While I never worshiped at the altar of REM (more HERE), the band kept a strong hold of me till 1994's Monster. While the first single, "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" lived up to album's idea of a louder, rawer rock n' roll sound, much of the rest album ("Crush With Eyeliner" might also get a pass here) just fell flat*. And from then on my interest in REM never really returned. I've heard albums the band's released since '94 that sounded just fine but that sense of vitality, that sense that this is music people will remember for generations just evaporated for me.
* Of the albums legacy, Wikipedia dryly notes, "Despite generally positive critical reception, used CD stores received a
large number of copies of "Monster" from sellers seeking to unload the
album. A large pile of "Monster" copies was often the only used option
for buyers looking for an REM album. Some used CD stores stopped buying
the album due to a growing overstock and little demand from buyers."
So to bring us back to the vital era, let's offer a bootleg CD that collects up the band's fanclub-only Christmas singles from 1988 to 1996. While there are definitely a few holiday-tunes here, the lion's share of the tracks are intriguing cover choices by influences like Television, Mission of Burma, The Vibrators, CCR, Spizzenergi, Suicide, Johnny Cash, Flipper, Roky Erickson and Richard Thompson.
Did your interest in REM drop off at some point? Let us know in the COMMENTS section (which is where you'll find the Rare Frequencies link).
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"What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"
ReplyDelete"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed
I thought I'd pegged you an idiot's dream
Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I'd studied your cartoons, radio, music, TV, movies, magazines
Richard said, "Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy"
A smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh
Butterfly decal, rear-view mirror, dogging the scene
You smile like the cartoon, tooth for a tooth
You said that irony was the shackles of youth
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You said that irony was the shackles of youth, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
You wore a shirt of violent green, uh-huh
I couldn't understand
I never understood, don't fuck with me, uh-huh
.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xdtxa62gxhws2y8
thanks for all your efforts--you have excellent taste and are a music demi-god.
ReplyDeleter.e.m. (a band i loved) AND covers!?! i'm in heaven. i guess you really must be a demi-god... thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy interest in REM dropped of with 'Automatic for the people' - which many people consider to be their masterpiece. And it has great songs - but somehow I felt with a lot of the songs that I'd heard them before; it began to bother me that they sounded familiar. It was the first REM album I didn't purchase.
ReplyDeleteSo, arguably the last truly great REM album was the one where I lost interest.
Ok I'm going to go against the grain and honestly say I never lost interest or excitement when it came to REM. I love all the albums - some more than others obviously - but always find something of interest. Some of the songs post Bill Berry are fantastic and if any other band had released them they would have been duly lauded.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all that my favourite albums are Reckoning, Document for the memories they bring back and Automatic - bought it, took it home and was blown away, also my 1st daughter was born while this played in the background.
Thanks Jeffen - Ivan
After a certain point, albums became a little bit of a roller-coaster ride.
ReplyDeleteBut my interest didn't drop until just recently, following the releases of 'Accelerate' and 'Collapse Into Now'.
But kudos for knowing when to hang it up.
Anon
ReplyDelete"demi-god" staus'- cool - I've alwys coveted that ranking!
brink
Bless you
1x1 head
Awful story, just awful. Stipe seems like he can be a real prick sometimes.
Just8
yeah the hype around AFTP can be a thick even today. While I love it, I can see how it probably turned some people off.
Ivan
Always nice to have someone go against the grain, especially as I'm sure later REM is worth defending. After all, I defend the later Ramones album, so I can understand where you're coming from.
LPG
It's interesting that you're hang-up point is a bit later than many peoples. I should probably go back and listen to some of that later period stuff, I bet I'd hear some good things.
P.S> Thanks for all the comments!
Great post on a great band.
ReplyDeleteJeffen - I agree about the Ramones. I know I'm biased as they are a great favourite of mine but like me you can probably remember the vitriol,scorn and sometimes sheer hatred that was given to the band and their 80's and 90's albums from the press and so called taste makers, the same people who now proclaim their genius. Sorry but it makes my blood boil. We knew we would never get another Leave Home or Rocket To Russia but there are some great songs on those later LPs. Regards, Ivan
ReplyDeleteI was a fan from the early days after seeing them play Radio Free Europe on The Tube. They were pretty much my favourite band in the 80's. I felt they were never quite as good after Bill Berry left, but all the albums had 3 or 4 terrific tunes - except Around The Sun. Still, Accelerate, was pretty good and CIN was a really pleasant surprise, a band back on form. Still, calling it a day is probably the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteIvan
ReplyDeleteyou`re preaching to the (righteously angry)choir on that one. Ramones albums do grow skimpier gradually but there`s great stuff right through the 80`s (and even the 90`s)
Anon
`they were never quite as good after Bill Berry left`` Berry was a crucial part of the band but we never knew how much till he left.