Consecutive Albums With a Huge Leap in Quality

[twosuitsluke]

Not sure if mentioned but;

Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires --> The Blackening.

Also, Catharsis --> Of Kingdom and Crown

Machine Head - Supercharger --> Through The Ashes Of Empires

I don't know if I'm in the minority here.  But, I love Through The Ashes Of Empires.  "Imperium" is the perfect album opener for an album that I felt was really a return to form for MH.  I know many people praise The Blackening as one of the best metal albums of the last 20 years.  And, I don't dislike it by any means.  However, I definitely prefer TTAOE to it.

I agree with almost everything you've said about TTAOE (and I actually listened to it this morning). Imperium is an incredible opener and one of my all time favourite MH songs. The Blackening is on another level for me though. I've often said it is the greatest metal album of the 00s. I still stand by that. It is a 10/10, start to finish, ambitious behemoth of an album. It completely floored me when it came out.

TTAOE is no slouch, it's just the album that followed it was perfect in every way.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The Blackening is on another level for me though. I've often said it is the greatest metal album of the 00s. I still stand by that.

Cool, I was worried people had soured on that album over time, especially with MH's subpar output in recent years and some of Rob's antics.  Best metal of the 00s is a strong statement given the competition, but it's probably in my top 20. 

[KevShmev]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

[HOF]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

The album itself is a bit meh, but the drums and drum sound in particular on this record are amazing. I do like the radio hits well enough, and Iris is really good.

[romdrums]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

The album itself is a bit meh, but the drums and drum sound in particular on this record are amazing. I do like the radio hits well enough, and Iris is really good.

The follow up album, Secret Samadhi, sounds even better.

[Jamesman42]

Dream Theater: WDADU -> IaW, SFAM -> SDOIT, BCSL -> ADTOE
Thrice: Vheissu -> The Alchemy Index
Cloudkicker: The Discovery -> Beacons
Devin Townsend Project: Deconstruction -> Ghost

[Lonk]

SFAM -> SDOIT

 

[Sacul]

Deftones went from their debut Accelerate, a bottom 3 album of theirs, to the insane Around the Fur, a top 3 Deftones record.

SFAM -> SDOIT

 

I actually agree with James, I did revisit SFAM a year or two ago and couldn't finish it, it was just too overwhelming and long.

[Zantera]

I'm assuming some of these might already have been mentioned:

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Nocturama/Abattoir Blues & The Lyre of Orpheus
Devin Townsend - Physicist/Terria
Deftones - Gore/Ohms
Swans - Holy Money/Children of God
Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife/Hubardo
Slint - Tweez/Spiderland
Megadeth - So Far So Good So What/Rust in Peace
The Dear Hunter - Migrant/Act IV
Blackfield - Blackfield IV/Blackfield V
Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite/Images and Words

[Dream Team]

Deftones went from their debut Accelerate, a bottom 3 album of theirs, to the insane Around the Fur, a top 3 Deftones record.

SFAM -> SDOIT

 

I actually agree with James, I did revisit SFAM a year or two ago and couldn't finish it, it was just too overwhelming and long.

6DoIT is even longer and more overwhelming.

[Stadler]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

I want to like +Live+, but Ed K. is annoying AF.  He strikes me as a sort of Ed Vedder wanna be and not in a good way.  And it's hard to get past the "placenta falling to the floor". 

[KevShmev]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

I want to like +Live+, but Ed K. is annoying AF.  He strikes me as a sort of Ed Vedder wanna be and not in a good way.  And it's hard to get past the "placenta falling to the floor".

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

[King Postwhore]

Bill, he is dynamite live.  I saw them a few times in the 90's.  Always impressed me how powerful his voice was. 

[HOF]

I am generally not a fan of that 90s alt rock sound (I think it's the aesthetics), so I don't give much of it a chance at ever make my "late to the party" list.

Roughly 10 months later, I stand somewhat corrected.

Throwing Copper by Live is my next album review I am doing offline with a friend (his recommendation), so I have been listening to it for the last 3-4 days.  Not bad at all, actually.  I am still not overly wild about the aesthetics, and I find I enjoy it a lot more when listening to a few songs at a time rather than all at once, but I get the appeal.  Iris, Pillar of Davidson and White, Discussion are all songs I like quite a bit now.

Note: I don't intend to check out any other Live albums any time soon, so save any recommendations.

I want to like +Live+, but Ed K. is annoying AF.  He strikes me as a sort of Ed Vedder wanna be and not in a good way.  And it's hard to get past the "placenta falling to the floor".

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

I can see that.

[Stadler]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

Bill, he is dynamite live.  I saw them a few times in the 90's.  Always impressed me how powerful his voice was. 

