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Top Ten Career Turn-Arounds in Rock Music

omglists.com — Just when everyone had these artists pigeonholed, they pulled a career 180 that surprised just about everybody.

Who dugg this? Made popular Dec 14, 2007

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  • ronintetsuro, on 12/14/2007, -0/+27Hendrix owned half you naysayers before you were even born. Hell, some of you WERE born because of him. Bow down.
  • goingtoalpha, on 12/14/2007, -1/+27HAH!
    I love that Bob Dylan is mentioned in #2 AND #1.
    I've always said Bob Dylan was the best thing to ever happen to the Beatles.
  • shadyacres, on 12/14/2007, -1/+21Once again, uh. . .whats with the picture?
  • thedemographic, on 12/14/2007, -2/+19Why does picture of that cross dresser keep popping up?
  • bwdd, on 12/14/2007, -1/+112 reasons:

    1: TOP ten career turn-arounds in rock music

    2: top ten career turn-arounds in ROCK music.

    there.
  • WebWorker, on 12/14/2007, -1/+9"..rock music wasn't just a flash and the pan.."

    Yeah seriously.. how could you be both a flash and a pan.. Maybe a flash in the pan? But being just a flash would mean it's like immaterial completely making it impossible to be a physical object like a pan..
  • jmignea2, on 12/14/2007, -0/+7Upon scanning the list I was going to mention that the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds was a serious omission. It was mentioned in the Beatles' #1 spot, however, so all is forgiven.
    But seriously, Brian Wilson actually managed to make the Beach Boys relevant beyond the surf rock fad. Pet Sounds and the single "Good Vibrations", which was spawned from the same recording sessions, are among the greatest masterpieces in the short history of rock. It's difficult to quantify how ahead of his time Brian Wilson truly was.
  • markperia, on 12/14/2007, -1/+7I just hope Paul stops this "Im clean now" *****. Start smoking it again man!
  • freakk123, on 12/14/2007, -2/+7Pretty accurate list, I'd say. The Beatles finding drugs is probably the best thing to happen in rock history.
  • deflective, on 12/14/2007, -1/+5dugg for full videos of all artists
  • bwdd, on 12/14/2007, -2/+6WHY WAS HE LAYING DOWN DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!????!!!!!!

    [/radiohead]
  • so1omon, on 12/14/2007, -1/+5Except that before The Bends, everyone assumed that Radiohead was just another one hit wonder alterna-rock band. The Bends really was the turning point in their career, in the sense that they didn't really HAVE a career before it. They had "Creep".
  • goingtoalpha, on 12/14/2007, -0/+3You mean its not the guitarist from a defunct hair metal band?
    My mind is blown.
  • charliespopcan, on 12/14/2007, -3/+6Some people are complaining that they can't see the site. It's working for me (for now), so here it is.

    10) Radiohead- The Bends

    Giving Gen Xer's an anthem to scream at the top of their lungs during their fourth semester at college with their first single "Creep", Radiohead shifted their rock roots into more experimental territory with the album "The Bends". With the encouragement of their producer John Leckie to experiment with their own sound Radiohead begin their steady relationship with rock critics with numbers like "Street Spirit", "High and Dry", and "Just". This album started a snowball effect that created "OK Computer", "Kid A", and "In Rainbows".

    9) U2- Achtung Baby

    After making thousands of girls pregnant with the song "With or Without You" off the international hit 'The Joshua Tree", U2 came to a turning point in their career. After coming back from the critical disappointment of "Rattle and Hum" the band got together in a studio in Berlin and nearly broke up trying to conceive their next record. The outcome of that session was "Achtung Baby", a mix of classic U2 simplicity with layered music tracks that not only breathed new life into their fan base but also created new fans along the way. Not only did they create a vibrant new album but they also created a live show unlike any other and solidified their reputation of being the biggest band in the world without selling out to their label or themselves.

    8) Beastie Boys- Pauls Boutique

    When the Beastie Boys created the first rap album to reach number one on the Billboard music charts the music industry and a majority of the public viewed the Beastie Boys as a joke. Rap was considered a passing fad and the Beasties persona of reckless partying and machismo didn't help to solidify their reputation. But instead of rapping to songs about girls cleaning dishes and inflating a ten-foot penis live on stage the Boys went to Los Angeles stayed in a lavish house and created a masterpiece of hip hop. Sampling over 105 songs in one album the Beastie Boys became critical darlings and earned their respect within the hip hop community. From fighting for their right to party to encouraging peace in Tibet, this album was the beginning of an evolution for our favorite three MC's.

    7) Johnny Cash- American Recordings

    Johnny Cash was dropped from Columbia Records in the late eighties and was beginning to fade fast in the minds of country and rock fans. Rick Rubin approached Cash to record under his label "American Recordings" and revived the Man in Blacks legacy by stripping down his sound to only his acoustic guitar and his legendary voice. Cash not only wrote some of his most personal songs during this period but he also covered other artists music as well ranging from Soundgarden to Nine Inch Nails continuing a tradition of embracing new artists, something in which he has done since the 1960's. His work with Rick Rubin not only created some of Cash's most personal material but also turned a new generation onto country music.

