I agree, TP is close to one of the few artists after a few decades can still put out great work
although Petty goes from 76- to the late 90s putting out good stuff
but can't say anything he did the last 20 years was that great
Cave has him beat on that
I think even absolute geniuses like Bowie or Prince, both had a decade or so of amazing work, but the second half of their careers produced very free memorable pieces
My favorite Tom Petty for the past few years has been his 2006 album Highway Companion. I think his song Down South is one of the best things he ever did. Put on the album when out for a 45 minute drive. Really in his last 15 years there are only five albums. One solo (Highway companion), two with Mudcrutch and two with the Heartbreakers (Mojo, Hypnotic Eye). Am still needing to listen some more to these last two…Mojo didn’t grab me.
Totally agree that most great artists only have about a good 10-15 year window at the top at their peak. There are very very few exceptions to this rule. They can still pull off great things after their peak though….but it’s rare
Bowie 69-83
Lou Reed 66-73
Springsteen 73-82/84
Dylan 62-75
James Brown 60-72
Prince 78-88
Lennon 62-73
Macca 62-71
Robert Smith 78-89
New Order/JD 79-89
Depeche Mode 81-90
Morrissey 82-94
Iggy Pop 68-77
AC/DC 73-80
Elvis Costello 77-82
Nick Lowe 71-79
Jeff Tweedy 93-02
Ween 94-00
LCD Soundsystem 02-09
Gainsbourg 65-80
Bob Marley 65-80
Manu Chao 88-01
Ian MacKaye 80-93
Andres Calamaro 89-00
Soda Stereo/Gustavo Cerati 86-95
Jorge Ben 68-76
Caetano Veloso 67-80
Joaquín Sabina….not sure-02
Kraftwerk 74-81
Pet Shop Boys 86-95
Rush 79-85
Bryan Ferry/Roxy 72-82
Charly Garcia 72-90
Nick Cave 1988-
Tom Petty 1976-2016
Beastie Boys 83-94 (what can I say I like cookypus!)
Pink Floyd 67-79
Bauhaus/Tones/Love and Rockets 80-87
Stone Roses 89-89
