| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 02:20:43
This is a debate thats been raging at home/work/on my blog for a while now: are REM still good? Have they been getting better or worse since they started? Etc. It's a fairly wideranging argument, but it's quite interesting for me: they're a band that I'm still learning about from two fairly rabid flatmates so I'm getting the whole spectrum at once.
Now, I'm aware that from New Adventures in Hi-Fi on, none of the band's records have been that well received. I'm not sure why, however: I'm not a huge fan of Up, but I really like Reveal and Around The Sun, and I love New Adventures.
That said, I'm still listening to all the 80's releases: Murmur is fantastic, for example. I'm still very much an amateur.
So: opinions? Favourite album? etc?
 Numberwang? |
| 31 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| TarTar |
Posted - 04/11/2007 : 15:34:11
I've never really gotten into R.E.M. A few all right songs here and there but they suffer from sameness, at least for me. I do really love the song "Tongue"!
My life is dirt but you seem to make it cleaner... reduce my felony to a misdemeanor |
| Carl |
Posted - 04/11/2007 : 11:19:30
http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/rem-warn-fans-over-olympia-tickets/spId/DBECD3E0-EF77-7DB6-67E2EE0184BC5780.html
REM warn fans over Olympia tickets
10 April 2007
REM have warned fans not to buy tickets for their upcoming Dublin shows from unofficial sources after 122 tickets for their Olympia Theatre run went missing in transit between Ireland and the UK.
The disappearance of the tickets is now the subject of a garda investigation.
The tickets are all standing tickets for the show on Saturday June 30 and the sequence numbers are 0379 to 0500 inclusive.
These missing tickets have all been cancelled; if fans are offered them they are asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station at 01 666 9000. |
| Jefrey |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 22:27:25
Early to mid - they lost me starting around Out Of Time. Shiny Happy People has got to be one of the worst songs of all times. Automatic for the People was OK, and I liked Monster though.
1) Life's Rich Pageant
2) Green
3) Dead Letter Office
4) Fables Of The Reconstruction
5) Monster
6) Document
But I hate the version of "Finest Worksong" on Document. I love the version with the horns! It always blows it for me that the album version doesn't have the horns on it. Same with "Close To Me" on Head On The Door by the Cure. It needs those horns, dammit!
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jeffamerica
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-He played piano really fuckin' good. |
| houstonguthrie |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 16:26:03
I liked 98% of everything they did all the way up through "New Adventures in HiFi". In fact - I like "New Adventures" better than the "Out of Time" or "Automatic" and at the time I thought it was a sign that they were returning to form.
then they just lost me. I thought "Up" sucked - plain and simple. I gave the ones since then a spin but they did nothing at all to compel me to buy them. It sounded like more of the same. So they've just been leaving me disappointed for some time
However - their John Lennon Cover "Dream #9" that just came out on Itunes is real good!! They did a great job with it and for the first time in a long time I got that little goosebump feeling from Stype's voice. So I hope that maybe that's a sign of things to come.
I didn't see anybody else mention that tune so I thought I'd point it out if ya'll haven't heard it yet.
it's a cover naturally - but it reminds me of when 1/2 of REM covered "One" with 1/2 of U2. that version was far better than the original I thought
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| mosleyk |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 15:20:20
quote:
Originally posted by Cheeseman1000
I think my favourite album is Green. That said, I've been listening to Document a lot the last couple of days, and that album's amazing.
Numberwang?
Agreed. Everytime I hear Finest Worksong....I am transported. Best first track on an album hands down |
| darwin |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 14:32:02
Green is one of my least favorite REM albums, but to a large degree that might be because at the time it felt like that album was their move to the mainstream. It was their first WB release rather than IRS, and it felt slicker or at least more likely to be on the radio. Not a rational evaluation I concede. |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 14:02:59
I think my favourite album is Green. That said, I've been listening to Document a lot the last couple of days, and that album's amazing.
Numberwang? |
| mosleyk |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 09:58:39
Personally I am an old REM fan mostly because they got me through high school. First concert I ever saw was their Green tour. I can still remember Stipe annoucing to us "Hello children of the spotted owl!" (big logging debate at the time). He was amazing and can still remember the way he danced on stage with his long braided hair.
