Are there any classic fourth albums by bands?

Question

Nowadays bands are usually out of ideas by this point. But after purchasing Muse's "Black Holes and Revelations" i found that a band can produce their best record to date on the fourth album. Any others spring to mind?

in case some people can't read i said fourth albums. not albums after the 3rd. 7th and 8th beatles albums were good?cheers, i already knew that. what next? someone tells me about a good debut. sorry but stupid people annoy me.

some awesome answers so far with the exception of the bon jovi fan. i'm not having any of that. Oh and radioheads best album is 'the bends' not kid a.

Answer 1

Led Zeppelin 4
Nirvana: In Utero
Metallica: ...And Justice For All
Manic Street Preachers: Everything Must Go
Black Sabbath: Vol. 4
Queen: A Night At The Opera

All essential 4th albums!!!

Answer 2

These aren't bands, but...
Tori Amos - From The Choirgirl Hotel (Not my favourite, but a classic nonetheless)
Neil Young - Harvest

I can think of lots of solo artists with great fourth albums, but few bands!?!
Led Zeppelin - IV and Talking Heads - Remain In Light, but those have already been mentioned. I also love the fourth Velvet Underground album - Loaded - some classic tracks, but not generally considered to be an overall classic.

Answer 3

Some great answers here. I would also add Janes Addiction Strays, White Stripes Elephant, Guns N Roses Illusion 2 (allowing you count Lies as an album)...
um ...
Oh yup, Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother, Eagles One Of These Nights, Gomez either Split The Difference or In Our Gun depending on whether you count Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline ...
Dude there's loads!
Is Lateralus by Tool a fourth album? It's pretty good. The new Snow Patrol album is a fourth, and it's good. The Unforgettable Fire by U2 contains possibly their best ever song in its title track. Oh and finally, an old classic, if you count both releases of 'High Voltage' by AC/DC, then 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' is one of the best fourth albums ever, and in this writer's humble opinion even better than 'Back in Black'!

Answer 4

I really wish I didn't know this but the Bon Jovi fan got the first two albums the wrong way round 1 Bon Jovi, 2 78000 F

Answer 5

the stereophonics 'you gotta go there' and the manics 'everything must go' both saw the bands setting off in a new musical direction.

most bands slap together their first album in something of a hurry, get themselves properly together for their second, and then consolidate with their third. a band that can go to a fourth album without repeating themselves are usually giving evidence that they have true staying power.

the exception to the rule would probably be bob dylan, who produced two indifferent albums at the very start of his career (though he was already an awesome live performer) and has hardly cut a bad disk since.

Answer 6

New Jersey by Bon Jovi
Thier first being- 7800 Farhenhiet
2nd-Bon Jovi
3rd Slippery When Wet

Answer 7

Genesis - Foxtrot
Gentle Giant - Octopus
Procol Harum - Home
Talking Heads - Remain In Light
REM - Life's Rich Pageant
Crowded House - Together Alone
David Byrne - Feelings

to name but a few

Answer 8

Santana - Caravanserai
Led Zeppelin IV


and in my Muse's Black Holes and Revelations really isn't that good, Origin of Symmetry is way better.

Answer 9

AC/DC had powerage as a fourth album,its a classic. some might argue it was their 5th but its officially 4th they had so much stuff they even released 2 albums in 1year from 1975 till aug 1980 they had 7 albums out 9 if you include tnt and jailbreak (released in australia in 74)

Answer 10

Best, no, but close...Road to Ruin by the Ramones was their fourth...a great album, and the first that showed true changes in their sound...the third, Rocket to Russia, is the absolute best.

Interesting one, though...the Rolling Stones...both the original UK fourth album, Aftermath (one of my favorites of theirs), and the US Out of Their Heads are great albums from the earlier period