Chris_H_2 wrote:I've probably listened to Collapse Into Now about 10 times total beginning to end since it came out. I probably listened to Accelerate 10 times total beginning to end within the first month of its release. I know there are some people that prefer the former over Accelerate, but to me it's no contest.
Collapse Into Now and Accelerate are probably my two favorite REM albums. There is tons of good stuff to choose from though. The chronic town albums and New Adventures in Hi-Fi are great too.
Chris_H_2 wrote:I've probably listened to Collapse Into Now about 10 times total beginning to end since it came out. I probably listened to Accelerate 10 times total beginning to end within the first month of its release. I know there are some people that prefer the former over Accelerate, but to me it's no contest.
Same here. I found "Accelerate" timely and reinvigorating; I thought "Collapse" sounded a little like REM on life support. There were some fine songs on it but in a lot of ways I think it's their least interesting record.
All I know is, if someone wanted to upload a high quality version of the "In Time: The Best of REM" bonus disc, I would download it right now.
Chris_H_2 wrote:I've probably listened to Collapse Into Now about 10 times total beginning to end since it came out. I probably listened to Accelerate 10 times total beginning to end within the first month of its release. I know there are some people that prefer the former over Accelerate, but to me it's no contest.
Same here. I found "Accelerate" timely and reinvigorating; I thought "Collapse" sounded a little like REM on life support. There were some fine songs on it but in a lot of ways I think it's their least interesting record.
That's fair--it is certainly the most derivative of the records. And there are a bunch of mediocre songs on there.
But the middle stretch of that record is really strong
Uberlin, Oh my Heart, It Happened today, Mine Smell Like Honey and Alligator/Aviator... are all kind of derivative but they are excellent late period versions of classic REM sounds. And Every Day Is Yours to Win and Walk it Back are both pretty fresh
Kevin Davis wrote:
Same here. I found "Accelerate" timely and reinvigorating; I thought "Collapse" sounded a little like REM on life support. There were some fine songs on it but in a lot of ways I think it's their least interesting record.
.
Not until "Around the Sun" is wiped from existence.
I feel that one is the only black mark on an otherwise exemplary career.
cutuphalfdead wrote:I need to go back and give more serious listens to the post-Up output.
My 2000's rankings would be as follows....
Accelerate
Collapse
Reveal
.
.
.
.
ATS
collapse
accelerate
<death valley>
reveal
<mariana trench>
around the sun
Accelerate is definitley at the top by a wide margin. It is the only one of these records I'd rank amongst their very best work.
Reveal and Collapse are close. There are probably more songs I like on Collapse, but Reveal is probably a better listen as an album from start to finish
I still like around the sun, and with a few exceptions most of the songs on there were pretty good and took on a new life in a live setting (high speed train in particular) but there is something so frequently lifeless about the album versions of too many songs.
Reading this just brought back the memory that the first time I listened to Around the Sun I cried. I was so sad that I didn't like it and realized that I might be growing away from my first "favorite band". It was like losing a dear friend. I still think its my least favorite REM album.
Bee Girl wrote:Reading this just brought back the memory that the first time I listened to Around the Sun I cried. I was so sad that I didn't like it and realized that I might be growing away from my first "favorite band". It was like losing a dear friend. I still think its my least favorite REM album.
Wow, what an intense reaction. I didn't have quite the same thing, but at least they rebounded with two fantastic records to close their career.
