Bands that change their sound often
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124064
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Topic: Bands that change their sound often
Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Subject: Bands that change their sound often
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 02:11
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No band does exactly the same album twice, but most do like to stay in their comfort zone. Rarely, for an album or two, a band would do something that sounds completely different from what they are known for. So, what bands never stayed on the same page, and changed their sound over and over again, or at least did something different from their previous record? (Their catalogues might range from just two albums to more than ten.)
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Replies:
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 02:31
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Genesis, in a way. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: LakeGlade12
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 02:38
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The two bands on this site that are best known for constantly changing their sound are Ulver and Kayo Dot. I'm not as big a fan of the former and have not heard all their albums, so I will let someone else do them justice. Kayo dot are well known for refusing to make the same album twice, and will genre hop every one to two albums, while trying to be Avant and not sound like anyone else. Between Choirs, Blue Lambancy, Coyote, Stained Glass, Coffins and Blasphemy it feels like you are listening to completly different bands. Even between albums that stay in the rough genre the arrangement is very different to minimise crossover. Then you have albums like Hubardo and Dowsing that take in a wide range of genres in the same album, while trying to make it all coherent. I can't think of a better example of a band that don't make the same album twice (except Ulver, but they tend to stay on a similar theme for a few albums before moving onto something completely different). |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 03:43
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I agree with Genesis in the context of their entire discography, relative to itself. Gentle Giant has their own sound, but no two albums sound similar at all IMHO. VDGG could be argued similarly as well. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Homotopy
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 04:18
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Interesting question. Choosing from the most famous, Riverside comes to mind. If we count the first three as one (it's a trilogy), all their albums are different. Duda even said that different albums was the goal. I disagree on Genesis. Btw it's funny: looks like most people on PA can answer any question in 3 equiprobable ways: Yes/Genesis/any of 10 other classical bands.
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Posted By: Mascodagama
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 04:55
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I offer you Speed Freaks by Naked City, a 49-second composition that changes musical style every bar. ------------- Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to. http://bandcamp.com/jpillbox" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp Profile |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 05:32
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King Crimson Porcupine Tree Rush (although later on they became a bit samey) Echolyn
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 05:56
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Frank Zappa Mike Keneally Pain of Salvation Gong Adrian Belew Opeth Steven Wilson |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 06:10
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In no particular order:- King Crimson Porcupine Tree Genesis Pink Floyd Yes Talk Talk Mike Oldfield
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Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 07:11
| Jethro Tull went from blues to rock, prog, folk influenced, middle eastern and some classical influences all over. Hardly a prog folk band as is clasified on this forum. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 07:21
...And they won a Grammy for best Metal album.  ------------- 
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 07:36
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
rushfan4 wrote:Posted By: Mudpuppy64
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 07:39
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Posted By: Earl of Mar
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 09:00
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Peter Gabriel Talk Talk Rush,several times Tull Supertramp moved gradually through their career to a poppies. sound. Steely Dan moved it seems every album from the rock of cant buy a thrill to the jazzier sounds of gaucho. |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 09:42
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Strawbs. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 11:14
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There are two reason for a band to change sound: 1) Artistry, which I would regard as the best reason. All good artists evolve over time, and it is necessary to take new approaches to the music to keep it interesting for a talented band. The trick is to keep the basic sound or ideology of the band intact. My favorite example is Jade Warrior, whose diversity can not only be seen album to album but often song by song on a single album. 2) Commercialism. This is where the keeping to a sound or ideology intact comes most into play. A band or artist can modify over the years to maintain commercial viability yet keep to artistic vision of the music. This can best be seen by Prog stawarts who lasted for years, some of them still going. I do not think I have to mention all of them, but one that comes to mind is Rush, especially with Roll the Bones, which incorporated a rap into the title track, and the grungy Test For Echo. Neither of these albums are particularly highly rated on Prog Archives, yet they allowed the band to continue. The same can be said for the Rabin 80s years of Yes. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 12:32
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Definitely Guru Guru. Almost every album of them is in a completely different style. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 12:45
Another thumbs up for Manuel.... Tull were able to do many styles but always managed to maintain that signature 'Tull sound', and I have never thought of them as 'prog folk' either. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 14:12
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King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard covers extremely different styles album to album while still sounding like King Gizzard. Pysch Rock: In In Your Mind Fuzz, Quarters, Float Along Fill Your Lungs Garage/Psych: 12 Bar Bruise Prog: Polygondwanaland, Nonagon Infinity, Murder of the Universe Prog/Kraturock/Microtonal Middle Eastern: Flying Microtonal Banana Folk: Paper Mache Dream Balloon Boogie/Blues rock: Fishing For Fishies Jazz/Fusion: Sketches of Brunswick East Thrash/Stoner Metal: Infest the Rats Nest ------------- The sun has left the sky... ...Now you can close your eyes |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 15:16
| Gong |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 16:34
| I agree with Jethro Tull and Yes. For me Genesis did prog and pop and not much else except maybe prog pop. :) |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 16:42
| Family |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:06
You're not going to post six different Family songs in six different posts now are you?
