Just a few short months ago, acclaimed folk rock band Mumford & Sons released their newest album, one differing greatly from their previous two records. Unlike its predecessors, "Sigh No More" and "Babel, Wilder Minds" has a distinctly un-folky feel to it, largely due to the absence of the band’s iconic banjo and the addition of heavier electric guitars and drums.
Expectedly, a lot of people were upset that Marcus Mumford and the gang did not continue producing songs according to the individual demands of every single fan, because pleasing every last person who has ever heard their music is clearly in their contract. But what many people need to remember is that these guys, as well as every other musician ever to change styles, are just people too, and they have the choice to change their music however they want. And in a lot of ways, that can be a good thing.
My favorite band ever is The Avett Brothers. A few years ago, they underwent a similar stylistic change with the album, "I And Love And You," a piano-driven record far removed from their previous folky endeavors. But by making such a drastic shift, the Avetts were able to unlock an entire new genre, and now their discography includes music for virtually every conceivable mood, from jaunty to somber to introspective. Sure, many still enjoy their older work more than their newer songs, but the shift made them infinitely more well-rounded as a band.
Consider, too, that bands make a living off their touring, performing the same songs night after night. You may go to a concert and scream your head off when you hear your favorite song live, but to the band, it’s just the nine-hundredth time this year they’ve slogged through the same lyrics and chords. No matter how catchy a song may be at first, anyone would get tired of it, or even the genre it’s in, after a while. You don’t listen to the same style of music for your whole life, so why should a band have to perform just one type?
Finally, genre shifts allow bands to expand their fan base and please even more people. Remember back in the 2000s when Panic! At The Disco threw everybody for a loop by switching from angst alt-rock to folky pop-rock with about as much bitterness as Hershey syrup? It confused a lot of people, but it also allowed them to reach an entire new demographic of music listeners. And spoiler alert: they, as well as most other bands, still play their old songs as well as their new at live shows, giving everyone a little of what they want.
It can be hard when a band makes new music that’s different, but remember: musicians are people, too, and all those new songs that you don’t much care for may be someone else’s favorite hits. It’s hard to please a fan base of millions, so cut the guys on stage a little slack.
