When Ritchie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi walked onto the stage of the 1989 Video Music Awards toting nothing but a couple of acoustic guitars, they spawned an entire series of shows on MTV, which, in most cases, involved musicians playing songs pretty much the way they'd always played those songs. The only difference was they were playing on acoustic instruments, and, given the amped up acoustic guitars of the day, really only meant that the sound wasn't processed.
Some musicians chose to rework their songs with a different arrangement, perhaps the most notable case of which is Clapton's Unplugged version of Layla. These performances fall into an entirely different category than just changing the instruments, and represent something of the musician's craft. These new arrangements are, in every respect, covers of the original. They're just redone by the same musicians.
Enter REO Speedwagon--a group of rockers from the upper midwest who's music was never given to nuance, and are probably most noted for having given us a spate of power balads cashing in on the whole soft rock phenomenon. As someone who cut his teeth (and developed his air guitar chops) on the hard rock REO of You Get what You Play For, I still cringe when I see Kevin Cronin peddling soft rock collections on late night TV.
These guys are the last group I would expect to rework an original arena rock anthem into something else, but here they do. And they do it well. I've always thought they were better musicians than their power ballads showed them to be, and I guess this confirms that idea.
My Trusted MOGs
I'm really enjoying the conceit that "these new arrangements are, in every respect, covers of the original. They're just redone by the same musicians." A whole slew of thoughts converged in my head the other day, not the least of which had to do with bands the likes of the Ramones and Green Day, that had me stumbling towards the conclusion that the musicianship of the members of many bands far outstrips the music they release, if not in the beginning, then at least by the time they have put out their second album. These two ideas seem complementary to me, in a way.
My Trusted MOGs
I think you're right. For a number of bands, their music doesn't stretch their musicianship. The open question is, are they just playing it safe, or are they really doing the music they love? I don't think there's a consistent answer to that question, or even any way to answer it accurately for any given band.