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Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:12
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Uriah Heep |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:15
Don't give him the idea! ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:17
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Deep Purple |
Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:19
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No, I take that back. Looks like Svetobobo has other tricks up his sleeve. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:21
| UFO |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 17:27
| Blue Öyster Cult |
Posted By: FloydianPinkRose
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 18:34
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Lol, Hello, AFlowerKingCrimson, Boboulo and FatherChristmas! I normally reserve my comments for Psychedelic Paul’s threads, but just want to share with you the fact that your comical banter amused me greatly. When you talked about “Bands That Change Their Sound Often,” referencing Jethro Tull, Yes and Genesis, saying Genesis did Prog, Pop, and maybe Prog-Pop, that made me smile. 😊 Then the dialogue between the three of you, when Boboulo said Family, and AFlowerKingCrimson (whose name is as hard as mine to write multiple times) said “you’re not going to list six Family songs on six different posts, are you?” And as he rattled off bands, I had to laugh. And when AFlowerKingCrimson said “don’t give him ideas.” Then FatherChristmas called Boboulo “Svetobobo,” and said he had other tricks up his sleeve. And Boboulo carried on naming bands, I said to myself, this is the kind of innocent quibbling that makes this site so rich. So enjoyable. Humor is so important, and when you share a passion, music, or otherwise, a little friendly verbal jousting is all part of it. It’s the personal digs and antagonism that irks me. But gentlemen, I’m glad I came to see “wuzzup,” on this thread. Carry on!! FloydianPinkRose. 👍😊 |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 18:55
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Wishbone Ash |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 19:19
Too late now. He's listing one band per post. Not sure if he's deliberately trolling us but I think he's leaning in that direction.
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 19:20
agreed, and I'll add Eloy as well
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 19:22
I wasn't the one who said don't give him ideas. Anyway, it's fun to a point but with someone like this it's just annoying and at some point it becomes obvious that he's just trying to test the waters here to see how far he can go. He probably won't last long under this name. We all know who he is. He's like the little kid trying to reach for the cookie after you told him not to.
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 20:04
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I think Buckethead wins this hands down. Other artists include (not necessarily prog) Ween Herbie Hancock Opeth Madonna Mr Bungle Zappa / Mothers Residents King Crimson Talk Talk Swans Brian Eno Yes Soft Machine Sun Ra Sepultura That's all i can think of at the moment -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: September 19 2020 at 22:41
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I think bands from the 90s onwards tend to do this in a more extreme way. Like the King Gizzard examples show a way higher level of diversity over the releases than, say Genesis or Supertramp. Now, newer bands tend to have more time between releases on average than the classic bands that were doing at least one a year on average, so that could explain some of it. But Gizzard kind of quashes that again, considering they released like five albums in 2017, all with very different sounds. I think the only band/artist from the "classic" era that really changed drastically between styles, even within a year or on an album itself, was Zappa. He's one of the only ones comparable to, say, Kayo Dot (as someone pointed out earlier, I'll have to take their word for it).
