not a slave to the rhythm
not everyone likes chris cornell's new pop album, scream says chris wasser, but is he bothered?
by chris wasser, evening herald, june 2008
Rolling Stone magazine called it a "strange mutation that could only have been born this decade". Another critic described it as a "big budget disaster".
But perhaps the most insulting remark made about former Soundgarden and Audioslave front man Chris Cornell's new solo album, Scream, came courtesy of Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor: "You know that feeling you get when somebody embarrasses themselves so badly you feel uncomfortable?" he twittered back in March. "Heard Chris Cornell's record? Jesus."
Indeed, Cornell's decision to hook up with Timbaland, to produce a record drowned in electronically wrapped, RnB- twisted pop, didn't garner the response that he might have hoped for. As this man's 25 years in the music business have largely revolved around a guitar, there was always going to be a lot of people upset with his new direction.
Feedback
Then again, we can't just expect musicians to stand still. I asked Mr Cornell about his thought on the negative feedback towards his latest album.
"I've never read reviews, ever," says the 44-year-old musician. "It's almost kind of none of my business. I mean, I don't write songs or create albums for critics, and I don't write albums or write songs to service an audience based on what I think that I know they'll like. Neither of those things are a healthy way to be creative.
"For me to sit and read reviews and worry about what fans are saying; what's that gonna do for me? How am I gonna learn something?" he laughs. "Is somebody who has never written a song or made an album, that is critical of an album I make, gonna teach me anything about making albums? I don't think so."
Good point. During the course of our brief chat, Chris describes Scream, his third solo offering, as "a new wrinkle on what it is that I do that I've never really touched on before".
He compares the critical response with that of his first solo album, Euphoria Morning, released in 1999 following the break-up of Seattle grunge outfit Soundgarden.
"I've noticed that perception changes a lot over time," he says. "When my first solo record came out, it was so different from anything I'd ever done in the past, there was a very mixed reception to it. Now, all these years later, the perception is that it was this critically acclaimed classic album."
What was it like working with Timbaland?
"It was as easygoing as any studio experience I've ever had," he replies. "There was no need for the producer to go in and, like, shake up the artist or vice versa, because we were coming from two places culturally and musically so different. From the start, it was shaken up already!" he laughs. "We were completely out of our element -- both of us. So, the focus was on coming together and writing and recording the songs. It made for a harmonious experience."
Time's almost up. I finish with a question about that remark made by Mr Reznor. Soon after Trent made his feelings about the album public, Cornell took to his own twitter account, announcing: "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'."
So, Chris, been in touch with Trent recently? "No, I don't know him. I've never met him before."
So what about that response you made, then?
"Well that wasn't a response to him. I don't know why people thought it was. I wrote something, maybe with the timing, but people sort of just assumed that it was a response but I didn't even know that he'd said anything."
Well, he kind of did. Not feel like contacting him?
"No."
I can't help but feel I've slightly annoyed one of the leading men of the late 80s grunge movement. Oh well.
originally available as an online feature here
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