Willie Nelson is a good call. I actually dig that reggae album pretty hard...

i'm pretty sure that "just to get a rep" is just a loop.
it freaked me out when i heard the real song for the first time.

I suppose it is...it's still a fucking hot loop.

Another one: Beastie Boys.

well, not JUST a loop, but mostly.

the Kinks are another one.

Frank Black.

The Beastie Boys. Hardcore thrash to frat-boy rock/rap to whatever they call whatever came next.

Listen to their contribution to The Speed Trials and then License To Ill, then I challenge you to find any commonalit whatsoever.

Edit: Sorry Loog, didn't see your post. Add the Butthole Surfers as well.

Green Day.
some of their songs have four chords now.

Kraftwerk

Started out as a really organic, psyche/space-rock band (that actually sounded somewhat like a band), and then developed that really austere, minimal electronic sound. I think I prefer the earlier stuff, personally, although I love Trans Europe Express.

Boredoms

Went from jarring, dirty spaz-punk to grandiose psychedelic drum circle hippies. The best stuff is somewhere in the middle.

From Krautrock to Synthpop would be a good name for their ...erm... "bandography".

you stole mines.

Johnny Cash
Sonic Youth
Frank Zappa
No Doubt
Ani DiFranco

Pantera
Aphex twin
Eno

very good choice.

I just wanted to say that Cool J's last release was a very nice Timbaland-produced album and it proves that he can successfully change with the times.

Also, Dr. Dre is a perfect example of an artist that shifted to a completely new sound. The Chronic and 2001 don't sound anything alike and they were huge successes both artistically and commercially.

Zev Love X of KMD coming up with the MF Doom persona.

Also, Ghostface going from being a 2nd stringer to arguably the best Wu-Tang mc.

Faith No More. They wouldn't have been nearly as good if Chuck Mosely remained as their singer.


Also for the reverse of this, I'd throw in Metallica.

Slowdive (and you could throw in the Slowdive --> Mojave 3 evolution, because the first M3 disc was supposed to be under the Slowdive name)

nah that was more of a gradual change (you even use the word evolution), rather then a reimagination. theres plenty of bands that fit in this category (early verve -> late verve, warsaw -> Joy division -> New order).

And besides, Slowdive >> Mojave 3.

When you say "greatest" reimagination do you mean "best" or "biggest?" I took it to mean biggest, and the shift from Slouvaki to Pygmalion (to my ears) was pretty darn big. Wilco and Sonic Youth gradually changed over time, as did Talk Talk and the Beatles. THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS, PEOPLE.

FYI - I too prefer Slowdive any day of the week.

Edit: The Beastie Boys example is the only one that I can't argue with.

Double Edit: I'm in a pissy mood because, with my new contact lens prescription, I'll no longer be able to wear 95%+ of the contact lens brands on the market if my eyes change again.

Boys Next Door -> Birthday Party -> Bad Seeds.

Bee Gees

took the words right out of my mouth

from
to

Dude, thread is Greatest Reimagination, not most nightmarish dismantling of a band.

So based on the above arguments, Doves being born out of the ashes (literally, their studio caught on fire and destroyed that last album) of Sub Sub (all members = the same) wouldn't count?

Does New Yardbirds --> Led Zeppelin not count either? Or are name changes rendered null and void as decreed by the high council of geeks and snobs?

Just wondering.

I agree with the Silverchair comment too, and before you go crapping on that one, have you listened to any of their stuff after that bullshit frogstomp album? They learned how to play their instruments and write songs or something, not that I own any of their shit, but if i saw it used and had nothing else to buy, i'd pick it up.

I can't think of any drastic examples though that haven't been named.

Probably the closest I can come up with right now is Soundgarden.