Before They Found Their Sound (vol 3)
Finally, the threequal of the series is here! Much of this list
consists of bands recommended to me on the last list as well as
some I picked. These bands started out playing one style of
music, but along the road decided to take their sound in a new
direction in hopes of reaching success. Be sure to leave
suggestions in the comments and tell me what you think! (PS:
there probably isn't going to be another one of these lists but feel
free to leave more bands in the comments just in case) |
| 1 |  | Radiohead
Pablo Honey
It's not unusual to hear Radiohead fans tell of how their 1993 debut, Pablo
Honey, is their worst album. This consensus is largely accepted in part due
to the album's lack of expansive electronic influence found in their future
releases. More or less Pablo Honey is just plain Jane alt rock that doesn't
border on anything imaginative or unique. This doesn't mean the album is
necessarily bad as it did produce the band?s most recognizable single.
However in terms of creativity the album doesn't offer much. |
| 2 |  | David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is universally known for a being a rock and roll icon and
remains an active musician to this day. However before earning such a title
he released his self-titled debut in 1967. The music can be described as
baroque with its 18th century folk style, utilizing horns and other elements
of traditional folk music. While still inhibiting certain rock elements as well as
Bowie?s deep intellectual writing, the album failed to reach the acclaim
Bowie would soon receive on his later work. However the album did have
an influence on the folk tones used in his later work. |
| 3 |  | Converge
Gravel
I had received several requests to include Converge's 1994 debut album
Halo in a Haystack due to its stripped down metalcore/hardcore sound
which many saw as dull in comparison to later albums. However two years
earlier the band released the Gravel EP in 1992 that really doesn't even
sound like it came from the same group of musicians. This is mainly due to
the overbearing mix of hardcore, thrash, and occasional rap that unevenly
come together to sound like a poor Biohazard clone. Fans of traditional
Converge will likely not feel same love towards this release as that of Jane
Doe or You Fail Me. |
| 4 |  | Papa Roach
Potatoes for Christmas
Before getting away with murder, Papa Roach got away with funkcore rap
rock with their 1994 Potatoes for Christmas EP. Unlike the commercial linear
rock found in their 2000?s releases, this EP features more diverse Bungle
worship similar to early Slipknot with funky bass lines, varying song styles,
and overall silly feeling. The release wasn't anything new for the time
period and didn't produce any singles, but is a very interesting and fun
listen for those familiar with their contemporary hits. |
| 5 |  | Dinosaur Jr.
Dinosaur
Following the trend of other alternative rock bands of the 80?s, Dinosaur
Jr.?s 1985 debut shows punk and hardcore roots underlying in their
signature alternative rock. Songs like "The Leper" show these punk
influences with a more alternative spin. However unlike the Meat Puppets
and Social Distortion their debut focused more on the alternative rock side
of the music and had greater influence on their future albums. |
| 6 |  | Sigur Ros
Von
Sigur Ros' debut differed greatly from their famous post-rock style,
incorporating a more ambient style of music similar to Brian Eno. The songs
feature dark and unsettling electronic tones with little guitar or vocal work
included. While the album differed greatly from their later work, the album
does do a nice job setting the mood and could be considered a great
composition in the field of ambient rather than post-rock. |
| 7 |  | Anathema
The Crestfallen
If you listen to Anathema's Distant Satellites, you?ll notice its calming
progressivism, backed by the intense symphonic instrumentation, and the
beautiful vocals styling's of Lee Douglas. Now dial back 22 years ago to The
Crestfallen EP. Notice the dragging doom riffs and Darren White's tortured,
raspy voice that come together to form some seriously depressing doom
metal. It's almost enough to make you vomit, right? Well Anathema had
undergone an intense musical metamorphosis after their 1993 album
Serenades, completely changing their sound that garnered much greater
attention to themselves with each release that followed. |
| 8 |  | Neurosis
Pain of Mind
A similar change can be found in Pain of Mind by American post-metal band
Neurosis. The band was originally part of the crust punk scene with bands
like Doom and the Electro Hippies. However they soon shifted their sound
from hyperactive, violent hardcore punk to a slower and heavier sludge
metal sound with the release of their 1992 album Souls at Zero. Occasional
sludge influence was found in Pain of Mind such as the "Self-Taught
Infection." |
| 9 |  | Yes
Yes
Rock band Yes were considered one of the first progressive acts of the 20th
century alongside Pink Floyd and King Crimson. That being said, their 1969
eponymous debut was considered one of the first progressive rock albums
ever composed. However the album has some slight differences in sound
compared to their other albums as it possessed a more psychedelic
influences which were popular among rock bands in the 60's. In the 70's
however focused more on the progressive rock side of their music and
acquired some symphonic and experimental influence which replaced the
psychedelic hard rock of their first album. |
| 10 |  | Melvins
Mangled Demos from 1983
When the Melvins formed in 1983, they spent most of their time covering
70?s hard rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix before moving on to play
hardcore punk. Many of their early recordings weren't released until their
Mangled Demos from 1983 compilation. The recordings featured Mike Dillard
on drums who would be later replaced by Dale Crover. |
| 11 |  | Rush
Rush
Much like the previously discussed Yes, Rush also didn't perfect their
progressive sound until after their debut album. The self-titled Rush album
had more of a traditional hard rock sound and lacked any progressive
elements such as the use of keyboards and synthesizers by Geddy Lee.
