Musicheads want to know: What recording artist broke your heart by selling out?

The Bee Gees broke my heart when they went disco. I was greatly disappointed when Whitney Houston went from amazing singer to chronic runs - same for Mariah Carey.

I don't know if an artist 'sells out' rather than merely changes musically. People like to say that Green Day sold out, but I disagree. I don't think they necessarily changed their style, they just happened to have a few songs that the public fell in love with. Their lyrics are still just as incendinary (if I spelled that right), in my opinon.

AFI, on the other hand, have so drastically changed that when I heard a song from an album before Decemberunderground, I was amazed at the difference. I've heard they don't play any of their old punk stuff at concerts. Did they sell out? Again, a matter of opinion. As they are wildly popular now, I'm sure their early hardcore fans feel that they did. Personally, I like the new stuff better.

In what I know if going to be the strangest entry on the broke-your-heart list... The Goo Goo Dolls... simply they were a great alt-power pop band who had two solid albums in the 90's and then they hit and have become the poster boys for lite-alt-rock pap..

i think an interesting distinction to make in this conversation is the difference between "selling out" and "losing your edge". i would say that i'm fortunate in that few of the bands or artists i like have ever really sold out, but i would say several have lost their edge. i can think of, for example, either the Replacements post-Bob Stinson or Husker Du when they went major label.

sometimes i think the whole act of selling out is in a sense precipitated by an artist losing their edge - take David Bowie post-Scary Monsters or later PiL.

given all that, there are 2 real sell-outs i can point to among my favorites that i do find vexing, if not heart-breaking - Psychedelic Furs & New Order. i can only listen to the first 2 Furs albums, & they are unadulterated genius. first time i heard "Love My Way", though, i knew it was the end - Richard Butler had decided to be the new David Bowie - gone was that Lydon-esque sneer. very sad. & as for New Order, i can never forgive them for "World In Motion" - although, and here's the funny part, i do feel "Get Ready" is their best release yet. what do you make of that? can a band sell-out, then un-sell-out?

Pink - she went too pop. The kid was good.

Zepplien they broke up

Metallca do I need to explain ?

opppps I didn't spell Zeppelin right

Freddy Mercury died I was so sad

and yes The Bee Gees were much better before disco I only have their pre-disco music
I started a Joke
( the world knew it as Disco yuk)

Good call on the P. Furs, David. I was able to make it through Mirror Moves, but after that, they totally lost my interest. Ultimately, the first two albums are their best. I agree with that.

I was able to stick with REM up until Monster, then I had to chuck in the towel on them. I couldn't take them anymore. I still haven't purchased an REM album since then.. Well, I haven't purchased a new REM album since. Did have to fill in the back catalog though.

I like Bill's comments regarding the clash, did anyone bum when they listened to Soul Asylum's "Let Your Dim Light Shine"?...

Anyone remember Texas? They had three great albums. Bluesy, soul, rock. Great female lead singer. I trudged thru one of the biggest snowstorms of the decade several years ago with several friends to see them at First Avenue. The band was great and very appreciative of everyone coming out on such a frightful night. When their next album came out I bought it "sound unheard" because of the strength of their previous albums. WHAT THE???? What the hell happened? Poppy dancey....junk. Haven't heard from them since.

Jill N: Texas is still around. They're Scottish so they're still playing in the UK, I've seen ads for their shows in the UK music mags. I don't know about their album output as of late.

Mart Z...I am still pained by that album...I have read that Mick Jones being thrown out was more the Clash's manager Bernie Rhodes idea than Joe Strummer & Paul Simonon.

I thought Soul Asylum's, "Let Your Dim Light Shine' had a few decent moments...I was a little disappointed with "The Silver Lining."

I am with you Vivian P...the BeeGee's were better before disco.

Your observations are right on, David B!

Eric P...I also used to dig the Goo Goo Dolls until "Superstar Carwash"...I never thought they would ever amount to what they are now...and probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for the Replacements.

