Is Every Band/Artist Capable Of Making A Good Pop Record?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OK maybe a "quite good" one.

I thought about this in the wake of the "Dakota" controversy earlier this year. There are actually not v.many artists who have managed to avoid making at least one record that works as pop somehow. I think the Stereophonics might still qualify but many wd defend that song at least.

So name some and we can try to think of counter-examples from amidst their oeoeoeuvre.

Obviously this does not count i) people who've only been around for one record and are still getting their fun-hating phase out the way, ii) Wire magazine regulars.

I will be posting an important piece of evidence later today.

Comments

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Leonard Cohen?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough Laughing Len to know whether he's made a successful pop record - I heard the album he made with Phil Spector and it sounds like a queasy accomodation with pop but not actually a good pop record. So you may be on to something here!

Maybe the first we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin one?

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

his spector collab = borin but BIRD ON A WIRE is good pop, and so is SUZANNE

also SISTERS OF MERCY if i recall correctly

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

yet more disproof of your theory viz bands named after songs

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

more proof you mean

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

disproof you mean

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

proof times a billion squillion

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

disproof

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Bird on a Wire = NOT POP! Is there even one tiny thing pop about it?

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

:'0

[anthonyeaston.livejournal.com]

some Cohen songs that could be considered pop:

suzanne
chelsea hotel
dont go home w. yr hard on
jazz police
first we take manhattan
famous blue raincoat
the one about old black joe still picking cotton for yr ribbons and bows
the future

further evidence
two tribute albums
jennifer warner
"give me a leonard cohen afterworld so i can sigh eternally"
the women
being ripped off by his manager

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

First we take manhattan (at least his version) seems quite poppy to me - obv not actually charting (or even released as a single, but...)

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

my first LJ x-post!

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

First We Take Manhatten is the nearest one to pop I can think of, but I'm still not convinced it's pop.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

you're telling me that THAT bass synth line isn't pop?! then the handclaps come in! it's got a middle 8 and EVERYthing

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

quick someone YSI it and we can all JUDGE

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

also your milkman can hum it

(if your milkman was me)

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

*enter comedy milkman singing diamanda galas*
*all milk cartons burst*

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

'Famous Blue Raincoat'! Timeless pop ballad! Covered by about a gazillion people! Also 'Dance Me To The End Of Love', also 'First We Take Manhattan', L Cohen is totally pop.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

he = all pop all the time except when p.spector hoves in view