Am I the only one out there who sees a steady decline in the quality of EC's albums from "This Year's Model" (his best) to "Goodbye Cruel World" (his worst)?

I'm going out on a limb, but I think EC's first two albums are the finest work he ever did.  "My Aim is True" features excellent lyrics with musical accompaniment provided by a hired backup band, Clover.  "This Year's Model" was an improvement.  It featured the work of EC's own band, the Attractions, who added a tightness to the sound because these tunes had been refined on the road.  "This Year's Model" also had lyrics which included many puns, but they worked well.  The puns didn't overshadow the lyrics, and the tight, visceral music drove everything home with perfection.

After "This Year's Model" EC broadened his lyrical and musical approach.  The lyrics became denser and oftentimes featured puns evolving into more puns.  The music became broader and incorporated more styles.  After their second album, EC and the Attractions toured constantly with rare breaks for more recording.

"Imperial Bedroom" is the result of a composer and a band that has had too much touring and too many nights of chemical abuse.  The lyrics sound good, but are so obtuse they could mean anything.  And in meaning anythng, they could just as easily mean nothing.  The music sounds good, but takes us in so many directions we end up wondering where we went and question whether we should have spent the time going there in the first place.  The album leaves you disoriented.  The listener feels an unpleasant combination of jet lag and hangover.

EC's albums from "Armed Forces" up to "Goodbye Cruel World" leave me feeling this strange combination of jet lag and hangover.  I feel like I've seen and heard life from EC's vantage point of airports, vans, bars, and recording studios.  But I feel like I don't quite understand what I've seen and heard.  The result is like seeing the world passing by from a window, either a jet window or a van window, and getting a vague image that passes through your senses quickly only to be replaced my another vague image.  This is the way I feel listening to EC's lyrics on these post-"This Year's Model" albums.  Individual songs don't mean anything specific, they are collections of images and puns which mean everything or nothing.  Entire albums are obtuse because they are merely a collection of individual songs that don't mean anything specific.

I've listened to "Imperial Bedrooms" regularly since I first bought it on vinyl back in 1982.  I still don't "understand" the album.  It is enjoyable to listen to, but I never feel the way I do when I listen to EC's first two albums.

Maybe there's something wrong with me?  But I prefer EC when he was young, angry, and focused.
Am I the only one out there who sees a steady decline in the quality of EC's albums from "This Year's Model" (his best) to "Goodbye Cruel World" (his worst)? I'm going out on a limb, but I think EC's first two albums are the finest work he ever did. "My Aim is True" features excellent lyrics with musical accompaniment provided by a hired backup band, Clover. "This Year's Model" was an improvement. It featured the work of EC's own band, the Attractions, who added a tightness to the sound because these tunes had been refined on the road. "This Year's Model" also had lyrics which included many puns, but they worked well. The puns didn't overshadow the lyrics, and the tight, visceral music drove everything home with perfection. After "This Year's Model" EC broadened his lyrical and musical approach. The lyrics became denser and oftentimes featured puns evolving into more puns. The music became broader and incorporated more styles. After their second album, EC and the Attractions toured constantly with rare breaks for more recording. "Imperial Bedroom" is the result of a composer and a band that has had too much touring and too many nights of chemical abuse. The lyrics sound good, but are so obtuse they could mean anything. And in meaning anythng, they could just as easily mean nothing. The music sounds good, but takes us in so many directions we end up wondering where we went and question whether we should have spent the time going there in the first place. The album leaves you disoriented. The listener feels an unpleasant combination of jet lag and hangover. EC's albums from "Armed Forces" up to "Goodbye Cruel World" leave me feeling this strange combination of jet lag and hangover. I feel like I've seen and heard life from EC's vantage point of airports, vans, bars, and recording studios. But I feel like I don't quite understand what I've seen and heard. The result is like seeing the world passing by from a window, either a jet window or a van window, and getting a vague image that passes through your senses quickly only to be replaced my another vague image. This is the way I feel listening to EC's lyrics on these post-"This Year's Model" albums. Individual songs don't mean anything specific, they are collections of images and puns which mean everything or nothing. Entire albums are obtuse because they are merely a collection of individual songs that don't mean anything specific. I've listened to "Imperial Bedrooms" regularly since I first bought it on vinyl back in 1982. I still don't "understand" the album. It is enjoyable to listen to, but I never feel the way I do when I listen to EC's first two albums. Maybe there's something wrong with me? But I prefer EC when he was young, angry, and focused.