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 00:40
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Gorguts Frank Zappa Yes Genesis VDGG Eloy Miles Davis Herbie Hancock Return to Forever Sun Ra Billy Cobham Atheist Cynic Pestilence King Crimson Camel Mr. Bungle Jethro Tull ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 01:52
------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org |
Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 02:33
Killer band. Never got the appreciation they deserve...
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 03:01
Another one I need to dive more deeply into. Added to the list! I tend to go deep on 2-3 "new to my ears" prog bands every winter. Line 'em up! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 04:43
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Golden Earring wins this award hands-down. ------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 05:12
| Wigwam |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: September 20 2020 at 23:56
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Atheist changes their sound quite a bit across their 4 records. Piece of Time, UP, Elements, and Jupiter all have a different, unique feel to them. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: FloydianPinkRose
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 06:00
Hey, AFlowerKingCrimson, never did one of these quotes before ... hope I did it right. Argh!! Sorry, it was FatherChristmas who said that about giving him the idea. And your reply made me smile too. 😊👍. FloydianPinkRose  
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 08:04
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Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 09:58
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 10:55
I called him Svetobobo as his old name was Svetonio, but then he got banned for trolling (several times, I believe). Quite a funny guy but sadly he takes himself seriously, it seems. ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Progmind
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:03
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David Bowie Talk Talk Frank Zappa Opeth Enslaved In The Woods... Sieges Even King Crimson |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:24
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Electric Light Orchestra |
Posted By: Earl of Mar
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:40
| NWOBH ? Sorry as someone who met the band in the late 70s, they were respected by the likes of maiden, Saxon and Leppard but they were not and never were part of NWOBHM whatever that was other than something a sounds journalist thought up in the pub. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:45
UFO were an Unidentified Wave of British Heavy Metal.
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Posted By: FatherChristmas
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:46
Well said, sir! ------------- "Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence" - Robert Fripp "I am an anti-Christ" - Johnny Rotten |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 11:47
UFO were never NWOBHM, they were an influence on many NWOBHM bands, that's true.
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Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:06
UFO - "Lights Out" (1977) |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:11
music media coined the term NWOBHM in 1979. So how is UFO NWOBHM in 1977?
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:16
They weren’t. They could, however, be fairly described as a band who had a massive influence on those bands which were. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:23
| Focus |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:32
I just said the same thing a few posts above... Dare I say it did not matter...
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Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:45
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The Alan Parsons Project |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 12:51
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 14:50
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Motorpsycho ------------- The Prog Corner |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 21 2020 at 23:18
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fact is, very few The sound is usually down to the equipment being used and very few bands just change their instruments or rig that often. The ever evolving style thing is a myth of progressive rock although Gentle Giant came as close to anyone. Their albums between 1973 and 1975 are all very different to me. Joke suggestions are Genesis , Rush and Tull King Crimson were never a traditional band and had a lot of line up changes that inevitably changed the sound , same with Yes to a lessor extent. ELP don't get many mentions , but there are major differences in sound crossing from the classically eclectic debut in 1970 , the electronic approach of BSS in 1973 and then the more acoustic based Works Volume One 1977. Love Beach in 1978 , ELPowell in 86 and Black Moon in 82 also all sound very different. Mostly it was the same line up so some credit is due to them for attempting to evolve.
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Posted By: Spacegod87
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 00:08
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First ones that come to mind are: Pink Floyd and King Crimson, I guess. ------------- Levitating downwards, atomic feedback scream. |
Posted By: Boboulo
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 00:13
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Popol Vuh |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 01:46
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Death ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 22 2020 at 03:07
Pink Floyd? Granted they changed from the initial Syd psychedelic sound but I would contend that all their albums from Meddle onwards are pretty similar.
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