I was surprized not to see any REM post in the alternative forum considering that it was REM that brought alternative Rock into the forefront of music during the 80's. A very gifted band that I don't think gets the credit they deserve. At one time the Rolling Stone cover touted REM as the best band in America. I couldn't have agreed more.
When the lost their drummer Bill Berry to illness it was a shame that they became essentially ignored after that. Some of their music became a bit sappy and flowery and they lost a bit of their edge. But, their earliest music still merits attention and discussion. They could always craft an excellent "pop" song. Some of Michael Stipe's lyrics were so imaginary and lifting it is a shame that they have been forgotten about. Especially in this forum.

I'm a big fan of the band, but I just can't seem to get into their more recent stuff. The last album they released that I enjoyed to any extent was New Adventures in Hi-Fi.

My favorite REM period is probably Life's Rich Pageant to Green. At that time, they were big in the college rock scene, but hadn't really achieved huge mainstream success yet. IMHO, they're at the top of their game on those albums.

I am also a big REM fan. I looove New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but not untill I had listened to it about 20 times. I alos really enjoy Reveal, but their newewst on Around the Sun I just don't get. I have listened to it about 15-20 times, and nothing seems to stick. Surely I am not the only one who thinks this.

I think the lack of REM talk is a "what have you done for me lately" thing. They've not made a GREAT record since "Hi-Fi." The last record was pretty bad.

I think they sustained a pretty solid level of greatness from Life's Rich Pageant through Automatic. There may still be life in the old dog, but they've not been showing it on record the last few years. They're still awesome live, though.

PS: I was at the Minus 5 show in Athens that featured the reunion of the original foursome!

quote:

Originally posted by redavenger:
When the lost their drummer Bill Berry to illness it was a shame that they became essentially ignored after that.

What illness? I just thought he quit so he could spend time on his farm.

My favorites are Life's Rich Pageant, Document, and Reckoning. I never cared for Automatic much until a few years back when songs like "Try Not to Breathe" and "Find the River" creeped up on me. Up is probably my fav post-Automatic. I don't care too much for the last two. They're OK, I guess, but I never want to listen to them.

Oh, and Dead Letter Office. Not a proper album, but it showcases the humorous side of the band and contains several good covers including 3 Velvet Undergrounds and my fav "Crazy," originally by Pylon.

quote:

Originally posted by SDF:

quote:

Originally posted by redavenger:
When the lost their drummer Bill Berry to illness it was a shame that they became essentially ignored after that.

What illness? I just thought he quit so he could spend time on his farm.

My favorites are Life's Rich Pageant, Document, and Reckoning. I never cared for Automatic much until a few years back when songs like "Try Not to Breathe" and "Find the River" creeped up on me. Up is probably my fav post-Automatic. I don't care too much for the last two. They're OK, I guess, but I never want to listen to them.

Oh, and Dead Letter Office. Not a proper album, but it showcases the humorous side of the band and contains several good covers including 3 Velvet Undergrounds and my fav "Crazy," originally by Pylon.

I think Berry had an aneurism, but I didn't think that's why he quit either.

DLO is pretty good, and fun. I like Peter Buck's liner notes on the CD. And their drunken cover of Roger Miller's "King of the Road" is pretty hilarious

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
I think Berry had an aneurism, but I didn't think that's why he quit either.

Yeah. That was back on their Monster tour in '95 I believe. Perhaps he quit so he could reduce the stress in his life that leads to such things. I don't think they toured after New Adventures, so he may have agreed at that time to do one more studio album, but nothing more.

Cool Topic.

As far as the Stone calling them the best band in America, I used to call them the best American band period. I only saw them live once, two rows back at the Warfield Theater in San Fran in 1984. Stipe had just broken his leg and had to do the whole concert from a stool. It actually made the whole thing much more intimate, even when the band wailed through "Radio Free Europe" and "7 Chinese Brothers".

I'm almost embarassed to say that although I own every other R.E.M. album, I haven't even heard the last one. Even so, that's one awesome band. I actually recommend listening to them from their EP Chronic Town straight through all the records in order (except maybe the last one? ) They ARE that good.

I loved Voice of Harold on dead letter office. Did you guys know that that was stipe reading an old gospel christian album's liner note. it was laying around the studio and he just read the back of it. I think he sung the words on there to get the vocal melody for the future 7 chinese brothers. Well to me that is incredible talent. To read liner notes and have them fit into the music of a song so perfectly. The liner notes on dead letter office are great.
I seen REM only once and that was on the green tour. It was the only time I seen all the fans at a show stand up thru the entire thing.
Peter Buck is great. He once spent a year wandering around athens GA in nuthing but his somking jacket and PJs. he is not a great guitar player in my opinion, but he is such a cool personality it dont matter.
I think Automatic was problably their last great album. I do think "its been a bad day" was a great single though. Life rich paegant is problably my fav. I do wish people had not forgot about them so quickly though. Even if they haven't put out a great CD in while, their old catelouge of music should be enuff. Hell, the Stones haven't put out a good album since the late 70's and they are still floating around.
I was glad to see people responded to this post!

quote:

Originally posted by redavenger:
Peter Buck is great. He once spent a year wandering around athens GA in nuthing but his somking jacket and PJs. he is not a great guitar player in my opinion, but he is such a cool personality it dont matter.

I think Buck is an underrated guitar player. He's not a flashy player, and doesn't break into a lot of solos, but his unique style is very much a part of the REM sound. Plus he's crafted some of the most original rock riffs in history. Listen to stuff like "Pop Song 89", "The One I Love", and "Driver 8".