These elements would not truly begin to present themselves until the
release of their renowned 2112 in 1976. |
| 12 |  | Genesis
From Genesis to Revelation
The style change of British rock band Genesis is similar to that of David
Bowie as they also started out with a baroque pop sound in their music
rather than their signature progressive art rock sound. The songs were
structured as a concept album and the style was more poppy than
traditional Genesis. However the album did help the band receive some
attention and produced a number of singles such as The Serpent and Silent
Son. The album was also one of the two to not feature Phil Collins on drums
or vocals. |
| 13 |  | Darkthrone
Soulside Journey
Darkthrone is one of the first bands that come to mind when someone
mentions black metal. However in their early development they lacked the
brutal face paint and horrifyingly black clothing as they were not needed to
play death metal. Yes, Darkthrone's dastardly debut is revered as the
band's only death metal album before the switched to their signature black
metal style. Instead of eerie screeching, Nocturno Culto utilizes gutteral
death metal growls which may not appeal to fans of traditional Darkthrone
but rather to those of Obituary or Cannibal Corpse. |
| 14 |  | Life of Agony
River Runs Red
Mina (Keith) Caputo is known for having one of the most distinct heavy
metal voices which blends really well with the heavy guitar and pounding
drums in Life of Agony's debut River Runs Red. However with all of the
success the album received, the band felt the need to change their sound
from hard hitting crossover thrash to a more alternative rock type of sound
on all of their later works. It seems especially strange for the band to make
such a change after releasing what many saw as their best album. |
| 15 |  | Deftones
(Like) Linus
The Deftones' 1993 EP (Like) Linus features numerous differences with their
sound today in both music and vocals. For one thing Chino Moreno's singing
doesn't involve as much screaming, but more singing and occasional
rapping. His voice is reminiscent of Brandon Boyd which makes sense as the
guitar work is also similar to that of early Incubus. Overall the tape doesn't
stray too far from the regular Deftones sound but it does take a lot of
influence from other groups at the time which differentiates from the
signature melancholy sound of the band. |
| 16 |  | Fear Factory
Soul of a New Machine
When Fear Factory first began recording, their music drew much influence
from traditional death metal bands such as Napalm Death. This made their
sound edge more towards death, grind, and thrash with a slight industrial
additive. However with the release of Demanufacture the band adopted
more industrial qualities and eventually found their own distinct sound
which lead to greater success for the band. |
| 17 |  | Minutemen
Paranoid Time
Throughout their career, the Minutemen have held onto their hardcore
roots however as they progressed into future albums such as their
infamous Double Nickels on the Dime, they took in more alternative rock
and punk traits into their style. Their 1980 EP Paranoid time retains some of
these alternative influences but mainly focused on the traditional hardcore
found in their music. |
| 18 |  | Therapy?
Babyteeth
Irish alternative rock band Therapy's debut shows their noise rock sound in
its purest form with hints of industrial and alternative metal included. Unlike
their following album, Troublegum, Baby Teeth's music is more raw and
uneven. As they released more albums they began to take in more punk
and alternative rock styles into their sound such as in their hit single
Screamager, which in turn helped gain the band more success. |
| 19 |  | Mr. Bungle
The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny
When it comes to switching musical styles Mr. Bungle is a hard topic due to
their tendency to not follow any centralized musical pattern. Their early
EP's, one being The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, differ greatly due to
the fact that they DO follow a linear musical path. While the same brand of
Bungle craziness is still present, the EP takes a heavier approach being
mostly composed of death and thrash metal. Mr. Bungle amazingly used all
of the styles used on theses EP's to create the deranged masterpiece that
was their eponymous debut. |
| 20 |  | Journey
Journey
Unlike their later albums, Journey's first album focused mainly on their
instrumental creativity, taking on a progressive rock and jazz fusion sound
that began to fade with subsequent releases. The album was revered by
some as their most diverse and creative effort but was panned by others
for having dragging instrumentation and lack of hooks. |
| 21 |  | Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
Pop rock band Goo Goo Dolls have had numerous success with their radio-
friendly singles such as Iris, Come to Me, and others. However, what many
don't know is that the started out as an energetic punk rock act in 1987.
Unlike their later years, they did not have the same success with this style
of punk rock as they did with alternative rock and slowly began to morph
their sound over the next few releases. |
| 22 |  | Ulver
Ondes Triumph
The fact that Ulver were once a traditional black metal band won't surprise
many as some hold their early work higher than that of anything they've
release recently. The fact is Ulver is good at producing both dark ambient
and black metal which shows how talented of a band they are. |
| 23 |  | Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World?s first album displays a traditional 90's emo sound that the
band had originally wanted to follow along with pop punk influences similar
to bands like The Get Up Kids and Jawbreaker. This sound greatly differs
with the more alternative rock sound that the band follows later in their
career especially since most of the tracks are sung by Tom Linton instead of
Jim Adkins. The album also doesn't feature Rick Burch on bass and is
currently out of print. |
| 24 |  | Bee Gees
The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs
Disco icons the Bee Gees did what most other musicians who survived the
60?s did and played psychedelic or folk music. Needless to say you probably
wouldn't hear any songs from their debut in a roller rink with shiny disco
balls and everyone sporting popped collars and afros. |
| 25 |  | Chromatics
As Rats In The Basement
Alright, finally we have the last band on this list. Chromatics at first dabbled
in the post-punk revival alongside bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the
White Stripes, incorporating wailing guitars and screeching vocals. However
with the release of their 2007 album Night Drive, they completely turned to
a different direction towards electronic dream pop, increasing their
programming usage and lessening the need for guitar or drum
instrumentation. |
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