    6) Pink Floyd- Syd Barrett Goes Crazy

    Pink Floyd has only written songs about three things: Money, Madness, and Syd Barrett. Their first album "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the epitome of psychedelic music, and with Syd Barrett's demise into madness the band had to reestablish their sound and began to take larger leaps into sonic territory with "A Saucer Full of Secrets". By ridding the psychedelic element from their sound and focusing more on musical space and experimentation Pink Floyd has given fourteen-year old boys the courage to pinch weed from their older brothers secret stash. Although tragically Syd Barrett's life turned into a shattered nightmare, the group became inspired by their friend's tragedy and created some the world's most isolating yet inventive songs ever created.

    5) Jimi Hendrix- Band of Gypsys

    Jimi Hendrix melted everyone's speakers with his first group "The Experience", and in his short career made three albums with the group then moving on the Band of Gypsys. With the other two members of "Experience" out of the picture Jimi began to improvise and play more inspired blues and R&B tunes with other musicians including Billy Cox and Buddy Miles who recorded "Band of Gypsys" on New Years Eve 1969. With Hendrix moving away from his psychedelic period into a blues generated experimentation Jimi created some of his best work including the legendary "Machine Gun" which many guitarists still listen to in order to maintain an erection. With a new music mentality in mind Hendrix became a member of the band instead of the centerpiece and during this period created some of the most inspired music in rock and roll.

    4) David Bowie Gets into Glam

    "Space Oddity" catapulted David Bowie on to the scene after being used in a BBC documentary about the US space landing, but it was after a series of successful albums including "Hunky Dory" when Bowie decided to explore space himself with Ziggy Stardust and create his own legend. With the success of the concept album "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" Bowie became a rock and sexual god making girls falls to their knees in delight and the boys check twice for the Adams Apple upon making out. Following the success of "Ziggy" Bowie recorded "Aladdin Sane" and continued to blur the lines of rock and roll with theatre causing a new generation of youngsters to dress in drag and chase the rock and roll dream.

    3) Miles Davis- Bitches Brew

    Recorded right after the "Woodstock Peace and Love Festival" over the course of three days, "Bitches Brew" pushed the boundaries of Jazz to its limits and divided its listeners in the process. Eleven years earlier Davis recorded "Kind of Blue" to critical and audience acclaim but in a move that many people feared would infuriate Jazz listeners David created an experimental and landmark album that establishes Duke Ellington's claim of Davis being "the Picasso of Jazz". Using long takes and improvised melodies and forming a new type of Jazz by its use of multiple rhythm tracks Davis destroyed the jazz establishment that he helped to create.

    2) Dylan Goes Electric

    In 1965 Bob Dylan with his back up band including guitarist Mike Bloomfield plugged in their electric guitars and made hundreds of folkies cause a riot at the Newport Music Festival. Playing an acoustic set the night before Dylan chose to play electric the next day because of the new material off his latest album "Bringing it all Back Home". This set infuriated the audience causing his fans to either love or hate him and over the next couple of years Dylan created some of his most impressive work including "Highway 61 Revisited". By refusing to stay static in folk music Dylan became a legend by not holding back his vision and wanting to be able to create the music he wanted he showed the world that he wasnt gonna work for maggies ma no more. Rock musicians are now glad that he decided not to.

