What do you guys think of R.E.M?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by DetachedUmbilical, Oct 8, 2018.

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  1. walrus

    walrus Staring into nothing

    Location:
    Nashville
    Me too. They sorta tried that with Accelerate, although without Berry, obviously, but I think it's the best record they made post-Hifi. It's a shame Bill never changed his mind and came back for one last go-around before the band split.

    I guess if that was going to be the catalyst, it would've happened already.

    I don't know what it would be...I honestly don't think REM has "the song" like Journey did with "Don't Stop Believin'" that could be so easily repurposed for TV, movies, etc, and become a cultural touchstone decades later. As many hits as they had, they never really wrote those kind of songs, with the exception of maybe "Everybody Hurts," which isn't exactly a feel-good party-starter. REM's hits were at worst kitschy ("Stand," "Shiny Happy People") and at best, a bit obtuse ("Kenneth," "Orange Crush," etc), which is what made them stand out.

    That it was amicable, and that Mills and Buck have jammed together means the door is more open here than say, the Smiths or the Jam. But I don't think any of them need the money...what it would take for a reunion, I think, would be some kind of significant re-igniting of interest in the band, which is entirely plausible, but may be an uphill battle.
     
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  2. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    IMHO the most over-rated band in rock and roll history.

    10+ albums of songs that all sound the same (other than 'automatic for the people" which coincidentally was the biggest seller).
     
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  3. G B Kuipers

    G B Kuipers Forum Resident

    Location:
    Netherlands
    Where are you hearing a mellotron?
     
  4. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    905, G B Kuipers and Interpolantics like this.
  5. bvb1123

    bvb1123 Rock and Roll Martian

    Location:
    Cincinnati Ohio
    Those exact songs are all my favorites from NAIHF although I would also add Departure.
     
  6. Chip TRG

    Chip TRG Senior Member

    Oh my God, can we just lock this thread and go home? You totally win.
     
    JuanTCB likes this.
  7. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    This post is very reminiscent of comments I’d heard and read when R.E.M.’s first albums were released:
    “All the songs sound alike!”
    “They just copy The Byrds - only not as good”
    “The singer mumbles too much”
    “You can’t understand the words”
    “The words don’t make sense”
    “Their Music sounds murky”
    “What’s the big deal with them”
    “The singer is kinda weird”
    “I only know that Hit Single by them”
    “That Hit Single is their only good song”
    “What does their name mean”
    “Why R.E.M. ???”
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2018
  8. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    Then
    “The One I Love”
    “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)”
    ...turned on the front porch lights

    Then
    “Stand”
    ...opened the front screen door

    Then
    “Losing My Religion”
    “Shiny Happy People”
    ...blared the music for the whole block to hear
     
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  9. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    While many new listeners flocked in to hear the music, as R.E.M. gained in popularity,
    Many of the early R.E.M. fans quietly exited out the back door

    Some to hang around for awhile to hear what was playing
    Others had heard enough and jumped over the fence
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2018
    Efus, stever and Blank Frank like this.
  10. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    lots of verbiage above, for me though, i simply just never got them or liked them.
     
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  11. lightbulb

    lightbulb Not the Brightest of the Bunch

    Location:
    Smogville CA USA
    What R.E.M have you heard?
     
  12. Eleventh Earl of Mar

    Eleventh Earl of Mar Somehow got them all this far.

    Location:
    New York
    The Wrong Child and I Remember California

    It's on Ebow the Letter too.
     
    G B Kuipers likes this.
  13. catnip nation

    catnip nation Forum Resident

    Location:
    new haven ct usa
    Saw many amazing,life -changing gigs in the 80's in sweaty little clubs and gyms......quality control really suffered after Berry left I must admit.
     
  14. schelti

    schelti Forum Resident

    L.P. likes this.
  15. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    Still listening after 30+ years.
     
    DPK, twicks and George P like this.
  16. Efus

    Efus Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    Do yourself a favor, look at the history, wash, rinse, repeat.
     
    Graham likes this.
  17. The greatest American band of all time.After 2 very good albums to begin with 9 great albums in a row -from Fables to Reveal-all of which sound totally different to each other.
     
    twicks likes this.
  18. vamborules

    vamborules Forum Resident

    Location:
    CT
    So totally not true.
     
  19. L.P.

    L.P. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austria
    My sister was the big REM fan in the family. Out of Time was when we first heard of them, and we tried to figure out their back catalogue nearly a decade before we first could google anything.

    So while the IRS years are fantastic and important, that time period between Out of Time and New Adventures was such an important part of us growing up, that those will always be my favorites. Combined with the IRS ones, we managed to order them somehow. Yes, and including Monster.
     
  20. Byrdman77

    Byrdman77 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Leigh On Sea, UK
    For my money they have the best run of studio albums by any USA band in history. Only The Beatles have a stronger run. They have one true stinker in Around The Sun and the last two records were like R.E.M trying to imitate themselves but from Murmur to Monster it's all killer no filler. Love Up too.
     
  21. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    I really enjoy a lot of songs from these records but part of me can't really accept them as genuine R.E.M. Once a band self-consciously tries to recapture past glories it's kinda over...
     
    Minorityshareholder likes this.
  22. Rose River Bear

    Rose River Bear Senior Member

    I don't listen to them much anymore. They sound sort of monochromatic to me at this point.
     
  23. Praveen

    Praveen Forum Resident

    Location:
    Atlanta
    How can one not feel young again listening to Its the End of the World as we know it when you are driving. Or the kickoff to Orange Crush. Nightswimming sounds pretty different from those songs. Now Stipe has a very recognizable voice. It doesnt mean all his songs sound the same. Drive is such a slow burn. Man on the Moon is their big pop song which was overplayed, but listening to it recently after such a long gap , it made me realize what a well crafted song it was.
    I still am sick of Everybody Hurts though.
     
  24. Dr. Funk

    Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

    Location:
    Fort Worth TX
    I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but the question was asked........I genuinely have a difficult time enjoying and listening to their music. I bought some of their albums 30 years ago when they hit the charts.........in fact, I own all of their albums from Murmur to Monster. I'm not sure I can directly put my finger on why I never connected with their music, but I feel like I tried. :shrug:
     
    SRC likes this.
  25. cporcp

    cporcp Forum Resident

    Location:
    Kentucky
    And I Feel Fine '82-'87 is a great collection of songs.
     
    notesfrom and DorothyV like this.
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