"Matured"?

[No Pun Intended]

What do people mean when they say a band has matured? Personally I can't think of many bands that people would say that about and I would agree with them.

I'm mostly into punk rock (to each his own) and I always hear critics talking about how green day have matured. Yes, I know slamming green day is flogging a dead horse. I don't want an argument about that. But surely, just the act of slowing your music down and softening the edges a bit, making it more radio friendly, in and of itself, isn't grounds for saying you've "matured". I haven't really heard anything on their post 90's albums that I would say is any more complex or experimental than before - it just sounds more poppy.

One band who I would say have matured are the descendents. Their music has gotten slowly more complex with time and lyrically they've slowly gotten (a little) less juvenile.

1982 -


Thoughts and opinions on what it means for a band to mature? I'd be interested to see some examples from other genres.

 

[sarcastro83]

One band who I would say have matured are the descendents. Their music has gotten slowly more complex with time and lyrically they've slowly gotten (a little) less juvenile.

I'm pretty sure this is what people mean when they talk about bands "maturing".

 

[zachoff]

Most of the time it means they've written more mainstream music and have either started to suck or do suck.

 

[No Pun Intended]

Yeah, unfortunately that's what I always think when I read a review and hear someone say a band's matured. But it seems we're in agreement about the actual meaning. Any other bands who you guys think have genuinely matured?

 

[Staccato]

It means they've aged to perfection like a fine wine!

 

[Rudreax]

If you remain relevant for a long enough time.

 

[barebones]

They're actually just trying to tell you politely that you look old. At least that's true in my case.

 

[coldfoot_luke]

The first example of a band that has matured is RHCP- their early recordings are raw, wild, hellraising music. They've been through rough times, and their most recent albums reflect that. They've learned lessons, they've grieved and fought and remained good musicians. Their life experiences is reflected in their songs. Their most recent albums have more depth and substance to them. While their sound has changed, they haven't sold out, i.e. changed their style to cater to the lowest common musical denominator to sell more units.

Compare them to AC/DC, who have been around longer, but hasn't changed their sound at all, and still make party music. Nothing wrong with that at all, but they haven't seemed to develop any depth over the years. If the individual musicians have grown wiser and more mature over the years, it isn't reflected in the music.

 

[TimmyBoomBoom]

"Their appeal has become more selective". Ian the Tap manager

 

[trowaclown]

Perhaps production values as well? I think one example of that will be The New Pornographers. Their debut was rather bewildering and every available nook and cranny was filled with whirling synth lines and what-not.

Subsequent albums reflect a maturity in that there is more deliberate arrangement in the presentation, with spaces in the music and more proper instrumentation.

 

[Elmo Oxygen]

For punk, I was going to mention The Descendents but the OP covered that. Tool is a night/day example of this IMO. Listen to Opiate, then listen to 10,000 Days. It's like listening to musical puberty.
Another punk example would be Bad Religion (though I still prefer the earlier material).

 

[Yerf Dog]

Jumped the shark.

 

[boing]

The Beatles is the prime example of a band maturing over the course of their career.

AC/DC is not.

Nothing wrong with either, as long as you're doing what you want with your music.

 

[funkybassinator]

Ok.
Listen to the RCHP discography from the beginning to the end. Just sample each album in chronological order. Then see what people are talking about.

 

[barebones]

The first example of a band that has matured is RHCP- their early recordings are raw, wild, hellraising music. They've been through rough times, and their most recent albums reflect that. They've learned lessons, they've grieved and fought and remained good musicians. Their life experiences is reflected in their songs. Their most recent albums have more depth and substance to them. While their sound has changed, they haven't sold out, i.e. changed their style to cater to the lowest common musical denominator to sell more units.

Compare them to AC/DC, who have been around longer, but hasn't changed their sound at all, and still make party music. Nothing wrong with that at all, but they haven't seemed to develop any depth over the years. If the individual musicians have grown wiser and more mature over the years, it isn't reflected in the music.

In all seriousness, great examples using two of my favorite bands. Excellent analysis. Thanks!

 

[barebones]

"Their appeal has become more selective". Ian the Tap manager

There's a Spinal Tap reference for virtually any band situation. Thank you!