tinnitus photography Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 the thread about Neil (and the apparent lack of interest in his recent work) made me think about the relationship between the aging process and the creative process... it would definitely seem that most people lose their creative spark as time moves on. what do you have? Robyn Hitchcock was 52 when Ole Tarantula came out, definitely the most even of his later records. Robert Pollard's put out an amazing 30 LPs (solo, GBV, Circus Devils, Boston Spaceships, etc) since turning 50, and at least a handful of those stand up (most notably the Spaceships stuff) i know Dylan's got his fans but to be honest i haven't heard Time Out Of Mind onward. currently listening to Together Through Life via Spotify and it's alright. what do you got? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shakespeare In The Alley Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 push the sky awaybad as me come to mind immediately i might be alone in ranking these two so high in each dudes discography but the fact that you can even make a case for them being top of the line material is amazing enough Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Dylan's last few albums come to mind. Especially Love & Theft, Modern Times and Tempest. Ironically, I think Neil's Silver & Gold is solid. Maybe not a masterpiece. This is a great topic. It reminds me of the research on creativity that shows a definite decline in quantity and quality after the 20s and then a spike in the last half of one's life. The research was done on academics, but I think it fits with popular music too. So many artists have a peak period and then a resurgence later…unless they continue putting out drivel over the years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I agree that Dylan's Love & Theft and Modern Times are excellent releases by someone over 50. But the point is well taken, I'm struggling to think of someone else who kept a creative spark burning at that age. What about David Byrne? I've lost track of his work (I'm still mad at him for breaking up the Heads) but I know his work with St. Vincent received lots of praise. Lucinda? She must be over 50. She's still putting out new material, nothing on the order of Car Wheels though. What I've heard of her soon to be released new album sounded great. The Los Lobos guys. Tin Can Trust came out in 2010, Hidalgo was over 50 at the time. I think that's a great album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kbraz Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Johnny Cash with the Rick Rubin albums come to mind Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 a lot of that Rubin material was covers though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Some of my favorites come close. NY by Lou Reed, Graceland by Paul Simon, Harvest Moon by Neil Young. But not quite. Still thinking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kbraz Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Ok, how about Junior Kimborough "All Night Long" he was 62, RL Burnside was putting out good stuff late in life too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
-seven Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Leonard Cohen? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kbraz Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Patti Smith "Banga" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I don't know if it's quite essential, but Bowie's latest, The Next Day, is very, very good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 there are some acoustic guitar players that would qualify...i am not sure how old Alan and Rick Bishop are, but they have to be mid-50s. Glenn Jones is certainly that old as well. all have made excellent records in the last 5 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Ironically, I think Neil's Silver & Gold is solid. Maybe not a masterpiece.Silver & Gold is a good album. As you point out, it's not a masterpiece, but it is a good record. In my world, Broken Arrow & Greendale are essential pieces in the Shakey canon. I believe both albums were released after or right around the time Neil turned 50. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Speaking of Neil, I think the last Crazy Horse album is excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 John Hiatt is still making some great records - Master of Disaster and Same Old Man is as strong as his mid 80's work. His latest is pretty good, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
howdjadoo Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Scott The Hoople Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tweety Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 "Essential" is tough to quantify imo; sticking with "excellent," off the top of my head these come to mind among the albums I own: Dylan's Time Out of Mind. Dr. John, Locked Down. Ian Hunter and the Rant Band, When I'm President. Graham Parker & the Rumour, Three Chords Good. Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt. NRBQ, Brass Tacks. James Taylor, October Road. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye. Van Morrison, The Healing Game, Back on Top, Magic Time. Tom Waits, Bad as Me. Agree with this one, too: John Hiatt is still making some great records - Master of Disaster and Same Old Man is as strong as his mid 80's work. His latest is pretty good, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Tom Zé - Estuando o PagodeTom Zé - Estuano a BossaCaetano Veloso - LivrosNick Cave - Dig Lazarus Dig All among their most-essential, or best. And I would say that they are all pretty essential for any fan of Tropicalia or MPB, in general. (And Tom Zé was in his 60s and 70s when he put out those 2 albums!) Are the folks in Yo La Tengo 50 yet? I think that they are.Anything that they put out is essential. And they're still putting out some pretty great records. There are other artists over 50 who are putting out some pretty great stuff, but I'm not sure how you would define "essential" so I'll hold off on naming those. But the above albums, those are essential. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Bruce Springsteen- The Rising (He was 51)R.E.M. Collapse Into NowPet Shop Boys- Electric Yeah I am struggling.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Patty Griffin. Her latest album "American Kid" is widely regarded as her best work (and it charted the highest if that matters). John Hiatt is still making some great records - Master of Disaster and Same Old Man is as strong as his mid 80's work. His latest is pretty good, too. Ever heard his daughter Lilly's music? Not bad. Not bad at all. Her last album "Let Down" was good and she's releasing another one soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxiebean Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Scott Walker's last three albums (Tilt, The Drift, and Bish Bosh) all released after he turned 50. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 And, if we're going with merely "excellent" as qualifying, Nick Lowe has had a couple of really excellent albums in recent years:The ConvincerAt My Age Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt GirlBruce Cockburn - The Charity of Night; Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Nope - never knew Hiatt had a daughter in the music racket - need to check it out.. Ever heard his daughter Lilly's music? Not bad. Not bad at all. Her last album "Let Down" was good and she's releasing another one soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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