.
The 90's came and from their first single off of Achtung Baby, "the Fly" alot of people thought this is U2.  I liked U2 in the 80's but this album really got me into the band.  It was a dramatic change for them.  The started to use tecnhology, and also made fun of them selves.  Zooropa was good and I like Pop, but alot of fans by then were like enough already.  They went back to basics for .."All that you can't leave behind" and scaled down their tour.  I missed Zoo TV but saw Pop and thought that was great, but when they did the Elevation tour it was unbelievable.  They relased "Atomic Bomb" and I think they (bono) especially began to let the fans in more lyrically to his thoughts, etc.  They have always been great lyrically, but their last album was I think the most personal.  Anyway they are huge again (after All that you can't leave behind) and can sell out tours quickly.  They do well album sales wise but really haven't had a Top 10 hit in the US since the 90's.  They are darlings of the critics and at times a little preachy to some, but I think when all is said and done with u2 they will rank up there with the beatles and the stones.  Not bad for 4 guys from Dublin who really didn't know how to play their instruments 30 years ago. 

[Shirell]

Iron Maiden are cruisin at the moment!

[Gordi]

U miss the point of the thread - its about returning to past highs, not slightly improving over utter rubbish

Prince is not anywhere close to his Purple Rain esque highs - face it

Oasis - ha, if you can find anyone that claims DBTT is as good as DM then...well.....

Pearl Jam - honestly if you believe their latest offering rivals their best stuff you hold their best stuff in rather limited regard

Fair go man,
all of those groups/artists are currently being critically and commercially recognised as creating works that equal if not surpass their 'glory days'.
It's the truth, read the press check out sales. You might not like it, but hey that's the way it is. And I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

[comaknight]

The New York Dolls (even though it's only 2 original members left)

[J?]

In 1988 the Beach Boys had a hit with Kokomo haha.

However I hate that song soooooo much and the Beach Boys past 1981 are garbage, no Dennis Wilson no real Beach Boys to me.