I disagree with the whole sell-out concept. That said, it’s obvious that many artists simply get stale after x-amount of albums.
Metallica is one. Ride The Lightning is a masterpiece. As soon as And Justice For all… came out, I knew the handwriting was one the wall. Everything since? Shit sandwich.
There are many more. Living Colour proved that they had one great album and nothing but shit afterwards.
In defense of the artist, let me say that they have x-among of time to write and perfect their first album, and much less time for subsequent efforts. It’s not surprising that most bands sophomore efforts are wearer than their debuts for this reason.
Well, here I was all set to hold the Grateful Dead up as a standard for what not selling out is. Maybe I would have gone on for a sentence or two about taper’s tickets, Shakedown Street, etc.
But I just realized I’m wearing a Garcia tie. sigh
Once in a while you can get shown the light
in the strangest of places
if you look at it right…
I’ve always held the Dead up to a real high non-sell out standard as well. But I remember seeing two ads a few years ago for a high end guitar company that featured both Jerry and Bobby.
Springsteen is one person who I don’t think has ever sold out. He records what he wants to record, and releases albums when he feels ready to release them. And I don’t believe he has ever sold a song for advertising or endorsed a commercial product. You don’t have to like him, but you gotta’ respect him.
I didn’t realize Metallica made any albums after AJFA. Since then, Hetfield tries to sing, we finally see why Ulrich is such a bad timekeeper, Hammett’s solos are all the same, and who is that Newsted guy?..LONG LIVE BURTON!!!
Metallica sold out after No Life Til Leather.
Seroiusly, I like thay they’ve changed styles and done experimental stuff (Low Man’s Lyric from Reload, covers and the symphony thing). If they hadn’t changed, they’d be touring with Dokken right about now. I’d buy their albums if they did Chris Gaines covers fer cryin out loud.
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. That’s my name too.
Wait, no it isn’t.
As for Springsteen, I respect the guy for giving his fans concerts to remember (3-4 hours is a helluva deal), but back in ye olden days of 45’s, Columbia Records would release the current track from the current and an unreleased track on the flipside. Of course dedicated fans would snap them up just to get that unreleased track (Tori Amos and/or her record company are doing the same these days, I should know, I buy them). I don’t know how much control an artist has over single releases, but this sounds more like a money-making deal by the suits.
As for Bruce’s music, “Lucky Town” and “Human Touch”. 'nuff said.
At least guys like KISS’s Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will readily admit they’re in it for the money and the women.
In Article I of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is given the power “to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by granting to [artists, writers, inventors, etc.] the exclusive rights to their creations…”
To me that would mean that a performer may use his/her “creations” as they see fit. Hey, as noted above, it istheir livelihood.
My husband is a musician, and it seems he’s always whining about the big famous guys “selling out.” Yeah, right, honey. If nike comes to you and offers you a gozillion dollars to use 20 seconds of one of your songs in a commercial, and you say no, I’ll kill you, obtain the rights to your stuff, and sell you out.
Well, not really. But my husband is a bit of a snob. I think he’s just jealous. He has some right to be, but that’s another thread.
I personally am not offended by pop songs in commercials. People notice that stuff, and notice whether or not it’s been used well. The only one I’ve ever scratched my head in amazement at is Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight” being used in a beer commercial. Good song (although I prefer the uptempo version), and it does work well in a beer commercial. But with all the drug problems he’s had, it just didn’t seem, well, it didn’t seem right.
Some software company or cellphone company or something used the R.E.M. song “Superman” earlier this year. I can’t remember what company it was, because I was too amazed that R.E.M. would allow it to notice.
Then again, I’m pretty sure R.E.M. got sick of “Superman” shortly after the album (Lifes Rich Pageant) was released. The song is named “Teeny Bopper Song” on the CD, for example. So maybe the band was just giving up the one song it wanted to relinquish.