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Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chris Cornell is getting a kick out of angering his fans.
The former Soundgarden singer has stunned the rock cognoscenti with his whimsical decision to record an album with Timbaland, a hip-hop producer whose clients include pop stars Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado.
"Scream" is both the title of his third solo outing and a reflection of the howls of indignation. Online forums ignited with bitter denunciations (and occasional defenses) of the album long before it hit stores on Tuesday via Interscope Records.
Critics were vexed by all the beats, synthesizers and processed vocals, especially given Cornell's impeccable rock credentials. Soundgarden was one of the biggest bands of the 1990s, with its metal overtones helping pave the way for the "grunge" revolution. After the Seattle foursome broke up in 1997, Cornell put his brooding vocals to good use in Audioslave, a "supergroup" rounded out by the three musicians from the archly political band Rage Against the Machine.
His two previous solo releases were stylistic departures, but not of the same magnitude as "Scream." The Los Angeles Times said it was "a fascinating but heartbreaking document of how many wrong decisions one can make in writing and performing a record." Rolling Stone called it "a strange mutation."
Cornell is savoring the outrage.
"That part's kinda fun," Cornell, 44, told Reuters in a recent interview. "If someone is up in arms about the idea of an artist that they really care about doing something that they just can't believe, it begs that question, 'Well, what is it that you would want? Would you then want predictable, comfortable salad that gets reproduced year after year?'"
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT
At any rate, Cornell has performed the album in its entirety at about a dozen concerts, and says the audience response has been enthusiastic.
"It's the most that I've seen guys with beards rocking back and forth to a rhythm," he said.
He considers the album "an interesting sociological experiment," since people seem to be more concerned about who is making the music rather than the music itself.
Of course, that was not the original intention. He just wanted to make music, and does not view himself as the Ray Charles of his generation, boldly traversing musical boundaries.
"It was really more of a whimsical moment of having a conversation about the possibility of making this album and deciding, 'That'll be interesting. Let's go do that.' So I didn't really expect it to be taken any differently."
I think he touches on a good point, and that is there are quite a few fans out there who are just mad because he made an album that's not a rock album and haven't even bothered to listen to the music.
But he's also out of touch with reality with that same statement because there are those who listened to the entire album, and judged the music, and think it's a steaming pile of shit.
Rock music is only predictable if you allow yourself to get complacent in it. There's plenty he could be doing, including making good music, and it wouldn't be the same shit year after year.
Although if this was the direction he was headed, he maybe should have made Superuknown a couple more times and called it quits. 
Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
TRENT REZNOR Slams CHRIS CORNELL's New Album - Mar. 12, 2009
According to RollingStone.com, NINE INCH NAILS mainman Trent Reznor took to his relatively new Twitter account yesterday to slam one of his peers, former AUDIOSLAVE/SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell. "You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable? Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus," Reznor wrote for all 40,000-plus of his followers to see.
Instead of the heavy riff-rock that has marked Cornell's best-known work, his new Timbaland-produced disc, "Scream", features Cornell singing over hip-hop beats and pop/dance grooves. Cornell told RollingStone.com that he isn't worried about alienating his fans with the new sound, saying, "At this point, it's all theory . . . Maybe I'm an optimist or just an idiot but I really think the fans will come around to the concept. I could sit down and make a wall-to-wall guitar album tomorrow. I think it's important for fans to know that but if I'm doing something that inspires me musically then I think it will inspire someone else too."
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, "Scream" — which came out this past Tueday — is on track to move between 20,000 and 25,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
Soundgarden fans will hate me, but to me its the same as his other projects - a few killer songs - but a lot of forgetable stuff as well.
What material in the Soundgarden discography do you consider forgettable?
And people thought CD didn't sell...:haha:
The numbers aren't too bad considering his competition, but yeah this experiment of his has obviously failed. Now he just has to hope one of these tracks catches on.
- jimmythegent
- Rep: 30
Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
Tommie wrote:I've only listened in passing on the way to work.
I must say, on my system in the car, it sounds really good. But as James said, its such a drastic change in direction, its a big shock to my ears. If I want something with rap influences, I'll throw on some DMX.However, this cd is easily more accessible / better than his last solo album. I'll be picking it up when its released.
Anything is better than his last solo album. I consider Carry On to be the worst album this decade, and quite a few people felt the same. Maybe he felt his musical career slipping away and decided to go in this bold direction.
Whether or not his rock oriented base likes this material or not, this album is loaded with potential hits and will sell. What's worrying about this is he will likely grab a new fan base with this and will have to start catering to them and it'll permanently alter his career. Maybe that's what he wants.
I wish he would have did a Soundgarden reunion before charting this course. This album may have shut the door permanently on that chapter. Maybe his ex band mates aren't laughing after all.
Some of this songwriting is just plain awful
Not sure if I would proclaim it 'awful' generally speaking, but its definitely a non conventional yet safe direction for him to go. He is so talented song writing wise that he can jump on any trend and start writing hits.
If you mean in comparison to his brilliant resume, then yes it is awful.
wow, just wow
Just listened to this in it's entirety and am not quite sure what to say.... am a huuuge Soundgarden fan - love both of CC's first 2 solo albums (seriously James, time to revisit Carry On, it's a grower) but this is just a step too far i'm afraid
Im desperately hoping it grows after a few listens, but i fear it is just too radical a departure to connect with anyone who has loved previous Cornell outings - plain bizarre
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
monkeychow wrote:Soundgarden fans will hate me, but to me its the same as his other projects - a few killer songs - but a lot of forgetable stuff as well.
What material in the Soundgarden discography do you consider forgettable?
Not sure...i've forgotten it 
:laugh::laugh:
I guess at times it's just a bit too unusual for me. While it would get boring if it was all straight 4/4 verse chorus verse, I sometimes think its just too complex. Like Cornell writes unsual (and cool) vocal melodies, but once you add too many strange time signatures, and then start with odd guitar parts - there's a risk of my ears just going "WTF".
To me soundgarden is one of those bands where I don't like every song on the album. However, that said, when I like a song, I love it! For example I'm totally in love with the song "Slaves and Bulldozers" and a bunch of others, but its just for every song I like theres a few I skip.
Perhaps I just have bland taste. As my favourite audioslave songs also tended to be the less effectsy ones.
Anyway. I was actually open to this "scream" idea. I really liked the song cornell did for the bond film. And what i like about him is his power, range, unusal melodies and lyrics, and there was no reason that couldn't have worked in a less-rock-more-commercial setting. So while i knew it would be different, I had hopes for this project. But having listened to it, something about it just didn't click for me in the end...i lked "two drink minimum" and can listen to a few of the others, but overall I see Chris as a starplayer being used in the wrong position in these songs.
Anyway...didn't mean to bash soundgarden, I guess i've just always been interested to know what Chris could do in a less experimental band. I know it would bore him silly to do that I guess. I'd just love to see him with someone like VR behind him delivering straight up rock. Or even just on a track or two of Slash's solo album or something.
Re: Chris Cornell- Scream
j/k. I haven't smoked in years but it's always cool how some songs take on a whole new level when high. I remember in 95 driving around & hearing Boyz II Men 'End of the Road' all the time. One night, I was totally high, and was amazing how much different & better it sounded when stoned. Just voices & desperation coming from so many angles.
Just one of those though I'm sure. If I got high now & heard it I probably wouldn't think much of it.
ETA: Another song I found good was REM's "Perfect Circle". It's a slow unknown song of theirs I found on my brothers cassette tape. Check it out on youtube next time.
