how about no doubt, even though every member on this forum hates the new no doubt.

I have to say The Beta Band does a good job of making just about every song they have sound different from each other. On The Three E.P.'s album, there are not two songs that even seem to be in the same damn genre.

Just thinking about my own collection, with all its limitations...

Beatles -- during their career they took stabs at just about every pop convention I can think of (often with great success, sometimes not).

Bob Dylan -- Folk, Rock, Gospel (though I don't like his), Blues, Rockabilly, Country... he's done a lot. You have to overcome his voice maybe to hear it, but no solo artist has tried so many ways to sabotage his own career via re-invention.

Beck -- you can always here it's him, but without burying his own personality he has extended himself through so many genres that its easy to dismiss him as more chameleon than sincere artist.

Wilco -- started as alternative country, but over four albums they've reinvented their sound pretty thoroughly.

Steve Earle -- within one album he'll go from country to hard rock to folk to bluegrass to punk to pop and back again.

Nods also to Badly Drawn Boy (though he doesn't have a deep enough catalogue yet and in some ways he feels to me like a reincarnation of the currently-dour Beck), Neil Young & Beta Band. I agree that U2 often sound the same within an album and that they definitely have a sound, but I also remember being thrown for a loop when Achtung Baby came out and they began deconstructing themselves.

EDIT: And how could I have forgotten Elvis Costello? He's tried everything short of rap and metal.

Some excellent points made. Glad to see someone with a varied musical taste on here.

As much as he is one of my most favorite of recent artists, I'd have to disagree with you on Badly Drawn Boy. His songs pretty much all sound the same (hence, Hour of the Bewilderbeast blends in so well). Sure, there's the occasional 'A Better Way' (his B-side from Silent Sigh CDS1) but overall most of his stuff sounds the same (read: all great).

Beck has been recently dour due to a long-time breakup (and we benefit from one of his best albums) but the sound can be seen progressing from One Foot in the Grave >> Mutations >> Sea Change, much as the same way his "party albums" all have similar sound: Mellow Gold >> Odelay! >> Midnite Vultures. That said, although there's two similar veins, Beck's stuff is so varied that the songs sound very different.

Jerry Cantrell comes to mind

Billy Joel deserves a mention. Compare Piano Man to We Didn't Start the Fire to Big Shot to My Life to Uptown Girl to New York State of Mind to To Make You Feel My Love to Miss Saigon to Still Rock and Roll to Me....

The Deftones

Porcupine Tree
The Flower Kings

I always thought Extreme's "Pornograffitti' was pretty diverse. I'd definately agree with the Beatles, Prince and Beck. I guess Madonna might qualify.

gtr986

I'd also say The Smashing Pumpkins. Heck, most of their singles don't even sound alike! (Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, 1979, Tonight Tonight, 33, Ava Adore).

DJ Shadow

Has no one mentioned Ben Harper yet?

Though I wouldn't say almost every song sounds different, They Might Be Giants hop genres more than any band I can think of offhand. I'll probably be lynched for saying this, but Cherry Poppin' Daddies aren't too far behind -- their albums are a lot more eclectic than their swing reputation would suggest.

Gotta go with Faith No More on this one.

Pink Floyd

Easily. Well, pre-Roger Waters breakup anyway.

-matt

As I seem to be one of the resident old guys, I'll chime in on a few older bands.

I second The Clash
Bauhaus
The Mekons
Brian Eno
King Crimson

And perhaps to a lesser extent:
Wire
Killing Joke
Ministry

Edit: I can't believe I didn't think of Elvis Costello either. Also, now that I think about it, Joe Jackson.

I can see Bowie; he changes personas and styles rather often.
My input would have to be the Butthole Surfers, at least pre-Independent Worm Saloon, when they apparently realized what 'tune' means. Their last one is actually amazingly musical.
TMBG, yes.....maybe the Dead Milkmen also....and Ween..I don't like them much, but at least the album I heard, was very different.
Einstuerzende Neubauten...Strategies against Architecture II has such wide range of, well, sound...although my personal 'favorite' is Haus der Luege, which is slightly more musical...

CAMEO

Word up