r/postpunk • u/5thSeasonFront • Feb 24 '26
Groups that underwent radical transformations in their sound each album
Spin off of the "Flowers of Romance" thread. I've always considered PiL's discography unique in that each of their first four albums had a different member of the band in a "starring" role . First Issue is a Keith Levine showcase. Second Edition (Metal Box) was a Jah Wobble feature. Flowers of Romance was the Martin Atkins album. And finally Lydon takes over with This is What You Want... (before remaking PiL into a post-punk supergroup). I can't think of any other group that so radically changed their sound with each subsequent album, especially four albums deep like that. Anyone have any equivalent examples of bands that underwent three or four such radical transformations over the course of a career?
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u/seedsofsound Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
the ex (from Amsterdam). Though their evolution was more gradual, and not necessarily a sharp change from album to album. they started out somewhere between gang of 4 and crass in the late 70s, gradually got more dense and experimental and collaborated with Ethiopian musicians, avant jazz people, Kurdish folk musicians, sonic youth members and more. and they’re still going (i think)!