How The West Was Won And Where It Got Us: An REM Thread

[epilogue]

Wait, what do you mean "it's good" ? Is it out? Have you heard it?!

[VinylGuy]

yeah, its out.

Its more electronic oriented than the last REM albums, but still sounds very poppy.

[epilogue]

yeah, its out.

Its more electronic oriented than the last REM albums, but still sounds very poppy.

[digster]

[tragabigzanda]

[VinylGuy]

yeah, the same happened to me. Its an ok song, and i just hope for more.

[liebzz]

Listened to New Adventures in HiFi in the car today. This is as close to a perfect album as maybe you’ll ever get. Love every song and most scratch the cathartic f$&@ yeah! itch, while at the same time offering some stunningly beautiful music.

[VinylGuy]

Listened to New Adventures in HiFi in the car today. This is as close to a perfect album as maybe you’ll ever get. Love every song and most scratch the cathartic f$&@ yeah! itch, while at the same time offering some stunningly beautiful music.

[epilogue]

Listened to New Adventures in HiFi in the car today. This is as close to a perfect album as maybe you’ll ever get. Love every song and most scratch the cathartic f$&@ yeah! itch, while at the same time offering some stunningly beautiful music.

[Kevin Davis]

I wish this did more for me. Stipe is a great vocalist and a charismatic frontman, but I have my doubts as to whether he has a complete enough musical skill set to really be the driving force behind a solo project. He sounds nice here, but I can't imagine ever wanting to listen to this.

[VinylGuy]

yeah, i thought the same when i listened. I had the urge to listen to REM (in fact im listening to Monster again), and realize i miss the band in that tune.

[digster]

Stipe's one of the more magnetic performers, though, lyrically and particularly vocally. I think it's part of the reason why even REM's perceived "low points" in their career still maintain some quality that draws people back to them; Stipe can do a lot even when the material's not necessarily stellar. I think it's a fairly good tune, but it's like watching a good movie elevated by a stunning lead performance. He's like an actor you can't help but be drawn to even when the material and his performance isn't necessarily drawing your attention.

[VinylGuy]

Yeah, i agree with that.

But at the same time, i was listening to his new song and thinking man, i really miss the band.

[AndySlash]

i like the song and i bought the download. but it's in aif format.

we all go back to where we belong also had videos of just someones face. seems a strange concept to recycle. also, andy lemaster (singing at the two minute mark) sounds very thom yorke-ish in a couple spots.

[liebzz]

Up is another album I have always enjoyed and considered underrated. There’s tremendous highs on here with few lows. They clearly had to adjust to losing a member of the group but still managed a ton of successes. I rekindled my love for Parakeet today. I also used to think of Daysleeper as the hit you tell people isn’t the best song on the album but it is quite excellent on revisit.

[VinylGuy]

Up is a tricky one for me. There are some amazing songs and other i dont really care for...i do like the overall experimentation. And its way better than Reveal.

[tragabigzanda]

[liebzz]

Airportman —> Lotus - top notch.

[AndySlash]

I think Up is a perfect album

[liebzz]

I agree that it is better than Reveal, but Reveal, which I listened to today, is better than people give credit. Maybe I am in the minority here but it seems to be a half fantastic album, and half meh. I like The Lifting, All the Way to Reno, She Just Wants to Be, Disappear, Imitaion of Life, and I’ll Take the Rain. The rest is at times okay, at times a bit boring. I might be missing a song here or there but that was my impression on relisten. It’s been a long time since I spent time on this album. Around the Sun is next and I think I have heard that album once or twice ever.