| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
hickster9
- FB Fan -
USA
98 Posts |
 Posted - 04/27/2007 : 09:53:54
|
With apologies to the recent Early REM vs. Late REM offered by Simon, I have recently decided that I want to delve into REM more.
Of course I have heard the standard radio fare and like most of that, but I wondered if Tre, Simon, anyone, has a suggestion for where to begin.
I'm the kind of fellow that when I get into something I steer towards completist (though, certainly I can't do that with every band...I've yet to find the forest with all the currency fruits). Should I start at the beginning, a best of, their most commercially successful?
In the past, like with Radiohead, I decided I would start at the beginning and "grow" with the band. But I'm open to suggestions.
I like cows, they go moo when they eat |
|
|
darwin
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
5454 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 10:01:35
|
| I would say start with Murmur (their first LP), but then I substantially prefer early REM. Alternatively, you could start more in the middle with Life's Rich Pageant, on which they've branched out more but still have their college radio vibe (pre-Losing My Religion). |
 |
|
|
TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 10:01:58
|
I would suggest steering clear altogether.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
His name is Dalton. He's got a degree in philosophy.
-bRIAN |
|
|
|
coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 10:24:05
|
Starting at the beginning and moving forward chronologically makes the most sense to me. Let us know where you stop and get off the R.E.M. train. For me, it was "Automatic for the People," in 1992. That one's my favorite -- and I liked all the ones before it -- but me an' R.E.M. lost touch after that. ("Around the Sun" intrigued me, though. Maybe they'll be great again.)
 Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
|
|
|
Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 12:29:49
|
The weird thing is that I prefer the early to middle stuff, but if I started from scratch today I probably wouldn't like it. It think at the time it came out, it was vital and new alternative college radio, and it was one of the distinctive sounds of the day. But does it hold up if you weren't there at the time? I don't know, maybe not. It;s more of a nostalgic thing more me.
I'd get "Eponymous" if it still exists and start from there.
== jeffamerica == |
|
|
|
Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2007 : 03:42:59
|
Another vote for Murmur here - from my experimentations, I think starting at the beginning with REM is a very good idea. You can really trace the progression, whether or not you like their later material.
 Numberwang? |
|
|
|
Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2007 : 12:48:47
|
I agree with Jeffrey Eponymous is a good place to start. I started being familiar with their work. I bought Green because when that came out I was at the age I was first getting into alternative rock. I then bought Epynomous which was like a pre green best of and was a great way to get into their earlier stuff...
bluefinger |
|
|
|
yingguoguizi
- FB Fan -
China
62 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2007 : 09:10:52
|
| probably going to be shot down here, but I think the newer stuff is pretty interesting. UP is one of my best albums, and it was the one that made them relevant again. Reveal is a perfect summer album. The earlier stuff is great but I liked the newer stuff first so I guess that's why it remains the best for me. |
|
|
|
Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2007 : 05:48:58
|
Murmur.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
|
|
|
hickster9
- FB Fan -
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2007 : 09:13:39
|
Well, I went with Murmur to begin (again) with. Now that I listen though, I swear I had this on tape way back when. Anywho, it's great and I plan to go chronologically. Thanks all!
I like cows, they go moo when they eat |
|
|
|
pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2007 : 16:50:32
|
Ahh, this thread is relevant to me at the moment. I've only just started listening to R.E.M properly. I'd heard "Automatic for the People" and loved it.
I've got that one, plus "New Adventures in HiFi", "Out of Time", "Reveal" and "Around the Sun". I've only really listened to "Out of Time" out of those and think it's great.
Also, I've got "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" from "Monster" on my ipod. I must've listened to that one song alone literally about a hundred times in the last week. I get really obsessive when I find a song I like. I just can't stop listening to it. It's fantastic!
Looks like I'll try to get hold of "Murmur" next.
"The arc of triumph" |
|
|
|
Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 04:39:20
|
That's one of my favourite REM songs Stu. Check the album out, I think you'd like it, and Green.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
|
|
|
SPEEDYMARIEGONZALES
- FB Fan -
127 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 08:16:40
|
i first saw rem
9/30/84 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
i think i like the early stuff
Manuel wants to keep his pet rat.
Manuel: Mrs. Fawlty, please understand. If he go, I go!
Basil Fawlty: Well, goodbye! |
|
|
|
pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 17:10:50
|
I think me mam might have "Green" on a tape somewhere. I'll have to try dig it out. Listening to R.E.M now I can't understand why I never bothered to check them out properly before.
"The arc of triumph" |
|
|
|
Srisaket
= Cult of Ray =
Thailand
313 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 08:10:02
|
I haven’t got all that REM did, sort of gave up listening after ‘New Adventures in Hi-Fi’.
‘Murmur’ is my personal favourite, I don’t think they ever topped it. ‘Reckonings’ is also pretty good, very much in the same vein as ‘Murmur’ but the songs are not quite up to the same standard. ‘Document’ is good.
I can still listen to ‘Out of Time’ and ‘AFTP’, but skip quite a few tracks on both. One is a bit cheesy in parts and the other plain maudlin.
