What bands started out as one sub genre of rock or metal but went on to some other sub genre or another genre as a whole later on in their career?
I started to list all the bands I could think of, but then the list kept going! I think the problem with the question is the “sub-genre” part. Pretty much any band that has put out more then a few albums has migrated around sub-genres within rock or metal. It’s only natural as the band evolves musically, band members change, and society’s music tastes change.Look at the variety from U2, for example — punk rock, pop rock, blues rock, anthem rock, etc. Even a “hard rock” band like KISS or a “heavy metal” band like Iron Maiden have varied quite extensively through their time. Then you have bands with relatively short careers that still had a wide mix, like The Beatles, The Eagles, and Led Zeppelin.The only band that comes to mind with an extensive catalog that stayed fairly narrow over many decades was AC/DC.So, putting aside sub-genre changes, dabbling in different styles, or being eclectic, what about bands that definitively started in one genre and went to another? That gets us to a much shorter list. Here are the answers I suggest:Judas Priest — The straight-ahead rock of their early music is quite different than the later metal (as was their look and style). While some elements of the music weren’t actually that different, I list them because of their legendary status within heavy metal.The Bee Gees — They changed completely from a 1950s skiffle-rock band (think early Beatles) to the biggest-selling disco group 20 years later.Genesis — Progressive rock in the late ’60s and early ’70s to a pop band by the mid ‘80s.Journey — From progressive rock and jazz fusion in the early ’70s to straight/hard rock in the late ’70s to a pop band in the ’80s [Correction thanks to a message from Dan T.: I’d originally written that Journey started with hard rock. Wrong!]Jefferson Airplane / Jefferson Starship / Starship — This one’s a tough call since this was such a blend of multiple band line-ups. But they went from truly psychedelic rock of the late ’60s to commercial pop in the ‘80s.Fleetwood Mac — Quite different from their early blues to classic rock to their pop-rock style in the ‘80s
Which are the best rock bands to listen to?
That’s a tough one in that the roster of “rock” bands keeps compounding—and the definition of “rock” itself can be a bit tough to pin down. Here are some starter lists with some of “the best” acts in the course of Rock history.In terms of Rocks “A-Listers” you’d have to include…AerosmithBeatlesFleetwood MacHendrixLed ZeppelinPink FloydRolling StonesSpringsteenU2WhoThere are a lot of great classic rock bands just under the veneer. We’ll call these “The Fall Backs”…AnimalsBig StarClaptonKinksSteve MillerNeil YoungPettyPoliceStyxYardbirdsSometimes you want something with a bit more grit.Turn to “The Heavies:…AC/DCAlice CooperBlack SabbathBostonDeep PurpleFoo FightersMetallicaNazarethQueenVan HalenOr sometimes you need to turn up the angst.Some of the top “Punk Rock” acts would include:Bad BrainsBlack FlagClashDead Kennedy'sFugaziNirvanaRamonesSex PistolsSocial DistortionXThere are many other “Rock-and-Roll Pathways” we could traverse. The lists above provide a good start to the journey with plenty of points to jump off from.Happy listening.
What are some post-rock bands worth listening to?
Here are some of my personal favorites (along with the songs you could try out). Hope you enjoy them! :)The Album Leaf - The Light was how I fell in love with them. Also check out TwentyTwoFourteen, Always For You, Window, Into The Sea, Shine, A Day in the Life.The American Dollar - Peterson, Signaling Through the Flames, Anything You Synthesize.Caspian - Hymn for the Greatest Generation, Gone in Bloom and Bough.The Echelon Effect - Monterey, Branches and Constellations, As the Lights Fade Away, Your First Light My Eventide, Tracking Aeroplanes.Eluvium - Requiem On Frankfort Ave, Don't Get Any Closer, Crash Deconstructed, Prelude for Time Feelers.Explosions In The Sky - Waking Up, An Old Peasant Like Me, So Long Lonesome, Your Hand In Mine, Human Qualities, Wading, Remember Me As A Time Of Day.God Is An Astronaut - Frozen Twilight, The Last March.Hammock - I Can Almost See You, The Air Between Us, Then the Quiet Explosion.Helios - Nothing It Can, Hope Valley Hill, Bless This Morning Year, South Tree.Tracey Chattaway - Starlights, Light The Night, Come Away With Me, Shimmer.This Will Destroy You - Dustism, The Mighty Rio Grande, Killed the Lord Left for the New World.SleepMakesWaves - It's Dark It's Cold It's Winter is pretty neat. They're indie and low-key, so check them out on SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/sleepmake....Random Forest - Shadows Fall, Hibernation.Mogwai - Jaguar, Hungry Face.Message To Bears - Daylight Goodbye, The Tourist. This band's way too underrated.Lowercase Noises - Silence of Siberia, Passage, A Little Lair for a Very Small Bear.Lights & Motion - Fireflies, Glow, Requiem.And finally / obviously -Sigur Ros - Glósóli, Hoppipolla, Svefn-g-englar, Saeglopur.
