Chris Cornell Goes Electronic, Kurt Cobain Spins in Grave.

photo credit: Nizam Uddin

If he had lived a little longer, do you think Kurt Cobain would’ve released a hip-hop album?

Or that Jimi Hendrix would’ve tried his luck with a career in country music?

Seems unlikely, right?

Well, another Seattle rock icon has traded his last shred of alt-rock credibility for a career alongside popstars like Madonna and the Pussycat Dolls.

On his new album, Scream, former grunge icon Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, AudioSlave) is trading his aggressive rock roots for the slick production of Timbaland (Ashlee Simpson, Missy Elliot, Flo Rida)

So, is the hard-rock singer’s foray into the world of electronic R&B really as horrible as it seems?

No.

It’s much, much worse.

At best, the songs on Scream are reminiscent of Gnarls Barkley (without the apparently endearing eccentricity). Unfortunately, the world really, really doesn’t need another Gnarls Barkley.

Honestly, even if Scream isn’t horrible (but it really, really is), fans should hate it just because the singer is working with a producer renowned for his work with the New Kids on the Block and 50 Cent.

Putting the “sell-out” sticker on someone is a cheap shot, but seriously, Cornell is practically begging for it.

This is the guy who used to twirl his long shiny hair around while screaming “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage.” Now, he’s doing his best Justin Timberlake impersonation.

Cornell’s shrieking vocals have mellowed out over the years as the aging singer has drifted into the realm of acoustic-based ballads and even James Bond theme-songs, but this latest step of his musical evolution is entirely unforgivable.

Cornell’s outing with Timbaland, finds the singing stretching his range and seemingly trying to sell his soul to the Billboard charts that made stars of auto-tuned hacks like Kanye West Chris Brown.

Obviously, Cornell’s vocal ability is far superior to that of most of today’s mumbling, computer-aided hip-hop/R&B stars (but that’s not saying much). In the age of American Idol, being photogenic is far more important than having talent, because that can always be added later.  Most stars lip-sync during live performances now anyway (remember Kanye West’s catastrophic pre-taped appearance on American Idol earlier this week?)

So, while Cornell has the talent to bring some credibility to pop music, it will likely mean sacrificing his own credibility among rock fans.

And credibility aside, this music is just unlistenable. Check out Cornell’s new single, “Scream,” if you need proof.

Now, let’s just hope Pearl Jam isn’t getting any ideas…