Reunited and it Feels So Good...

[scannest]

Bands that got back together after a lengthy hiatus (let's say at least 10 years between releases) with records on par with their heyday:

DESCENDENTS (2x!. Well, I guess there was only 9 years between ALL and SUCKS, but there was 12 between COOL and HYPERCAFFIUM)
NY DOLLS
DINOSAUR JR.
SUPERCHUNK

Give me some more! Other than SWERVEDRIVER and HUM, but sure - SWERVEDRIVER and HUM, too.

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Swervedriver
My Bloody Valentine
Slowdive

Not sure if they qualify: Hum. They have been playing live intermittently over the years, but just released their first record since 1997.

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Bands that made reunion records that were good, but not as good as their initial run:

Ride - Weather Diaries is not as good as their first two albums (or many EPs), but is as good or better than their later releases.
Crime - Exalted Masters is enjoyable but not half as good as their ‘70s recordings.

[scannest]

How did I forget about MISSION OF BURMA? Their records on Matador in the early aughts were pretty great.

[gregpolard]

Lifetime : Jersey's Best Dancers was released in 1997 and the self titled came out in 2007.

Shades Apart : Sonic Boom came out in 2001 and Eternal Echo in 2020.

Dag Nasty did it at least twice (I'm speaking of Minority of One and the newest 7")

Trying to think of more as they come

[scannest]

Dag Nasty did it at least twice (I'm speaking of Minority of One and the newest 7")

Only a crazy person would argue that those records hold a candle to the first three.

[gregpolard]

Dag Nasty did it at least twice (I'm speaking of Minority of One and the newest 7")

Only a crazy person would argue that those records hold a candle to the first three.

OK, I re-read the OP

While I think both of these are solid, I retract my statement. I am keeping Lifetime and Shades Apart though, dammit!

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Dag Nasty did it at least twice (I'm speaking of Minority of One and the newest 7")

Only a crazy person would argue that those records hold a candle to the first three.

I like the Cold Heart single a lot, but strangely enough, it sounds more like Red Hare than Dag Nasty, and I’m talking about the music, not just the vocals. I probably like it better than anything Dag did after Wig Out, but it just doesn’t really feel like a DN record to me. I thought there was talk of them doing an LP at some point...

[scannest]

I like it too, but it sounds like something they banged out in an afternoon. Its' unpolished and raw in a way that nothing else they've ever done comes close.

[captain2man]

Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers album is a classic. It came out in '84, so technically not 10 years since the last DP album before that (which would have been Come Taste the Band in '75) - but it was 11 years since that specific line-up had released an album (Who Do We Think We Are - '73).

But - the new X album that came out last year - Alphabetland - is also soooo good. First X album since '93 (Hey Zeus)....but the first X album with the original four since Ain't Love Grand ('85) - and I'd take Alphabetland over Ain't Love Grand.

[scannest]

Can't speak to DEEP PURPLE, but X is a good call. New record is terrific.

[Dinko]

The Last. 17 years.

[FormerLurker]

I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

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I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I saw them play on their first reunion tour but haven’t really listened to the new records. Which one is the best?

[FormerLurker]

I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I saw them play on their first reunion tour but haven’t really listened to the new records. Which one is the best?

Man, hard to choose. I really like "I Bet on Sky."

[JGJR]

I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I saw them play on their first reunion tour but haven’t really listened to the new records. Which one is the best?

Beyond but I haven't listened to any of them in a while; best tour was 2005 when they just played stuff from the 1st 3 records including a lot of stuff from the debut and Lou sang lots; incredible.

[JGJR]

Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers album is a classic. It came out in '84, so technically not 10 years since the last DP album before that (which would have been Come Taste the Band in '75) - but it was 11 years since that specific line-up had released an album (Who Do We Think We Are - '73).

But - the new X album that came out last year - Alphabetland - is also soooo good. First X album since '93 (Hey Zeus)....but the first X album with the original four since Ain't Love Grand ('85) - and I'd take Alphabetland over Ain't Love Grand.

Both good choices (much more familiar with X, but a good friend played Deep Purple's "Knocking on Your Back Door" (I think that's what it's called; I know, heh heh) from that initial reunion album and I thought it was terrific.

