Inspired by the Stevie Wonder thread of like topic, I was wondering if you eclectic music fans out there would agree that all artists have a peak - a pinacle to their careers and artistic expression? Or are there a choice FEW who can keep it going and continue making relevant music far beyond their peak years of popularity and artistic high points?

If so - any examples?

i think frank zappa kept making challenging music up to the time he died.

i think bowie hit the wall in the '80s, then picked himself right back up and has been making quality music since.

i think patti smith and kate bush have made good music over the past decade (even though they both took super long pauses)

i'm hopeful for paul mccartney after his last album, which was much better than i thought he had in him.

johnny cash's last half dozen or so albums were really inspired.

the last couple of neil young albums have been really good.

so yeah, it's possible.

Anx said:

Hm, sometimes i do think the same... but most of the time I think his best stuff came from The MOI era. Though, in the 70s he offered some top notch stuff... in the 80s... I love You Are What You Is, Jazz From Hell and the records from the 88 tour. But the 1984 tour (and the horrible keyboard sound), come to my mind, too. "Them Or Us"? Definitly THEM!

SenseOfDoubt said:

yeah, but he never seemed to burn out or "phone-in" material he didn't seem to really care about.

Yes.

It's called "death".

The Ultimate Wall.

herb4 said:

Anx said:

Debbie Downer!

Merzbow.

I find it depends on how prolific they are with there output!

Quantity does not necessarily mean quality but some artist feel the need to put everything down and release it regardless!

Those artist who restrain themselves and take the time out to examine there work in my opinion eventually make a well crafted album!

AWJ
[Edited 3/11/07 5:47am]

The natural EVOLUTION of things.
Start
Grow
Peak
fall
die

Elton Johns best work was obviously during the early 70s where his creative output rivaled Stevie Wonder for quality. This was also a time when he was pumping out around 2 albums a year at most and an album a year at least. During the 80s I think drugs took their toll and the quality slipped on a few albums (Victim of Love being the worst), but his output was still relentless. I wouldnt call it a "wall", more of a slight bump, because he still managed to produce some great albums. The 90's saw his mojo start to return and now in the 00's he producing stuff that equals his 70s material. Times move on and he'll never be as relevent was he once was, but the quality is there.

I still cling to the hope that oneday the same thing will happen to Prince...

All artists have several years when they can do no wrong....when every album is truly inspired and creative.Prince had his moment in the 80s from 'Dirty Mind' to 'Lovesexy'.Stevie Wonder had his moment in the 70s from 'Music Of My Mind' to 'Hotter Than July'.When an artist reaches their "high point",it's usually downhill after that.After 'SITKOL',where else could Stevie possibly go? That album was his creative and commercial peak,just like 'Purple Rain' was Prince's creative and commercial peak.I don't think there is any artist who has remained truly inspired and creative their entire career.After awhile,everyone runs out of ideas but as a fan,I am realistic.I don't expect every album to blow me away.I know that Stevie will never make another 'SITKOL'.I accept the fact that Prince will never make another '1999'.

.
[Edited 3/12/07 2:32am]

Anx said:

Zappa did have a dip in the early 80s (the Steve Vai period) musically, but I think he pulled things back up again - The Yellow Shark, for example, is a wonderful, wonderful album.

peterfalconer said:

but i think he even seemed to enjoy the steve vai era. i can't think of any period of zappa's output where he just seemed miserable and it showed in his work. i can find that in lots of other artists i like who have extensive back catalogs.

Anx said:

I agree he always enjoyed his music, but I believe one of the reasons he brought Vai in was that he temporarily lost confidence in his guitar playing - I think that shows.

peterfalconer said:

that makes sense. or maybe his interest was just going to other places. isn't this about the time he was starting to get into composing classical pieces?

Anx said:

Not at all - he started off composing classical music as a teenager; but he realised the only way he'd get any of his music heard at all would be if he played rock music.

"Frank Zappa - A Biography" by Barry Miles is fantastic if you come across a copy, by the way.

peterfalconer said:

yeah, that i know...but i mean when he was working with the london symphony orchestra...around the time when he WAS starting to get taken seriously as a composer.

Anx said:

Oh, I see what you mean! I think his classical stuff was getting noticed more by that time, yes. But by no means was he not writing it before then - Lumpy Gravy, for example. Ooh - have you got "Ahead Of Their Time"? The Mothers with the BBC Symphony Orchestra - gem of an album, that is.

If they do enough cocaine, they will.

Sure, but they can recover from it. I think all people hit the wall from time to time, and artists are no exception.

Also, the unfortunate truth is that people get older and they have less energy, and can't constantly change. Meanwhile the world is always young and changing.

NDRU said:

True, that.

And some can reinvent themselves and keep their integrity. Trent Reznor is a good example, I think. "Downward Spiral" was his peak - but it doesn't mean he cannot write or perform with a lot of heart still.

DiminutiveRocker said:

Right, and Downward Spiral (and many other classic albums) was a meeting of where music was at and where Trent was at, and they met just at the right moment.

And maybe things are different now, but he's still a very capable artist.
[Edited 3/12/07 16:26pm]

NDRU said:

Yes! Most artists reflect the time they peak in... there are not very many instances of a Srgt. Pepper-type leap in most artists careers - would you agree?

added
[Edited 3/12/07 16:28pm]

DiminutiveRocker said:

I think so, and as great as I think the Beatles were, I think they also reflect their time--particulary the early Beatlemania that made them virtually unstoppable, but also the psychedelic experimentation & self awareness that others were going through at the same time as the Beatles.