Seven Sell-Outs

I have a feeling this post will upset a lot of people, but it's seven artists who I feel have completely bent over and taken it up the arse for a dollar. Whether it's appearing on an advert, changing your image or even worse, changing your entire music style in an effort to become more mainstream, this is some of the worst I can think of. If you agree, disagree, or can think of any more then comment below. This is a good place to start and if we can justify more, I'll put more up with your comments and stuff. These aren't necessarily in any order.

1. Biffy Clyro

Having been a fan since before Blackened Sky even came out about a decade ago, it was only until the world first heard Puzzle that we knew there'd be trouble. It was such a jump from Infinity Land which was quite experimental to something so, uninspired. Fortunately, there were still some good tracks but something had changed since they left Beggar's Banquet to Warner Bros, oh that was it, they no longer cared. Since then Only Revolutions has to be one of the most clearly sell-out records ever when compared to the masterful songwriting on Blackened Sky - and it was this album that got a Mercury nomination. Ridiculous. Not only that, but they've been whoring their name out to all and sundry that will take them on - doing so many corporate shows even Jimmy Carr would be jealous. So here are two tracks, the first is their first video for Justboy (look at how young they all look) and the second is the OTT, shit Captain. Compare for yourself.










2. The Offspring

If ever there were a tale of how selling out is a short term solution to your problems, it's The Offspring. Having already done well with their first album Smash in 1994 and the incredible Ixnay On The Hombre, they got so greedy that they went from being dark, moody, California punkers who started the entire 90's scene there (kinda) to pure pop sell outs. It's not as if they didn't have mainstream songs already, people would argue Gone Away etc. were their 'ballads' but they still kept an air of dignity. However, since Americana and the single Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) got released, it's become nothing short of embarrassing. They've now tried everything to not only win back the mainstream audience, but to also win back their original fanbase. However, it's too little too late and they are still releasing albums. I think it's time to put this band to rest once and for all. Selling your soul doesn't always pay kids.
To commiserate, here's a live version of 'All I Want' (one of the first covers I played live when I was about 16 - ahh, memories) and Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) at Woodstock 99 - look how bored they look, there's only three years difference or something between the two tracks.






3. Iggy Pop

The fact that one of the Gods of rock will now be better known as the guy that sells car insurance is enough to make me cry. Why do it? The supreme case of selling your legend, your persona, something you've worked on for decades, something you've been building up, a respect amongst the world that can only be earned, just to sell it to buy a bigger house. It's disgraceful. For anyone who wants to know more go out and buy the book Wonderland Avenue, he's not the focus but it's a great insight into the man.





4. Idlewild

A band that I have probably seen more times live than any other. They started off as a post-grunge alternative rock/indie pioneers for the modern age, and bands today probably don't even realise it. They played music they enjoyed and that was the main thing - they never catered for what the record companies or the audience wanted, which is the way it should be. After all, that's why people enjoy it right? Unfortunately, by the end it was only the lyrics of Roddy Woomble that held it together. Everyone started doing solo projects to try and recreate their own sound again, but they had turned Idlewild into a money making beast that soon everyone got bored of. It was the style change and the release of 'The Remote Part' that signalled the end, yet it was their most successful album. It sounds as if the band have split but they are currently touring playing 100 Broken Windows in it's entirety to celebrate the re-release. Once again, you can't claw yourselves back guys. Here's what it sounds like to be good and then to sell out.





5. Green Day

Anyone remember Kerplunk? Back in 1992, it became an underground hit that broke Green Day free from Lookout records and took them straight to Reprise Records where the punk scene had then already dismissed them as sell-outs, but unfortunately it got even worse. Dookie was released and MTV played Basket Case to death. Their popularity started to wane after Warning pretty much bombed, so after selling out, how could they regain their popularity? By riding on the wave of emo and selling out all over again. By 2002, they had already had two Greatest Hits albums released and when they finally came out of hiding with American Idiot, an entirely brand new teenage audience welcomed them with open arms. After some more awful 'punk' songs, the band now have a Broadway musical, a game and more. They don't mind anyone using their songs and will basically let themselves be pissed all over for a couple of hundred bucks. Don't believe me? Well here's the difference.





6. Kings Of Leon

I can't go into the whole Kings Of Leon debate again (Look at my album review last month) but it's safe to say no-one in the most recent years has probably sold out more than Kings Of Leon. Here's the proof.