    1) The Beatles smoke pot

    It sounds really awful when I put it like that but yes its true The Beatles best material came after meeting with Bob Dylan smoking weed and giggling for hours upon hours. Any historian can notice the musical change the Beatles took when making "Rubber Soul/Revolver" and the creation of these albums came during the period of the Beatles experimentation with drugs. Brian Wilson after hearing "Rubber Soul" was blown away by the production, which made him create "Pet Sounds", thus causing the Beatles to make "Sgt. Peppers" and the invention of the concept album was born establishing that rock music wasn't just a flash and the pan but a new musical platform to be explored for generations to come.
  • mcgrew, on 12/14/2007, -2/+5I disagree. Permanent Vacation and Pump were two of their best albums. They've proven they can play just about any kind of music they want and make it good; 35 years and still kicking ass.
  • CakeRaptor, on 12/14/2007, -0/+3Too bad Justin Timberlake still sucks.
  • worn, on 12/14/2007, -3/+6I agree with this entire list. That was great.
  • terminal157, on 12/14/2007, -0/+3Sleepy.
  • deflective, on 12/14/2007, -0/+3i just came from the lost in translation thread and know i'm happier coming up with my own interpretation
  • inactive, on 12/14/2007, -7/+9Nothing sucks more than a list put together by someone who is more than likely entirely unqualified to put such a list together.
  • navitatl, on 12/14/2007, -0/+211) Boredoms Find Inner Peace
    Early Boredoms music was violent and chaotic, schizophrenic and (to some) difficult to listen to, characterized by painful grunts, wails, and inaccessible walls of noise. With "Vision Creation Newsun" their songs morphed into long, blissful psychedelic jams full of tribal intensity.
  • iceblademan, on 12/14/2007, -1/+3Umm, no. Not really.
  • trentasaurus, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2Amen. I wasn't really a fan until I listened to "Band of Gypsys", or the CD version i think it's called "Band of Gypsys: Live at the fillmore". Either way, listen to that if you want to know why he's so revered.
  • HigherLogic, on 12/16/2007, -0/+2...so why is Radiohead on the list? Are you telling me that's rock?
  • terminal157, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2Didn't Lennon himself very specifically state that it was stupid to give any credit to the drugs? I'm pretty sure he said something like that but I can't find the quote.
  • Grizza, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2No Justin Timberlake?
  • BedPost, on 12/14/2007, -1/+3Dugg for the Beastie Boys.
  • pepperpotts, on 12/14/2007, -0/+2I think the picture, those wondering is an old photo of Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction days)
  • bwdd, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1which is why he got dugg down.
  • LLLSecretChimp, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2I think the Beatles smoked pot before they were ever famous, so that doesn't belong on the list. Most people credit their experimentation with LSD with altering the direction of their music, not marijuana.
  • luet, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2What are you talking about?
  • SRSco, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Don't forget to check this *****'s other list that shows how unqualified he is talk about pop music in a way that has any relevance:

    http://www.omglists.com/article/44813/top-5-cds-no ...
  • Rethcir, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2Duran Duran? They were washed up when they came back in 93 with the Wedding Album ("Come Undone", "Ordinary World") and they're mounting another comeback right now with the Timbaland/Timberlake-produced album that is getting some club play..
  • alexforcefive, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1It is a question that will haunt mankind for centuries
  • DNABeast, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1What about Blur?
  • luet, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2Boo
  • inactive, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2"Let there be Beetles.. with an A!" -Lennon
  • luet, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1I'm sure he's thinking of the one hit wonder new wave band and not the expression, jeez.
  • alwilson, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Good to see Bowie on the list because he has reinvented his image many times and is one of the most successful cross-over artists ever. Most people can only dream to do half of what he's done... and he's still going.
  • so1omon, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Um.... wow. You couldn't be more wrong.

    All That You Can't Leave Behind was a RETURN to "classic" U2. Achtung Baby was when they really shook things up, and the evolution to Zooropa and Pop was a natural one.

    Unless you were a huge U2 fan in 1991, you can't understand how earth shattering it was to hear "The Fly" rattling out of your stereo speakers. Keep in mind that their last single before that was "All I Want Is You" from Rattle and Hum. "The Fly" sounded like an atom bomb in comparison.
  • lilhurt38, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1what about Ozzy Osbourne when he came out with Blizzard of Ozz? I'm pretty sure that was a big comeback seeing that he was kicked out of an awesome band like Black Sabbath and was basically going broke and was addicted to drugs before he decided to come back with a solo album which was amazing. The being addicted to drugs didn't change, but he did make a lot of cash from it and actually had a career again.
  • adml_shake, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2Dugg for the man in black....
  • SRSco, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_ ...
  • xenoploid, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2Why did they use "Money" as the example of the Pink Floyd turn-around?
    Here is the clearest example from "A Saucer Full Of Secrets", the first album without Syd, entitled "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcd0sQLRHl4&feature ...
  • footfwd, on 12/14/2007, -1/+2oh my god! any list that includes Hendrix's Machine Gun is o.k with me! I make people listen to that album in my car full blast all the time.

    jmignea2I disagree with the pet sounds although it is an amazing album, if you read the liner notes
    the album bombed at the time, hardly a turnaround album for them.

    Hey SRSco try and find Band of Gypsys at Walmart.
  • acdcfanbill, on 12/14/2007, -2/+3Perhaps I'm biased, but AC/DC coming back to record Back in Black after Bon Scott died is a hell of a turnaround.
  • funkytaco, on 12/26/2007, -0/+1Thanks for introducing me to Jimi Hendrix' "Machine Gun".
  • xenoploid, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Floyd didn't "turn around" when Syd fell ill, they experimented a little but didn't really rework their style. David Gilmour was brought on while Sid was still in the band and taught Sid how to play guitar before Floyd. Radiohead "The Bends" really wasn't a big departure from "Pablo Honey" at all. It's still the same power chords and Tom York clearly singing his passionately shouted lyrics. Now "OK Computer" was a definite change, but "Kid A" is the clearest change-up of their career. Also, titling this article "Turn-Arounds" implies the artists were turning around a bad course they had been on.
  • leemarvin, on 12/16/2007, -0/+0
    @ so1omon

    Agreed.
  • meganixon, on 12/18/2007, -0/+0as great as rainbows is...i'd like to hear radiohead get back to the melodic type songwriting...bends, ok computer...
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