I've heard that (maybe even from you).  He's played both solo and with +Live+ (I think) in a little theater I go to a lot but I've never caught him.  Supposedly he's back with +Live+ but there's drama and the rest of the band is out.

[KevShmev]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

 

I can't think of which songs that made me think that, but there were a few where he would just hit a certain line or even a single word that would make me think he sounded a bit like Stipe.  It was pretty infrequent, so it's not like it will jump out at you.  And I mean the sound of his voice, not necessarily the quality (I also think Stipe was a very good singer, despite his unconventional voice).

[King Postwhore]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

Bill, he is dynamite live.  I saw them a few times in the 90's.  Always impressed me how powerful his voice was. 

I've heard that (maybe even from you).  He's played both solo and with +Live+ (I think) in a little theater I go to a lot but I've never caught him.  Supposedly he's back with +Live+ but there's drama and the rest of the band is out.

No.  They wanted to make a new album and the guitarist had second thoughts.  Banks out and then there were legal battles.  So 3 of the 4 are original members still. 

[Stadler]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

Bill, he is dynamite live.  I saw them a few times in the 90's.  Always impressed me how powerful his voice was. 

I've heard that (maybe even from you).  He's played both solo and with +Live+ (I think) in a little theater I go to a lot but I've never caught him.  Supposedly he's back with +Live+ but there's drama and the rest of the band is out.

No.  They wanted to make a new album and the guitarist had second thoughts.  Banks out and then there were legal battles.  So 3 of the 4 are original members still.

OH!  I knew the guitar player was out; I didn't realize the other guys were not.

[King Postwhore]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

 

I can't think of which songs that made me think that, but there were a few where he would just hit a certain line or even a single word that would make me think he sounded a bit like Stipe.  It was pretty infrequent, so it's not like it will jump out at you.  And I mean the sound of his voice, not necessarily the quality (I also think Stipe was a very good singer, despite his unconventional voice).

Pillar Of Davidson, Kev?

[King Postwhore]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

Bill, he is dynamite live.  I saw them a few times in the 90's.  Always impressed me how powerful his voice was. 

I've heard that (maybe even from you).  He's played both solo and with +Live+ (I think) in a little theater I go to a lot but I've never caught him.  Supposedly he's back with +Live+ but there's drama and the rest of the band is out.

No.  They wanted to make a new album and the guitarist had second thoughts.  Banks out and then there were legal battles.  So 3 of the 4 are original members still.

OH!  I knew the guitar player was out; I didn't realize the other guys were not.

Bill, you are right!  I did not know after that he split for the other two guys.

n June 21, 2022, Kowalczyk announced that Chad Taylor had been fired from the band the day before.[27] Gracey tweeted: "For anyone interested...Ed is not the problem in this band...and it's not this Chad...and he doesn't play bass. We have among us a person that stirs and then, no pun intended, sells drama."[28]

In September 2022, Kowalczyk announced that he would be touring as Live without Dahlheimer or Gracey.[5] In a November 2022 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, former lead singer Chris Shinn confirmed that Dahlheimer and Gracey had been fired by Kowalczyk.[4] This leaves Kowalczyk as the only original member left in the band.[29]

[Sacul]

Deftones went from their debut Accelerate, a bottom 3 album of theirs, to the insane Around the Fur, a top 3 Deftones record.

SFAM -> SDOIT

 

I actually agree with James, I did revisit SFAM a year or two ago and couldn't finish it, it was just too overwhelming and long.

6DoIT is even longer and more overwhelming.

It is longer but it's way more creative and experimental, each song has a unique personality and plenty of atmosphere, the lyrics are more thoughtful (even if a little cringe here and there), and the core theme is empathy. It's the only DT album I revisit these days tbh.

[KevShmev]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

 

I can't think of which songs that made me think that, but there were a few where he would just hit a certain line or even a single word that would make me think he sounded a bit like Stipe.  It was pretty infrequent, so it's not like it will jump out at you.  And I mean the sound of his voice, not necessarily the quality (I also think Stipe was a very good singer, despite his unconventional voice).

Pillar Of Davidson, Kev?

One of the better songs, yes, but if you are asking if it is one that reminds me of Stipe, not sure (off the top of my head).

[nick_z]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

 

I can't think of which songs that made me think that, but there were a few where he would just hit a certain line or even a single word that would make me think he sounded a bit like Stipe.  It was pretty infrequent, so it's not like it will jump out at you.  And I mean the sound of his voice, not necessarily the quality (I also think Stipe was a very good singer, despite his unconventional voice).

Pillar Of Davidson, Kev?

One of the better songs, yes, but if you are asking if it is one that reminds me of Stipe, not sure (off the top of my head).

