# Genre change - Bands changing their sound **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885 "2011-03-08T03:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/21 "2011-03-08T13:23:01Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I would say U2 fits your OP. Their early albums Boy, October and War were their New Wave Angry Irish College Rock Band phase. > > Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum were their Rock Americana phase. > > Actung Baby was their Alt Rock phase. > > Zooropa and Pop they experiemented with Electronica. > > All That You Can’t Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb they went back to a more Adult Alternative sound. Not bad, for a band that was formed as Christian Rock! Many mainstream rock bands began as Blues purists (Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago). Didn’t the Grateful Dead start out as a jug band? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/22 "2011-03-08T16:22:23Z")
The Moody Blues went from a blues-inspired band in their early days (such as their early hit “[Go Now](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLgdcGEqgcw)”) to psychedelic progressive rock. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/23 "2011-03-08T16:31:39Z")
The Moody Blues started out as a British Invasion type group before finding their signature orchestral-pop sound. They did get one hit in the US (“Go Now”) with their original sound. T. Rex started out as Tyrannosaurus Rex, with a fey folk-psych sound vaguely reminiscent of the Incredible String Band. And then there’s Jonathan Richman. He started out as the leader of the Modern Lovers, a dark proto-punk group with songs like “She Cracked”, before devoting his life to making music that makes people happy. OK, he hasn’t achieved great fame with his new sound, but he has appeared on _Late Night with Conan O’Brien._ In the jazz world you’ve got people like Gato Barbieri who started out in a very progressive, avant-garde style before achieving fame with a much more MOR sound. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/24 "2011-03-08T16:31:47Z")
I don’t think that anyone fits the bill more than Paul Simon. He didn’t just progress(?) to a more pop sound, he’s constantly reinventing himself. Eric Clapton went through some major changes as well. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/25 "2011-03-08T16:41:29Z")
Two of my faves: **The Clash** circa 1977 - shouty, punk three-chord anthems. In two years they’ve got London Calling, with rockabilly, reggae, gospel, ska - Sandinista! was even more experimental. They were dabbling in electronica and dance music by 1983, and there’s even sequenced drums on 1985’s Cut the Crap (I know, some folks don’t consider that a real Clash album). **XTC** were also punk-arthouse in 1977 but over the years changed to power pop, then alt-college-rock, pretty much dabbling in world music, dub, you name it. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/26 "2011-03-08T16:56:01Z")
[The Boss Martians](http://10thingszine.blogspot.com/2008/07/boss-martians-new-cd.html) from Seattle started out as a surf band, evolving into an Untamed Youth style garage band, and most recently as one of the best Power Pop bands playing today. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/27 "2011-03-08T16:57:43Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The Young Rascals dropped the Young along with their r&b roots to do California Summer of Love tunes like “Groovin’.” …and ended up doing jazz and funk in the early '70s. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/28 "2011-03-08T17:05:09Z")
**Rush** started out as a ledzeppelinesque hard rock trio with distorted proto-metal guitars, a grindy, gritty bass tone and banshee vocals. Over the years they moved to smooth pop rock with synth walls, wispy 80’s guitar jabs, a clean bass tone and much more mellow vocals. A wise choice, as their old style had been beaten to death and beyond. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/29 "2011-03-08T17:11:39Z")
I suppose Brian Adams always had ballads but his earlier stuff seemed to be a lot more rock than the limp-wristed movie theme songs he later became identified with. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/30 "2011-03-08T18:05:02Z")
**Spinal Tap** went through a jazz stage… ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/31 "2011-03-08T18:11:16Z")
[hijack] Speaking of **Spinal Tap** , I found it amusing when a few weeks ago everybody made a big deal out of **Lady GaGa** hatching from the egg. As soon as I heard about the egg I immediately thought of Spinal Tap coming out of their pods. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/32 "2011-03-08T19:11:31Z")
I’m having a harder time thinking of relatively long-lived, vital bands that kept the same sound throughout their career than I am thinking of those who changed or varied their sound. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Moody Blues went from a blues-inspired band in their early days (such as their early hit “[Go Now](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLgdcGEqgcw)”) to psychedelic progressive rock. > [@cjepson](#): > > The Moody Blues started out as a British Invasion type group before finding their signature orchestral-pop sound. I find it interesting how differently these back-to-back posts described the Moody Blues’s sound(s), though I don’t fundamentally disagree with either of them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/33 "2011-03-08T22:40:19Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > In all fairness, the Goo Goo Dolls sound has stayed remarkably consistent throughout their career. All bands have a tendency to become less raw and more “pop” as they mature. Anyone who did it the other way? (soft-hard) I can’t think of anybody, but they must be out there (_Ministry_ might fit). ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/34 "2011-03-08T22:54:53Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Anyone who did it the other way? (soft-hard) I can’t think of anybody, but they must be out there (_Ministry_ might fit). Well, Alanis Morissette went from cheesy pop to profanity-laced, guitar-heavy Jagged Little Pill in just a few years (and then swung back). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/35 "2011-03-08T22:57:22Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Anyone who did it the other way? (soft-hard) I can’t think of anybody, but they must be out there (_Ministry_ might fit). David Bowie? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/36 "2011-03-08T23:05:26Z")
The immediate one that jumped to mind, **Ministry** has alread been mentioned. **Radiohead** went from fairly standard Brit Pop on _Pablo Honey_, perfecting the craft on _The Bends_, and then moved into more expansive Floyd-influenced progressive/art rock with _OK Computer_ before ditching a lot of the harder rock sounds in favor of ambient synth textures and beats in **Kid A** and _Amnesiac_. Then again, there’s probably a gazillion bands that have followed a similar arc. The Ministry example is the clearest one of outright genre change that I could immediate think of. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/37 "2011-03-08T23:09:07Z")
Oh, and how could I forget **The Beastie Boys** , who started out [punk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35YSM7zbV1w), before going hip-hop. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/38 "2011-03-09T03:27:13Z")
Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green on guitar) started out of as a British blues band with 24 minute jams of “Rattlesnake Shake” before evolving to a pop-rock band as different members came in. Not a band but Bob Dylan had folk/ electric folk rock/country/gospel stages. George Clinton and Parliement/Funkadelic ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/39 "2011-03-09T03:33:09Z")
Michelle Branch went from lilting pop like _Breathe_ to country. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885/40 "2011-03-09T03:38:04Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Anyone who did it the other way? (soft-hard) Well, there was this guy :smack: [http://wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/pat-boone1.jpg](http://wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/pat-boone1.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genre-change-bands-changing-their-sound/573885.md?page=3)