Sometimes, sucessful major-label artists make "uncommercial" albums in the name of artistic creativity. What's an example where an artist simply went too far? That's the question we ponder this week, and we invite you to chime in too.
Mac Wilson and David Campbell also chat with me about new releases including The Flaming Lips' "Embryonic," The Heavy's "The House That Dirt Built," and Julian Casablancas' "Phrazes For The Young."
Musicheads airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. CT on 89.3 The Current.
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Comments: 14
Neil Young's "ARC," which may have been part of an attempt to get loose from his recording contract, was certainly uncommercial and pretty much unlistenable. Made a great coaster.
Lots more listenable but also another WTF moment was Garth Brooks going undercover as fake emo shoegaze rock dude Chris Gaines in 1999. Unfortunately, the story of why he did it was much more interesting than the music contained on the release. He put out one more country disc and retired. No word on if he's gonna make a comeback as Garth or Chris.
Here is my awnswer:
Any number of rock artists who decide to make a classical work. Let's see there's Billy Joel, Pete Townshend, Joe Jackson, & even Sir Paul McCartney.
Pink Floyd's "The Wall" although it does have a fair amount of good songs.
The Who's 'Tommy"
Pain of Salvation's 'Be"
Yes "Tales From Topographic Oceans"
Godspeed You Black Emperor's "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven"
however, I happen to enjoy a fair amount of all those albums, namely the Yes and Godspeed record. PoS is a blatant *concept* so I accept that.
but maybe the worst example of a band who was good, but tried too hard was
Styx's "Kilroy Was Here" it just didn't work much at all, save for Mr.Roboto.
He should have stopped after the Green Album.