Anyone got the new R.E.M?

[vanillawafer]

I'm thinking about picking this up on my way home tonight, and wanted to hear from anyone who has picked it up. How is it?

 

[sno1man]

Bought it this morning and have listened to twice. I have not made up my mind yet , but it is loads better than "reveal" or "up"

It sounds like a fresher version of the bands early 90s stuff such as "new adventures in Hi Fi"

A cautious thumbs up

 

[markl]

FWIW, consensus from what I've read is that it may be their worst. R.E.M. goes adult-contemporary. People seem really upset about it. Personally haven't cared for Up or Reveal, and this appears to be more of the same only "watered down" even more.

Haven't heard it (may be genius for all I know) but not rushing out to get it.

 

[DLeeWebb]

Just ordered it from CD Universe but I didn't get it yet. I hope it's better than what people are saying here. I even got the special edition!

 

[MTL]

Well, actually I do quite like it - but admittedly I've never really cared much for R.E.M. before nor do I really know theit earlier stuff.
But songs like 'Boy in the well' (track 8) are quite well done. Maybe I'm just the man for 'adult-contemporary'...

 

[vanillawafer]

Humm well I think I will wait a couple of days on this one and see how the reviews pan out as I was a little hesitant to begin with because I heard they through in a lot of their political believes with this album too. Thanks for the feedback

 

[sno1man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTL Well, actually I do quite like it - but admittedly I've never really cared much for R.E.M. before nor do I really know theit earlier stuff. But songs like 'Boy in the well' (track 8) are quite well done. Maybe I'm just the man for 'adult-contemporary'...

I like it too so far. No it's not the incredible different sound that was "Murmur" or the musical power of "monster" or the lyrical gem that was "automatic for the people"

I guess it does seem like watered down REM but that to me is not that bad.

Who knew that Bill Berry was the musical fire in the group before though. I would have guessed Stipe

 

[dave-the-rave]

Markl,

Spend a little more time with "Reveal." You and I like a lot of the same stuff (Doves, Yes, Elbow, other Brit-layered stuff), and I like "Reveal" a lot; a lot more than "Monster," which I think is heinous.

 

[DLeeWebb]

Listened to it a couple of times. It doesn't do anything for me. I want to like it but it's missing something. You'll definitely like it if you're into "Up" and "Reveal." Unfortunately, I like the R.E.M. of "Losing My Religion" and "Automatic For The People."

 

[sno1man]

Well after spending quite a few more listens to this album I have now decided to give it an overall thumbs down.

For me the problem is what it doesn't have not what's there. It's as though Warner Brothers said "look you guys need a hit, we invested big bucks and your sales over the last few albums sucked. Why don't you take the best of and use it as a reference"

And thus the problem most of REM's biggest hits have also been their most timid, "losing my religion" not withstanding. I am thinking of "shiny happy people" or "everybody hurts" which some magazine poll had people saying that it was their favorite REM song.

I think what I and others are looking for is that pushing the envelope type of thing that was REM through" Monster" It may have been words, music or both, but they kept pushing. Everything from "radio free europe" through "Losing my religion" and "let me in" had that.

In short the MOR rap is accurate, the new album is the softened, corn sweetened, low fat, REM. Pleasant at first but quickly stale.

It's ironic that the band used to talk about quitting in 2000 for fear of doing exactly what they are now, producing mediocrity