Is there a band that has not let you down even after a decade of making music?

Question

I had this conversation with a friend of mine a few months ago about how bands change their sound and you don't always know what you're getting from album to album. Whether they are going for a more radio friendly sound or changed direction entirely.

The only band that I could come up with that sounds pretty much the same from the first album to their last is Motorhead. If you buy "Rock N' Roll," it's a Motorhead album. If you buy their last one, "Kiss of Death",...it still sounds like Motorhead.

So who can you count on to deliver an album today that sounds just like they did ten years or so ago (or a bit of an evolution of)?

Answer 1

I'd say U2. Sure, they have some "pop-ish" tracks here and there, but to me, their albums still maintain that U2 aura which I first heard a long time ago. If anything, they have transitioned and progressed, but still stayed true to their roots. They were never a metal/heavy rock band like most of the ones mentioned, but hey, I guess it counts coz its a band right? :)

Answer 2

The bands that have been around for more than ten years that haven't really changed their sound, nor have released an album I didn't like are:



Bad Religion (everything from Suffer to New Maps of Hell, with the exception of No Substance)

Tool

System of a Down

Social Distortion



Whoever said AFI should be shot. They were an awesome punk rock band until Sing the Sorrow came out and so did Davey Havoc. Now they are this emo-goth trainwreck.

Answer 3

I comletely agree with Motorhead. If you listen to their box set, it sounds like one really long really kick-a$$ album fron to back.

I'd also have to say Slayer. Sure, they changed drummers and then changed back again. They also slow down then speed up, and have been tuning down for quite awhile now, but you know exactly what you're gonna get when you buy a Slayer record!

Hellacopters. They've become more classic-rock-esque and a little less punkish, but every song they write is gold, and they always sound like the Hellacopters.

Supersuckers. More country-ish here and there than the punk fury of the past, but never disappointing, and always the Greatest Rock-N-Roll Band in the World! (self-proclaimed... but I agree)

Electric Frankenstein have been consistenly excellent since they began over 20 albums ago!

Opeth. More prog and less black metal than the early albums, Orchid, Morningrise, My Arms Your Hearse, but each album is consistently mind-blowing and brilliant!

I used to feel this way about Tool, but the last album was so overblown and pompous that it just irritated me. Unfortunate.

Scissorfight. Even though we may never again get an album from them, they never disappointed. Older stuff was a little rougher, almost hardcore-esque, newer stuff is straight-up mountain-stoner-boogie. Outstanding!

Last and not least, Clutch. Again, older stuff was a bit more raw and hardcore-influenced, and they slowly morphed into more blues-based territory. I can honestly say that I equally enjoy every brilliant thing they've ever released!

Answer 4

Your header question is a bit different from your descripition. There are many bands that will not let me down after a decade, or even several decades of making music. However you seem to think if a band changes, then fans will and should be let down, and that albums should sound more or less the same after 10 years. That to me is boring, if a band released the same exact sound for 3 albums, that's understandable, but for 10, 20, 30 years? They're spinning their wheels, they're not evolving, and they're not impressing me with the same thing they've always done.



To answer your question about long-career bands that don't let me down I submit the following



1) Megadeth - 11 albums, 10 of them great albums, still going strong. I know Megadeth will always be quality.



2) Rush - 18 albums, still evolving still challenging themselves and their audience. Better then they've ever been



3) Dream Theater - 9 albums, each of them drastically different and each wonderful in it's own way. 20 years of music and only starting to tap their full potential



4) Scorpions - 24 albums, one of the oldest bands still touring today recently released the best album of their careers. They've changed so much but are recognizable and still the same great band from the 60's and 70's



5) Ayreon - 7th album released recently, and it's a pinnacle of what this project's career so far. Always look forward to a new release.



That's just a small example.

Answer 5

I would honestly have to say Tool and Slayer. I almost added Ozzy in there, but I feel that his last two studio albums were decent, they just didn't reflect what I've always known Ozzy to be. Slayer never disappoints, especially with Christ Illusion. And Tool kept their mysterious and progressive sound with 10,000 Days. I feel these two bands will keep us entertained for years to come.

