Musical Jumping the Shark

[csberry]

I was reading recently in Entertainment Weekly about a new phrase: "nuking the fridge." Apparently (since I'm a complete recluse and parent and haven't been to a theater in MONTHS), there is a scene in the new Indiana Jones movie involving a nuke and a fridge. This scene was such a turning point for some fans, that they decreed "nuking the fridge" to be the movie equivalent of "jumping the shark."

Just a little while ago, I went to the Cure's site and was listening to their new single. The band's longevity and this article attached themselves together in my noggin and made me ponder about rock/pop artists and bands. Is there a "Just Called to Say I Love You"(Stevie Wonder's drowning death in sappy pop music) or "Steel Wheels"(Nope, no more memorable singles for the Stones) or "Smile" (Beach Boys' aborted album post-Pet Sounds) for music? What album was the one that made you go,"Okay, I need to stop buying albums from this artist?"

Was it "Out of Time" or "Automatic for the People" with REM?

Did Tears for Fears jump at "The Seeds of Love?"

What about Madonna?

While I primarily listen to "For You" to "1999"-era Prince, I would say he jumped with the "Black Album/Lovesexy." I love "(eye) Wish U Heaven" but my copy of the album has collected a lot of dust through the years.

Who hasn't jumped the musical shark?

Did the Beatles? Was it downhill after "Sgt. Pepper" and the "White Album" merely has a cult following based on the Manson connection and folks that accidentally buy it thinking it is a greatest hits collection?

I don't know about U2. I would have said that Zooropa was the beginning of the end before the band's revival with "All That You Can't Leave Behind"

Comments

[otopico.livejournal.com]

I think the reason a band like The Cure do last so long is that while they are famous, they never got to the peak of fame. They are a bunch of pals that happen to make music and sold a few albums to keep themselves financially while the continue to be pals and make music.

The Beatles broke up at the right time, they were declining and thy all really wanted to be out of the band to do things they wanted. They didnt plan it, but it did work for them.

REM is one of those bands that didnt survive their mid life crisis.

Madonna hasnt done anything good since she left Sean Penn. Now she is that old lady that used to sing.

I think Prince has done ok. Sure some of his stuff has been crap, but overall he still has it. On top of that the songs he as written for other people and produced have made him almost an American version of Bowie. Not everything is going to be a hit and when you miss you step back and a take some time to figure what happened.

U2 was gone by Auchtung Baby. They came back though, like a lot of 'old' bands as these fatherly rockers that people appreciate because they have been able to stay relevant musically for the bulk of my lifetime.

The world is ready for non cookie cutter music again. Hell, Roxy Music is in studio again with ENO.

Once you separate the chaff, we have been lucky that real musicians still exist and want to produce music. Once you get rid of the people chasing money, there is still a huge amount of old and new artists making their particular form of art.

also, Metallica has always, and will always suck ass.