The Classic Rock Opinion: Chris Cornell
After today’s confirmation that Chris Cornell will play this year’s Download festival and the recent release of his hip-hop tinged album Scream, Siân Llewellyn weighs in with her opinion on where the former Soundgarden man has gone horribly, horribly wrong. Get your Download tickets!
This blog is Trent Reznor’s fault. He made a comment on Twitter that got me thinking. It’s something that’s been troubling me for a couple of weeks – not in a lying awake at night, unable to sleep kinda way, but nagging nonetheless.
I think I’ll call it ‘The Chris Cornell Conundrum’. The thing is, former Soundgarden/Audioslave singer has a new record out called Scream. And in case you didn’t know it’s produced and co-written with noted pop/hip-hop producer Timbaland – a man more used to working with the likes of Madonna, Justin Timberlake or Jay-Z than the guy who has written and sung on some bona fide modern rock classics.
Now, I’m a long-time admirer of Mr Cornell and his mighty larynx, from early Soundgarden through Audioslave and his solo ventures to date (although Carry On was a bit disappointing), but nothing quite prepared me for the shock of Scream.
Here’s what Trent Reznor twittered: “You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable? Heard Chris Cornell’s record? Jesus.”
Reluctantly, I’ve gotta agree. And before anyone goes levelling accusations that I dislike hip-hop, dance or even pop music, the contents of my iPod would prove differently. So, that’s not the problem. The problem is that it’s Chris ‘Soundgarden, for Christ’s sake’ Cornell who’s gone and done this.
I’m all for artistic diversity, but really, Chris, this is a step too far. By all means hand off your new record to a production genius to be remixed for the dancefloor (which, apparently, is how this collaboration first occurred as Timbaland was approached to remix Carry On), but make sure you record it properly first – you know, with a proper rock band an’ that.
Scream is a 50-minute soundscape collage full of loops, beats, synths and often vocoded, processed vocals – that’s not something you expect or need from Cornell. His voice is too idiosyncratic, too *good*, dammit, to need the studio wizardry that’s suffocating him on Scream.
The real kick in the teeth, however, is that there are tantalizing flashes of what could have been littered all over the place. There are some great melodies – the chorus of the title track for example, the vitriol of Part Of Me or even the subdued melancholia of Take Me Alive could be all be turned into stunning rock anthems if given half a chance. Instead, they’re drowned in production quirks and sound startlingly samey.
Time – with its eerily chiming intro guitar riff – starts promisingly, but soon descends into Cornell flailing all over a synth riff that sounds like a second-hand version of 2 Unlimited’s dance floor smash No Limits. And then there’s the intermittent rapping. Seriously, Chris Cornell raps. Sorta – which, on the white boy rap scale, is far closer to Vanilla Ice than Eminem.
Simply put, Cornell has a rock voice. Not a hip-hop one, he’s not a soundbyte to be sampled and pasted all over a blippy backbeat. You’re a rocker, Chris, it’s what you’re good at. Suck it up and deal with it. By all means do this in your spare time, but don’t inflict it upon us.
Cornell responded glibly to Reznor (again, via Twitter) “What do you think Jesus would twitter? ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone’ or ‘Has anyone seen Judas? He was here a minute ago’”.
Well, I’m sorry Chris, but at least Nine Inch Nails generally release remixes of songs after having recorded them properly, not *instead* of doing so.
But hey, here’s what’s weird, I’ve been listening to the album again while writing this and here’s the conclusion I’ve come to about ‘The Chris Cornell Conundrum’. I don’t actually *hate* Scream, I just hate the fact that it’s the new Chris Cornell album. If it was the new Gnarls Barclay (and frankly, it may as well be), I probably wouldn’t mind at all…
Sian Llewellyn
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hmmm. not heard the album but I generally quite like Chris Cornell. Your closing cmment speaks wonders though – sounds like he’s made a decent stab at hip hop/pop music (Gnarls Barclay – they are reasonably big right? I spend all my time listening to Metallica and Kiss so I don’t know much about Pop Music – except the Saturdays, pussycat dolls and Girls Aloud are bang tidy (thanks Keith Lemon)) but he hasn’t met you rexpecttions of a chris cornell album. Fair enough, yet you make it sound like the greatest musical travesty since Gene Simmons Solo album “Assh*le”….. but if its what the new Gnarls Barclay would sound like does that not make it “good” i.e. it’ll sell bythe bucketload and get him on T4?? Why should he limit himself as an artist or not harbour ambitions to break into more mainstream music?
