![With the news of Dr.Dre releasing a studio album for the first time in 16 years, we thought it'd be a good time to reflect on the best comeback albums of all time. From the My Bloody Valentine album that came out of nowhere, to the end of Giorgio Moroder's 30 year hiatus, here are the 14 best comeback records of all-time.]()
With the news of Dr.Dre releasing a studio album for the first time in 16 years, we thought it'd be a good time to reflect on the best comeback albums of all time. From the My Bloody Valentine album that came out of nowhere, to the end of Giorgio Moroder's 30 year hiatus, here are the 14 best comeback records of all-time.
![Blur - The Magic Whip (2015): The Britpop veteran's first studio album since 2003's Think Tank and their first 'proper' album with the full-line up since 1999. The quartet land on their feet and in fine form, not forgetting why we fell in love with them all those years ago. Tracks like 'Ong Ong' and 'I Broadcast' have the explosive pop energy we've come to expect, while 'Ghost Ship' and 'New World Towers' see Blur harness their maturer, more melancholic demeanours.]()
Blur - The Magic Whip (2015): The Britpop veteran's first studio album since 2003's Think Tank and their first 'proper' album with the full-line up since 1999. The quartet land on their feet and in fine form, not forgetting why we fell in love with them all those years ago. Tracks like 'Ong Ong' and 'I Broadcast' have the explosive pop energy we've come to expect, while 'Ghost Ship' and 'New World Towers' see Blur harness their maturer, more melancholic demeanours.
![Nas - Stillmatic (2001): Not a comeback in terms of time, but in the respect of a return to form. Stillmatic is widely regarded as Nas recapturing the talent he blew the world away with on his debut. After Jay-Z almost boxed Nas into irrelevancy, Stillmatic was a character comeback to the socially-conscious Nas that knew how to innovate and, more importantly, flow.]()
Nas - Stillmatic (2001): Not a comeback in terms of time, but in the respect of a return to form. Stillmatic is widely regarded as Nas recapturing the talent he blew the world away with on his debut. After Jay-Z almost boxed Nas into irrelevancy, Stillmatic was a character comeback to the socially-conscious Nas that knew how to innovate and, more importantly, flow.
![My Bloody Valentine - MBV (2013): A recording process that ran over a decade, MBV was unleashed onto the world without warning. Due to traffic, My Bloody Valentine's website crashed after minutes of the album's release. The first record since 1991's Loveless, MBV was received with huge acclaim describing the outwardly expanding innovation of the shoegaze legends.]()
My Bloody Valentine - MBV (2013): A recording process that ran over a decade, MBV was unleashed onto the world without warning. Due to traffic, My Bloody Valentine's website crashed after minutes of the album's release. The first record since 1991's Loveless, MBV was received with huge acclaim describing the outwardly expanding innovation of the shoegaze legends.
![David Bowie - The Next Day (2013): Announced on Bowie's 66th birthday, The Next Day was the first studio release since 2003. The recording was kept so secret, Bowie's PR firm only learnt that the album existed a few days before it's release.]()
David Bowie - The Next Day (2013): Announced on Bowie's 66th birthday, The Next Day was the first studio release since 2003. The recording was kept so secret, Bowie's PR firm only learnt that the album existed a few days before it's release.
![Johnny Cash - American Recordings (1994): Another comeback not defined by the time interval but by it's significance. American Recordings was a collaborative project between Cash and, then metal and rap producer, Rick Rubin. The world had fallen out of the love with Johnny Cash and American Recordings rekindled Country for many listeners, stripping Cash's music of any unnecessary frills. American Recordings was recorded in Cash's living room with just a voice and guitar.]()
Johnny Cash - American Recordings (1994): Another comeback not defined by the time interval but by it's significance. American Recordings was a collaborative project between Cash and, then metal and rap producer, Rick Rubin. The world had fallen out of the love with Johnny Cash and American Recordings rekindled Country for many listeners, stripping Cash's music of any unnecessary frills. American Recordings was recorded in Cash's living room with just a voice and guitar.
![Giorgio Moroder - Déjà Vu (2015): 30 years had passed since disco legend Giorgio Moroder had released a solo album. While it was given a bit of flack from reviewers, Déjà Vu is a record that has pop appeal in spades. Featuring Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and Sia, hopefully the album turned some more modern pop fans back to the roots of the music they love.]()
Giorgio Moroder - Déjà Vu (2015): 30 years had passed since disco legend Giorgio Moroder had released a solo album. While it was given a bit of flack from reviewers, Déjà Vu is a record that has pop appeal in spades. Featuring Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and Sia, hopefully the album turned some more modern pop fans back to the roots of the music they love.