Answer 6

Are you in a band? - definite. What are you listening to precise now? - Timebomb - Rancid What song makes you unhappy? - Scavenger Tyoe - NOFX what's the main stressful song interior the worldwide? Womaniser - BS Your all-time typical band? - NOFX Your newly got here upon band ? - All ultimate woman voice? - Natalie provider provider ultimate male voice? - The dude from steel Panther song sort you finally end up listening to maximum? - Punk rock What do you hear to once you want to quiet down? - Slower punk rock Band you finally end up listening to the main precise? - The Distillers song that makes you think of? - Pimps and Hookers - NOFX Band which you think of the worldwide ought to love as much as you do? - Junked What do you play/could you play interior the mattress room to spice issues up? - something via Air Ever dated a musician? - some Do you want your self which you have been a musician? - i'm final song which you heard on the radio/CD/and so on...? undesirable habit - The Offspring final super band which you observed stay? - NOFX in case you have been a musical device, what could you? - Make sound Do you hear to the radio? - Hell no have you ever met any nicely typical musicians? - definite Are any of your acquaintances/kin musicians? - definite do you know the names of all the band contributors which you hear to? - Who could care that lots? Does a musician’s actual popularity play a place interior the song which you hear to? - No, neither does expertise What do your mum and dad hear to? - song How significant is your better half's style in song to you? - Meh Do you sing interior the bathroom? - No, it incredibly is the place I smoke crack and mirror on my day Do you sing interior the bathe? - i'm incredibly bored. if so, what? If no longer, why no longer? - Why else could every physique answer his grilling? song that ultimate describes your emotions precise now? - boring - Blink-182 song that describes your existence? - The Punk song - NOFX What includes your strategies once I say Blue desires/Blue Days? have you ever heard of this band? - it incredibly is a unfavourable call for a band, and no, thank fuuck.

Answer 7

Well, AC/DC and Ozzy have been releasing the same album over and over again since they debuted, but I wouldn't count them, because it seems I like each album less and less. In fact, I haven't even bothered with an AC/DC release since Heatseeker came out in 1987.



The one band that I've found that has continually released quality product while evolving at the same time is The Black Crowes. They've yet to disappoint me in any album release they've had.















NP: "No Surprize" - Aerosmith

Answer 8

Blackmore's Night



They actually started in 1997, and their sound has slightly evolved {a bit more Rock}, but in a very good way! You would never mistake them for another band - every album clearly says 'this is one of ours'.

Answer 9

I disagree with Master C and Mustang :)



Rancid has changed quite a bit over the years..

Out Come the wolves was a hard hitting very very exciting and fast punk ska album..

Their new one is just a ska album.



But social distortion is a good one.. Their music is still the same energetic but never-tiring Rockabilly Punk.

Answer 10

Collective Soul. After 15 years and 7 albums they haven't let me down yet. They're certainly more upbeat and poppy in comparison to some of the heavier stuff I listen to, but they're awesome! They're just really great songwriters and couldn't make a bad album if they tried, even after replacing 2 original members. They also put on a great live show!

Answer 11

Its gotta be CANNIBAL CORPSE.

From Eaten Back To Life to Kill this band have just got progressively more aggressive and extreme. Each album that they bring out has been an improvement on the last and they never fail to disappoint me with the quality of their material.

Also, the almighty EMPEROR. \m/

Answer 12

U2

Backstreet Boys

Goo goo dolls

Answer 13

Tool!



Since 1992's (I think) Opiate to 2006's 10,000 Days there hasn't even been a second of a Tool album I thought was even mediocre. I promise.



And they are the only band I can say that about.

Answer 14

Aerosmith. However, that 'Dont Wanna Miss a Thing' song makes me ill, but besides that, they're awesomely consistent

Answer 15

Tool!



Its just inconceivable that they could do a bad album! Each one has been a masterpiece! They remain true to themselves, and to the music. Their music is pure art!



Edit: the thumbs down faery definitly visited here. Interesting.

Answer 16

Zep



...and I don't know how anyone can say Metallica sounds the same...compare Kill em All to St. Anger...not even close to be being the same band...

Answer 17

AFI



loved their early work and still loving them today



they started with more punk music in the early 90's

Answer 18

Rancid and Social Distortion



*Master C, I feel the need not to answer the same questions you do, you normally have it covered. Are you excited for the new Rancid Cd?

Answer 19

Led Zeppelin

Metallica

System of a Down

Answer 20

The Adicts

Social Distortion

Bad Religion

Rancid

The Vandals



***Mustang: Countin' the days. If it's as good as any of the others, it just validates my answer further!!!

Answer 21

foo fighters, audioslave, tool, and puddle of mudd

Answer 22

Pantera

Slayer

Hatebreed

Tool

Answer 23

goo goo dolls

Answer 24

Ozzy

AC/DC

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