ARTIST: Chris Cornell
TITLE: “Long Gone”
WEB DEBUT: July 17, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: In theory, I’m fine with the idea of Timbaland producing Chris Cornell’s forthcoming solo album. Timbaland has said that he wants to make Cornell “the first rock star in the club,” while Cornell called their collaborations “natural, not self-conscious … open.” I mean, sure, both parties have been pretty stagnant creatively as of late, what with Cornell strenuously pissing away any Soundgarden-garnered goodwill he may still have and Timbaland ripping himself off while crawling up his own behind. But maybe the lack of self-consciousness Cornell mentioned would serve as a galvanizing force, and result in something exciting being committed to tape! Unfortunately, my optimism was torpedoed by one spin of Cornell’s “comeback” single “Long Gone,” which pretty much sounds like “Apologize,” only without Timbo’s here-and-there “ays” and with Cornell’s rapidly deteriorating voice in place of Ryan Tedder’s whine. Anyone want to take bets on how this is going to play with the Linkin Park fans this summer?
WHERE TO FIND IT: Music Is The Heart Of Our Soul. If you dare.
I was slipping through the cracks
Of a dying fame
I was totally trading on my good name
Now Timbaland’s talking about a
Comeback song
And Idolator said ‘This is totally wrong’
And my talent was burned out yesterday
Like Maura’s past had died
And I’ve been caught in a shit sellout
What radio format does this even target? Doubt modern rock stations are gonna play it. Top 40?
Oh, he should have apologized after he made “Euphoria Morning”, a concept album I assume was made about his favorite flavor of herbal tea.
Is that “Blue Steel?”
“You may remember Chris Cornell as the frontman and lead singer of Audioslave.”
Man, that’s some good trolling there.
@Ned Raggett: That’s fantastic. I would’ve gone straight for “Like Suicide” myself but perhaps that’s too obvious…
Give Cornell a little bit of credit. The biggest complaint about Carry On was that it was that it showed off a bunch of different styles but had no direction. At least by hiring Timbaland we know what direction its headed, and it wasn’t even the worst possible direction (You don’t think there’s more where the “Billie Jean” cover came from?).
If you want a scapegoat on this, blame Timbaland for trying to steal this song to score a hit for himself (See Also: “Apologize”) or Ryan Tedder, who apparently helped write the song. Dear Ryan Tedder: before you help established artists write their songs, you might wanna make your own band’s songs suck a bit less.
==TJ==
It’s to Cornell’s credit that he WANTS to keep working. He’s got enough money to live off of for the rest of his life, but for him, recording, touring, and writing IS his life, and he wants to keep at it. If Timbaland can help him do that, then so be it, but although this is the most sure-fire success of 2009 (you can put money on it breaking sales records) it also confirms in the mind of the common people how disconnected the big marketers are from the sincere pulse of whatever is going on street level.
You want to hear a singer with no voice left, just look at Johnny Rotten. Cornell CAN still uncork a raging vocal when he decides he wants to. He just seldom wants to.
And I LIKED “Euphoria Morning” goddamn it.
And Timbaland sucks.