return-to-our-roots records where the idea went so wrong that it opened up a new space in the artist's music

I'm not sure this quite fits, but when Alan Jackson made Like Red From a Rose it was supposed to be a bluegrass detour. Producer Allison Krauss convinced him to record a set of torch songs that sound like the kind of thing he should have been doing all along. I think his core audience must have hated it though, since the promo campaign for his next record was all about "I'm back to doing the kind of songs you like."

― President Keyes, Tuesday, June 20, 2017 12:27 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Can confirm this was not a favourite at the time. The album still sold well but you can see it in that Good Time had 3 #1 (country) singles and from Like Red From a Rose he only released 2 singles and neither went to #1. His album before LRFaR was also not as great for singles so I think LRFaR totally revitalized things for him despite its failures. Also it was Krauss during the height of her powers so I am sure it rubbed off a bit.