![Jamie T - Carry On The Grudge (2015): In the 5 years since the London raconteur released a new album, Jamie T underwent a transformation. Laced with an acute anxiety, Carry On The Grudge deals with loss and anguish over pub-brawls and fleeting fancies. A recognisable voice delving deep into emotional turmoil, Carry On The Grudge marks a new, mature chapter for the former-cheeky chappy.]()
Jamie T - Carry On The Grudge (2015): In the 5 years since the London raconteur released a new album, Jamie T underwent a transformation. Laced with an acute anxiety, Carry On The Grudge deals with loss and anguish over pub-brawls and fleeting fancies. A recognisable voice delving deep into emotional turmoil, Carry On The Grudge marks a new, mature chapter for the former-cheeky chappy.
![Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013): Paying tribute to the 70s and 80s of disco music, R.A.M was the first offering in 8 years from the futuristic dance duo. With a star-studded cast of Giorgio Moroder, Julian Casablancas, Panda Bear, Pharrell and Nile Rodgers, Daft Punk conquered the world with 'Get Lucky' and proceeded to follow-up with an album that maintained that infectious quality.]()
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013): Paying tribute to the 70s and 80s of disco music, R.A.M was the first offering in 8 years from the futuristic dance duo. With a star-studded cast of Giorgio Moroder, Julian Casablancas, Panda Bear, Pharrell and Nile Rodgers, Daft Punk conquered the world with 'Get Lucky' and proceeded to follow-up with an album that maintained that infectious quality.
![D'Angelo - Black Messiah (2014): 14 years after Voodoo, D'Angelo original plans to release Black Messiah in 2015 were scrapped after the shooting in Ferguson inspired the R&B songwriter to end his hiatus early. The album was met with huge critical acclaim blending tracks of romantic struggle with ones of racial awareness.]()
D'Angelo - Black Messiah (2014): 14 years after Voodoo, D'Angelo original plans to release Black Messiah in 2015 were scrapped after the shooting in Ferguson inspired the R&B songwriter to end his hiatus early. The album was met with huge critical acclaim blending tracks of romantic struggle with ones of racial awareness.
![Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here (2010): The first in 16 years and his last, Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here is not only a highlight of his whole career but an incredibly powerful record for anyone who'd never heard the works of Heron before. Raw and emotional, Heron's spoken world style swerves and jags over industrial instrumentals and, if that's too jarring, Jamie XX did an awesome rework of the album the following year.]()
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here (2010): The first in 16 years and his last, Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here is not only a highlight of his whole career but an incredibly powerful record for anyone who'd never heard the works of Heron before. Raw and emotional, Heron's spoken world style swerves and jags over industrial instrumentals and, if that's too jarring, Jamie XX did an awesome rework of the album the following year.
![Portishead - Third (2008): Trading trip-hop for more]()
Portishead - Third (2008): Trading trip-hop for more "muscular" dimensions, Third was the first new material in 11 years and symbolised a step forward for the quartet. It was likened to a soundtrack with the band themselves saying they were influenced by John Carpenter throughout it's inception.
![Morrissey - You Are The Quarry (2004): Seven years had passed since Morrissey had released a studio album and the critic world grew to realise how essential he was. You Are The Quarry was welcomed by all despite losing the number 1 spot in the UK to Keane's debut album, if you can imagine that.]()
Morrissey - You Are The Quarry (2004): Seven years had passed since Morrissey had released a studio album and the critic world grew to realise how essential he was. You Are The Quarry was welcomed by all despite losing the number 1 spot in the UK to Keane's debut album, if you can imagine that.
![Refused - Freedom (2015): For Refused, trying to top their 1998 Shape of Punk To Come record would be lunacy. An album that's permanently etched as canon for post-hardcore has been followed up by Freedom, a punchy offering that dips in social commentary but soars in gravitas. For the most hardcore fans of the Swedish punks, Freedom disappointed, but if you're looking to jump on the Refused hype train, this is an easy place to start.]()
Refused - Freedom (2015): For Refused, trying to top their 1998 Shape of Punk To Come record would be lunacy. An album that's permanently etched as canon for post-hardcore has been followed up by Freedom, a punchy offering that dips in social commentary but soars in gravitas. For the most hardcore fans of the Swedish punks, Freedom disappointed, but if you're looking to jump on the Refused hype train, this is an easy place to start.
![The Verve - Forth (2008): The fourth and final album following their commercial breakthrough with their 1997 album, Urban Hymns. Leading the run-up to their new album, The Verve released the sensational 'Love Is Noise'. Considering it took the band three albums to get noticed, Forth was a sterling release from one of Brit-Pop's biggest underdogs.]()
The Verve - Forth (2008): The fourth and final album following their commercial breakthrough with their 1997 album, Urban Hymns. Leading the run-up to their new album, The Verve released the sensational 'Love Is Noise'. Considering it took the band three albums to get noticed, Forth was a sterling release from one of Brit-Pop's biggest underdogs.