Rock & Pop: Any unpopular opinions that you care to share today?
Rock & Pop, what are some unpopular opinions that you have? Here are some of mine: The Velvet Underground >>> Led Zeppelin Remain in Light is the weakest of Talking Heads' first four albums. Cocteau Twins piss all over The Smiths. Echo and The Bunnymen are one of the finest and most underrated bands of the 80s. U2 is good, but bands such as The Cure, Joy Division, Husker Du, The Replacements, etc. are much better and are on a completely different level than U2. BQ: Which of these songs is your favorite, and why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A6iRGq2... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNcXFy8Q... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ech6pZo... BQ2: What are your thoughts on how U2 & Radiohead are so popular & acclaimed, to the point of being looked at as among the greatest bands of all time? Do you feel that they deserve that praise, or have they become overrated? BQ3: Which genre would you say is better, and why: Post-punk, or shoegaze. BQ4: Do you feel that artists such as Imagine Dragons & Coldplay could be considered legends 10-20 years from now?
What are some rock/metal songs that feature elements of Indian Music?
In India You by The Brian Jonestown Massacre.I've provided an answer directly, but I'd like to augment my post by putting forward the idea that Indian musical influence here the West has gone largely unnoticed. Sure songs like the one above have obvious nuances associated with India, but music here in the Western world has been colored by the mighty subcontinent more than most people realize. And this is a very good thing.One of the best things to come out of The Beatles' legacy was the discovery of the music of India. George Harrison gets most of the credit here of course, but credit George Martin as well for having the imagination to envision a commercial potential for such a new and dynamic sound. Today you can hear the influence of Indian music not only when instruments like the sitar are employed, but in the unusual time signatures that the progressive bands brought to the fore in the early '70's and continue to be harnessed to this day. Bands like The Black Angels sound on the surface to be straight forward rock outfits, but in the undercurrents of their songs one can hear the presence of Indian musicians long dead and forgotten. This is a significant and rather beautiful legacy.
What are your thoughts about the post-rock band called Rosetta?
I have heard two albums by them - A Determinism of Morality and Wake/Lift.The first song I heard by them was A Determinism of Morality, which I really loved, and hence went ahead to listen to that album and the other one. Then what made me stop from exploring them further?The monotonous style. I don’t see a lot of variety in their music. I am a huge Post metal/Sludge/Ambient Drone fan. Isis, Cult of Luna, Dirge, Pelican, Mouth of the Architect happen to be some of my favorite bands. Their music, although with the distinct Post metal sound, has a lot of dynamic, a lot of variety. Rosetta lacks that. The sound, the build up, the vocal style, all seems too repetitive to me. Hence I don’t call them as one of my favorite, despite of them being really big in the scene.
For those of you that find progressive rock boring, what other types of music do you find unexciting?
I think it is all a matter of one's "musical ideology". For me, much Prog is far more interesting than other forms of pop music, as I find so much more musicality in it. When done wrong though, it can be tedious and have passages with no real direction. I love Jazz and Classical too, but those problems can be present in the lesser examples of the genres. When done well though, imo these genres have more musical potential than any others. I find the majority of what is called "Indie" to be uninteresting... also Folk, Country, most R&B, Rock/Metal/Punk, Blues, and Hip Hop... but there exceptions in all categories. I do enjoy Ambient (and Post Rock) but only some, Brian Eno (w/ Robert Fripp in some cases) having the best of it, as it benefits not only from being in the background but from having attention on it as well, whereas most ambient can only serve as mood music, imo. As for Electronic, mostly the early pulse and later "chill" or experimental stuff, not much Techno. I want to get more into World music too but maybe I am too Western for that. Yeah, like I said, all a matter of musical ideology/zeitgeist. I have what I'll call the "Melodic/Progressive/Musicianly" ideology which encompasses mainly Classical, Jazz, Progressive Rock, and Melodic Pop/Rock (a la Brian Wilson, Jeff Lynne etc.)... and this affects which artists I like in other genres as well (Stevie Wonder is my favorite Soul artist, and Godspeed is my fav. Post Rock artist... imo one can see why if they know my taste). I kinda went off on this, I think I'll ask a Q about "musical ideology" etc.
What are some good forums/websites about post-rock music?
My main source of postrock bands/artists is social media, a few accounts I follow and check in a daily basis:amazonpostrock - Instagram account. The best of the featured band in a 60 seconds video.Post rock page on Facebook - Post rock scene news, new bands and contentWorldhaspostrock - Youtube channel with an extensive amount of accurate albums/songs. The best source you can find out there in my opinion.The Post-Rock Appreciation Society - Public group on Facebook. Discussions about postrock scene, bands, etc.Tag post-rock | Bandcamp - Search for new bands/albums/singles using the post-rock tag in Bandcamp. Bandcamp is an online music store used mainly for independent artists promotion.Arctic Drones - Reviews, New bands/releases.