'The Band'

Having the opportunity to peruse the various stages of a number of rock bands, I'm discovering (or connotating) the definitions and differences between "departure" and "evolution" in terms of a group's artistic output.

I felt the Beatles, for example, evolved from the simple, raw, unsophisticated rock music of their young days to the stylistic, complex music of "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band." It was natural and part of a long-range change whether due to the environment or personal tastes.

What the Byrds did between "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" was more of a departure. There wasn't a ton of time or output to suggest the rock foundation in the former had "evolved" into the countrified and old time air of the latter. It was more of a "departure" than a natural change.

Folks tend to call The Band's "The Band" a departure from their opus, "Music from Big Pink." I wouldn't define it as a departure. I think it's a perfectly natural step forward to go from "Big Pink" to their epoynomous effort.

"The Band," no matter, is simply better. To paint an analogy: "Big Pink" is like trying to play basketball with a lot of layers of clothing or a big, bulky sweater. Whereas, "The Band" is like playing basketball with a T-shirt or tank top. It's freer and, like your game, it explodes out of the speakers. Everything is seemingly tighter and played with a certain amount of intensity and undo urgency.

Not a depature, but a step in the right direction.