What new or newish or, better, current artists do you feel have yet to offer us their best work, have yet to realize their strongest records and their most vibrant performances?

It's a tough question, I've been considering it all day.

All I've come up with at this point is Animal Collective: the transition between Here Comes the Indian (further backward even) and Sung Tongs is astounding, though there are definite connections, and both are comparably excellent records. I think their next will be something else to behold.

I can think of a ton of descending or plateau'd artists, though: like, Stereolab, The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, etc. These would be bad answers to my question.

np: Boris ABSOLUTEGO: Special Low Frequency Version - absolutedoom

4 quick examples
doves, ambulence ltd, starsailor, atmosphere

That was quick.

I don't know a thing about any of those bands (but perhaps I will).

Fiery Furnaces.
Liars.
Joanna Newsom.

I think Interpol, The Wrens and Spoon are all ramping up

but I suppose that's open for debate

Pretty Girls Make Graves
maybe British Sea Pwer

I predict the guys in Jerk With A Bomb (also the Pink Mountaintops) are about to take a giant leap forward in their new incarnation as Black Mountain.

I think Neko Case hasn't even begun to hit the limits of her potential.

I'm not a big fan of Starlight Mints, but they're one of those bands that could throw a mind-altering curveball with their next release.

And Gingersol has only got better through three albums, but it still sounds like they're just warming up for something much bigger.

Damn, the more I think about it the more I realize there's tons of current bands I'm expecting great things from in the near future. Ted Leo, Drive-by Truckers, Ike Reilly, Warren Zanes, Rancid, Tsar, Alaska, and Spoon, and the list goes on. Plus, I know it's doubtful, but I really believe old-timers like Frank Black and Paul Westerberg could still have their best work ahead of them.

I hope so. I've listened to TDOBSP about ten times now and each time I WANT to like it and each time it's still the same thing: irritating vocals.

I have a feeling Spoon jumped the shark with Girls Can Tell, but I hope I'm wrong.

i like that album, don't love it but i think they could have a much better record in them. Although im not the kind of person who particularly cares too much about a vocalist, within reason of course.

Well I really like some REALLY irritating vocalists, being a fan of Liars, Frog Eyes and The Walkmen, but Yan's vocals just irritate me, but they don't make me like them.

oh yeah, heres another one. kasabian. i see them going into maybe some primal scream territory, or a spiritualized sort of thing.

Umm, think their best work is ahead of them. May be just hopeful thinking on my part but here's three I think have a decent shot:

The Stills
Wheat
Notwist

Wouldn't life be great if it turned out that way? A couple were already mentioned that I'd put in the same category especially The Doves and The Wrens. Lets hear it for the bird bands.

jc

I have moments where I too think this. I just don't think she'll ever top Blacklisted. I hope she proves me wrong, but I can't see myself liking another album by her more.

My picks - TV on the Radio, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Omar Rodriguez & Cedric Bixler, Odd Nosdam, Broken Social Scene, Queens of the Stone Age, Grandaddy.

Yea you are; Kill the Moonlight yo.

I'll second the Starlight Mints...I'm looking forward to future output from My Morning Jacket, Delgados and Blackalicious as well

Norah Jones fits in this category too...she's pretty young and still looking to find her groove...if she does, I think she's gonna be great

That's an egregious abuse of the term jumped the shark.

Absolutely. And history will look back much more kindly on her first two records than current hipsters do.

Biggest disappointment of 2002.

What a bunch of optimists.

I'm gonna throw out The Strokes, and stand by it. No album was as anticipated or enjoyed by me in 2003 as Room on Fire, and I'm hoping the 2 years trend holds and we get a new one somtime late next year.

Anyone who thinks Room on Fire was just Is This It redux, or resux either didn't listen to the record or didn't like the group for whatever reason.

Simply put, they RAWK and I think (and hope) they continue to do so.

The Faint.

They've got snippets of greatness, but never manage to finish the idea. I so so so so so wish "Cars Crash" could've been made into a complete song, rather than the aborted white noise disaster that ends it. I'm still waiting for them to do something wonderful.

I have the same suspicion. Blacklisted could be insurmountable. The new disc is very inspired and hopefully points to forthcoming mastery from the studio (continuing the steady The Virginian -> Furnace Room Lullaby -> Blacklisted ascent).

And, like your Broken Social Scene call, Stu, I'd like to name Do Make Say Think. In the liner notes to Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn, they express a want to be that band that makes that record! I thought they succeeded in doing so with that album, but considering the awesomeness of their live show - and despite rumors of the band's dissolution - I suspect that better is still in store.

i think the lp by i love you but i've chosen darkness, whenever it comes out, is going to be great.

cursive
enon



i don't think it's going to happen for them. their last album sounded way too mainstream and lost the weird flaming lips vibe of their first 2.

whoa. the last broadcast is probably top-20 all-time for me. so, i really hope you're correct. i guess we'll have a glimpse next march.