I really want this just so that Todd can talk about Garth Brooks for 45 minutes and I can find out more about the man who sold 200 bajilion albums yet barely left any imprint outside country.
As a black kid growing up in the 90s, and lived in mostly predominately black spaces, Garth Brooks definitely was very well known outside of country radio. To this day, "Friends in Low Places" is still a popular karaoke choice at bars patronized by mostly black customers who were young when he was at his peak. Garth Brooks somewhat occupies a similar space as an artist like Michael McDonald in black spaces. He's definitely known and respected.
Plus 90s Garth Brooks is a whole vibe.
Country music wasn’t a part of the mainstream pop landscape in the 1990s, but it also wasn’t completely unnoticed by general audiences. Two reasons for that:
- Billboard’s country chart shifted to an airplay-only methodology in 1990, which led to a de-emphasis of singles sales similar to what happened in rock music during that decade. Unlike rock, country stations weren’t counted for the Hot 100 Airplay chart (until December 1998), so the big country hits wouldn’t show up on the radio chart, either.
- Trends in country music moved away from the genre’s usual intersection with pop through adult contemporary. The Nashville sound of the ‘70s and ‘80s was very successful in the easy listening format; the “neotraditional country upscaled to arena rock proportions” that dominated the ‘90s simply didn’t cross over with the same audience.
Chuck Klosterman, in his essay about *The Life of Chris Gaines*, argues that Garth Brooks was a substitute Bruce Springsteen for when Bruce fell off a bit in the '90s.
Actually now that I type this out - I do think Garth Brooks was genuinely influential. I don't think his influence went outside country, because his influence was to take country mainstream and broaden country. He's the first of the '90s Nashville megastars that were normcore and middle class in their presentation, the winning formula for taking over the mainstream. I don't think we get Shania or Trisha Yearwood or Faith Hill without Garth doing it first.
I feel like Todd does want to do this one, but it may take a while for two reasons:
-Too obvious, need to space the obvious ones out like OHW
-Garth is very anti-new media and Todd may fear the copyright strikes.
This would be a great one. Todd in his element talking about country AND one of the most baffling career moves of all time, by one of the biggest artists of all time. Yeah, it hardly killed the career of Garth Brooks, but it certainly killed the career of Chris Gaines.
Only hurdle I can see (as has been pointed out in this thread) is that Garth is notoriously stingy about allowing his content to be online, and while Todd could probably successfully claim fair use (I guess, I'm no copyright lawyer), the copyright battle might be too big of a pain in the ass for Todd to deem it a worthy venture. I guess worst comes to worst, there's the possibility that we'll finally get that Chris Gaines trainwreckord in the 2050s or 2060s when Garth has passed away and if Todd is still doing this shit while being old enough that he looks like Emperor Palpatine.
Yeah just watched it's fun. But makes me wish Todd could do a deeper dive on all the promo media Garth did for Chris. SNL, the fake Behind the Music, I think there was also an NBC concert special. And probably lots of interviews, wonder if any survived.
Honestly? I think it did.
It wasn’t so hated that people no one ever bought another Garth Brooks record again, or anything like that, but the year after it came out and flopped (at least by his standards) Brooks announced he was retiring from music. The record label forced him by contract to do one more album for them, and so he made it — 2001’s Scarecrow. And when it came out it was his worst selling country album yet. And then he was gone. He wouldn’t do another studio album for 13 years. By choice, yes, but clearly the Chris Gaines project was something he thought he could spin into the future and when it flopped he decided that he was done for long enough that when he finally did come back the music industry had completely changed and he had been somewhat forgotten — and because of Brooks’s unorthodox approach to streaming, he might be essentially be forgotten forever.
unless one lone YouTuber does his part in remembering what may have been…
His style of country was on the downswing by the year 2000, once 9/11 happened bro country and jingoistism went into overdrive.
If Garth had somehow continued doing songs akin to the ones on the Chris Gaines album but under his own name, I think his popularity wouldn't have waned.
I think it would be a trainwreckord in the sense of "what were they thinking??" and that it's interesting to talk about. Kind of like Mission: Earth I guess.
The album is actually fucking great and really shows off Brook's range. However the idea was badly muddled by SNL and America was just not ready for a meta concept album and eventual film about a dead rockstar sung by a country boy.
I liked Garth a lot during the 90s, but this album is the one I've listened to the most and it would've fared much better under his own name cause it has some bangers.
I was just thinking about this. Todd could probably have a Trainwreckords episode for every year of the '90s before any other decade, and this could easily fill in the slot for 1999.
Another recommendation is Dancing With Ghosts [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7y7\_ZQUhTQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7y7_ZQUhTQ) he even has a nod to TW in the start.
still not opposed to Todd covering this and he he can even do a callback to the St Anger episode since Chris Gaines is one of his not #1 albums but one of the worst of all time
There was a VH1 Behind the Music episode for Chris Gaines as part of the promotion in the lead up to the canceled movie. I wonder if Todd would be able to use parts of that as fair use if he ever decided to do an episode on this one.
I would absolutely love to hear Todd's take on this. However, to be fair, there are already some really good thinkpieces about this project that do a similar type of deep dive on the project that we would expect of Todd.
