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JAKE
@jake
I think one of the main reasons an artist’s earliest albums are often their best is because those albums have hunger at their core. You can’t fake a sincere sense of hunger from the soul. And the more successful you become, the harder it is to maintain that kind of hunger. Success is like food. It’s satiating. The artist becomes satisfied. Not completely, but moreso than they were before. They become comfortable. They have something to lose. Expectations to meet. It is hard for the art to be as pure as it was before. For the creation to be as unadulterated. The artist is creating for an audience, where there was none before. They were their own only audience. That’s why I love the early albums. The artist before they made it.
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JAKE
@jake
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Ghostlinkz
@ghostlinkz.eth
I agree with this but don’t think it’s universally true. Some artists evolve over time, and are able to find new layers of creativity as they grow. A few that come to mind: - Radiohead - OutKast - Eminem - Billie Eilish - Kendrick Lamar For me, good examples of what you are describing are Drake and 50 Cent. I don’t think either of them has been able to replicate or surpass the moments they created with So Far Gone and Get Rich or Die Tryin’
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Andrew
@music2work2
I get where you’re coming from, and I definitely appreciate the rawness in those early albums. But I'm wary of the idea that the best art comes from discomfort or suffering. If the message to artists is that they need to be in a state of discomfort to create their best work, that’s kind of toxic. If we tell artists that success, love, or even just peace of mind might kill their creativity - that’s scary - and doesn't have to be true: George Harrison's a great example. I'd push back against the idea that their art can't be "pure" just 'cos they're no longer uncomfortable. I think you're bang on with the audience aspect - I agree that in the beginning they don't have an audience - and this gives them freedom - which they then inevitably factor into the next work - but that's different from hunger and discomfort.
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LGHT
@lght.eth
from the dmv area my friends and i always talk about this re: logic. his first two albums were so immaculate and representative of our cities. had the hunger and vision. slowly lost it all but got wealthy so we call it even lol
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Tamrat
@tamrat
agreed! I love all works of Cudi but his first album will always hit different for me
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MM
@listen2mm.eth
Good point, I agree in general. Another overlooked aspect of early albums, particularly successful debut albums, is that the artist probably developed those songs over at least a couple years. Whereas subsequent albums, once they have a record deal, will usually come out in 1-2 year increments and the work is getting filtered through A&R and label reps. Guess that’s pretty closely related to your point.
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tyler ↑?
@trh
100% agreed. In addition, they don't usually have much to work with. There's a creativity, a resourcefulness that's put to use in the formative years of making something that needs to be made. John Mayer's my go-to example. His first album is an incredible solo effort; it's just him. After that, he had the resources to expand and be "more him", but the pressures of production dilute the overall product. Thankfully, some of his later albums exemplify a return to the style and approach of his earlier work.
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