Chris Cornell interview by john soeder, cleveland.com

Taking artistic risks can be risky business. Just ask Chris Cornell.

When the alt-rocker went out on a limb a couple of years ago and reinvented Michael Jackson' "Thriller" as a backwoods waltz (popularized Cornell-style by 2008 "American Idol" champ David Cook), Cornell was hailed as a genius.

He went out on a different limb with his latest solo album, "Scream," but the reception hasn't been nearly as flattering.

"It's not like bungee jumping off a bridge because it's exciting," Cornell said with a laugh.

"It's not taking chances for the sake of taking chances. . . . It's writing and creating and recording music in different ways, infinite ways. To me, it would be small-minded to define a specific genre that I want to live in as a musician. It would not only be small-minded, but it would be boring. I would probably want do something else for a living."

On the cover of "Scream," Cornell is poised to smash a guitar to bits -- a fitting symbolic gesture. On "Time" and other new tunes, the ex-frontman for Soundgarden and Audioslave emotes over cyber-pop grooves supervised by super-producer Timbaland.

When Cornell originally approached Timabland (whose previous clients include the likes of Justin Timberlake and Madonna) about remixing a couple of songs, Timbaland suggested collaborating on some original material.

"I thought it would be an interesting project," Cornell, 44, said during a teleconference this week.

"We didn't demo anything. We just went in and made the album. We started from scratch, started writing from day one, all the material.

"I knew working with [Timbaland], it was going to be something completely different than anything I've ever done. It was going to be something that was unpredictable. . . . That was kind of the point."

Reviews of "Scream" have been generally unfavorable (although yours truly gave it a B+). The album has drawn scorn from other corners, too.

"You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable?" Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails reportedly Twittered last month. "Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus."

Shortly afterwards, this tweet appeared on Cornell's Twitter account: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Cornell downplayed the apparent war of words between him and Reznor.

"I never participated in any exchange," Cornell said tersely, followed by a long pause indicating he was ready for the next question.

OK -- so in concert, how is Cornell integrating the dance beats of his new material with the harder-rocking songs in his repertoire?

"It's really broadened the variety of my set," he said. "It's an infusion of a different feeling . . . that's been really great.

"It's another level to go to sonically."

originally available as an online feature here



	chris cornell is headed to house of blues on tour behind timbaland-produced 'scream' album by john soeder, plain dealer, april 2008
	Taking artistic risks can be risky business. Just ask Chris Cornell. When the alt-rocker went out on a limb a couple of years ago and reinvented Michael Jackson' "Thriller" as a backwoods waltz (popularized Cornell-style by 2008 "American Idol" champ David Cook), Cornell was hailed as a genius. He went out on a different limb with his latest solo album, "Scream," but the reception hasn't been nearly as flattering. "It's not like bungee jumping off a bridge because it's exciting," Cornell said with a laugh. "It's not taking chances for the sake of taking chances. . . . It's writing and creating and recording music in different ways, infinite ways. To me, it would be small-minded to define a specific genre that I want to live in as a musician. It would not only be small-minded, but it would be boring. I would probably want do something else for a living." On the cover of "Scream," Cornell is poised to smash a guitar to bits -- a fitting symbolic gesture. On "Time" and other new tunes, the ex-frontman for Soundgarden and Audioslave emotes over cyber-pop grooves supervised by super-producer Timbaland. When Cornell originally approached Timabland (whose previous clients include the likes of Justin Timberlake and Madonna) about remixing a couple of songs, Timbaland suggested collaborating on some original material. "I thought it would be an interesting project," Cornell, 44, said during a teleconference this week. "We didn't demo anything. We just went in and made the album. We started from scratch, started writing from day one, all the material. "I knew working with [Timbaland], it was going to be something completely different than anything I've ever done. It was going to be something that was unpredictable. . . . That was kind of the point." Reviews of "Scream" have been generally unfavorable (although yours truly gave it a B+). The album has drawn scorn from other corners, too. "You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly YOU feel uncomfortable?" Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails reportedly Twittered last month. "Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus." Shortly afterwards, this tweet appeared on Cornell's Twitter account: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Cornell downplayed the apparent war of words between him and Reznor. "I never participated in any exchange," Cornell said tersely, followed by a long pause indicating he was ready for the next question. OK -- so in concert, how is Cornell integrating the dance beats of his new material with the harder-rocking songs in his repertoire? "It's really broadened the variety of my set," he said. "It's an infusion of a different feeling . . . that's been really great. "It's another level to go to sonically." originally available as an online feature here
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