STARPOLISH: Maybe it's more true for more popular artists who have pre-packaged images .
RANALDO: Sure. Also, when you're dealing with popular artists, you're dealing with somebody who's had a hit on the radio that has turned a lot of people on, but on one hand it's kind of anonymous, you know? They don't have a lot of history with these fans, and so the fans are just as liable to be flighty when the next hit comes along by someone else and move over there. One thing, for better or for worse, that we've avoided is the whole super popularity thing. We haven't had hit records and sold millions of records. I think a lot of bands that do that feel that they have this great spike in their career, and then everything else in comparison [seems less], even if they're still doing stuff. Like with Prince, even if all those records he did over the net or whatever were great, he's got to be thinking, "Well, I'm not getting the buzz in Rolling Stone that I had with Purple Rain," or whatever. It must be a weird thing, because even if you're still doing great and selling respectable amounts, compared to that spike it's not. That's why someone like Mariah Carey gets dropped by her record company while she still sells five million records or whatever the fuck it is. It's just hat on everybody's side, the perspective gets totally warped.
STARPOLISH: I remember when Eminem's second album sold 7 million units and not 13 million like the first, and people were disappointed.
RANALDO: It's totally insane. And for us, that's been one of the lucky things that as kept us going. There have never been these crazy spikes that have caused everything to get out of whack. I think we're lucky that way. Aside from bands like the Rolling Stones, who are just this crazy institution, there are a lot of bands that have been around for along time, like blues artists or even the Grateful Dead. They've never had that insane moment of popularity that caused things to get out of balance and go bust. I mean, B.B. King, he's 80 years old, he's probably has a steady, straight popularity for 40 or 50 years. He's had a career rather than a moment. For certain artists it's great to have that moment, but we are much happier having a career.
Article comments
1 - dave
the closing song on Washing Machine is Diamond SEA!!! not STAR!!! if your going to write a review get your facts straight!!!!!!
2 - POO
UR BAND IS THE BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 - _sheccid_
is my favourite band!! it's great i love them, kim gordon you are so fucking pretty, i lover her xD
4 - HW Saxton
Never heard of the band:"Fuck You All!".
Are they a punk band or what?
5 - sydney
they're a post-punk band... garage-rock sort of experimental indie band. Almost leaders of the indie rock movement in America over the late 80's and early 90's.
They mix alot of experimental noise and soundscapes, sometimes, with catchy melodies.
6 - HW Saxton
Sydney, I was responding in jest to the
way the comment above mine was phrased.
I'm aware of who Sonic Youth are,as well
as Wasted Youth,Reagan Youth & Big Youth
as well.Sarcasm,does not carry well over
the Internet sometimes.Thanx.
7 - Jon Bob
Dave told you, and this is serious, really. If you do intend to redeem yourself or cover this mistake up, you should fix the whole damn paragraph, because it was Moore who did the vocals on DIAMOND SEA. Gordon (Kim) is a female, and for the 19 minutes of this spectacular track you obviously never heard, its easy to tell that thurston is not a female singing. Kim plays great bass on this track by the way, you should know (sarcasm). You dissed my favorite band, now i'm gonna find you like jay and silent bob and kick your ass!
8 - Jon Bob
Thanks for doing the SY piece, though. They're totally cool, and barring that 3rd paragraph i have no complaint. I can forgive, but we can only hope that they will be so merciful and not destroy you, thats right becuz they buy and sell people like you all the time, they'll probably cook you for breakfast and let the leftovers spoil in the fridge when they're not even thinking about you cuz theyre too busy on the road rocking and being totally cool. I'll leave you alone now, i'm sure you've got some homework and studying to do .