That's a good question. I'm not sure some of them do to tell the truth.You hear the age old quote from artists/bands, 'This is our best album' and nine times out of ten, they really believe it.

I suppose when you've spent three years in California or Berlin or perhaps, Pluto with your micro climate of record company executives, drug pushers and other assorted hangers-on, who will no longer stand toe-to-toe with you and exclaim 'Oh boy, you really are up the creek without a creative paddle aren't you?' You tend to lose that sense of hunger that initially drove you to write your classics.

I believe the best test of how good a band currently is would be to ask the question; 'If this current release were your first album, would you get signed on the strength of it?'

mirco wrote: And the question is: Why, for God's sake, why they come out with that crap?

9 out of ten times they probably dont think its crap. They probably love it.

I'm sure some bands need to get albums out fast for contractural reasons, and dont really care how crap they are, but in my experience so many bands release albums that they claim are their 'best ever' best so far' 'a new beginning for the band' etc etc, when in fact they've just run out of ideas.

Anyone think that sounds like Genesis?? They used loads of euphamisms over the years to hide the fact they were 'dumbing down' 'selling out' and generally simplifying their music so it was easier to play, easier to write etc. They would come out with crap like 'stripping down the sound' 'being more concise with songs' 'Not writing long songs for the sake of it' etc, but I think most of their true fans knew what they were up to.

danbo wrote: Bands have been known to wrap up a piece of crap with a cover of the band standing on a beach looking like fairy boys just to fulfill their contractual obligations.

I'm actually listening to that now.. and thats the best side of a contractual obligation I've ever heard... You ever listened closely to the "Love at First Sight" section....

And I have a framed copy of that cover.... Greg looks yummy!!

Most of the time, I doubt it. They might know they put out a crappy album after it's out and the reactions start coming in...but before, not likely.

My theory is that if you work hard at an album, it will be good, but if you half-ass the thing, it will really show. I am conscious of when I work hard as well as when I half-ass something. I think most people can see this in themselves. Thus I think that musicians know if they are doing good work, or putting out crap. What I really wonder is if musicians know what tracks on their albums are going to be hits. For example, did Yes know that Roundabout would be huge when they released Fragile. Did Rush know that Closer to the Heart was truly a gem when they put out A Farewell to Kings. Did Robert Fripp know that 20th Century Schizoid Man was going to be the shining moment on ITCOTCK? You get the picture. I would love to know the answer to this question.