Solo/Side Projects That Are Better Than the Bands They Diverged From

**Frownland** · 08-20-2013, 10:21 AM

I prefer Diamond Terrifier's (Sam Hillmer's solo project) first album "Kill the Self That Wants to Kill Yourself" to most of Zs's material. DT's new album "The Subtle Body Wears a Shadow" doesn't quite hold up to Arms or New Slaves, though.

Also, Maurizio Bianchi's "Symphony for a Genocide" is one of my favourite harsh noise records and I feel that it surpasses his work with Whitehouse. In these two cases, the original band and solo project are both great, I'd say.

sopsych · 08-20-2013, 10:54 PM

Is this based on my thread idea? I liked mine better :P Though this thread comes with interesting bonus questions that I wouldn't have asked.

Okay, my entry is Belinda Carlisle - better songwriting, better production, and better musicians (including Dan Huff and Thomas Dolby) on her albums vs. those by The Go-Go's. Her voice might have improved during that period, also.

My guess is that the usual solo/side project doesn't get as much label support (e.g., funding) and suffers from a lack of ideas (musically and lyrically) due to the lack of band members.

**Janszoon** · 08-20-2013, 10:59 PM

How about Panda Bear? I've never been able to get into Animal Collective but Person Pitch is a fantastic album.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-20-2013, 11:01 PM

The album John Paul Jones did with Diamanda Galas pisses on anything he recorded with Led Zeppelin from a great height.

**Janszoon** · 08-20-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

The album John Paul Jones did with Diamanda Galas pisses on anything he recorded with Led Zeppelin from a great height.

He recorded things with Led Zeppelin from a great height?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 08-20-2013, 11:03 PM

It was the 70s maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

**Janszoon** · 08-20-2013, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

It was the 70s maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

Trollheart · 08-21-2013, 10:14 AM

Sometimes it's not so much a case of better as different. I mean, Stevie Nicks' solo work is not necessarily better than her material with Fleetwood Mac, but it is vastly different, as is (chortle all you want) Robbie Williams' from Take That.

FRED HALE SR. · 08-21-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

The album John Paul Jones did with Diamanda Galas pisses on anything he recorded with Led Zeppelin from a great height.

I prefer Them Crooked Vultures also. +1 on Billy Idol having better material then Gen X also. I also appreciate Gen X but prefer his solo stuff.

I disagree on Belinda Carlisle having better material solo then The Go-Go's. The Go-Gos songs were far more catchy and lively. There was a great chemistry in their music which was always missing in Carlisles bland solo pop.

bob. · 08-21-2013, 11:11 AM

i've really been thinking hard on this one and i have top agree with Pedestrian

at first i went through the 600 side projects of Ministry....all are great but none are as good as Ministry

ironically i am listening for the first time to David Yow's solo album....and i don't think it is comparable to anything he has ever done

i agree that the Go-Gos put out better albums than any of them on their own....Beauty and The Beat still gets constant play in these ears

i think the only thing that really comes close for me at least is that i enjoy all of the Nico albums over any of the Velvet Underground albums....but then she was never really a band member so it doesn't really count i suppose

what about Micheal Jackson....surly all of his solo albums are considered better than the Jackson 5 bubblegum pop stuff

08-20-2013, 10:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I prefer Diamond Terrifier's (Sam Hillmer's solo project) first album "Kill the Self That Wants to Kill Yourself" to most of Zs's material. DT's new album "The Subtle Body Wears a Shadow" doesn't quite hold up to Arms or New Slaves, though. Also, Maurizio Bianchi's "Symphony for a Genocide" is one of my favourite harsh noise records and I feel that it surpasses his work with Whitehouse. In these two cases, the original band and solo project are both great, I'd say. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-20-2013, 10:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	Is this based on my thread idea? I liked mine better :P Though this thread comes with interesting bonus questions that I wouldn't have asked. Okay, my entry is Belinda Carlisle - better songwriting, better production, and better musicians (including Dan Huff and Thomas Dolby) on her albums vs. those by The Go-Go's. Her voice might have improved during that period, also. My guess is that the usual solo/side project doesn't get as much label support (e.g., funding) and suffers from a lack of ideas (musically and lyrically) due to the lack of band members. __________________ If you have ideas or feedback for the site, visit The Musicbanter Improvement Thread. Last edited by sopsych; 08-20-2013 at 11:00 PM.

08-20-2013, 10:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	How about Panda Bear? I've never been able to get into Animal Collective but Person Pitch is a fantastic album. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

08-20-2013, 11:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	The album John Paul Jones did with Diamanda Galas pisses on anything he recorded with Led Zeppelin from a great height. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-20-2013, 11:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	It was the 70s maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

08-21-2013, 10:14 AM	#18 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Sometimes it's not so much a case of better as different. I mean, Stevie Nicks' solo work is not necessarily better than her material with Fleetwood Mac, but it is vastly different, as is (chortle all you want) Robbie Williams' from Take That. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-21-2013, 11:11 AM	#20 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	i've really been thinking hard on this one and i have top agree with Pedestrian at first i went through the 600 side projects of Ministry....all are great but none are as good as Ministry ironically i am listening for the first time to David Yow's solo album....and i don't think it is comparable to anything he has ever done i agree that the Go-Gos put out better albums than any of them on their own....Beauty and The Beat still gets constant play in these ears i think the only thing that really comes close for me at least is that i enjoy all of the Nico albums over any of the Velvet Underground albums....but then she was never really a band member so it doesn't really count i suppose what about Micheal Jackson....surly all of his solo albums are considered better than the Jackson 5 bubblegum pop stuff __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.