List of artists that have never lost quality throughout entire career


One of the brightest on my list is 

1. Depeche Mode. I'm big fan started listening and enjoying them from their very first album "Speak and Spell". I am devoted to their perfection of every song they create in terms of sound, melody, harmony and incredible intelligence. Their music may seem simple, but in reality much more complex than seems. I believe that they're somewhat commercialized, but also believe that they deserve their incredible success. They're indeed Kings of electronic rock!

2. Can (The Can). Every album they released is a journey to their creativity. What are they rock? Jazz? Prog? Their music often can cover all styles of music in one song. It's a blend of jazz-trained drummer Jaki Libezeit, classically trained keyboardist Irmin Schmidt(also conductor and neo-classical composer and film score composer), multi-instrumentalist bassist Holger Czukai and classically trained guitarist and electric violinist Michael Caroli (RIP). It's a unique blend of musicians with extraordinary skills and creativity

3. Dead Can Dance. This artist has plenty of praises and each and every of their album is a unique blend of electronics and earth bound instruments. Lisa Gerrard is known to be a part of Gladiator Motion Picture Soundtrack.

4. Tom Waits. Many would criticize Tom for not singing his own voice, but I'm amused the way he does it with spirit of Louis Armstrong! Yes indeed with spirit instead of just imitating. Embracing the spirit of inspired artist is different and Tom is clear example to that!
czarivey
"4. Tom Waits. Many would criticize Tom for not singing his own voice, but I'm amused the way he does it with spirit of Louis Armstrong! Yes indeed with spirit instead of just imitating. Embracing the spirit of inspired artist is different and Tom is clear example to that!"

@czarivey 
I agree with putting Tom Waits on your list.  I also think the above is an apt statement about TW's singing, even if much (not all) of his subject matter would be foreign to Armstrong's spirit.  

Case in point:  Happened to listen to "All The World Is Green" yesterday and that led to the entirety of TW's "Blood Money" album.  Last track, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" definitely had me thinking about Louis Armstrong.  
A very big ditto for John Hiatt and John Prine here...

Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams bear mentioning as well.  I haven't seen Prine on stage but I have all the others - together and apart they always shine. 

Paul Simon - can't refute the body of work there even if some records find argument pro and con. He's remained an individual throughout, like the others aforementioned, never dumbing anything down. 

Even though they ain't producing anything new, I have to ditto R. E. M. Sometimes I forget how freaking good they were, and what a unique vocalist Stype was/is.  Besides, just a great name for a band, too. 

Dr. John. 
Richard Thompson, Danny Gatton, Albert Lee, Loudon Wainwright III, The Ramones.