What are some examples of a disastrous change of style for a band you once liked?

Question

I realize to a large degree this is subjective. There’s that old adage that nothing stays the same forever. Still in some instances, change isn’t so awesome. You can provide examples of this from one album to the next or via songs.

Berlin – Pleasure Victim 1982 to Count Three and Pray 1986 – Still can’t believe this was the same band, who went from new wave icons to soft rock crap within four years.

U2 – War 1983 to The Unforgettable Fire 1984 – Old U2 was one of my early favorites but this marked the beginning of the end of my love affair for them. They mellowed out considerably.

The Goo Goo Dolls - Superstar Car Wash 1993 to Dizzy Up the Girl 1998 – Went from being the second coming of The Replacements to Hootie and the Blowfish in five years. Their membership to 120 minutes should be revoked.

Filter – Hey Man Nice Shot 1995 to Take a Picture 1999 – One of the cruelest jokes of all time.

I'll leave Metallica for someone else.

GK Dub - I agree 100% with you about Garbage. As much as I like them, I've always felt they were capable of much more. I don't think they will ever top that debut album.

MachPen*´`*•.¸¸ - Don't worry, be happy! :)

sylvia - LOL. I actually liked the MDFMK album. It just seemed like an awful business decision.

Sookie - I'm hoping you're wrong about the Deftones. I've seen way too many of my favorite artists from the 90's start to descend. Chino has no business going soft. :)

kontrolfreak66 - I love the passion! I'd still take Bad Religion in their current state over just about any of the other current "punk" bands.

Answer 1

My mind is seriously drawing a blank, but Bjork is the only one that comes to mind. I know she's known for "evolving" her music, and experimenting but she's gone into Bobby McFarrin territory with this new primal sound she's going for; sampling her voice and using it as the only instrument. I dunno... I liked the Sugar Cubes, and I think Homogenic, and the ones before that were good.

Yeah Prof - somehow Frank Black's transformation doesn't bother me. It's comforting that he's still doing music.

Answer 2

I'll take up Bad Religion. They were so f**king kick @$$ in the early 80's ("How Can Hell Be Any Worse?"). As the 80's wore on, they took on more of a medolic, intelligent approach. The music was still great, but not quite as "in your face" as earlier ("No Control", "Suffer"). It seems as if the "All Ages" compilation was the goodbye to Bad Religion as I liked to know it. Then came the MTV video for the new version of "21st Century Digital Boy". Then came the mainstream radio airplay (late 80's- early 90's). The "All Ages" album is the latest of their relases that I would consider for purchase. It was after that point that Bad Religion (and Epitaph for that matter) turned more commercial and mainstream. I cannot stand the new $hit that they put out, but I still crank out the old school.

Answer 3

There are several bands that shifted styles pretty radically after just one album, like the Cure, Ministry, and Darkthrone, but I don't think they were established enough at those points to fit your question. Here are the ones I can think of: The Clash, between Give 'Em Enough Rope and London Calling. They reduced the punk angle significantly and focused more on pure rock and other genres, such as reggae/dub. I'm a huge fan of both, and everyone seemed to embrace London Calling just fine. Tom Waits, between Heartattack and Vine and Swordfishtrombones. He went from a lounge-style singer/songwriter to a totally whacked-out, experimental rock artist. I think he probably did lose a few of the lounge fans, but he's been massively successful (particularly with the critics and rock historians) since going experimental, and certainly nobody has accused him of "selling out." I do like some of the early stuff (particularly Nighthawks at the Diner), but I greatly prefer the experimental material. Bathory, between Blood Fire Death and Hammerheart. He switched from proto-black metal to purely melodic viking metal. Once again, not everybody came along for the ride, but most people did. My two favorite albums of his are Blood Fire Death and Twilight of the Gods, so I certainly enjoyed both styles. ("He" being Quorthon, the only real member of the "band.")

Answer 4

Pearl Jam - Vitalogy (1994) to No Code (1996). The band's first 3 albums were excellent, some of the early 90's best. Then "No Code" came out and it just seemed very boring. "Yield" was even more so, and they seemed to lull themselves into a deeper sleep on each album. What happened?

Garbage - 1995 self-titled album to "Beautiful Garbage" (2001). The first album was catchy in a sexy pop-rock kinda way, and "Version 2.0" wasn't too bad. But on "Beautiful Garbage" the band went in this very pop direction that I just couldn't stomach.

Lost Prophets - I was never a huge fan of these guys, but I really liked their 2004 album "Start Something", it was fun surfer-rock. Then last year they put out "Liberation Transmission" and jumped on the emo bandwagon.

Answer 5

I totally agree with the person above who mentioned Weezer. Man, those first two records were great and then to the incredibly mediocre (although ok) Green record into the egregious Maladroint and the egremonation (oh yeah, I invented a word) that was the stupid Beverly Hills single. I thought they couldn't sink any lower after Maladroit, but I was so sorely mistaken that I thought my head was going to explode when I heard it. I've been pretty lucky with at least being able to appreciate the directions that the bands I've liked have gone in even if I like them less for it, but that one has always killed me.

I suppose Frank Black's transition from college rock to college professor rock may apply, but he's getting older and I get it.

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I couldn't agree more Mach Pen.

Answer 6

First off, Green Day...from fun-loving punk rockers, singing about getting stoned and having a good time causing trouble...to way too serious lyrics and an annoying bandwagon base that came only for BJ's emo looks.

Then Linkin Park...they took way too much of a drastic change, dumping all rapping, turntablism, and alt-metal elements for way too soft music that belongs on Grey's Anatomy. Worse, they went from performing with bands like KoRn, Metallica, Mudvayne, and Deftones....to performing with bands like My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, and a ton of post-hardcore bands. What happened?

Answer 7

Rush - their first 8 albums (rush - moving pictures) are their best in my mind the next 5 albums (signals - presto) their style changed to more of a new wave feel that even though had some of the bigger hits just didn't have the same feel. The last 5 albums (roll the bones - snakes and arrows) I could have done without

Answer 8

I completely agree with GK about Pearl Jam and "No Code". The "purists" call this their opus, but I saw it as the start of their descent. Other than "Yield", I haven't been really excited about anything they've released since then.

And I have a terrible feeling that someday I will view "White Pony" as the beginning of the end for the 'Tones. I really hope I'm wrong about that, though...can't Chino save the soft stuff for Team Sleep?

Answer 9

Stabbing Westward - Their self-titled album was an entirely different sound from the first 3. That last album was just awful.

Silverchair - They've definitely changed, not necessarily a bad change... but very different.

Edit
Apoptygma Berzerk - They've definitely lightened up with their sound... seems like they're more radio-friendly now. I still love their music, but I prefer their older stuff.

There's a lot of good answers here, like AFI and NIN.

Answer 10

Soul Asylum

They went from pure, unadulurated, speed garage punk with their first few albums to a happy medium on the Made to Be Broken and Hang Time albums to alternative MTV poster kids on the Grave Dancer's Union album.

I do enjoy Grave Dancer's Union, but those three albums that came before it are soooooo much better.






NP: "Untitled" - Backyard Babies

Answer 11

Rod Stewart - Maggie mae to Do ya Think I'm Sexy.. Awful

ZZTOP - Eliminator was successful but a departure from their blues greatness

Commodores- Funky Soul with a little bit of risque to soft pop in 10 years. Does anybody still own In the Pocket? Give me Machine Gun!