Bands/Artists that evolved

[edslunch]

I was listening to a Beatles playlist that played I Want to Hold Your Hand and Come Together back to back, and was reminded just how much they evolved over 6-7 years. There is nothing in common between those tracks - not style, music, voices - and Come Together is far from the most out there later track.

Granted, music in general changed rapidly during that period, but the Beatles far more than most (any?). The Rolling Stones evolved but they were still recognizably the Stones, still blues-influenced rock, or even if just because of Jagger's voice.

It got me thinking of other bands and artists that had such a huge transformation and I'm drawing blanks. Radiohead certainly evolved from Pablo Honey to OK Computer then had a random DNA mutation to produce KID A and beyond.

What are other examples?

[Locke]

I am highly biased because they're my favourite but...

Green Day.

[Reggie Dunlop]

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

This is the answer

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Locke

I am highly biased because they're my favourite but...

Green Day.

The still sound like Green Day to me.

[undercoverbrother]

Radio Head.

Between Pablo Honey and Ok Computer

Edit: God Damn it UCB read his whole post...............

[Puppet Guy]

Rush - first album sounded like a Led Zeppelin knockoff, next one was full-on prog rock and the evolution continued up to the final album.

Voivod's first three records were full on thrash/noise metal and then they became a heavy metal Pink Floyd somehow.

[undercoverbrother]

Taylor Swift

[looooob]

not sure if this is what you are looking for but a band like Fleetwood Mac evolved quite a bit (but almost like those were distinct iterations)


in terms of reverse evolution there was Jefferson airplane devolving into starship

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Radio Head.

Between Pablo Honey and Ok Computer

When Thom York was asked about why Radiohead changed, he said something along the lines that the Pixies only made a few albums so they had nothing else to copy anymore. It was a bit of a shout out to the Pixies recognizing that in their first few years, they were trying to emulate them, but also a humble acknowledgement that they needed to find their own voice.

As for the original question, Ween stands out to me. Every one of their records is completely different from the previous one.

[looooob]

Beck sort of reminds me of Radiohead in that the original 'single' that broke them (Creep/Loser) isn't a reflection of their later body of work (I still love the Bends though I have to say)


Wilco maybe? first record for sure was more straightforward alt-country transition from Uncle Tupelo, less evident later


Beasties? I mean you always know it's Beasties- but certainly an evolution between Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique for sure

[Locke]

Originally Posted by edslunch

The still sound like Green Day to me.

Sure, they do but 'American Idiot' was an absolute masterpiece.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by looooob

Beck sort of reminds me of Radiohead in that the original 'single' that broke them (Creep/Loser) isn't a reflection of their later body of work (I still love the Bends though I have to say)


Wilco maybe? first record for sure was more straightforward alt-country transition from Uncle Tupelo, less evident later


Beasties? I mean you always know it's Beasties- but certainly an evolution between Licensed to Ill and Paul's Boutique for sure

Thanked for The Bends love, my favourite Radiohead album

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sure, they do but 'American Idiot' was an absolute masterpiece.

Ok, so they’ve devolved from there

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sure, they do but 'American Idiot' was an absolute masterpiece.

I found American Idiot had some good songs, but it felt a little over indulgent.

I say this as a fella that tends to stop listening to bands as they become more popular.

I don't think Warning gets the love it should.

[troutman]

Queen - from prog metal to disco and funk.
XTC - new wave punk to pastoral chamber pop
Neil Young - lots of styles
Husker Du - hardcore to pop/punk

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Thanked for The Bends love, my favourite Radiohead album

I just started jamming with some new people and we're putting a Radiohead set together. Heavy on Bends material.

[Swift]

U2 - The jump from the Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum era into Achtung Baby/Zooropa/Pop was quite a significant change. And before that stadium rock era, they started out as post punk.

Beastie Boys were mentioned and they're an interesting example. They started out on the hardcore punk scene, transitioned into rap and then back into a rockier sound again flirting with all kinds of genres on their albums like funk, bossa nova, reggae etc

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Swift

Beastie Boys were mentioned and they're an interesting example. They started out on the hardcore punk scene, transitioned into rap and then back into a rockier sound again flirting with all kinds of genres on their albums like funk, bossa nova, reggae etc

Not just their sound, but their image as well. They went from being looked at as misogynist meatheads to spokespeople for feminism and other liberal causes. If back in the 80s you told me that the guy from the group that made the song "Girls" would marry Kathleen Hanna, a riot girl feminist, I would have laughed.

[KelVarnsen]

Hoobastank