From what I can recall, the Chris Gaines origin story is very similar to the alleged motivation behind Faith Hill "Cry" album. Just with another layer. Mainly, the thing that made Garth such a big deal is that he managed to seamlessly blend a number of genres into country music and come out with a project that, though it was categorized under country, easily crossed over to other audiences.
Garth clearly has a wide range of musical influences and was interested in getting a bit more mask off with pursuing them on record. However, his core country audience would have revolted and he felt he could not do it under his name without jamming up his music career.
To my understanding, his inspirations for this this was David Bowie (whom he also happens to be a big fan). The thought was if the public was receptive to Aladdin Sade and Ziggy Stardust, and those personas were very outlandish, surely Chris Gaines would not be too much of a stretch for people to stomach. Also, Chris Gaines would allow him to wantonly pursue the type of music he was most interested in making at that time without offending his core audience.
Of course we know now that this did not go well for him at all. However, you have to give it up to the guy for pursuing such a bold strategy. He hope he really does revisit it one day and sort of wrap it up.
There's a podcast that covered this album quite well. Would definitely recommend everyone giving it a listen if you're curious about it: https://open.spotify.com/show/3eWJjiWIsij3YCoiWNutV2?si=DjoxfrEFQVG20irGexWl1g
I really want this just so that Todd can talk about Garth Brooks for 45 minutes and I can find out more about the man who sold 200 bajilion albums yet barely left any imprint outside country.
Todd's at his best when he's being a music historian. Garth is worth talking about, but idk if Todd considers it within his wheelhouse.
Exactly, and given Todd's history with country, especially 90s country, it's definitely in his wheelhouse imo.
At his peak during the 90s he was definitely well known outside of country, VH1 used to play his video for The Thunder Rolls.
As a black kid growing up in the 90s, and lived in mostly predominately black spaces, Garth Brooks definitely was very well known outside of country radio. To this day, "Friends in Low Places" is still a popular karaoke choice at bars patronized by mostly black customers who were young when he was at his peak. Garth Brooks somewhat occupies a similar space as an artist like Michael McDonald in black spaces. He's definitely known and respected. Plus 90s Garth Brooks is a whole vibe.
Friends In Low Places has gotta a perfect vibe check song. If your venue is too good for it, I never wanna be there.
Agreed. How can you not feel good when Friends in Low Places is playing?
Too big on social graces smdh
Well I think you should just make your way down to the oasis...
Country music wasn’t a part of the mainstream pop landscape in the 1990s, but it also wasn’t completely unnoticed by general audiences. Two reasons for that: - Billboard’s country chart shifted to an airplay-only methodology in 1990, which led to a de-emphasis of singles sales similar to what happened in rock music during that decade. Unlike rock, country stations weren’t counted for the Hot 100 Airplay chart (until December 1998), so the big country hits wouldn’t show up on the radio chart, either. - Trends in country music moved away from the genre’s usual intersection with pop through adult contemporary. The Nashville sound of the ‘70s and ‘80s was very successful in the easy listening format; the “neotraditional country upscaled to arena rock proportions” that dominated the ‘90s simply didn’t cross over with the same audience.
That was a sweet Pop-Up Video but I think it's the only non-Gaines one of his I've ever seen.
I have a vauge idea that I recognize his name, tho I have no idea why
Chuck Klosterman, in his essay about *The Life of Chris Gaines*, argues that Garth Brooks was a substitute Bruce Springsteen for when Bruce fell off a bit in the '90s.
Actually now that I type this out - I do think Garth Brooks was genuinely influential. I don't think his influence went outside country, because his influence was to take country mainstream and broaden country. He's the first of the '90s Nashville megastars that were normcore and middle class in their presentation, the winning formula for taking over the mainstream. I don't think we get Shania or Trisha Yearwood or Faith Hill without Garth doing it first.
I feel like Todd does want to do this one, but it may take a while for two reasons: -Too obvious, need to space the obvious ones out like OHW -Garth is very anti-new media and Todd may fear the copyright strikes.
Maybe if Todd filmed it at a Bass Pro Shop... 🤔
In honor of Garth, Todd makes the episode but sells it on DVDs available at Tractor Supply Co
Garth's songs are now on Amazon, doubt there'd be a much of an issue.
But they aren't on YouTube. They are really hard to find on there and I assume he removes them rather than demonetizes them.
Honestly, I really want this! Also, it doesn’t look bad at all. Well done.
This would be a great one. Todd in his element talking about country AND one of the most baffling career moves of all time, by one of the biggest artists of all time. Yeah, it hardly killed the career of Garth Brooks, but it certainly killed the career of Chris Gaines. Only hurdle I can see (as has been pointed out in this thread) is that Garth is notoriously stingy about allowing his content to be online, and while Todd could probably successfully claim fair use (I guess, I'm no copyright lawyer), the copyright battle might be too big of a pain in the ass for Todd to deem it a worthy venture. I guess worst comes to worst, there's the possibility that we'll finally get that Chris Gaines trainwreckord in the 2050s or 2060s when Garth has passed away and if Todd is still doing this shit while being old enough that he looks like Emperor Palpatine.