Frick...I also think REM albums have been a little spotty in recent years...I still have hope their upcoming release will be a nice return to form.

Hey Jill N...I remember that Texas show....I was a big fan of the Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri...The Glasgow Scottland band are still very much around & even thriving in Europe. They never did really catch on in the states.

I was always disappointed with the Police's Synchronicity album??

One that comes to mind is ZZ Top. First 4 albums were brilliant and then they decided to start making hits. Still great musicians and I don't begrudge them their success but I feel a lot of the sould was lost. Same thing with a more recent singer, Joss Stone. She was so promising and then apparently started listening to her managers and record commpany and became just another pop singer.

I do have to defend the Bee Gees a little here. I was no fan of disco at all but going back and revisiting that period you can still see that the Bee Gees were head and shoulders above almost anyone else doing that style. Well written, well crafted, well produced music. Something they've always done. I don't own any of it nor will I ever but I won't turn the dial if it comes on anymore.

Synchronicity was a fabulous album!!

gwen stefani let me down when she went solo. no doubt was a fav in my high school years, so i was intrigued with what she would bring on her own, and then was thoroughly disappointed.

Depeche Mode are rather disappointing now. They lost their edge after Violator, although Playing the Angel is not bad.

The Old 97s were a fantastic alt country band from Texas that had somewhat of a raw sound, great lyrics, and a fantastic live show. They went almost exclusively pop after their first three excellent albums and I haven't been able to listen to them since.

i have to agree with Bob - the Old 97's used to rock harder than anyone around! one of the sweatiest shows i've ever been to was them at First Ave after the release of "Too Far to Care" - they absolutely refused to slow down! then - i don't know - it was like someone told Rhett Miller he was a great songwriter or something. not that he wasn't - it was just part of the beauty of the Old-Old 97's was buried beneath this speed & fury were these terrific little pop-country gems - it was unique. now their just another pop group with a cleaned-up sound - not so unique.

kinda like, what would happen if you cleaned up Jesus & Mary Chain - removed their noise & attitude? it would be not so interesting - even though we all know they are really just early Beach Boys buried in white noise.

Sting. I loved the first three Police albums but lost touch in college when Synchronicity came out - maybe too much of hearing "Every Breath You Take". I think that album is actually better than my initial thoughts way back when. But Sting as a solo artist is a complete windbag of crappy music. I think he uses his fame for some good causes but the music is unlistenable. I guess people grow up and smooth the edges...maybe. Copeland and Summers as least seem to have maintain some cred.

Damn, Danny called sellout at "...Justice". I can't imagine what he thought of everything after that.

And Bill, even the Clash don't acknowledge "Cut The Crap." One viewing of "Westway To The World" confirms that one.

A recent disappointment would be Bob Mould's new one, "District Line". I barely made it through half of it. It just seems to lay there.
It's pretty milquetoast.

Danny needs to keep the KISS reference streak going. That's two in a row, now.

Wow, lot of Bee Gee's comments...one thing about them is they never really made disco albums. They made their music and it got lumped in with it!

I'm with you Todd...The Police were huge with me until Synchronicity, which many loved,
including, WS R...I didn't...then Stings 1st solo album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles" came out & wasn't half bad. Then he totally lost me...the all time low point had to be the CD of lute music while he was dressed in Renaissance Festival attire!

I am also in agreement regarding the Old 97's, but still hold out hope that they will indeed make another great ragged alt/country album. I do still believe that they are a GREAT live band!

Will the Stones ever make another fantastic album??

There was a band called Shriekback that was so dark and creepy in a marvelous way. And then they came out with an album that was jazzy and loud. Yikes. Horrors !!! This was all the early 80s.

The Stones will never make another fantastic album. "Some Girls" was the last great Stones album. They've lost the spark. Nearly everything is so workmanlike now. Plus, you need the glue of Mr. Wyman and Watts to really make things click.

I've always hated Sting. Even though I did own a couple of Police albums.

I LOVE Dowland's medieval songs but Sting doing it was so blah.