7. Sex Pistols

It's hard to say about whether Sex Pistols (mainly John Lydon) ever sold out because the punk movement, anti-establishment in nature, was just a money making machine. If it wasn't for punk, Virgin would never have come about as a multi-million dollar industry. People forget that punk didn't start in England, it started in America and was copied over here to sell clothes from a store called Sex run by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood. It was all about creating controversy for the sake of making money, Sex Pistols were a boy band way before Take That. So in a way, they were made to sell out but the punk ethos of anti-capitalism etc. should still ring true today and John Lydon, who was so outspoken against the bourgeoisie mainstream culture, has in fact, much like the rest of the band, turned into it. What a shame. I mean Christ, there's even a Sex Pistols perfume out.






OK so I could go on and say Ozzy Osbourne, but in fact I don't think he even knows what's going on anymore and his solo stuff is still shit. Muse might have changed their sound to complete space-cock-rock anthems, but they just got really popular and it seemed they didn't change their sound on purpose, they just got shit. Ramones might have sold out with their logo emblazoned on everything, but half of them are dead now and they did keep on doing the music they wanted to do, even if it got shit near the end. Lemmy in the Kronenburg advert might seem a bit much, but Motorhead were never known for being underground - Ace of Spades is used for everything. Korn, Limp Bizkit, some argue even Metallica, but for the most part if you sell out, then you take the risk of losing more money in the future. Slow and steady wins the race.

There could be a debate about what exactly classifies as selling out, but if you're making music which you know is shit and you don't care how your band looks as long as you get paid, I'd say that's selling out. There's one thing playing music you love, becoming successful and maintaining your dignity, selling out packed stadiums and yet not selling out (Radiohead for instance) but it's another thing being a whore.

Thoughts?

Kings Of Leon - Come Around Sundown

The Southern boys are back with their latest album; but with reviews already coming back negative, should they start thinking about their next step?

It's taken me a while to review this album. Mainly because when I first listened to it a few weeks ago, I thought it was abysmal and that maybe it was a grower. Now, after listening to it a few times and allowing it to grow I can safely say it's pretty shit.

My main issue with Kings of Leon is that, without bragging, I was there at the beginning. When I first got their EP Holy Roller Novocaine about 7 years ago or so (with tracks arguably better on that than on their debut album), I thought I had found the perfect mix of rock, country and blues. Not only that, but the band looked fucking cool. Now a lot of people have said they have sold out and my main issue with that is that, they were never really underground, Youth & Young Manhood got a LOT of TV advertisements which I always feel is a sign of selling out, and this was before they even had that much of a cult following. However, everything about that first album was incredible, the look, the sound, the feel, the lyrics, everything. Unfortunately as time has advanced, their original sound has been diluted to the point where it stands up unrecognisable to the edgy, hip band they used to be.

I'd also argue that a lot of these reviewers don't know what they are talking about. Stuff I've read says they have finally released a stadium album, one reviewer even suggesting Bono will be giving them a call soon. What these idiots don't bother to research is that Kings of Leon toured with U2 back in 2005, they were already playing sell-out stadiums just after Aha Shake Heartbreak. It was after this that the band decided they'd start writing stadium filler songs for that more epic sound, which was the real beginning of their self-destruction. Therefore, you could even blame the crapness of Kings of Leon now on Bono if you so wished, and that the result was Because Of The Times. Reverb, delay, echo, big choruses - all the classic subtleties of stadium rock. However, at least with each album there has been a few tracks that I liked. I mean, let's be honest, Aha Shake Heartbreak wasn't that bad, it was already pointing towards a wish to shake off their indie image and become mainstream but it was still good. I suppose it's a shame that by this point they look like they've just stepped out of River Island rather than a blues bar, but I guess they have to pretty themselves up a bit, even if it means losing their cool image that the boys liked. At least the music will stay the same? If only.

I could perhaps deal with Because Of The Times because it might have sounded less rough, but it felt like they were still hanging on to this whole wish to still be dirty rockers with some swagger. Once again, instead of an entire album I like, the amount of songs I enjoy dwindle with each album. By the time Only By The Night comes around, and namely Sex On Fire, I can't really even listen to it, it's like they have given up. Indeed Caleb makes it clear he always hated Sex On Fire. In fact, he is renowned for being like a sulky teenager and I would imagine that he consciously knows that he's lost his cool, young crowd to the family-friendly stadium sound - a rock gig the whole gang can enjoy and it's 'cool' still right? Well, no. People forget that Kings of Leon never took off in the States like they did here, and really they are arguably more famous here than anywhere in the world and perhaps it's this wish to be accepted that drives these radio friendly unit shifters.