Yeah, I wasn't trying to dis Buck in any way as a guitarist. I think it is really interesting to see him play live. he is active like pete townsend on stage. Just not as fast. He sways a lot. He really seems to enjoy playing live. He also has had the worst recording of a guitar solo I ever heard on Dead Letter Office. when they covered "King of the Road" As Buck described it, "it was the end of an alcohol soaked evening" It is incredibly sloppy and I think Buck actually get lost along the way. Buck was like - "what was I playing"
He is an incredible personality and underrated as being very influencial in Rock. He definately helped define one of the signature elements of alternative rock with his jangly guitar sound. He took a style of guitar playing from a 60s band like the Byrds, beatles and updated it. I like the look on his face during the video of Shiny happy people. He is the only one not smiling.
His best guitar solo to me is "the Flowers of Guatemala"

Wow, great thread. I Love REM. Philosopher Eric how was that reunion show? How did you know? Did your REM love grow? I've seen them four times, in Boulder, at Red Rocks, in Phoenix, and at the Fillmore in Denver most recently. Each time in support of a different record. Their more recent output doesn't speak to me as much as their earlier stuff but I will always buy their records and see them every chance I get. They are one of my foundational artists along with Prince, Kiss, Duran Duran, and U2. Yeah, I know, a strange and somewhat lame list but its what got me into music, so its me.

Has anyone mentioned Murmur? - a classic album by then upstarts R.E.M. Laughing, pilgrimage, radio free europe, sitting still are great college-art rock gems.

Yeah murmur was a great first effort. Perfect circle was my fav. off the album. it is amazing how little you can understand of stipes singing and yet it doesn't take away from the music at all. It is often hard on the earlier albums to make out his words, but on Murmur you can hardly understand anything. I think it is great. it is hard to pin down a favorite album of mine because each one has so much to offer From Document, life's Rich Paegant to Green. I really like the world leader pretend. Not their biggest hit by any means but a damn great song.

I've got nothing but love for R.E.M. Along with U2, they were the first band(s) I ever really got into. My favorite record by them would have to be "Automatic for the People", but "Murmur", "Reckoning", and "Life's Rich Pagaent" are all among my favorite albums ever. Favorite songs would have to be "So. Central Rain" and "Find the River".

Coincidentally, I was supposed to do a reading presentation on some of my favorite REM lyrics and how the ideas relate back to Creative Writing/Reading tonight.......my teacher forgot to make copies of my sheet, however, so I'll be going next week, but it's certainly odd that I see this thread listed on the front page when I arrive home.

As for my favorite REM releases, the first five albums are the strongest set of five in musical history. No other artist had a string that consistently amazing. Automatic For The People is also a masterwork....

....but agreed that there hadn't been any REM threads here because they haven't done much lately. It's been ten years since their last great album.....and Around The Sun was the only one of the last three that I enjoyed in the slightest. Maybe they can turn things around soon? There's a best of the IRS years scheduled for August, so maybe taking a look back at their early years will help fuel a new burst of creativity.

quote:

Originally posted by Casper:
As for my favorite REM releases, the first five albums are the strongest set of five in musical history. No other artist had a string that consistently amazing. Automatic For The People is also a masterwork....

I love R.E.M. as much as anyone, but the best string of five albums ever? Maybe we've got a new thread on our hands.
I guess I might have made the same argument 10-12 years ago, before I got into the Beatles, Dylan, etc. and before Radiohead got all interesting on us. Anyway, those first five records are great.

Yep - the best 5 album run def goes to the beatles or the rolling stones for musical milestones - (Beatles: Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Peppers, White album; Abbey Road; Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street; Goat's Head Soup). As for Sir Bob, well I don't think he's ever managed more than a couple in a row before wobbling - even though those pairs are astounding.

Still, personally I enjoy REM's particular run of first 5 more than either of those giants - well, except for document which for some reason i never liked much - the production has dated terribly and the songs never impressed me much - call me crazy but that includes 'end of the world etc'.

There was a nice anecdote from Wayne Coyne of the 'Lips and how Michael Stipe wouldn't drink with them at some recent gathering as one of the Lips (Steven Drozd I think) had said that REM had waffled without note for years up their self important asses and had only had three great records twenty years ago - their first three. Most harsh but I am inclined to agree in terms of true back to back classics - the rest have many great songs - up until AFTP anyway - some of their best songs but the albums are patchy or misguided in different ways, IMO of course.

I'm a huge REM fan but I've only ever had difficulty getting in to two of their records, Monster and Around The Sun.

The former I've always found keeps to a general pattern of when a great artist makes a 'once in a lifetime' record. An album where they put absolutely everything they have into an album leaving them searching for a new muse. For me, Automatic For The People was that record for them and inevitably saw a decline immediately post-it.

Its a pattern that exists through musical history, other examples being:
Go-Betweens with 16 Lovers Lane, a thematic culmination of their career to that date. After it, they split.
Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life followed a similar pattern. Its follow-up, Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants was a weak attempt to create another orchestral masterwork which fell resoundingly flat.

REM seemingly had this problem of searching for that muse after the emotional catharsis of Automatic For The People. While I would agree that their more recent work is no match for their work up to that masterpiece, it still has its charms. Around The Sun however is a weak attempt, only slightly touched by genius and seemingly distant from the emotion that their greatest work is infused by, only really reaching any kind of genuine peak with 'Leaving New York', a genuinely great song.