I've always been slightly bewildered by peoples expectations of their favourite artistes.
This is kind of related to the Radiohead thread that is going on. But am I the only person constantly annoyed when people get angry at bands for not doing what they want?
A case in point is the new Cat Power album. I'm reminded by someone on here saying something along the lines of:
"It just isn't very Cat Power-ish"
Now who are we to tell Cat Power what she sounds and indeed should sound like?
Now this is not a remark on being disapointed by an album or anything like that. But more a questioning of us thinking we deserve something from bands....
Personally I feel lucky when I stumble on something I like.
Anyway, what does anyone think?
i agree
although i dislike the cat power album, its not because she did something thats not cat powerish, because in fact i'd love to hear here experiment more, but more down to the fact that what she did do was unexciting and average.
most of the time bands only reach greatness by doing exactly what they want to, even if it means that they lose nearly all of their fanbase, they may eventually create something perfect which will live on in perpetuity. and surely thats preferable to a forgotten career of trotting out the hits.
That is true
but when bands descend into averageness and crap (i.e. Rolling Stones, Ramones etc.) then I think it's fair enough to be pissed off with them and want to expect more from them. Radiohead are the antithesis of this.
.
the thing about the Cat Power album is that she'd done quite a 'classic' sounding album...in terms of arrangements, but the songs aren't strong enough to survive without some sort of gimmicky production. In my opinion.
I love it when bands make records that alienate their fanbase and leave everyone going 'eh?'
Eg- Beach Boys Love You...
Me too
Liars are a great case of that.
Neil Young
was the funniest. after the superslick Harvest he made a live record of unheard songs, two totally unforgiveably depressing records, thus ruining his rise to pop stardom, and then in the eighties released:
1980: stupidly stereotypical country record
1981: post-punk influenced jerky rock record with a ten minute song where the only lyrics are 'Got mashed potatoes
Ain't got no T-Bone'
1982: demented vocoder smothered Devo-esque techno recoed
1983: 18 minute rock and roll revival record called Everybodys Rockin!
1985: traditional country record with no hits
1986: awful phil collins alike synth drums record
1987: sub standard crazy horse record.
1988: weird blues album
during this time he was sued by Geffen for releasing albums that were'unrepresentative' of neil young.
springsteen too had
a "im going to wrong foot you" vibe follwoing bombastic albums with downbeat acoustic paean to america
In a way it depends how the band then reacts
I admire bands who alienate their fanbase so long as they then realise and are happy enough that they've probably alienated their fanbase in doing so.
What does annoy me (and I'm sure there examples although I can't think of any now) are bands who do something head-scratchingly different and then get pissed off 'cos less people buy their records now.
I agree with you, on the whole
that musicians have the right to do what they want (and the public have the right to like it or to not like it, for whatever reason). I don't feel like any artist owes me anything, and I'd rather a band progresses and tries out new stuff (whether or not I like it) than carries on ploughing the same furrow. For example, I kind of lost patience with Belle and Sebastian because it felt like they were getting comfortable.
It's funny you should mention Cat Power, though, because I think that an artist has a responsibility to at least try and play a good gig (not the same as playing all the hits - just trying to entertain people that have often paid a lot of money and travelled a long way). Her gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire a while back was the most disappointing thing I've ever seen. I wouldn't have minded if she'd just played new stuff, but the whole thing was just a shambles. That's the only time I've felt properly let down by a gig.
Lambchop in 2000, when they played ALL new stuff, was a great gig - though the number of people yelling song titles indicated that not everyone agreed.
Birrova tangent there, sorry...
Ha, shit yeah I forgot about her live shows.....
You got me there.
Thanks you for finding the glaring loophole in my logic.
My girlfriend does that to me everyday.
That sounded far ruder then I intended....
Nick Cave owes me a tenner.
Bet the cunt won't pay up.