One Album Wonderfuls

I was sad to hear that Georgie James, a DC-based pop duo, has decided to disband. I felt they were a rather underrated group that seemed to get overlooked in the plethora of "indie" bands whose music is floating in cyberspace. They were able to release one album on Saddle Creek Records that I hope everyone gets a chance to hear.

I thought I'd take the opportunity to list some other significant bands that for any number of reasons left behind only one album before calling it quits.


The Modern Lovers, The Modern Lovers 1976
   Jonathan Richman's group practically paved the way for art punk bands, probably proven when the band's keyboardist/guitarist Jerry Harrison went to join The Talking Heads. "Roadrunner" and "Pablo Picasso" are just plain fun rock songs, free of pretensions.


Derek & The Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs 1970
   Of course we all know that Clapton is God. But Duane Allman was Jesus, in the sense that he died young and left behind such a relatively small catalog. This recording was a rare case of the stars aligning and two colossal blues proteges working together in the studio. Having Tom Dowd producing didn't hurt much either. Allman died in '71, Clapton kicked heroin, and the rest is history.


Minor Threat, Out of Step 1984

Operation Ivy, Energy 1990
   I'll be the first to admit that I never listened to either of these bands as much as others have, two reasons being I was too young and I lived in small town in a time the pre-dated the internet. But that didn't keep me from understanding the importance of both of these bands and their effects on what became two popular genres in the '90s: grunge and ska-punk. Operation Ivy probably compared notes with their Bay Area neighbors, Green Day, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a modern band that features a distorted guitar that DOESN'T call Ian MacKaye influential. Neither of these bands disappeared from the radar; Operation Ivy practically became Rancid and Ian MacKaye formed Fugazi and still plays all-ages shows with his latest duo The Evens.


The Postal Service, Give Up 2003
   Although technically a side project, The Postal Service's lone album was so popular it could have easily put Death Cab for Cutie out of commission for good. In its initial release, Give Up was only mildly received but its songs were ubiquitous in the next few years, thanks to Zach Braff and every product known to mankind. Rumors abound as to whether we will actually hear a follow-up to this classic, but seeing is believing. But honestly, this album alone could secure the group's legacy.

Of course there are many others not named. Feel free to append.