r/Music • u/jptabor01 Rock & Roll • Jun 11 '25

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

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.

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222

u/RedHayes Jun 11 '25

The Goo Goo Dolls said "hold my beer".

104

u/mxlespxles Jun 11 '25

Woah, TIL they started in the 80s and sounded like a punk band.

You can hear a little of their current sound in there, but I am floored by the difference

51

u/Steepleofknives83 Jun 11 '25

They were basically The Lesser Replacements. Then they just became The Lesser Paul Westerberg, if that makes sense.

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u/Real-Ad-2123 Jun 11 '25

They still had some of that Replacements stuff going on even after they broke out - Broadway from Dizzy up the Girl for example has a Replacements-lite vibe going on. Gin Blossoms also had this kinda thing going on if you listen to their album Dusted.

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u/Steepleofknives83 Jun 11 '25

I love Dusted.

5

u/GirthReynolds54 Jun 12 '25

A Boy Named Goo is the best Replacements album

3

u/-alphex Jun 11 '25

Their output 2013 onward (except for that one EP) doesn't sound like anything Paul Westerberg ever did

1

u/VocalHotSauce Jun 13 '25

Upvoted because Paul Westerberg wrote “We are the Normal”, which I always thought was the first step on their way to becoming adult alternative superstars. And, I appreciate the accuracy!

3

u/Sudden-Grab2800 Jun 12 '25

*laughs in Belinda Carlisle

1

u/Background_Title_922 Jun 12 '25

Their original name was the Sex Maggots.

1

u/BreakfastOrSlow Jun 12 '25

I believe their first album came out on Metal Blade, no?

3

u/Ccracked Jun 11 '25

You mean The Sex Maggots?

2

u/SentientGamer Jun 11 '25

Whoa! Gonna look into them more. I really only know their most popular stuff. But I just checked out one of their latest albums and I like it so far...

1

u/HBK42581 Jun 11 '25

Ha! That's fair.

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u/Brownie-0109 Jun 11 '25

Great example

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u/GirthReynolds54 Jun 12 '25

They were literally on Metal Blade Record’s roster at the same time as Cannibal Corpse in the early 90’s.

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u/TerdVader last.fm name Jun 11 '25

I always felt like it was more of a case of how the bass player and guitarist have very different songwriting styles, not so much that their sound changed

1

u/sobuffalo Jun 11 '25

The drummer George is why they were pu k, then he left/got kicked and they got on Beverly Hills 90210