10 Bands That Only Ever Released One Good Album

Musical history is littered with one hit wonders. The term is usually reserved for those musicians who release a blow-up single and follow it up with a less than appealing album. They then slowly drift into the realm of the has-beens; coasting off one lucky break and reminding you of their former glory days.

The one hit album, however, is a different kettle of fish entirely. It's one thing to get lucky with a hit single, but writing a succinct body of work would usually indicates at least a modicum of talent... , Yet there are a number of standout albums peppering the musical sphere, which sadly exist as a singular example of a bands creativity. More often than not, this occurs due to a band itself being short-lived; getting in there, punching hard and fast and then disbanding before they can truly capitalise on their appeal.

Then we have the supergroup. We've had some damn good ones over the years, Audioslave, Traveling Wilburys, Crosby, Still, Nash and Young. But sadly they never seem to last. Either prier commitments get in the way, or the longevity of such acts are jeopardised by all the giant egos battling for supremacy...

Atoms For Peace might be a supergroup in name, but in reality, they're only one famous bass player away from being a Thom Yorke solo project. In 2009 Yorke pulled in long time Radiohead producer, Nigel Godrish and a handful of sessions musicians to help him tour his solo work. But, in 2013 the group released a debut record. It was an album of melancholic and ambient robot music, infused with a decent helping of soothing bass guitar from non other then Flea... , and oh my was it good.

This is stellar record, but it does feel like a project for Yorke to explore ambient texture, in ever more indulgent ways, rather than a group effort. Then again, it's hard for anything not to sound like Radiohead when Thom Yorke is involved.

But this certainly wouldn't be the same album if they had recruited a different bass player. Flea's approach to eliciting sounds from his instrument has changed drastically over the years. In the early days he would tear holes in his thumb due to the aggressive nature he played with. Eventually the hardcore approach gave way for the pocket groove of funk, and since the 2000s he's focused on creating subtle but engrossing melodies. With all the electronic sounds and strange ambience on this album, his bass imbues a warmth into the tracks, contrasting the haunting whale-song vocals of Yorke.