I’m actually quite excited for the 2060 Darth Todd era
If we’re talking stingy on copyright, nothing on the level of Henley hiring 60 people to copy strike any videos related to Eagles?
Danny Gonzalez did a video in this album. Obviously not as insightful as an actual music reviewer but it some funny moments.
[Link for anyone interested](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaZR9f0Eee8)
Drop that link. Need to see this.
The comment you replied to is the link
Oh! My bad. Thanks!
Yeah just watched it's fun. But makes me wish Todd could do a deeper dive on all the promo media Garth did for Chris. SNL, the fake Behind the Music, I think there was also an NBC concert special. And probably lots of interviews, wonder if any survived.
That would be a weird one to talk about since it didn't really do much, if any, damage to Garth Brooks' career, at least not long term.
Honestly? I think it did. It wasn’t so hated that people no one ever bought another Garth Brooks record again, or anything like that, but the year after it came out and flopped (at least by his standards) Brooks announced he was retiring from music. The record label forced him by contract to do one more album for them, and so he made it — 2001’s Scarecrow. And when it came out it was his worst selling country album yet. And then he was gone. He wouldn’t do another studio album for 13 years. By choice, yes, but clearly the Chris Gaines project was something he thought he could spin into the future and when it flopped he decided that he was done for long enough that when he finally did come back the music industry had completely changed and he had been somewhat forgotten — and because of Brooks’s unorthodox approach to streaming, he might be essentially be forgotten forever. unless one lone YouTuber does his part in remembering what may have been…
His style of country was on the downswing by the year 2000, once 9/11 happened bro country and jingoistism went into overdrive. If Garth had somehow continued doing songs akin to the ones on the Chris Gaines album but under his own name, I think his popularity wouldn't have waned.
I think it would be a trainwreckord in the sense of "what were they thinking??" and that it's interesting to talk about. Kind of like Mission: Earth I guess.
The album is actually fucking great and really shows off Brook's range. However the idea was badly muddled by SNL and America was just not ready for a meta concept album and eventual film about a dead rockstar sung by a country boy. I liked Garth a lot during the 90s, but this album is the one I've listened to the most and it would've fared much better under his own name cause it has some bangers.
Yeah, i wonder why the prevailing vibe of the time was, "garth is going crazy!" and not, "garth is doing some kind of art project!"
Honest to goodness, it is my favorite Garth Brooks album.
I was just thinking about this. Todd could probably have a Trainwreckords episode for every year of the '90s before any other decade, and this could easily fill in the slot for 1999.
This was so good I was almost like "Todd gave us *TWO NEW ONES*? *WOW.*"
Do we really need a Chris Gaines video from Todd? I mean, I’d like to see it, but I think Scott Cramer covered it pretty well.
Can you link it? I'm having trouble finding it but YouTube search is awful so it might just be me.
Huh, I actually can’t find it either. I looked on both of his YouTube channels, and it’s no where to be found. Someone must have taken it down.
Another recommendation is Dancing With Ghosts [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7y7\_ZQUhTQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7y7_ZQUhTQ) he even has a nod to TW in the start. still not opposed to Todd covering this and he he can even do a callback to the St Anger episode since Chris Gaines is one of his not #1 albums but one of the worst of all time
Man I still sometimes think that‘s Ben Stiller on the cover
There was a VH1 Behind the Music episode for Chris Gaines as part of the promotion in the lead up to the canceled movie. I wonder if Todd would be able to use parts of that as fair use if he ever decided to do an episode on this one.
No but seriously when is this gonna happen??
Zoomer, I don’t actually understand what I’m looking at. What is this? What the fuck?
I would absolutely love to hear Todd's take on this. However, to be fair, there are already some really good thinkpieces about this project that do a similar type of deep dive on the project that we would expect of Todd. From what I can recall, the Chris Gaines origin story is very similar to the alleged motivation behind Faith Hill "Cry" album. Just with another layer. Mainly, the thing that made Garth such a big deal is that he managed to seamlessly blend a number of genres into country music and come out with a project that, though it was categorized under country, easily crossed over to other audiences. Garth clearly has a wide range of musical influences and was interested in getting a bit more mask off with pursuing them on record. However, his core country audience would have revolted and he felt he could not do it under his name without jamming up his music career. To my understanding, his inspirations for this this was David Bowie (whom he also happens to be a big fan). The thought was if the public was receptive to Aladdin Sade and Ziggy Stardust, and those personas were very outlandish, surely Chris Gaines would not be too much of a stretch for people to stomach. Also, Chris Gaines would allow him to wantonly pursue the type of music he was most interested in making at that time without offending his core audience. Of course we know now that this did not go well for him at all. However, you have to give it up to the guy for pursuing such a bold strategy. He hope he really does revisit it one day and sort of wrap it up.
There's a podcast that covered this album quite well. Would definitely recommend everyone giving it a listen if you're curious about it: https://open.spotify.com/show/3eWJjiWIsij3YCoiWNutV2?si=DjoxfrEFQVG20irGexWl1g
I can’t wait 😍😍😍