The more famous an act becomes, the more tempting it is for popular members to head out and do their own thing. It's tougher when you're still affiliated with a band or act however. Check out seven examples of performers who went solo and compare to see which album ended up being the better option, at least at the time.
Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys: No More Cocoons vs. Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1987)
The Dead Kennedys frontman/auteur had decided by 1987 that his most famous outfit was done after four albums. Therefore after authorizing the release of one last album, Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, he split and launched a spoken word career, a popular action for punk frontmen. No More Cocoons easily trumps the last Kennedys release as A) it was more a greatest hits album than a true original and B) listening to tracks such as "Mild Kingdom" is mildly terrifying when you realize it was recorded during 1987 and not 2009.
BETTER OPTION: Biafra solo.
Pete Townshend/The Who: All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes vs. It's Hard (1982)
This certainly isn't a competition between either act's best material. The Who was on its way out around the release of It's Hard, and certainly had lost the impact it carried during the '60's and early '70's. Townshend's mildly offensive-titled solo work certainly wasn't a source of any great singles, but it's fault lies in just how ambitious it was. The guitarist outdid his own intelligence with the scope of these tracks and deserves at least a nod for trying.
BETTER OPTION: Townshend solo.
Rod Stewart/Jeff Beck Group: An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down vs. Beck-Ola (1969)
Rod Stewart gets the nod here for his first album, although it's a much closer contest than many realize. Raincoat is a great listen but ultimately it's still largely full of recycled tracks from other performers. Although Beck's third album might not have gathered much critical acclaim, the heavy guitars on the album are quite similar to those featured on Led Zeppelin. Yet Jimmy Page ultimately gets credit for heavy metal and Jeff Beck gets ignored.
BETTER OPTION: Stewart solo.
Lil Wayne/Hot Boys: Tha Block Is Hot vs. Guerrilla Warfare (1999)
Lil Wayne has been around forever so it's tough to believe that the emcee is only 31. That's because at his earliest Weezy was 15 and recording for Hot Boys. He was 17 when Guerrilla Warfare dropped, a huge step up in quality from the group's debut album. Wayne was obviously the star player (sorry Big Tymers) and he released his Tha Block Is Hot the same year. Although not quite up to snuff with Warfare, it's interesting to note how infrequently actually-little Wayne curses, reportedly as a service to his mother. It's mind-blowing now.
BETTER OPTION: Hot Boys.
Phil Collins/Genesis: Face Value vs. Abacab (1981)
There's no love lost between Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins and it goes back further than the latter's debut album. Interestingly, the differences between the two albums released during 1981 don't demonstrate a significant dissimilarity. Abacab represented perhaps the most mainstream Genesis release to date, while Collins is clearly going for a more mainstream approach right from the get go. Ultimately, we've got to give the nod to Collins based almost entirely on "In The Air Tonight," still his best and most recognizable track.
BEST OPTION: Collins solo.
Pistol Annies/Miranda Lambert/Ashley Monroe: Hell on Heels vs. Four The Record (2011) & Annie Up vs. Like A Rose (2013)
This all star trio of female country performers might not count as the band ultimately formed after the other acts were already established, but all three are constantly turning out quality products. Lambert dropped her acclaimed Four The Record alongside the Annies' Hell on Hells and we're inclined to take the latter. Ashley Rose released one of the best country albums of 2013 with Like A Rose and ultimately trumps the still excellent Annies' release Annie Up.
BEST OPTIONS: Hell on Heels and Monroe solo.
Paul McCartney/The Beatles: McCartney vs. Let It Be (1970)
Oh boy...it's tough to choose anything over The Beatles for any topic but ultimately McCartney proved he was ready to move on with his debut solo album. Let It Be deceives many into thinking it's incredible based strictly on the amazing title track, plus "Get Back" and "The Long and Winding Road" are stellar as well, but the rest is a tad mushy. What do those three have in common? They were written by McCartney. Had he brought them with him to his solo record instead of leaving them with The Beatles, we'd be talking "best ever" contender.
BEST OPTION: McCartney solo.
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