it's official: r.e.m.'s new album blows!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

I had high hopes for this one, given the fact that michael stipe had been promising in interviews for over a year a "raw, primal, political album". instead of going back to their rock roots, rem opted instead to make yet another easy listening album, like their last two cds.

this one is actually worse than 'up', which says a lot. it doesn't sound like rem at all. it's michael stipe with a drum machine. it sounds like bad karaoke. it's boring a hell.

there's not one up tempo song on the album, so i have no idea what he was talking about in interviews. mellow is fine, but a little variety is good from time to time. rem hasn't had any energy since new adventures in hi-fi way back in 96.

and this isnt coming from a casual listener. i'm an rem fanatic.

avoid his one at all costs. it's easily their worst ever.

if you must hear it, they premiered it on myspace today at;
www.myspace.com/rem


----

U2's new single comes out thursday, so maybe there's still hope that at least one of my adolescent heroes won't let me down

[FrankBooth]

1. They've lost it.

But I still love em sentimentally, although I haven't bought one of their albums in over a decade.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. i may skip this one

which wil lbe the first time since 1986.

maybe i'm just pissed because it wasn't the promised return to an edgier sound and, over time, it will grow on me, but i really doubt it.

[Gothic Sponge]

2. I'll still buy it.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. I love Up.

I really don't know why people hate it. It's a hell of a lot better than Monster.

[tigereye]

7. there is something missing in them the last couple years

I know, it's Bill Berry! or guts!

Seriously, there is too much navel gazing with no bite, or something. I was just listening to Reveal in the car, there are a few cool tunes, but a lot of it is too muzacky.

I liked Monster.. I haven't really heard Up, I don't think.


I just prefer the old stuff. Actually I was more excited about getting the new Green Day CD. What does that say.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. four things are missing:

1. bill berry, obviously
2. peter buck's guitar-did he put it in the closet or something?
3. the distinctive twang in his voicethat stipe used to have - the attempts he now makes to sound 'pretty' lack the warmth of his old voice
and most importantly

4. energy! - if i want elevator music, i'll listen to enya, fer fuck's sake

[tigereye]

13. yup that sounds about right

I miss the "End of the World As We Know It" days and the Gardening at Night Days. Even the Shiny Happy People days.


What the f--- happened to them?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. also missing: mike mills' backing vocals

has he gone mute or something/ he hasn't sung on an rem album since 96

i had high hopes for this one, since the two 2 tracks on the greatest hits cd ;last year were so good (though, in fairness, 'bad day' was a reworking of a leftover from the 80s, but 'animal' was great) both had all these missing elements, excpet bill, of cousre. but apparently, they didn't learn and this album will be as irrelevant, culturally, as the last decade of r.e.m.

[tigereye]

21. how can you really have an REM album

without those elements you mentioned? One of the reasons that All the Way to Reno on the Reveal album sounds so good is the great reverb guitar sound. If you don't have Buck's guitar and Mill's voice, and Michael Stipe on his endless journey through his childhood ( and granted some of his journeys have been very good), what do you have? The band is more than Stipe's voice.

[catzies]

9. Me too. "Hi Fi" was their Sgt. Pepper, "Up" was their White Album.

My 6-disk changer in the car right now has Out of Time, Automatic, Monster, Hi Fi, Up & Reveal. I hit skip thru most of Monster.

I'm getting the new album regardless of any reviews or opinions.

I'm going to see them next month on opening night at the Greek in LA, and the following night at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

I can't wait.

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. I haven't bought any REM since Life's Rich Pageant.

The minute Scott Litt started producing and they morphed after that, I have hated them.

Half the fun of listening to REM was making up your own lyrics to what you THOUGHT he was saying.

FSC

[bigwillq]

6. That's sad to hear

I always liked REM alot and was planning on buying it.
Now, I don't think I will.

BTW, Michael Stipe looks like shit lately. He has gotten really old looking.

[mitchum]

18. If you think he looks old in photographs...

you should see him walking around on the street. He looks like a 60 year old alcoholic who has wandered away from the Tenderloin. Apparently, he also has an aversion to deoderant.

[Susang]

10. Is it okay with you if I decide for myself if I like it?

:eyes:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

15. sure

go to myspace and give it a listen

just consider this a friendly warning

if you really, really liked up and reveal (i was indiffernt on one, thought the other wask mildly decent), you may be satisified

otherwise, you may be disappointed

[Susang]

16. Then perhaps the title of your thread is a bit premature?

Or, are you indeed an official?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

20. yes

i am , in fact, legally certified to pass judgement on formerly legendary bands whose best work is increasingly further and further behind them

it was a mail-away offer to get the certification

[NC_Nurse]

11. Darn!

I had high hopes for this one.

[OneBlueSky]

12. and in related news . . .

Michael Stipe was one of Mario Batali's guests on yesterday's Molto Mario . . . looked like he was enjoying himself . . . :)

[mitchum]

17. The new single sounds like a freakin' Phil Collins song

[Susang]

19. Maybe that's why Screaming Lord Byron likes it

:evilgrin:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

22. Yes.

That's right su-su-susang.