Fair play to the guy for trying something new I say- I’d be interested to hear it (if I can stop playing Death Magnetic and Love Gun constantly)
Not heard this album yet (been put off for some reason lol). Sometimes “artists” have to get stuff out their system to get back to their roots.
If Metallica hadn’t gone through the poor Re-load, S&M and the “not quite as bad as everyone says” St. Anger albums would we have the magnificent Death Magnetic?
BTW – What happened to Kim Thayil? Fantastic, innovative guitarist and I’ve heard nothing about him since the split.
I’ve been put off the album by comments too, but have always thought he’s one of rock’s great vocalists. I’ll be at Download this year and plan to watch him, so might give the album a listen. Hoping he plays lots of Soundgarden stuff live though.
it’s not so horrible…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXVQQeYhyk
just need “covers” XD
I think we should let him get on with it. He’s not hurting anyone.
Enjoy the sunshine and listen to some Foghat.
Thanks
Mr Hippie
Is Chris going to piss off die hard Soundgarden and Audioslave fans with Scream? Definitely. Will he gain some new ones with this release? Unfortunately, probably not. Fans of Timbaland’s work probably don’t even know who Chris Cornell is and I don’t see it getting the airplay it needs for him to break into more mainstream territory. It’s too bad. It’s a good album “if” you can listen to it without your Audioslave ears and you’re also into a bit of a pop sound – not too many fans of classic Chris are.
Kim Thayil – he was on Dave Grohl’s metal side-project Probot’s one and only self-titled album for a couple of songs, last time I checked.
I’m really looking forward to hearing this. I don’t listen to Timbaland personally but I have a girlfriend who does and the man certainly does have an ‘of the moment’ ’sound’ – most at home turned up loud in thumping R&B clubs. Cornell has an incredible voice and part of me thinks that paired with the right songs and sounds this combo could really work – “in da club” so to speak. In saying that tho, if it sounds anything like Gene Simmons cover of Firestarter that John Bethel unfortunatly just reminded me off, it’ll be getting launched right out my window and replaced by Audioslave immediatly!
i’ve heard the new materialby cornell (and downloaded carry on (which to me has a few song songs on it) this is more of if timberland can make chris to the mainstream.
that means they’d find out about his rock back cataloge and soon his music could be cool
and maybe a resurgense of grunge \m/
I think he’s gonna get the bottling of a lifetime on the day. I’ve heard his solo stuff and I’m not impressed, to be honest I preferred Aline In Chains to Soundgarden.
We will see…
Its the worst album I’ve heard for a long time. Cant believe that in CR130, Phillip Wilding gives it 8/10!!! Come on CR get a grip of your reviewers.
Personally, I think Cornell’s given Planet Rock plenty already, between Soundgarden and Audioslave, so if he wants to play some disco jive, let ‘em. He should take it all the way, though. Buy a white belt and a yacht. Date Paris Hilton, get embroiled in a sex and cocaine scandal. Really live it up.
Saw the video for “Part of me”. Typical mysoginistic
hip hop lyrics, eg “That bitch aint part of me”.
He still has a fantastic voice and looks a picture of health, but the song is a shocker.
As for the video, it could have been made for timberlake with all those “ho’s shaking their booties”.
I wa so shocked i immediatley played “The Jesus Christ Pose” 4 times in succession.
Oi Cornwell…. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
You know what. This is a good record. Chris Cornell in the span of 10 so years has put out about 13 solid rock records. At this point I think he can put out whatever the hell he wants. I’m not saying we have to all like it or buy it, or even buy into it. But, he should be spared critizism. Timbalands a huge Soundgarden fan apparently anyway.
how could you have a ranking of the greatest singers of all time and not have chris cornell on the list? his range is unbelievable, words can’t explain it; in the studio and live. if you want proof listen to tracks like “beyond the wheel”, “slaves and bulldozers”, “new damage”, “reach down” just to name a few of many. also might i add one of the greatest songwriters too. bottom line he should be in the top 5 of all time.