So we come to Come Around Sundown, an album that was promised to be 'dirtier' and 'grungier' than previous ones, once again to make sure their original fanbase holding out hope will still buy their album and that their new crowd will think they are getting something edgier than normal. But this is rock that 13 year old girls listen to and I'm sorry, but if you like this album go into your sister's room, find a pretty dress and dance around in front of a poster of Caleb because you're no longer a man. Reviewers use words such as 'soft', 'emotive', 'shimmering', 'moody' but it's all just a wanky way of saying something is shit, without saying it's shit.

If you haven't got the album, let's start by saying it begins with 'The End' and to be fair, it's something that could have easily been on the last album. It's a swirly, slow song with Editors style fast picking in the background that lends it a bit of edge it so obviously needed - "I ain't got a home" Caleb sings - I doubt it, you've sold a million albums. I feel so heartbroken for his rock and roll lifestyle and how hard it must be to deal with fame. Get over yourself you bloody idiot.

Next up is single 'Radioactive' - if anyone has seen the video then you'll know it is the biggest piece of egotistical crap I've ever seen. Youtube it, but they are playing with a group of black kids as if they are one with the 'people' or on Comic Relief and then the kids act like a chorus line by clapping along with it. Wank. I don't mind the verses on this so much though, it's only when it launches into that singalong chorus that you can feel they're sitting there writing it going - "Yeah ok, so when we hit into it, we want big BOOOOM like fireworks on the stage and WHOOOSH lights sweeping everywhere and then, you know, it's REALLY LOUD and .... and ... let's have a chorus line on the stage! Yeah! Big bright white lights on us all! Then BAM BAM BAM lights flickering everywhere as the song ends." - The record exec sits back - 'It's a hit. I love it. Now let's put some happy black singing kids in the video.' 'That's the dealbreaker.'

A lot of people have come back to me saying Pyro is one of the more exceptional tracks on the album. It's not. It's only because it's got a memorable chorus, much like the rest of the album it's full of oooh's and aaaaaah's, lazy songwriting if ever I've seen it. You compare this to even Because Of The Times and you can already see a noticeable difference in songwriting. It's like they haven't even bothered to try.

Next track Mary might as well sit next to some crap mid-90's average rock band that wouldn't even be bothering the top ten. The wanky solo in the middle doesn't help either and the song is nothing but a bore to listen to - it's just been so over-produced and slick that I can't believe Angelo Petraglia hasn't put a stop to it already unless he's using them as an excuse to do as much production experimenting as possible. It doesn't let up with it's cringe-worthy, slack playing in The Face that is immediately forgettable and hardly worth mentioning.

The Immortals once again kicks in with big huge choruses which could have easily been any other track on the album, it's ridiculous. Next track Back Down South was a bit of a surprise, the reason being is that you can see it at a country gig and it's less forced and more natural feel makes it more authentic. I wouldn't mind if Kings of Leon went more in this direction with some bottleneck guitar, subtle drumming, soft harmonies and indeed went 'back down south' because recording in New York is clearly doing them no favours in terms of respect. Beach Side is a fitting accompaniment to the holiday brochure album cover but again there's no recognisable hook, nothing to distinguish it and set it apart from the rest of the album which is a shame because I think with a bit more work, this song could have worked out quite well.

No Money at least is a bit faster than the rest of the tracks but once again follows their formula of opening riff, turn instruments down a bit for the singing, then turn them back up for the chorus with some oohs and ahhhs and at end the song drive the point (or riff) home. Pony Up makes me yawn with a sound like it has been written by a Kings Of Leon wannabe band rather than the authentic thing, what the hell is that guitar riff anyway? It's awful. Birthday takes it one step further by having some of the worst lyrics ever that I can't even bring myself to write here and it sounds like an afterthought song, just more filler between what they will release as singles.

Mi Amigo is a complete joke and you could probably fall asleep listening to this song. Who is actually listening to this stuff anymore? Maybe final song Pick-up Truck can make up for it perhaps? No. It's a boring, lazy, over-produced piece of shit that can pick-up and piss off as far as I'm concerned. As soon as the album finished I quickly ran through my iPod and made a playlist of my old favourite Kings tracks and calmed back down, maybe they'll return to their old best? Well, even if they don't at least they left some good tracks before they went completely up their own arses.

Maybe if Caleb is so ungrateful of all his fame, he'd either leave Kings of Leon to do something else, or just kill himself. Pity he couldn't have done it a bit earlier on in either case. If anything, at least this album can be a test if someone is cool or not.

'Did you like Kings Of Leon's Come Around Sundown?'
'Yeah I loved it!'
'See ya.'

Come Around Sundown? Just don't come around here.

Rating: 3/10