(The lute player was excellent though)

I have a classical CD of a counter tenor doing it. It's much better.

It was hard to believe Liz Phair was still keeping real after her self titled album came out. It was okay pop with a few catchy tunes, but it was no Exile in Guyville.

probably Genesis and Yes, except I didn't know them when it happened in the 80's. Dream Theater it didn't quite happen. dredg I wasn't really a fan for long enough to even consider it, plus I actually really like "Catch Without Arms."

I have to agree with the Sting comments. I do have his first 2 solo albums (vinyl!) but haven't felt the need to buy them on CD. Not interested in that music anymore. Regarding Synchronicity, I dislike Every Breath You Take (overplayed) but some of the other songs I still like. Don't have it on CD, tho.

For me I think it has to be Moby. There was a great evolution from his days as a DJ to the pants-blowing-off good 'Everything is Wrong,' then he made a pretty good tribute to his old days in punk bands and his mom, then he created one of the best albums of the 90's with Play. I listened the crap out of that album about six different times over the course of a few years. He always had really uppity essays on the liner notes of every album talking about a lot of things, but sounding really genuine. Then he sold his songs. All of them. Multiple times over. He was - and continues to be - everywhere. Hard to see a movie preview, commercial or episode of Smallville without hearing evidence of what kind of feels like betrayal. If you took this theory and applied it to his stance on pets and animals it would be like him suddenly advocating meat eating by joining a safari with Ted Nugent where they kill with their teeth. Then he created a half-assed second version of Play with '18.' I threw it away. I didn't even sell it. Then he got his next album sponsored by a hotel. Called 'Hotel.' Brilliant. So I've just decided to believe that evil Moby took over and locked not so evil Moby up, who is currently plotting his escape and when he does will bust out with an early 90's house album that will bring tears to my eyes.

BTW: Cat Power's show the other night at First Avenue was amazing! That band Chan put together was awesome, especially former Blues Explosion guitarist Judah Bauer & Dirty 3 drummer Jime White!

The show just smoldered start to finish. Chan looked like she was really into it. The highlight had to be her cover of Patsy Cline's, "She's Got You" & her timely cover of "Aretha, Sing one for Me"...take that Beyonce!

Did you see the show?

I agree with Peter above about Shriekback. They were a project started by Dave Allen the bass player with a band that I can NOW say have let me down and won me back!
Dave left the Gang of Four in 82 before they made their weak "Hard" album.
I have often said that they were the best live band I ever saw in the late 70's, but by the time they played Radio City (in a double bill with Public Enemy!) in the late eighties they were a shadow of their former selves, literally putting me to sleep! The original members got back together a couple of years ago and re-recorded some of the early stuff which sounded awesome and then played live shows to rave reviews. A new album is on the way. They regained their status in my eyes, but boy that mid-career slump really bummed me out!

Ok, I'll be the voice of Country music on this one. Garth Brooks was a great performer in the '90's, and only performed at venues which would agree to his ticket prices of $15 or less, so his actual low income fans could afford the price. Then he retires, and his first CD is years was made available only at WalMart, which I see as a HUGE sell out. I don't shop at Wally World, and I won't buy Garth Brooks any more, regardless of where it is sold.

i agree with vivian. metallica lightened up way too much way too quick. i understand bands can change and take their sound to different places. but it was just packaged too neat and radio friendly for their original fanbase. then they went back to it (a little) recently and came off forced

How about Nelly Furtado? She changed her style a lot, from the "Whoa, Nelly" days to "Promiscuous." And I'll agree w/ Molly that Gwen's No Doubt material was way better than any of her solo stuff. But I guess there's possibly some No Doubt on the way in 2008.

Someone above mentioned Dylan doing a bank commercial. I would add any once great rock band allowing their music to be used in a commercial. Led Zepplin and the Who come to mind. Whatever meager glimmer of art may have been associated with your music evaporates to nothingness when it is used to shill any product on television.

I can't believe these guys need the money and if they do, shame on them. And if they gave up control double shame!

