It's just something that occured to me because I think most people think if an artist hasn't put out anything within 1 year their career has gone down the tubes and there's also the saying that you're only as good as your last project. So what do you guys think??

dancerella said:

...just as every beautiful flower will one day wilt... Its the nature of it. The Western mind can't accept the fact that Yin also means Yang.

NoTime2Hate said:

you mean one day there will be no more Usher or Beyonce?

bowie came back in his golden years and made some of the best work of his career. i think it's a matter of holding on to your curiosity and remembering there are no limits to imagination and art. success, i would imagine, can screw with someone's ability to remember that simple fact.

Doesnt seem to be happening to Bob Dylan. Or Alice Coltrane, for that matter

No I don't think so. Maybe in the mind of the consumer or the general public but no. Prince will be recording until he falls dead. I'll bet that music will have value even if he is 95.

Our changing perspectives of artists over time have as much to do with it.

6sixx6 said:

see i'm with you on that. first of all i think that term is pretty cruel but i don't think someone is wahsed up just because they are taking a break for a while. now Ashanti, that bitch is washed up! i never thought she had talent in the first place anyway and her albums have not done well since the first one.

dancerella said:

I'm with you on that, D.R. I could walk into any Church on the Northside of MPLS and find someone in the Choir who can out-sing Ashanti.

dancerella said:

Lol.....Ashanti NEVER was.

dancerella said:

Now come on you know the great omarion is never gonna be washed up.
He wants us to be part of his ENTOURAGE.

Sade won't. Neither will Earth Wind & Fire.

When U talk about making hits,yes!
The younger people have their own fav artists and a lot older fans just don't buy singles anymore.If you're lucky they still will buy the latest album but most of them only buy Best Of's or Greatest Hits.
The only chance 2 get in the charts is when you collaborate with a younger artist or do a soundtrack.
Bruce's latest big hit was Streets of Philidelphia(soundtrack),Rod Stewart had a hit with Sting & Bryan Adams(who was selling big at the time) with All for one and Santana had a major hit album when he worked 2gether with the younger generation.

Sometimes we ask the question,how come Black Sweat or 3121 didn't do better?
It's simple,I don't buy Bruce's new album,allthough I liked Born In USA and his greatest hits,but I never heard one song of his latest releases and I'm not interested.Except for Rising that got a lot off airplay,good song!
Same with Bowie,Let's Dance is classic and I loved Black Tie,White noise and all of his hits.haven't heard a song of his latest albums.
Doesn't mean I don't respect them or that they are washed up,
I just don't take the time anymore 2 check out an album I've never heard about or their music has changed 2 much 2 my taste.

We'll all be washed up considering our time on this planet is finite.

6sixx6 said:

tell me about it. you can say that again!

badujunkie said:

wow, you have a very strong point there. so whay is that?

doesn't Earth Wind and Fire have like one original member left though?

pkidwell said:

4 ( with Reece behind the scenes )
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[Edited 9/20/06 10:23am]

dancerella said:

If one wants to keep conquering the charts , then yes ... maybe ... it's all so subjective .
Let's take 4 instance EW&F . They released in 2003 their album The Promise which has been MAJORLY slept on , while it contains Where Do We Go From Here a lost treasure from their most succesful album ever , I Am ( 1979 ) .
Problem is that some fans just simply won't accept new work from them , while i can appreciate their exploring to new compositions , and in that EW&F-album , i hear their distinguished sound . But some don't think so ... it's all subjective you know .
An artist might be washed up in the eyes of people who take their own personal conclusions to decide why they are finished .

I cant think of anyone besides Prince
who isnt washed up. Maybe Eddie Van Halen
but no one knows cause he hasnt released
any of the so-called 10 lps of material he's made.

One example that comes 2 mind is the Dazz band. They r still dropping some nice tunes.....and I'm still buying it. The same with Charlie Wilson from the Gap band. P-Funk also.

Anx said:

...except death

100MPH said:

I agree with you on ewf's 2003 the promise album. That joint was definitely
slept on. I even like it better than illumination. What made the promise
work was that it sounded very much like a classic ewf album. It only had
3 uptempo joints on it but that cd was real nice.
My favorites were: All in the way,Betcha,Hold Me(grammy nomination),
Never,She waits,Let Me love you, and dirty.They also have the emotions
singing backing vocals on a couple of the tracks.
I am not knocking illumination but some of the tracks sound very
un ewf like since they brought in outside producers on the project.

"The name is Jupiter, from the galaxy
I came to meet you, to make you free
Deliver to you a flower from
A distant planet, from where I come"

Graycap23 said:

Those people are still dropping NEW shit? Where? i want some.

phunkdaddy said:

damn i gotta get that shit.

NoTime2Hate said:

FIYAH!

[standard U2 reference] I'd like to nominate U2 as a band that, sales wise, at least, isn't washed up yet [/standard U2 reference]


But seriously, I think it's easier for rock bands than it is for R&B/Pop acts. Using U2 as an example: U2 formed in 1976, released their first album in 1980, had their first U2 #1 LP in 1987. Their last album hit #1, sold over 800,000 copies first week in the US alone, spawned a huge hit (would've been bigger if Billboard had counted download sales into the charts at the time), and spawned the biggest tour of the year.

It may not be "cool" to like U2 at the moment, and they have gotten sappier with age, but they are at one of the pinnacles of their career, IMO. Look around the rock acts of the moment: Coldplay, Keane, The Killers all have had success with songs that had obvious U2 influence.

It's been about 2 years since their last album, and they are in the studio with Rick Rubin at the moment, so I'm hoping that the next disc they drop continues the winning streak.

badujunkie said:

Charlie and George Clinton both have new releases less than a year old. The Dazz last cd came out abot 2 years ago. I'l have to find the title.

phunkdaddy said:

WORD brother , WORD ... X-actly my thoughts
When i had just removed the Promise-cd out the celluloid and played the 1rst track , i got chillz hearing The Emotions again with EW&F ... like i was launched back to the past . Also the other song on there with them , All About Love , is one for my books ... especially when they all lift it up vocally during the end , and the Vaughn Sisters co-wrote some tracks .... HATS OFF !
Another track i spin regulary is Suppose You Like Me ( co-operation with synthfreak Robert Brookins ) .
I bought last year excellent soulful-garage remixes from All In The Way and Never .
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[Edited 9/21/06 5:39am]