I mean, one of the moments that always jumped out was the chorus on Selling the Drama...? The heys...that could totally be Stipe singing 

[ozzy554]

Rainbow: Rainbow -> Rising

Dream Theater: Falling into Infinity -> SFAM

Iron Maiden: Fear of the Dark -> X Factor,  Dance of Death -> A Matter of Life and Death. I think DOD is fine but AMOLAD is my personal favorite

Judas Priest: Angel of Retribution -> Nostradamus. I listened to AOR again recently and apart from a couple songs I've always found the album a bit unremarkable. Nostradamus may be a bit bloated and should have been edited down to one CD but it's a far more interesting album for me.

Fates Warning: Inside Out -> APSOG. Again Inside out is fine but it feels like Parallels 2. APSOG is my favorite album from them with theories of flight close behind.

Queensryche: Dedicated to Chaos -> Queensryche 2013. The low hanging fruit of my list. Condition human is even better but the self titled gave me hope lol.

The Warning: XXI Century Blood -> Queen of the Murder Scene. Ok maybe it's not fair to put the first album by kids/teenagers on here but I think it makes the massive leap in quality even more impressive and QOTMS is a no skip album for me.

[TAC]

Fates Warning: Inside Out -> APSOG. Again Inside out is fine but it feels like Parallels 2. APSOG is my favorite album from them with theories of flight close behind.

I'm taking Inside Out over APSOG all day long.

[wolfking]

Fates Warning: Inside Out -> APSOG. Again Inside out is fine but it feels like Parallels 2. APSOG is my favorite album from them with theories of flight close behind.

I'm taking Inside Out over APSOG all day long.

Agree.

[425]

Iron Maiden: Fear of the Dark -> X Factor,  Dance of Death -> A Matter of Life and Death. I think DOD is fine but AMOLAD is my personal favorite

I enthusiastically endorse the first take. Their worst album versus one that I love.

The second is tougher… I agree that AMOLAD is a significant step up from DoD, but I also love DoD. Something like my #8 vs. my #3.

[ZKX-2099]

Trivium - The Crusade > Shogun

Anybody say that one yet? Can't think of any other case where the improvement is so massive.

[Stadler]

The best example is and always will be:  From Genesis To Revelation ---> Trespass.

[SoundscapeMN]

The best example is and always will be:  From Genesis To Revelation ---> Trespass.

yeah, that's almost universally felt. Trespass is to myself and many, 1 of their best 5 records.

FGTR..they were school kids doing psych pop of the era..vastly different.

[HOF]

The best example is and always will be:  From Genesis To Revelation ---> Trespass.

yeah, that's almost universally felt. Trespass is to myself and many, 1 of their best 5 records.

FGTR..they were school kids doing psych pop of the era..vastly different.

I’ve heard snippets but never even bothered to listen to all of FGTR. It’s more proto-Genesis. Like if you were a writer and someone published your HS essays. I don’t think it should really count!

[Sacul]

Sigur Rós went from their quite awkward, experimental debut, to the absolutely gorgeous, masterful Ágætis byrjun.

[Buddyhunter1]

Sigur Rós went from their quite awkward, experimental debut, to the absolutely gorgeous, masterful Ágætis byrjun.

I'd argue Ágætis byrjun -> () is another drastic leap in quality. I love that album and haven't been able to get into any of their other records nearly as much.

[SoundscapeMN]

The best example is and always will be:  From Genesis To Revelation ---> Trespass.

yeah, that's almost universally felt. Trespass is to myself and many, 1 of their best 5 records.

FGTR..they were school kids doing psych pop of the era..vastly different.

I’ve heard snippets but never even bothered to listen to all of FGTR. It’s more proto-Genesis. Like if you were a writer and someone published your HS essays. I don’t think it should really count!

I feel that way about Bend Sinister's debut album "The Warped Pane"..which I think was mostly done with the guys in or right after High School, and is all instrumental Jazz-Fusion. Then 3 years later they released "Through the Broken City" which has vocals and is totally different in sound (and membership for the most part I recall).

I consider Through the Broken City more or less their debut album, even though in name, it's not.

[KevShmev]

There have actually been quite a few moments where the singer in Live reminds me a bit of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hmmm; I'll have to go back and re-listen because I hold Stipe in extremely high regard as a vocalist. 

 

I can't think of which songs that made me think that, but there were a few where he would just hit a certain line or even a single word that would make me think he sounded a bit like Stipe.  It was pretty infrequent, so it's not like it will jump out at you.  And I mean the sound of his voice, not necessarily the quality (I also think Stipe was a very good singer, despite his unconventional voice).

Pillar Of Davidson, Kev?

One of the better songs, yes, but if you are asking if it is one that reminds me of Stipe, not sure (off the top of my head).

To follow up, yes, Pillars of Davidson is definitely one of them.  Cranked that when driving at lunch just a bit ago.  Even the background vocal of the chorus sounds like they borrowed Mike Mills.  It is uncanny.  Great song.