I think one of my favorite albums though is "Dead Letter Office" particularly the song "Voice of Harold".....any guy that can pull off a song by simply reading off the back of an old gospel record has my vote. |
| Llamadance |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 09:11:43
I go for early REM. Think I got into them around Document and lost them somwhere around Monster. Pretty much everything since then has sounded too whimsical and uninspiring, with the exception of maybe a few songs. My favourite album is Green, probably.
I just don't care about them anymore.
Scratching the surface without a purpose won't accomplish anything new
Upload your Frank photos here - fb.net gallery
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| MHokkane |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 09:03:10
I must chime in:
1. Out of Time - I mean come on people its amazing
2. Automatic for the People
3. Green
4. Monster
5. Fables of the Reconstruction
I guess that makes me a Middle REM fan. I don't particularly like the new stuff and I really liked their old stuff, but the stuff in the middle was perfection. |
| Sam |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 08:45:02
agree UP is a masterpiece, even if it is a mightily depresing masterpiece. My personal faves would be
1. Life's rich Paegent - sooooo underated
2. Murmur
3. Out of Time
As far as reveal and around the sun, i just totally don't get it.
Mid you imitaion of life and leaving new york are as good as anything they have ever done.
Seen them live numerous times and would defo put them in one of the best live acts i've seen.
really hope the next album is up to their usuallly high standard |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 03:40:48
Robert has been overdoing the mentos again? I don't know.
I haven't given much time to Reveal and Around the Sun because on first hearing I thought meh. I remember sitting in my Kitchen in Sheffield smoking a cherry cigar and sipping on the finest coffee the poundshop could offer and listening to around the sun for the first time. There was some very dodgy rhyming and I was so disappointed I switched it off and didn't bother again. Recently seeing as how some of the Reveal and Around the Sun tracks have been piled onto project gotham racing though there are some stand out tracks. I need to invest more time before giving an informed and totally superior opinion.
As far as Up goes, I love it.
Idiot. |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/29/2007 : 01:24:57
How do you explain the foam-flecked mouth then hmm?
You there, "starmekitten:" what is your current opinion on the last three albums?
Numberwang? |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 22:22:14
quote:
Originally posted by Cheeseman1000
This is a debate thats been raging at home..... It's a fairly wideranging argument, but it's quite interesting for me: they're a band that I'm still learning about from two fairly rabid flatmates so I'm getting the whole spectrum at once.
First of all there is no debate at home it's a case of Simon shush and listen. Second of all, Rabid? The other one I can see but I am insulted!
Yeah REM are still good. Orange Crush has just come on the radio this morning (and I'm not even that keen on this song) and it's put me in a good start to the day mood.
Idiot. |
| Carl |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 21:49:30
quote:
Originally posted by Newo
I feel mixed about them. New Adventures in Hifi is wonderful but Reveal and Around the Sun suck dicks in a leper colony.
 Now that's a mixed feeling! |
| nicole |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 15:54:40
They're still writing fantastic songs, but there are more'n a few not-so-good songs for each of those. Chronic Town to Fables (or whatever came before Document, forget right now) is a glorious streak of perfection to me. |
| darwin |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 09:42:46
I don't have anything intelligent to say about REM. I loved them back in the 80s and early 90s when they were jangly southern band, and they've now fallen off my automatic buy list. Green was the beginning of the end.
My top 5:
1) Fables of the Reconstruction
2) Murmur
3) Life Rich Pagaent
4) Automatic for the People
5) Dead Letter Office (with Chronic Town at the end) |
| fbc |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 09:27:04
The only REM CD that's not gone walkies is Automatic For The People. Once upon a time I couldn't get enough off this record. Nightswimming and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight personal faves at the time. 'What's The Frequency Kenneth' rocks my socks off, and the use of Kurt Cobain's guitar in the vid was pretty neat to me.
I'm not a die hard fan or anything, and my opinion on R.E.M counts for shit, but what I've heard the past few years (which admittedly isn't much) just reminds me of a band post-reunion acting like the band pre-reunion, if you know what I mean. Except they never broke up. 'It's Been A Bad Day' for example.
It sure was. In the studio.
