How about “Young Lust” vs. “Great Gig in the Sky” by Floyd? Or pretty much any song from the Syd era.
I had someone try to convince me that Young Lust counted as progressive rock because Pink Floyd performed progressive rock and The Wall was a progressive rock album.
Not a persuasive argument, but a memorable attempt for sure.
“Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Blank Space.”
Smash Mouth - Pet Names
Smash Mouth - Whole Lotta Love
Or basically anything from Fush Yu Mang compared to their later stuff.
65daysofstatic - “retreat retreat” and “sister.” One is definitive post-rock, plus an uplifting anthem for the band. The other is a slow, foreboding ambient electronic piece. No shared instruments, themes, or genres between the two.
I listened to the No Man’s Sky soundtrack so many times, thanks for the rec!
Bright Eyes released the albums “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn” and “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” on the same day. They sort of answer this question where you can tell the artist was split on two different creative strands.
Beatles: Hard Days Night - Tomorrow Never Knows
David Bowie: Suffragette City - Warzsawa
Miles Davis: 'Round Midnight - Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
Radiohead: Creep - Kid A
Beach Boys: California Girls - Wind Chimes
Kanye West: Jesus Walks - Black Skinhead
Beach Boys: “Surfin USA” and “All I Wanna Do” (there are plenty of other examples too)
Beck - Devil’s Haircut and Heart Is A Drum
Get Dead - Kerouac’s teeth vs Disruption
Get dead just goes on all my playlists they have a song to fit most my vibes