I don't understand that mentality. If a band was good to begin with, I'm all in favor of them making music for as long as they can, even if their creative juices show signs of drying up. Backspacer isn't anywhere near the realm of Ten, but does that mean that I want Pearl Jam to stop cranking out studio albums? Hell no. I'd rather have decent/OK music by a band I love than none at all. It doesn't spoil the earlier work if the recent stuff isn't as good. It just reminds you of the best material and why you fell in love with a band in the first place.

In this case I think it despoils their pinnacle. But only just a little.

Austin City Limits on PBS. January 7th.

Listening to "Liquid Skin" right now. These guys were a top 5 band for me, but things went south after "Split the Difference." Pretty much hated "How We Operate" and "A New Tide." Didn't even bother with their newest.

How We Operate was a mixed bag for me, but I absolutely love "A New Tide." It feels like a good old fashioned ALBUM for a change. All warm and seventies' feeling. Their latest was pretty disappointing, though; although I thought the songs were better live.

they were a top five for me as well. I think it was downhill from STD on though i've found there to be enjoyable material on each release. Their b-sides is really where it's at. Abandoned Shopping Trolley and Five Men in a Hut are my favorite releases.

I'll rank the studio albums now:
In Our Gun
Bring It On
Liquid Skin
How We Operate
A New Tide
Split the Difference
Whatvers on Your Mind

Liquid Skin
Bring It On
In Our Gun
Split the Difference

Don't care about the rest.

Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline would be 3 on this list if we were counting it.

Olly Peacock puts up some great material on Instagram: http://web.stagram.com/n/ollypeacock/

The last 2 minutes of In Our Gun (the song) sends me into a frenzy. This band was killer once.

I've got 3 of the 4 you mentioned previously. Haven't given em much of a listen yet though.

Which ones?

Bring it On, Liquid Skin, In Our Gun.