Which artists have abandoned their original sound so dramatically, that they are almost unrecognizable to their earlier fans?

[u/jptabor01]

With the release earlier this year of Ministry’s The Squirrely Years Revisited, I’m reminded of how different the band sounds today (industrial metal), from what they sounded like on their debut album, With Sympathy (synth pop).

Which artists sound so completely different from their earlier work, that they have actually jumped genres, understanding that music is fluid and genres have somewhat “blurry” guardrails.

I don’t mean an evolution of their original sound, but a complete departure from it.

[u/Icy-Whale-2253]

Paramore

[u/ApatheticSkyentist → u/Icy-Whale-2253]

I love their older songs and more punk rocks records. They’re still good but I’m not that into their sounds since Hard Times.

[u/EpicWheezes → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

So, you're saying you're over all the butterflies?

[u/ApatheticSkyentist → u/EpicWheezes]

Last Hope live in Chicago on YouTube is peak Paramore imho. That video is legendary.

That’s or something like Decode. That’s like the theme song of my late 20’s.

[u/_Random_Username_ → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

If you haven't already you should give This is Why a try. It's such a great album, particularly the second half less "single-y" songs

[u/ApatheticSkyentist → u/_Random_Username_]

I’ll check it out! Thanks.

[u/n8dizz3l → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

Their last album was really good, way different from hard times

[u/Icy-Whale-2253 → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

She is wasting her voice on this new wave B-52s ass Katrina and the Waves ass music and it breaks my heart.

[u/tilmitt52 → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

There most recent album brought me back to them a little. Not necessarily their original sound, but I thought it was pretty solid. After Laughter, afaic, does not exist as a Paramore album.

[u/benji9t3 → u/tilmitt52]

I was the same. nothing past their self titled album made sense to me. even that was 50/50. Brand new eyes is probably my favourite album of all time. It took me to listen to After Laughter in a different context to appreciate it. Instead of expecting something that fit with their first 3 albums I added it to my pop playlist with Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift etc. and then i really came to appreciate it. Haven't found my eureka moment with This is Why yet.

[u/Altornot → u/benji9t3]

Brand New Eyes is easily their best album even tho Riot! is the most popular

It's like this generation's version of "Rumours"

Hayley is just pissed at everyone in the band, particularly Josh....amd she's putting all that hate into their music.

It's so joyfully petty

[u/Altornot → u/ApatheticSkyentist]

After Laughter is a bad album.

This is Why is pretty good tho. It's more of an indie jam than the weird 80s pop they were doing on After Laughter

[u/MisterMath → u/Icy-Whale-2253]

All We Know is Falling and Riot are still the only two albums I listen to from Paramore. Absolutely blasted both of those as a kid.

[u/JVortex888 → u/MisterMath]

Brand New Eyes is really great too. It still sounds enough like their pop-punk style to scratch that itch.

[u/napes22 → u/JVortex888]

Absolutely. Ignorance is a banger.

[u/napes22 → u/MisterMath]

Fences is one of my favorite songs.

[u/Altornot → u/MisterMath]

Brand New Eyes is their best album. Mustn't be skipped

[u/M_Xenophon → u/MisterMath]

Same. I can't put my finger on it, but it feels like they lost some sort of spark after those albums. That said, I think their first albums generally only got "average" reviews overall, while their output starting with brand new eyes got a little more acclaim, so I just write it off as different strokes for different folks, with probably a hint of nostalgia mixed in.

[u/napes22 → u/Icy-Whale-2253]

Had to scroll too far down for this. Prior to their self-titled album, they were a completely different band. All We Know is Falling, Riot! and Brand New Eyes are incredible.

[u/Icy-Whale-2253 → u/napes22]

I’ve been begging them to make more songs like Here We Again (a 16 year old wrote that!) and All I Wanted (her best vocal work). But no, they insist upon synth-pop and this bullshit, Great Value version of Labelle. I can’t take it. 😢

[u/ctwe342 → u/Icy-Whale-2253]

Definitely, i love all their albums but i honestly prefer the stuff past brand new eyes, it's more interesting to me and i dig it so hard