[Closed] The bestest, consistently good bands?

+1 on Clinic too, they're headlining Manchester Psychfest at Night and Day at the end of this month

Teenage Fanclub
Brendan Benson
PJ Harvey
The Rolling Stones.

Now bear with me on the last one. Compared with what they did between 68-72 everything after seems a bit meh. But most of it is actually pretty good even if it's only average by their standards. If I'm listening to my music on shuffle and one of those later tracks comes on I'm always surprised by how good it is.

The wave pictures.

The Offspring

So lightning bolts in the running with 3 nominations then. That was unexpected. 😯

The Fall.

+1 Bob Mould. JUst good music everytime. Even his weird dance phase was done well but his guitar music is peerless on every album. Husker Du, solo, Sugar, solo, dance stuff, then solo-but-with-band. Just keeps going and is ace.

Gutted I'm missing him in Brizzle next week 🙁

Another vote for Radiohead. I can even listen to Pablo Honey

Occasionally

****ed up
Russian Circles
Mogwai
Chemical Brothers (although one of their newer albums was pretty poor)

****** Up? Really? When they're good they're incredible but they've never made a consistent album never mind a consistent career. (still haven't managed to get into Glass Boys like I did David and Chemistry 🙁 )

Hah. I vote Apes Pigs and Spacemen, because they've been consistently making their 3rd album now for about 20 years.

Foals
Arcade Fire
Arab Strap
Jurassic 5
Gangstarr

****** Up? Really? When they're good they're incredible but they've never made a consistent album never mind a consistent career. (still haven't managed to get into Glass Boys like I did David and Chemistry

I don't know, I didnt really think about it. They were the first name that sprung into my head and I thought I'd heard a lot of good stuff by them and it seems like they've been going for a while now, and still knocking out new songs I enjoy.

Surely there is, and has only ever been, one answer to this question. And as markrh has pointed out, it's The Fall. End of.

Thought about this and I reckon Paul Weller. Even this from The Style Council days is really good.

All seven Death Cab For Cutie albums are ace. The eighth is released next year, and will also be ace.

Cougar is righ about FNM, recently very patchy. Who ever said Stereophonics shame on you 😀

I want to say the Damned saw then 18 months ago and was frankly dreading it but they were brilliant, seemed to be enjoying it as well but I cant say them for the off the rails Eloise nonsense when Captain left, what were they thinking 😆

My vote goes to the Hoodoo Gurus still brilliant, funny, fun, new stuff is good but wish they were a little more productive these days, they are busy in Oz but havent toured over here for about 5 years.

And The Manics.
Everyone loves the Manics.

Ben Folds Five
Black Keys
Flaming Lips
Ray Lamontagne

Consistently high quality

Fugazi....if they ever come back from hiatus.

Radiohead
Pearl Jam
Muse
Black Keys

Godflesh. Consistently does what it says on the tin.

I'm surprised that the Super Furry Animals haven't been mentioned, not a bad album or LP. And they've made quite a few. Top live band too.

At the risk of ridicule , I genuinely enjoy all the Kula Shaker Albums. No more ridiculous than U2 I suppose.

Big +1 for Fugazi, one of a few bands I can listen to their entire back catalogue back to back. I think Sleater Kinner qualify too.

Leonard Cohen
Richard Thompson
Nick Cave
PJ Harvey
Paul Weller

Consistency isn't always desirable though is it?

Sometimes it leads to blandy bland muzak. Some bands put out an absolutely game changing album and then put out something that just doesn't work. This could be because they are trying something new and different so they are bound to get it wrong sometimes. Others put out a couple of good albums and then put out a load of rehashes of the same ole stuff because it makes them cash and the masses will lap it up. (yes, I'm talking about you Kings of Leon and the Killers)

PS. agree with the OP about the Charliebums though 😉

Thought about this and I reckon Paul Weller.

That's a good call. Been around a long time and put out some pretty cool albums.

you are all wrong

TOOL are still perfect, even if its been 8 years since the last album

Yeah Tool, Clutch always amaze me and Orange Goblin too

Does Leonard Cohen count as a band?

I don't agree that U2 have been consistently awful. I think that they produced some excellent music, other than the 'Pop', up until 2000. I mean, 'War' and 'Unforgettable Fire' were superb. But they should have retired a long time ago.

Oh, and I think Springsteen's been pretty consistently good.

I don't agree that U2 have been consistently awful. I think that they produced some excellent music, other than the 'Pop', up until 2000. I mean, 'War' and 'Unforgettable Fire' were superb. But they should have retired a long time ago.

Agree they should perhaps call it a day now, but their back catalogue is both prolific and consistently high quality. I think the current backlash is partly due to Bono's political tinkering, inevitable ageing and simple over-exposure to their music. I was a big fan in their heyday, but pretty much burnt out on them now. A lot of current bands inspired by them though, which is not a bad thing.

Ricardo666 good call on Orange Goblin! I'd also like to put forward Ulver, despite a patchy album of psychedelic covers and a split with Sunno))). The rest of it, from black metal to folk to ambient to classical is just fabulous.

Oh, amd my girlfriend wants to add Massive Attack to this list 🙂

Black Keys (+ Dan Auerbach)
Calexico
BRMC
Mark Lanegan
Richard Thompson
Martin Simpson
Joe Bonamassa
Nick Cave
Portico Quartet
Robert Plant
Ry Cooder
Ryan Adams
Sonny Landreth
Spiritualized
Tinariwen

plus 'Slowdive' are back together!

And The Manics.
Everyone loves the Manics.

agreed there bombjack. They are cringworthy these days. Have to switch them off.
With Richey though, completely different band.

Manics are shit. Sorry, but they really are.

Santigold

Kate Bush

Polly Harvey

Radiohead

Smiths

Grizzly Bear

Calexico

I bought "Hot Rail" from Oxfam - love it. Need to buy some more then 😀

Tool are certainly consistent- watching them live is exactly like listening to a CD while looking at a poster.

I HATE the Manics, they're awful. Even their early stuff. I also don't like the Smiths, U2 are poop and I don't get Tool. Different strokes for different folks I suppose...

For me

Weller
Ian Brown
The Pharcyde (including their new stuff)
Anything with Q-Tip

I HATE the Manics, they're awful. Even their early stuff. I also don't like the Smiths, U2 are poop

Look on the bright side....at least no one has said Coldplay yet.

Ian Brown is simply awful and I'm a huge Stone Roses fan