Band Break-ups

All Songs Considered did a brilliant episode this week around the fascinating theme of bands and artists we've broken up with over the years. I'm including the categories that they used on the show below and my choices in the hope that you'll join in.

1. The Band/Artist You Moved On From:

These are the bands and artists that you loved at a certain age or time but make you cringe to think about them that way now. They haven't changed but you have. My pick is Coldplay, a band that Gooner introduced me to with a tape of their first album when I was music deprived in Japan. Loved their second album ("A Rush of Blood to the Head") too. But somewhere between the massive fame and Gwyneth Paltrow baby pictures and the insufferable Chris Martin interviews, they became dead to me. I understand that there is a certain amount of elitism to fandom but so be it.

2. The Band/Artist Who Moved on From You:

These are the bands and artists that you loved for something very specific but they evolved beyond you in a different direction. For me, Icelandic chanteuse Bjork fits the bill here. Loved the early down-beat, trip-hoppy material; however, once she started doing all a capella efforts or collaborations with Congolese nose flute specialists, I was left scratching my head.


3. The Band/Artist You Really Thought You Had Something With — They Said They'd Call But You Never Heard From Them Again:

This is a relationship that never quite gets off the ground. It's over before it's begun. For me, this is the hip hop trio Digable Planets. They put out a really interesting debut and then an amazing sophomore effort ("The Blowout Comb") and then....nothing. What happened? Was it something I said?

4. Your Best Friend's Band/Artist You Secretly Want To Hook Up With

These are the bands or artists who you want to love because everyone else you respect loves them, but it's never what you thought it'd be. There have been a lot of critical darlings (and even entire genres such as Krautrock or Garage) who have fit the bill over the years, but my best current example is TV on the Radio. The concept of TVOR sounds great, but in the end you're left with some fairly tuneless singing over some equally loose jams.

5. The Rebound: Bands You Start To Date After Everyone Else Is Through With Them:

Just about the time that early Rilo Kiley fans broke up with the band because of their increasing slick production, I discovered their 2007 disc Under the Blacklight, which I see as a 21st century version of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album. How can anyone be angry with Jenny Lewis for long?

6. The Band/Artist You Broke Up With, Then Got Back Together:

Lots of examples here but the quintessential one is Everything But the Girl, who have been through more image changes than Cher goes through costume changes in Vegas. I doggedly followed them through their faux jazz, indie rock, and big band phases in the 80s and 90s because I loved them so much but also because they were "mine." But when they got to their AOR smooth jazz stage, I jumped overboard. Then somewhere around the turn of the millennium, they converted themselves into a techno/house outfit and I was interested again. Through it all, it's Tracey Thorn's gingham voice that has kept me interested but some ten years after their last album, they're working their way to Category 2.

I'd love to hear your choices - and feel free to add your own categories!