Musical shifts are well and good, my brother. I think some work better than others, though. And we'll see how this album plays out. Maybe it will be the most awesome thing EVER. Who knows?
Rush shifted direction, significantly, from 2112 to Moving Pictures and Moving Pictures is largely seen as the superior album. Then, they shifted directions massively through Hold Your Fire and Roll the Bones, just a few years later. Again, most see Moving Pictures as the superior album. So, according to the masses, in hindsight, there is usually a pinnacle or "golden years" for these artists who massively shift.
Btw, I favor the artists who shift somewhat over those who never do. SW, Rush, Van Morrison, et al, thank you for the wide variety in your catalogs! AC/CD and other bands that stick with a formula... Pretty much one or two albums will do ya!
You make very valid points. I guess each person tends to tolerate which band can shift, and which cannot. I never liked Rush when they cut their hair and went with keyboards. I've never heard Hold Your Fire......does that make me not a fan? Oh boy...I'm the biggest Rush fan as any. OK, so it really is a band by band and fan by fan basis.