by T-Bone » Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:23 pm
I agree to some extent that bands DO need to change with the times, but then again, some bands keep rooted and still sell out arena's time after time... Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Iron Maiden (for the most part), Rush, etc...
I don't mind change as long as a band does it gradually and doesn't look like they're trying to hop the "popular" bandwagon as it zips past them. Bon Jovi, although they are still popular, are a classic example of a band who changes too much between albums, and then has the nerve to rip on the things that made them popular back in the 80's. They lost me after New Jersey.
I like smoothe and subtle changes where you don't realize that a band is evolving. The kind where long time fans can still hear the band they love, but the band can gather new fans along the way.
Some bands change because a key ingredient has changed, such as a vocalist. Guitarists, for the most part, drummers and bass players can change and most people cannot tell the difference, but a vocalist is the guy up front and they become what the crowd hears first. Van Halen and AC/DC are a classic examples. Two distinct era's for each band, but both very successful. Not too many bands can pull that off... Motley Crue, LA Guns, Warrant, Quiet Riot, etc... all changed vocalists, and nearly fell off the planet because of it.
As for the CD's Edge posted about:
Aerosmith - Just Push Play: I never cared for Aerosmith, but this album was a big jump from their previous sound
Def Leppard - Slang: Although I didn't mind this album and all in all, I thought lyrically and production-wise, it was top notch, it just didn't have the "Rock" vibe going like Adrenalize did. Euphoria was a great CD and I had high hopes and then they released that steaming pile of donkey-dung known as X
Helloween - Chameleon: Not too bad of a CD for the most part, but still too big of a jump for a band to take without losing fans in the process
Pink Cream 69 - Change: Horrible release, and I'm a HUGE PC69 fan. Even Food For Thought took some getting used to, but that album grew on me over time and I love it now. Electrified was a nice return to the Melodic Rock/Metal sound.
Motley Crue - Generation Swine: #$#$%#*%^#^%@!!!!!! To say the least..... Pew
Poison - Native Tongue: Ritchie's Blusey playing overtook Poisons sound, and although it's a decent release, it's STILL not Poison.
Harem Scarem - Rubber: I knew things were going downhill after Mood Swings. Voice Of Reason didn't even come close to the Mood Swings sound. It seemed to take an alternative vibe and then the Rubber broke.... Enough said
Metallica - Load & Reload: Sellouts....
Kiss - Carnival Of Souls: I got ahold of these Demo's 3 years before this album was ever released and it blew goats. NOT a KISS album at all....
Queensryche - Tribe: They lost their marbles after Empire.....