Do you like a band/album that presents a more consistent sound/style throughout the course of an album, or one that likes to mix it up a bit and throw in a variety of different styles?

I am only giving two options, because this is an either/or kinda poll... what do you prefer?

depends on whether the band can pull off eclectic.

Yup.

No, there's more to it then that. Its about the album's flow. An album is more than a mere collection of songs. If it doesn't flow well than its no fun to listen to. Its not impossible to transition different styles well within an album but few artists pay enough attention to that.

I say be diverse and eclectic across your catalog but devote each album to one style.

The Joe Jackson approach?

I prefer to call it the Elvis Costello approach.

I agree with this thought. Albums as a whole should flow...too eclectic and it damages said flow. Diversity from album to album though is ideal, however to break up too much repetition from an artist.

I also don't think the answer to this is black or white. Occasionally, an artist can get away with a single song experiment/deviation from an album's theme.

For the most part, I agree with billy after experiencing 3 years in a band that was way to eclectic for its own good.

What if the eclectic presentation is by design, and even called out/marketed as such? So you know what you are getting?

The marketing doesn't change the listening experience so why would it matter?

Just priming expectations.
Guess what I'm asking is that if you EXPECT the album to be wildly eclectic going in, does that change the listening experience for you? Would it be less jarring that way... like going on a roller coaster -- you know that you're gonna get jostled around and it's a lot of fun. Wheras, if you buy a ticket for the Tunnel Of Love and wind up taking a 300-ft. drop, yer gonna be kinda pissed (or maybe pleasantly surprised, depending on who you are).

I tend to agree with the above sentiments. An album can be greatly disturbed by styles not flowing into one another. Some bands though are known for this disjointed flow and their fans expect nothing less from them: Ween, Primus, Butthole Surfers all subscribe to the multiple styles on one album formula, and sometimes pull it off and sometimes not. Sonic Youth pops into my mind as a band who for the most part has similar ideas on each album, but gel between different writers making different approaches with Lee and Thurston.

Anyone else?

I think it depends on if a band is good or not.
I prefer a mix of things from rockin' out to rockin' my ass off.

This question is just too much of an "it depends"

sometimes, i love just a one song change of pace, like on "rei momo" when the ending is just out of nowhere and incredible.

generally though, i like an album to be a consistent statement with some semblance of order. if a band is capable of doing this while genre-morphing and it's awesome, i'm all for it. that's just rare.

Single Frame and Mr. Bungle are the only bands I can think of off the top of my head that do eclectic really well.

I don't know why, but when I see the word "eclectic" I automatically think of crappy rap-rock bands or funk-metal bands that blend the worst elements of 2 or more genres.

"Dude, 311 is so ECLECTIC! They play rock AND they rap!"

Eclectic

THE FUCKING CORAL

Fall Out Boy is better in a live show, though.

But I love me some 311. Especially when I'm on a date, sitting in the rubble seat of the car, looking down from a rise to the city below.

NICK HXEUM IS GDO.