Solo albums you like more than any by the group

[soundsweird]

Here's an example that's a no-doubter for me: some of David Sylvian's solo albums (especially Gone to Earth and Secrets of the Beehive) outshine any of Japan's albums, as good as they were.

[mozo-pg]

Agree on David Sylivan. He has a wide body of work. Peter Gabirel III and IV are equal or close to the best Genesis. Passion too.

[Progatron]

Hmmm... not easy. Better than some or many by their parent groups is easy. Better than any, as in every? That's tougher by a wide margin.

There are a few Peter Hammill albums I might rank as good as the best VDGG albums, but I'm not 100% sure.

[rdclark]

I loved Ross Jennings’ solo album. I like Haken well enough, but “A Shadow of My Future Self” is the sort of prog-tinged power-pop, full of hooky melodies and tricky harmony, that pushes all my buttons.

And I am entirely indifferent to the band Tribulation, but former member Jonathan Hilton made an album, “Chants From Another Place,” that is pure magic to my ears — melodic, spiritual, euphonic, magical. His natural singing voice is other-worldly.

[MudShark22]

Here's an example that's a no-doubter for me: some of David Sylvian's solo albums (especially Gone to Earth and Secrets of the Beehive) outshine any of Japan's albums, as good as they were.

This is fact ;-)

That said - "all" in many instances would be too broad.

I like all of Bruce Dickinson's solo albums better than any post 7th Son Maiden albums.

[Dave (in MA)]

Here's an example that's a no-doubter for me: some of David Sylvian's solo albums (especially Gone to Earth and Secrets of the Beehive) outshine any of Japan's albums, as good as they were.

I had/have zero use for anything Japan did that I've heard, but its former members have a tremendous body of work post-breakup that I like.

[battema]

A few that spring to mind for me personally:

RPWL: Yogi Lang's No Decoder
Ash Ra Tempel: Manual Göttsching's E2-E4
Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman's Batman 1989 soundtrack
Bel Canto: Biosphere's Substrata

Plus just about everything Vangelis did after Aphrodite's Child (might be a cheat, but whatever).

[battema]

A little more obscure but:

Black Mountain: Jeremy Schmidt's Beyond the Black Rainbow soundtrack
Pan Sonic: Mika Vainio & Franck Vigroux's Peau Froide, Léger Soleil

[soundsweird]

I guess Todd Rundgren vs. The Nazz might qualify....

[ronmac]

I can see how some might feel that way about "All Things Must Pass." But I'm not in that group, despite how I consider it a masterpiece.

[interbellum]

Here's an example that's a no-doubter for me: some of David Sylvian's solo albums (especially Gone to Earth and Secrets of the Beehive) outshine any of Japan's albums, as good as they were.

Mmm, Quiet Life and Tin Drum are Japan's highlights for me, but I love all of their effords.
The problem with Sylvian is that, although I love most of his early albums, he depends very much on the musicians he gathers around him, while in Japan he already had stellar musicians. I doubt Sylvian could make a good solo-album without the help from outside.

I love Mick Taylor's solo-debut more than any Rolling Stones-album.

[JKL2000]

Good question!

I have to say I prefer both Phil Manzanera’s Listen Now and Diamondhead (and Eno’s first few solo albums!) to any Roxy Music albums. Maybe because a little Bryan Ferry goes a long way.

[IncogNeato]

As much as I love his work in Soundgarden, I will give the edge to Chris Cornell's 'Euphoria Morning' album. I think it's the greatest thing he ever did.

[MudShark22]

As much as I love his work in Soundgarden, I will give the edge to Chris Cornell's 'Euphoria Morning' album. I think it's the greatest thing he ever did.

I agree - it is the most excellent thing he did - and I should've thought of it too. It's in my top 50 all time.

Again + he had a crack team in Johannes and Shneider from the band Eleven as his co writing / production team.

[battema]

Oh yeah, one more: I'll take Don Henley's Building the Perfect Beast over anything from the Eagles. Never even owned an Eagles album.

[Digital_Man]

Hand. Cannot. Erase and possibly the Raven who refused to sing both by SW of course.

[Progbear]

I like Wigwam fine, but none of their albums equals the heights of Pekka Pohjola's solo career.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

The first four or five Peter Gabriel albums are, to me, up there with anything he did with Genesis. (Blasphemy, I know.) Ditto Steve Hackett's To Watch the Storms and A Midsummer Night's Dream (though the latter is so different that a comparison is meaningless).

Ian Anderson's Walk Into Light and The Secret Language of Birds are favorites chez Dan'l. Better than classic-period Tull? Maybe not, but better than a lot of Tull since.

Pete Townshend ... well, All the Best Cowboys... and Empty Glass aren't better than Quadrophenia or Who's Next, but I would say they're better than any other Who album.

Sting's first solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, and the live album that followed it are extraordinary. I don't know if I can say "better" than the best Police, because it's so different.

Several Lou Reed albums (at least these three, possibly more: Rock'n'Roll Animal, Coney Island Baby and New York) are better than anything by the Velvet Underground.

And I'm ready to die on this mountain: Welcome to My Nightmare is better than anything by the Alice Cooper Band.

[thedunno]

Paolo 'Ske" Botta's - 1000 Autunni is better than any Yugen album

[MudShark22]

Pete Townshend ... well, All the Best Cowboys... and Empty Glass aren't better than Quadrophenia or Who's Next, but I would say they're better than any other Who album.

Sting's first solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, and the live album that followed it are extraordinary. I don't know if I can say "better" than the best Police, because it's so different.
.

Again agreed on both these statements

[thedunno]

Paolo 'Ske" Botta's - 1000 Autunni is better than any Yugen album

And Robert Wyatts Rock Bottom is one of my favorite albums ever so that means I rate it higher than any Soft Machine or Matching Mole album.

[dropforge]

Oh yeah, one more: I'll take Don Henley's Building the Perfect Beast over anything from the Eagles. Never even owned an Eagles album.

Ditto. I'll take anything/everything by Joe Walsh over 'em!

[Garden Dreamer]

John Petrucci's "Suspended Animation" over anything by Dream Theater.

[NogbadTheBad]

Paolo 'Ske" Botta's - 1000 Autunni is better than any Yugen album

And Robert Wyatts Rock Bottom is one of my favorite albums ever so that means I rate it higher than any Soft Machine or Matching Mole album.

Sir you go too far, too far I say!

How about Scott Walker?

Pekka Pohjola post Wigwam

Klaus Schulze obviously

[llanwydd]

I like Hot Rats better than anything by the Mothers of Invention.