I can't agree that I'd take Alphabetland over Ain't Love Grand only because the latter just means too much to me personally. I know that album is derided a lot because of its production and whatnot and it has its faults, but it has some AMAZING tunes. "My Goodness" and "Around My Heart" are 2 of their very best IMO. Otherwise, I really dug Alphabetland.

[Fillavoid]

I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I saw them play on their first reunion tour but haven’t really listened to the new records. Which one is the best?

I like Farm and Beyond the best. I think there’s great stuff on all of them, though.

[SamDBL]

I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I have to agree. They took whatever I liked best about their older albums and distilled it to its purest form on the newer records.
Also, good call on perfect strangers.

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I'm convinced Dino Jr is the best reunion of all time.

I saw them play on their first reunion tour but haven’t really listened to the new records. Which one is the best?

Man, hard to choose. I really like "I Bet on Sky."

Listened to I Bet On Sky and Beyond. Currently listening to Farm. All three are pret-ty damn good.

[lewdd]

Not a band, but Buddy Guy's come back from 1991 on has been better than his early recordings IMO.

Other than that, I would have to go with the Descendents. I will say the next ALL album will be that way too.

[drew]

Moving Targets- Both “wires” & “humbucker” are really good

Saint Vitus- s/t from 2019 was my fave with the OG singer since 1985!

[version sound]

Saccharine Trust - The Great One Is Dead is an excellent record. I probably like it better than a couple from their original run.

[scannest]

Listened to I Bet On Sky and Beyond. Currently listening to Farm. All three are pret-ty damn good.

I've probably listened to the most recent one ("Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not") more than any of their other reunion records. I love it. J seemed to be stretching out a little with his guitar sound. I mean, it's not like he started sound liked Johnny Marr or anything, but he plays a lot of Tele on that album (and the subsequent tour) and it seemed to lighten his sound a bit.

[jaybird]

The Nils*


*Asterisked because no Alex, but the 2015 Shadows and Ghosts record does consist of about 75% of Alex's songs. So maybe this band resides somewhere between a tribute and a true re-union, kinda like Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders. Carlos Soria has been posting pics of the Nils in studio during quarantine, so they are working on new material, but whether that's more full-band versions of old acoustic demos that Alex left behind or actually 100% new songs remains to be seen.


And yeah, last year's X record out of the blue just surpassed all expectations... how do a bunch of near 70-year olds drop one of their best records ever? imma have to listen to it again today.

[Gary]

I liked Radio Birdmans zeno beach record,but I thought it sounded more like a New Christs record than Birdman.

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I liked Radio Birdmans zeno beach record,but I thought it sounded more like a New Christs record than Birdman.

Agreed.

[version sound]

Saccharine Trust - The Great One Is Dead is an excellent record. I probably like it better than a couple from their original run.

Such a good record. Tied with Paganicons as their second best.

[Knutsen]

I liked Radio Birdmans zeno beach record,but I thought it sounded more like a New Christs record than Birdman.

Agreed.

They were so fucking good live 2-3 years ago. Incredible rocking band with great songs and fucking on fire in their late sixties /seventies. (I guess)

[JGJR]

I liked Radio Birdmans zeno beach record,but I thought it sounded more like a New Christs record than Birdman.

Agreed.

They were so fucking good live 2-3 years ago. Incredible rocking band with great songs and fucking on fire in their late sixties /seventies. (I guess)

Was Pip with them? I was fortunate enough to see them twice in 2006 and then again in 2007 and I think those were the only times they ever came to the U.S. The first time was in Philly with Pip on keyboards and the second time was in Baltimore w/ no keyboards and both shows were fantastic. Great band.

[Knutsen]

I liked Radio Birdmans zeno beach record,but I thought it sounded more like a New Christs record than Birdman.

Agreed.

They were so fucking good live 2-3 years ago. Incredible rocking band with great songs and fucking on fire in their late sixties /seventies. (I guess)

Was Pip with them? I was fortunate enough to see them twice in 2006 and then again in 2007 and I think those were the only times they ever came to the U.S. The first time was in Philly with Pip on keyboards and the second time was in Baltimore w/ no keyboards and both shows were fantastic. Great band.

I would say yes. See for yourself. Same year, different show.