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| Newo |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 08:26:42
I feel mixed about them. New Adventures in Hifi is wonderful but Reveal and Around the Sun suck dicks in a leper colony.
--
Allen Ginsberg says you got no soul. The ancient Egyptians say you got seven of these bastards, and Pharaohs got fourteen, what they get for being Pharaohs. |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 07:32:35
I was going to talk about when Michal Stipe had long hair but I guess thats not quite what you're looking for, innit...
__________
For Chrissakes have a cup of tea. |
| remig |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 06:20:28
My mistake.
I meant on-topic. |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 06:13:51
You call that intelligent? I suppose the French have lower standards...
Numberwang? |
| remig |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 05:09:45
Have they been good once? I had Monster and a Best Of and it has always bored me .I'm even tired of their 4 good songs (Everybody Hurts, Losing My Religion, What's the Frequency, Shiny Happy People)
Simon, I waited for some intelligent replies to give you mine.
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| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 04:57:52
quote:
Originally posted by cassandra is
.
my top 5 albums goes like this:
1- Green
2- Murmur
3- Automatic For The People
4- Monster
5- Up
pas de bras pas de chocolat
That's not far off mine.
I never understand why Up and Monster get slagged off so much.
Anyway, I am gonna go with 'early REM' on the whole.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
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| coastline |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 04:47:02
I wasn't aware there was a new album coming. That's exciting. When is it coming out? I jumped on the R.E.M. bandwagon the moment I heard "Losing My Religion." I was like kfs's friend awestruck, who went nuts a couple weeks ago and listened to (and posted on here about) just about every FB/Pixies album she could get her hands on. I heard that song and, that weekend, I drove 100 miles to the nearest music store (I was living in rural Wyoming) and bought every R.E.M. tape they had. That was a great investment, as I still love all of those albums. However, the only one I seemed to love that came after that period was "Automatic for the People." After that, it was music that you really had to force yourself to enjoy. It seems they decided to be purposefully difficult, kind of like Radiohead. And then came "Around the Sun." For me, that album is every bit as good as the classic R.E.M. albums. In a way, it's hard to compare them, because they're not really the same kinds of songs, but it's a beautiful album. I've always understood that was their 9/11 album. Is that right? I'll be amazed if their next album is as good, but I can always hope.
 Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
| cassandra is |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 03:07:39
I can't say I'm aware of what he's done, but I hope it will fit with their new sound.
pas de bras pas de chocolat |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 03:04:57
The new album will be produced by Jacknife Lee, of Bloc Party and Kasabian fame, or so I'm told.
Numberwang? |
| cassandra is |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 03:01:51
I agree, Leaving New York and The Ascent Of Man are great songs too. It's not that I don't like this album, it's just that it could have been better with a different production. Pat McCarthy -which is the same producer on Up, Around The Sun and Reveal- did a better and wonderful job on Reveal and especially on Up, that's why I am disappointed by that aspect of the album.
pas de bras pas de chocolat |
| Cheeseman1000 |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 02:56:37
I think Around The Sun is maybe my favourite of the last three: Leaving New York and The Ascent Of Man are wonderful.
Numberwang? |
| cassandra is |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 02:44:32
It's really hard to compare albums like Murmur or Green with Up or Around the Sun. But I like all their career and all their albums. They're part of that little category of bands that are able to pass through the years and still deliver very good albums.
I guess the first ones are the most popular ones, and the most appreciated by critics and fans, but an album like Up is a masterpiece IMO.
And there's always some gems on their last albums like Beat A Drum, Summer Turns To High on Reveal or Final Straw and High Speed Train on Around The Sun. These last albums are very coherent and very pleasant to listen to.
That said, I really dislike the production on Around The Sun, I think it's their weakest album. I heard that the next one is expected to be more rock'n'rollesque.
my top 5 albums goes like this:
1- Green
2- Murmur
3- Automatic For The People
4- Monster
5- Up
pas de bras pas de chocolat |
| Carl |
Posted - 03/28/2007 : 02:29:45
Early REM for me (Pilgrimage, Seven Chinese Bros, etc), although they have classics scattered throughout their career. I actually like Up, I only listened to Reveal once and I haven't got Around The Sun. |
