tinnitus photography Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 i realized after reading that CoS list that i've not heard five or so of those records. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 i realized after reading that CoS list that i've not heard five or so of those records.Playing devils advocate how would you know if you like them or not? I’d admit they changed a ot over the years but new adventures, up, accelerate, collapse into now all have sonme really great tracks. Even around the sun which is their worst album has 4 or so great songs! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 because Green had some missteps and the songs i heard via the radio of AFTP and Monster onward weren't enough to divert my attention from other records. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted November 9, 2017 Author Share Posted November 9, 2017 because Green had some missteps and the songs i heard via the radio of AFTP and Monster onward weren't enough to divert my attention from other records.Personal I skip over all the album singles when I listen to the albums because I don’t want to tire of them. But some of the non single tracks in my opinion are stronger than the singles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boss_Tweedy Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 That CoS list loses a lot of legitimacy by ranking Accelerate ahead of Fables of the Reconstruction and listing Lifes Rich Pageant as only their 8th best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 yeah i thought that fell into the 'hot take' category. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 but new adventures, up, accelerate, collapse into now all have sonme really great tracks. Even around the sun which is their worst album has 4 or so great songs!That's the thing, there are some good or really good tracks on all the albums, but those first five are start to finish awesome in my book. Not a single track I don't want to hear in the entire five. To me we're comparing masterpieces to albums with some really good songs but overall not great from start to finish. And after New Adventures, the really good songs are fewer and further between. Totally on board with John Smith: "The albums after NA have their moments but none are consistent enough for my tastes" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 For me, the CoS ranking's biggest fail is putting Fables at #11. Sorry, but no effin' way! It's a Top 5-er. I'm a huge fan of Automatic. I like how CoS tries to explain it: "And yet this darker double-down on Out of Time remains the band’s most celebrated album. I can’t quite explain why. It’s one of those beautiful mysteries that solves itself as you listen to the record, but presents itself all over again when you take your headphones off. Everyone’s criteria for a perfect album differs, but the idea of being able to unlock something mysterious each and every listen some thousand listens later must tick off some box or another." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Back in the mid '90s I was walking down an alley on the northside of Chicago when I came across a bunch of record albums leaning against a telephone pole. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the first five REM albums. All in great condition. Thank you to the kind soul who thoughtfully put those out there for me to find and cherish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 That's the thing, there are some good or really good tracks on all the albums, but those first five are start to finish awesome in my book. Not a single track I don't want to hear in the entire five. To me we're comparing masterpieces to albums with some really good songs but overall not great from start to finish. And after New Adventures, the really good songs are fewer and further between. Totally on board with John Smith: "The albums after NA have their moments but none are consistent enough for my tastes"Up is after new adventures and I think it’s a strong front to back album afterwords maybe I’d agree Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 I always thought Up was great ---- I think I enjoy it more than Monster and New Adventures. It could be that this was first time that I saw them in concert - while they were supporting the Up record --- they definitely played like they had something to prove (it was in St. Louis - Wilco opened). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I always thought Up was great ---- I think I enjoy it more than Monster and New Adventures. It could be that this was first time that I saw them in concert - while they were supporting the Up record --- they definitely played like they had something to prove (it was in St. Louis - Wilco opened).I was at that show. I was pleasantly surprised how well the songs from UP sounded live. Still an uneven album that I rarely pull out to listen to though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I really like Up. It's hard to say it's a Top 5 R.E.M. album, yet, listening to it, it's got a LOT going for it. It also was released in one of the most amazing few months of my music-listening life. From September 1998 to May 1999: "Deserter's Songs", Mercury Rev"Up", R.E.M."Summerteeth", Wilco"Soft Bulletin", Flaming Lips Wow!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckrh Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Soft Bulletin is an all time favorite with Summerteeth not far behind. I play both a lot. I listened to the concert disc of the Automatic reissue. I had heard before on boots but they have remastered it. Sounds fantastic! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I was at that show. I was pleasantly surprised how well the songs from UP sounded live. Still an uneven album that I rarely pull out to listen to though. They really killed Lotus that night - great tune. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Back in the mid '90s I was walking down an alley on the northside of Chicago when I came across a bunch of record albums leaning against a telephone pole. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the first five REM albums. All in great condition. Thank you to the kind soul who thoughtfully put those out there for me to find and cherish. No problemo mon frere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Back in the mid '90s I was walking down an alley on the northside of Chicago when I came across a bunch of record albums leaning against a telephone pole. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the first five REM albums. All in great condition. Thank you to the kind soul who thoughtfully put those out there for me to find and cherish.That is fucking incredible, man! That's the best story I've heard in quite some time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckrh Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 I got the 2 disc version today. The remaster is superb. The live show is also remastered & sounds fantastic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boss_Tweedy Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Has anyone taken the plunge and bought the deluxe reissue of AFTP? R.E.M.'s my favorite band ever, but I'm on the fence about spending $75-$80 for a reissue. I don't care much for the demos, and I don't know if I'll ever have the technology to be able to listen to the album in Dolby Atmos. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
u2roolz Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 I went to Bull Moose Records last night and the remastered set(s) weren't even on the shelves. The clerk kept seeing the $70 4 cd/Blu-Ray box set in the computer as being in the back room. She finally found the double disc which was much better for my wallet @ $22. I figure I'll use my iTunes gift cards for the demos. I wasn't feeling it to own the videos that they made. Maybe if I want to watch them I can easily go to YouTube. I'm loving this set & everyone posting about their early records had me going back and doing some much needed catching up with these guys. Kohoutek is just amazing! Smiles, chills and tears when listening to these tunes which still sound amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 It's outside the timeline of this topic, but here's a very current 20 minute interview with Mills and Stipe. I've only listened to the first couple of minutes so far. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiQ7EaIRgfc&feature=share Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Really digging "Howler Monkey", which is "Ignoreland" without Stipe singing lyrics. I think I'll make myself a new Automatic disc, replacing the latter with the former. For me, "Ignoreland" never fit lyrically. Stipe sings, "I know that this is vitriol. No solution, spleen-venting. But I feel better having screamed. Don't you?" Um, no Michael, actually I DON'T feel better hearing you scream and vent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scribex6 Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 I like "Ignoreland." While it's not my favorite song on the album, It adds a nice bit of energy to the second half of the album and I found the vitriol directed towards the Reagan/Bush years a welcome release (and so much more resonant again in the Trump era.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 They (or least Michael) campaigned for Clinton/Gore as I recall. And he and Natalie Merchant sang at one of the Inauguration parties. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scribex6 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Yeah, Stipe and 10,000 Maniacs did a cool version of "To Sir With Love," which I have as a b-side to a CD single. I also enjoyed the Automatic Baby performance of "One" at the inauguration featuring him, Mike Mills, Larry Mullen, Jr. and Adam Clayton. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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