I have to agree with some of what has been said about Sting. I was just a wee tot when The Police came out, but I grew up with their music. By the time I was a teenager, The Police was done ans Sting was solo. Dream of the Blue Turtles, Nothing Like the Sun, and the Soul Cages were great albums. It wasn't until he started to get painfully mushy that I started to lose interest. Then again, at that point, he'd made so much money and developed such a following, he decided to follow his heart and make the music he wanted to make. Thus we have the lute crappola in RenFaire garb ... not that I have anything against Ren Faires! I do like the stuff that's different, like Desert Rose, and the grammy '03 rendition of Fragile, but I think Sting as we knew him in his prime (when he could still somewhat rock) is done.

Okay, this was quite a while ago, but I really liked Amy Grant stuff in high school and college. I was disappointed as she went more secular. I love Syncronicity, BTW.

I was really bummed when Metallica sold out. First, they were never going to made a music video. Then they made a video for One. Fine. But then they made a video for some Tom Cruise movie. That was a real bummer. They have really diluted themselves in the past 10 years. They have a new album coming out this summer. I hope they can get it back together.

I thought REM had completely sold out with "Green" - but then a few years later they came back with "Automatic for the People" which I felt redeemed them somewhat.

I don't think you can say that Michael Jackson ever sold out because he has never been anything /but/ a commercial venture. Don't you have to have had artistic integrity in order to lose it?

Aerosmith! Permanent Vacation was their last, great album. Then they seemed to only write music that only appealed to teenage girls in the 90s - yucko!

Deb A, I don't think the Beatles sold out, at that point anyway, I think those songs that you named are just crappy Ringo Starr songs. The Beatles didn't really sell out until they took that John Lennon throw away, Real Love, and added their own vocal and instrumental tracks to it. On top of that they let Jeff Lynn produce it so it just sounds like John Lennon singing with E.L.O. That was truly a heart breaking sellout for me. Hideous, and totally shameless.

The suburbs. I felt they sold out with love is the law in 1983. A good album that just didn't compare to In Combo , or Credit in Heaven . They were my favorite band in the early 80's and contributed to the Minneapolis scene that launched The Replacements, Prince, Husker Du, and Soul Asylum. In concert they captured the magic that made a Suburbs concert an amazing experience. At the time they were my favorite. I saw them at a reunion concert at first ave in the 90 s and they could still put on a great show. I think they were one of minnesota's best and somehow got missed by a lot of people. They sold 15,000 copies of credit in heaven. It is available at Amazon.com, and there is a The Suburbs website. They sort of sold out but didn't sell quite enough to keep the music going, and I am still disappointed that there was not more music form them. Any one else agree?

Gwen Stefani - less about the music than about her "look at me" attitude

The more Paul McCartney songs I hear, the more I realize that Lennon carried that songwriting duo

This one pisses me off so much, I have to put in capital letters:

ELTON JOHN

His glory days: "Funeral for A Friend," " Tiny Dancer," "Madman Across the Water"

Everything he did after 1982 just sucks. Then, when he got involved with Disney, that was all about the $$$$$

Whoever made the comment about The Who was right on target---I'm really tired of hearing them in commercials.

Ok, The Suburbs didn't sell out. Love is the Law is a great record too. I just heard it on Mark Wheats show on the Current. If they would have been around in todays scene maybe they would have been a comercial success, and gone on to make more music.

FYI, there is a Suburbs site on Wikipedia, and a Chan Poling site. Also info on the Twin Town site. All the Suburbs music, and Chan Poling music is available on Amazon.com. The whole catalog was bought by Beej and released in 2002 I think. The band opened for the B-52's in 2003, and 'got together' again for a few First Ave shows about that time, available on DVD with the 2003 best of release Chemistry set. Chan released an album in 2002 "Calling all Stars" that got good reviews, comparing him to Bryan Ferry, Richard Butler, and Peter Murphy. In 2005 he released 'The New Standards" with John Munson of Semi Sonic and Trip Shakespeare. The Current has played music from all these projects recently.