The White Stripes latest album is a very good, yet different album than their previous work. It has the tendency to turn off fans looking for more of the same, but it's not disqualifying bad.

As for some of the others I mentioned The Sundays and Mazzy Star are both female fronted alt-pop bands of the 90s and each released 3 albums of fan pleasing material. Every album both bands released did exactly what it was supposed to do- no more, no less. Not the best bands ever but completely consistent in quality.

Allison Moorer is a country singer who released a great debut album, a dark follow-up concept album (her best one, IMO) and then two more great albums to follow-up that one. She's also got a fantastic live CD/DVD set out.

Neko Case's first album is more in the line of traditional country, with an edge but good. Her albums since then are all wonderfully dark and moody and great and fall into the alt-country category.

Cocteau Twins are dream pop with ethereal vocals that are meant to be felt, not understood. Active all through the 80s and 90s, some albums are more classic than others but their output is remarkably consistent.

Fiona Apple has 3 albums so far, each one better than the last.

The Bangles had 3 great pop albums in the 80s and an underrated reunion CD in 2003. If you haven't heard Manic Monday and Walk Like an Egyptian you need to get out more.

I mentioned the lows of my almost perfect list, but if you'd like a brief description of their music:

Stereolab is like futuristic lounge dance music. About half the songs with vocals are in English and half in French.

They Might Be Giants are the quirky geniuses behind Particle Man and Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and many other odd songs. Great music to sing along to (if you're a bit of a geek).

Siouxsie and the Banshees are gothic punk in the early years, and gothic pop in the later years.

Sigur Ros- what the Cocteau Twins can do to a 3 minute pop song, these guys can do to a whole album. Magical.

Red House Painters are moody, dark music to hug the depths of your soul when you're alone. Forget emo, this is the real shit.

Lucinda Williams is perhaps the best songwriter alive today. She's alt-country but don't let that make you think she can't rock you.

Wilco are alt-rock with alt-country roots. Released several great albums and then a frustrating one.

That's just my opinion. Music is even more subjective than movies are as an art film. Basically, you're asking the impossible because you're expecting a whole group of people to agree that ALL albums by a certain artist are good. Which is fine and dandy if you just wanted opinions, but you don't. You seem to want people to just agree with yours.

Many didn't when it came out, but that quickly changed.

I agree U2 has never made a bad record, one of the few bands that barely have a weak song. Also their singles are often the worst songs on the album.

Pearl Jam are always good, sometimes great.

Death Cab for Cutie are on a roll, they are a newer band that many of you may not have heard yet, but you will.

Rammstein
Godsmack
Green Day
Children of Bodom

All bands sound pretty much the same throughout their career. Does that make them consistant? Yes. Are they my favorites? That's not the original question asked.

If they wouldn't have put out The Spaghetti Incident, I would have nominated Guns N Roses. As it is, though...

I'm a tad confused. When you started the thead you included the proviso that people should be prepared to defend their opinions. Now, putting to one side the concept of subjectivity, I read that as meaning that people should be prepared for cogent argument as to why this or that album did not meet the stated criteria. If you meant that the opinions were simply to be left open to scorn &/or ridicule without anything by way of mature analysis then maybe the thread itself is ill-founded and should be closed...?

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

I would love to put my favorite band, but alas they are one album from making this list, Dream Theater. If only they hadn't put out Falling Into Infinity. Damn studio, forced them to make a radio friendly album.

Dude...you totally took what I said outta context. I laughed because the Beatles were basically the only band we could think of. It was an ironic laugh...not one that was judgemental...

Dang...

Uhm...you seem to have misunderstood what I wrote also (sigh). I was not laughing in jest/mocking, I was laughing due to the fact that the Beatles was the EXACT band that TomOpus had mentioned. I thought it was funny that one of the first bands that was mentioned was basically the only one we could come up with, also.

It struck me as funny. Ah well...ya win some, ya lose some.

I'm actually a big fan of the Beatles. Sorry so many people misinterpreted my post. My loss, I guess.

Would you include the first Dream Theater album with the different vocalist? They are a very consistent band...I think they're a great inclusion to the list.

sublime

Do you follow the subsequent follow up bands that the Sublime members have been a part of? Long Beach Dub All Stars is the only one I know of. I do know that Sublime's fanbase is very loyal.

All the "songs" on the soundtrack were written by either John, Paul or George.

You might be thinking of the orchestral additions which were done by George Martin.

Oh yeah, good ol, Charlie Dominici. I always forget that album. It does have a few great tracks on it but not loaded.

Ben Folds Five put out three excellent albums ("Ben Folds Five", "Whatever & Ever Amen" and "Reinhold Messner") and split up. "Naked Baby Photos", a b-sides/live compilation, doesn't count.

Tom Waits. Many different voices/types of albums, but all good.

The Police were solid all the way thru.

Smashing Pumpkins never put out a sub-par album.

Faith No More.

Yeah, that's just crazy talk. It's neck and neck with Joshua Tree for their best album IMO.

Perhaps he was thinking of Zooropa and Pop...neither of which was up to par for U2...again IMO.

Motorhead
AC/DC (w/ Bon Scott)
Green Day
Goo Goo Dolls
Nirvana
Wildhearts
Supersuckers

All Rollins Band albums are very solid also.

Suprised no one's mentioned Richard Thompson. Except for a few albums (Mirror Blue, You Me Us) he has consistently made stellar albums for almost 40 years.

A couple candidates I can think of...

Beastie Boys - Have they been overlooked in this thread or is one of their albums considered bad and I'm just not remembering it?

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Started out sounding good and each album has been better than the last, IMHO.

Death Cab For Cutie - I agree with whoever mentioned them. I don't think they've put out a bad album yet.

Doves - I love all three of their albums damn near equally.

Elbow - Just barely makes the 5-year requirement, but all 3 of their albums are great.

Guster - Not sure if they'd count or not. I'd say their first album is a bit weaker than the rest, but their last 3 have all been solid.

Jump, Little Children - I know some people didn't like Between the Dim and the Dark as much as their first 2 albums, but I enjoy all 3 quite a bit.

Stars - Another band that just barely meets the 5-year criteria, but they've produced 3 great albums.

Toad the Wet Sprocket - Bread and Circus was a little uneven, but I loved everything they did after that.

Uncle Tupelo - 4 great albums, but I'm not sure if they lasted over five years...

Coldplay

They consistently sound the same on every song.

Off the top of my head...

Pearl Jam
U2
Rage Against the Machine
Soundgarden
Cold Play
Dave Matthews Band
The Beatles
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Nirvana
Alice in Chains
Bad Religion (did a few weak albums in the late 90s etc. but have rebouned)
Counting Crows
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Incubus


Would have said Live before Birds of Pray and the new album.

Madonna.

No question- Sting