‘Monster’ polarizes the opinions of many REM fans, some see it as a return to a more basic rock sound, and for others it shamelessly copied grunge to make a fast buck. I think its unfairly maligned, it has a few good songs, but overall it is probably not REM’s best work.
|
|
|
|
coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 08:57:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by Srisaket
‘Murmur’ is my personal favourite, I don’t think they ever topped it.
I love "Murmur," too, and consider it among the great rock albums by anyone, but I do think they topped it with "Automatic for the People." For me, that was one of those special, once-in-a-decade albums. And it's just as good today as the day I bought it.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
|
|
|
Czar
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
321 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2007 : 09:02:36
|
Life's Rich Pageant is a must for anybody who wants to understand what REM was all about.
___________________________
Do you think the Pixies were a brouillon of Black Francis? |
|
|
|
pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2007 : 15:24:59
|
I haven't been this into a band since I first started listening to the Pixies. I got Monster and love it, 'Tongue' especially.
However, I listened to 'Murmur' and was quite disappointed. It just didn't grab me. That is only after one listen though.
Next on the list is 'Up'. The songs I've heard from it seem to be really good. 'At My Most Beautiful' is a lovely song.
"The arc of triumph" |
|
|
|
OLDMANOTY
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
469 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 01:35:32
|
Like many, I came to REM when Out Of Time came out and for some reason never got round to trying the earlier stuff. I gather this is not cool. Anyway, I think Country Feedback off OOT is amazing. Others I love are Try Not To Breathe (AFTP), What's The Frequency Kenneth & Let Me In (Monster), E-bow The Letter (NAIHF) and All The Way To Reno/Imitation Of Life (Reveal).
Godspeed |
|
|
|
Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 01:44:31
|
quote:
Originally posted by OLDMANOTY
Like many, I came to REM when Out Of Time came out and for some reason never got round to trying the earlier stuff. I gather this is not cool. Anyway, I think Country Feedback off OOT is amazing. Others I love are Try Not To Breathe (AFTP), What's The Frequency Kenneth & Let Me In (Monster), E-bow The Letter (NAIHF) and All The Way To Reno/Imitation Of Life (Reveal).
Godspeed
You have chosen... well.
Having come to everything all at once with REM, I like different albums for different reasons. However, I'd certainly recommend getting Murmur or Life's Rich Pageant next.
 |
|
|
|
Srisaket
= Cult of Ray =
Thailand
313 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 04:04:13
|
quote:
Originally posted by coastline
quote:
Originally posted by Srisaket
‘Murmur’ is my personal favourite, I don’t think they ever topped it.
I love "Murmur," too, and consider it among the great rock albums by anyone, but I do think they topped it with "Automatic for the People." For me, that was one of those special, once-in-a-decade albums. And it's just as good today as the day I bought it.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
‘AFTP’ also suffers the curse of being too popular, so many of the tracks were done to death on MTV and of course the bloody Corrs did ‘that’ version of ‘Everybody Hurts’ – if you go to any department store in Bangkok where they are selling home theatre systems, you can guarantee that they will have ‘Everybody Hurts’ by the Corrs or ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles (acoustic version) being shown on DVD.
I am not sure about the classic tag, for me a lot of the songs are not that good.
‘Murmur’ is, for me anyway, a much stronger album with a distinct ‘vibe’ – after listening to it you can understand why early REM was compared to The Smiths
|
|
|
|
coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 04:27:29
|
Interesting. I've never once heard them compared to the Smiths. Why do you think there's a connection, Srisaket?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
|
|
|
SPEEDYMARIEGONZALES
- FB Fan -
127 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 07:43:05
|
I just wanted to mention the song nightswimming
i think that song is great
Manuel wants to keep his pet rat.
Manuel: Mrs. Fawlty, please understand. If he go, I go!
Basil Fawlty: Well, goodbye! |
|
|
|
pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 08:37:18
|
When listening Murmur for the first time I thought there was a definite Smiths sound, and I don't even listen to The Smiths.
"The arc of triumph" |
|
|
|
Srisaket
= Cult of Ray =
Thailand
313 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2007 : 10:34:46
|
quote:
Originally posted by coastline
Interesting. I've never once heard them compared to the Smiths. Why do you think there's a connection, Srisaket?
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs.
The comparison to the Smiths was made a lot during the 80’s.
Peter Buck and Johnny Marr had a similar style of playing – a strong classic era Byrds influenced ‘jingly-jangly’ thing
Both bands were fronted by whimsical, charismatic singers who wrote cryptic lyrics as well as being ‘sexually ambiguous’
Apart from the musical comparisons, The Smiths and REM made the breakthrough from the independent sector to the mainstream one in the UK and the other in the US at similar times and on their own terms.
|
|
|
|
hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 02:47:36
|
On my copy of Murmur at 2:06 of Radio Free Europe I
hear a glitch. Can someone confirm this glitch is
not just on my copy? I assume this is either on the
master or this transfer. The UPC is 0-4479-70014-2.
Thanks! |
Edited by - hammerhands on 03/14/2010 02:48:07 |
|
|
|
coastline
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3111 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 06:59:09
|
No glitch on my copy.
Please pardon me, for these my wrongs. |
|
|
|
hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
R.E.M. for the uninitiated
