I used to really like R.E.M. back in the day. They stood out from all the other US indie bands as a beacon of individual strangeness. Then they made Out of Time and Automatic for the people ... which I tried to like ... but I couldn't deal with the commericial slant of it all. Am I right to have given up on them entirely at that point? Has anyone else given up on them like me?
Here is a lovely cover from the Athens, GA - Inside/Out soundtrack which is in the mould of the R.E.M. I loved and lost.
rem - all i have to do is dream
If you haven't got it you should really buy this
Monday, March 06, 2006
when i need you in the night
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7 comments:
Glad you liked it. It's a nice little record isn't it!
Automatic for the People is my favorite R.E.M. Followed closely by Murmur. Regardless, I lost them completely with Up (circa '98). Hell, even Out of Time is a fairly strange album; don't be dissuaded by the presence of "Shiny Happy People." Oh, and... nice post.
Having listned to REM from Murmer onwards and seeing them live from 1982 onwards, I know how you feel. Michael wouldn't even face the audience in some shows. Still the best band ever. My turning point was when they released Green. It was okay, but the energy of the album wore off after a while and I missed the music and melody that was present in the past albums. I still find gems on every album, but in my opinion they were at their best on the IRS albums.
Thanks for all your comments guys. I'm glad I'm not alone in only liking early REM!
Maybe you´re not alone in only liking early REM, but this only shows that there are a lot of people who are wrong. :-)
REM developed a lot over the years (I knew and loved their music since "Murmur"), and they´re still the only band that makes me feel comfortable in big halls or stadiums. Their last records may not be easy listening, but they are certainly NOT commercial in any way. And I hope (and think) R.E.M. never will be commercial.
@ molotov: You call "Out of Time" fairly strange? Please define "strange". :-) And "Shiny Happy People" is nothing more than a nice but stupid (or: stupid but nice) little popsong – guess why *the band* never puts this one on any "Best of" record.
wow. a real discussion. excellent.
whsonic .. you are the real REM fan I have been looking for! What are the gems they have produced since Green? I'd love not to have given up on them but everything I hear these days doesn't switch my music switches like Murmur, Green or even Fables!?
Help Me Rediscover!!!
I actually liked them all the way through 'New Adventures in HI-Fi' but then they stopped me cold. I really miss the band that they used to be.
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