Bands that have changed a lot since their inception
Most people know that Alice in Chains started out looking all glam:
But to me that’s not really much of a stretch, from glam to grunge. I mean, Mother Love Bone were very glam-rock sounding, but also grunge pioneers. Come on, it was the 80s.
Let’s look at Genesis.
How did they get from here:
To here?
Well, obviously they had a line up change. I’m sure that’s true for a lot of bands whose sound has changed dramatically.
Did you know Journey used to sound like this?
And the Flaming Lips used to sound like this?
Here’s a funny transformation. This band, Pyogenesis, stated out sounding like this:
And somehow managed to morph into this:
Who would you add to this list?
Posted on August 31, 2011, in Pop Culture. Bookmark the permalink. 22 Comments.
How about Fleetwood Mac going from this:
to this:
Then there is the Ides of March going from this:
to this:
Finally, there is the Status Quo, going from this:
to this:
I would argue that “Land of Confusion” is actually more like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis than most of their other stuff from their last couple of albums. It’s not as progressive, but it’s dark and complex, and I’m actually surprised it got much radio play. “Invisible Touch,” on the other hand, is pure pop, and about as different from early Genesis as is humanly possible.
Phil Collin’s solo career goes from hard rock (“I Don’t Care Anymore”) to rock with a touch of jazz to pure pop (Tarzan Soundtrack). What a tragedy.
Phil Collins first solo album is actually really good. There is a groovy cover of Tomorrow Never Knows on it. I read an interview with him not long after Abacab, in which he said something like ‘I don’t want to be singing about little mouse men the rest of my career.’ I guess one can hardly blame him, but Susidio? Groan.
I think his first four albums were pretty good–Face Value, Hello I Must be Going, No Jacket Required (despite Sussudio), and But Seriously. Like the Genesis albums from that same decade, often the worst songs are the singles (I Can’t Dance, Sussudio) and the best ones are reserved for fans who listen to more than just radio (Domino, The Roof is Leaking, Long Long Way to Go). All four solo albums are pretty good albums, worth a listen in their entirety. His fifth album, Both Sides, is pure pop, and has a couple of decent songs but is otherwise elevator-light. And his album “Dance Into the Light” is just awful.
As far as other bands that change dramatically, my dad would always say BeeGees had two distinct sounds–pre-disco and disco.
My favorite band, Savatage, started Iron Maiden-esque, turned into a mix of Metallica/Queen or Black Sabbath/ELP, and then transformed into Trans-Siberian Orchestra (which includes some very light music, children’s choirs, etc. as well as some harder stuff). I’m not sure it counts due to the name change, but everyone in Savatage has participated in TSO; in fact, at least seven musicians who played for Savatage also play for TSO, and the songwriters also largely remained the same. Savatage no longer tours or puts out new albums, and seems to be entirely replaced by TSO.
How about Judas Priest looking like this in the beginning:
Sorry, the video didn’t embed. You would think I would know this youtube thing by now:
How about Ministry going from synth pop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQmgByQUW_A
To industrial metal:
How about Everything But the Girl going from a light jazz, adult contemporary sound:
to an electronic, trance, trip hop, chill sound:
The Beatles going from “Love Me Do” to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.
New Order going from “Ceremony” to “Regret.”
Roxy Music going from early 70s glam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n3OepDn5GU&feature=related
To 80s new romantic sophistication:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpA_5a0miWk&feature=relmfu
(Love both of these videos!)
Ultravox went form a psuedo punk/new wave
to pure schmalzy synth-pop after John Foxx left.
Good one, Gilgamesh.
The Cure going from post-punk minimalism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmi-aFhbUA&feature=related
(Above: 1979 performance of 10:15 Saturday Night)
To dreamy goth:
(Above: 1996 performance of Disintigration)
Anathema 1993: http://youtu.be/5gwvZHtN0MY
Anathema 2003: http://youtu.be/6PiGnHvRIJU
Best 10-year shift EVER
These are all awesome.
I love Anathema.
No Doubt started out as a ska band.
Chicago going from tight horn-based jazz-rock to pure synthpop drivel…
Spinal Tap going from this (Listen to the Flower People):
To this (Bitch School):
If you want to see change go look at Kenny Rogers who started off with psychedelic rock in 1968.
Jacob, I’d argue No Doubt never fully left ska. Certainly their first big album was primarily ska.
I’d agree Ministry is the really big change although I think both sounds are vaguely within that whole 90′s goth movement.
Everything But The Girl:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5UbSQQU9Ic&w=420&h=345%5D
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjB8ag97o4&w=420&h=345%5D
Clark that Kenny Rogers song is the coolest thing I’ve heard all day.
Also – the Beastie Boys started off as a punk band with the EP Polly Wog Stew
to their revered rap stylings