Listening to R.E.M. on Radio Paradise

Good band but this one always felt a bit dry for my tastes

Posted 2 years ago by wanderinglevel [ Reply ]

So agree with Malobeth. This album is RICH. Love this song. Important for me in 1996

Posted 2 years ago by Montreal_Mort [ Reply ]

Love REM

Posted 6 years ago by wellmm [ Reply ]

I really miss these guys. Always loved their music.

Posted 6 years ago by cavemanleong [ Reply ]

kurtster wrote:

just found the vinyl, unopened, in my collection. debating whether or not to open it or sell it.

In my opinion sell it, if the train spotting types are willing to buy it, give them the pleasure of ownership and spend the proceeds on the R.E.M. back catalogue.

Posted 7 years ago by ScottishWillie [ Reply ]

Beautiful Transition

Posted 8 years ago by Triattack [ Reply ]

just found the vinyl, unopened, in my collection. debating whether or not to open it or sell it.

Posted 8 years ago by kurtster [ Reply ]

Absolutely fantastic album. SO many great songs. Also, as far as I'm concerned, REM finished high with last two brilliant albums.

Posted 8 years ago by maboleth [ Reply ]

I still think that their "blah" is brilliant stuff.

Posted 8 years ago by DaidyBoy [ Reply ]

From their "Blah" period (i.e., post-1992). I do like Electrolite, though.

Posted 8 years ago by nutrod42 [ Reply ]

vandal wrote:

I like it, but it does borrow a bit from Man on The Moon. . . (which is funny to say, because I believe this pre-dates MoTM)

You believe incorrectly. Man On The Moon is from Automatic For The People, which predates this by five years or so, IIRC.

Posted 10 years ago by DaMoGan [ Reply ]

Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song... we be dancing cross-eyed buck ass naked and jiggling organs like Willy Shakes...

Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

can we download some of these awesome pictures???

Posted 10 years ago by xs9099 [ Reply ]

That transition from Air - Talisman was seemless. I'd never have imagined that could work but, again, wow, Bill.....

Posted 10 years ago by oldsaxon [ Reply ]

marvelous... love it... we be dancing...

Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

gandalfbmg wrote:

Their best post-Automatic song?

Well, I think Bittersweet Me is a fine, solid song, but not too special or exciting. New Adventures In Hi-Fi alone has at least 5 that I like better (How The West Was Won, E-Bow The Letter, Leave, So Fast So Numb, Electrolite). I really like that record.

Some more late R.E.M. favorites: Lotus, At My Most Beautiful, Walk Unafraid and Parakeet from Up, which is pretty uneven and overlong as a record but has a nice atmospheric and experimental vibe.

The Great Beyond. I've Been High from Reveal. Their last decade was disappointing, though. Until The Day Is Done was a lone positive surprise.

Posted 11 years ago by jpdribbler [ Reply ]

Their best post-Automatic song?

Posted 12 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

romeotuma wrote:

I'll dance to this...

Now that could upset your roomates lol

Posted 12 years ago by Toke [ Reply ]

ChardRemains wrote:

REM started going south when Michael Stipe started enunciating. Fables is probably their last decent album IMO. My favorite is the Chronic Town EP produced by Mitch Easter.

They did start to get overly cute with the lyrics, and it led to their downfall. I liked it much better when they were hard to understand. The long gradual decline started with Green. Still, Green was great, so were the next few CDs, but they fell off the cliff by the mid-90s with Monster and it was all mediocre from there on out. No band has stayed on top as long as they did though - they had a great run and nothing to be ashamed of. They always were and still try to be a college, intellectual band, but you can only do that for so long.

Posted 13 years ago by rdo [ Reply ]

I like it, but it does borrow a bit from Man on The Moon. . . (which is funny to say, because I believe this pre-dates MoTM)

Posted 13 years ago by vandal [ Reply ]

I like this one, including the crunchy guitar tone.

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack [ Reply ]

sounds like all there other stuff but thats good

Posted 13 years ago by DEWBKEY [ Reply ]

ProgFusion wrote:

horstman wrote:

To those who think that REM went south after IRS, it's really more of an evolution, an ability to create music with far more funds, cash, free time, to break free of their traditional bonds.

I'm one of those people, and I don't think they used their success to "break free of their traditional bonds," rather, I think they got lazy, and went mainstream.

I have one of REM's early albums, namely "Fables of the Reconstruction" from 1985, and the the music on that album is experimental, and unique. I love it.

But their later stuff is so mundane. For every reasonably good song they made, like this one, they made others like the mind-numbing "Losing My Religion," with its no-effort-expended cliched lyrics.

"the surface informs the underneath the underneath is lacking"

Posted 14 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

They found all the right chords for this one...... that's for sure.

Posted 14 years ago by mrdak [ Reply ]

peter_james_bond wrote:

Oh my peer,
Your veneer is wearing thin and cracking
The surface informs that underneath,
Underneath is lacking

Love those lyrics.

Thanks for that, yes, good stuff.

Posted 14 years ago by dyharenas [ Reply ]

Don't get me wrong, I love just about everything by REM...but this is my least fav album. A good song, but IMHO just no up to the feeling of most of REM's past work.

Posted 14 years ago by remfract [ Reply ]

handsomened wrote:

Yes, I agree, sooo goooood for the earsssssss

Yes, great audio therapy!!

Posted 14 years ago by Spud [ Reply ]

romeotuma wrote:

This song is cool...

Yes, I agree, sooo goooood for the earsssssss

Posted 14 years ago by handsomened [ Reply ]

Oh my peer,
Your veneer is wearing thin and cracking
The surface informs that underneath,
Underneath is lacking

Love those lyrics.

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

ProgFusion wrote:

REM started going south when Michael Stipe started enunciating. Fables is probably their last decent album IMO. My favorite is the Chronic Town EP produced by Mitch Easter.
horstman wrote:

To those who think that REM went south after IRS, it's really more of an evolution, an ability to create music with far more funds, cash, free time, to break free of their traditional bonds.

I'm one of those people, and I don't think they used their success to "break free of their traditional bonds," rather, I think they got lazy, and went mainstream.

I have one of REM's early albums, namely "Fables of the Reconstruction" from 1985, and the the music on that album is experimental, and unique. I love it.

But their later stuff is so mundane. For every reasonably good song they made, like this one, they made others like the mind-numbing "Losing My Religion," with its no-effort-expended cliched lyrics.

Posted 15 years ago by ChardRemains [ Reply ]

This is some really sorry shit.

Posted 15 years ago by bokey [ Reply ]

horstman wrote:

To those who think that REM went south after IRS, it's really more of an evolution, an ability to create music with far more funds, cash, free time, to break free of their traditional bonds.

I'm one of those people, and I don't think they used their success to "break free of their traditional bonds," rather, I think they got lazy, and went mainstream.

I have one of REM's early albums, namely "Fables of the Reconstruction" from 1985, and the the music on that album is experimental, and unique. I love it.

But their later stuff is so mundane. For every reasonably good song they made, like this one, they made others like the mind-numbing "Losing My Religion," with its no-effort-expended cliched lyrics.

Posted 15 years ago by ProgFusion [ Reply ]

leshwatt wrote:

I don't know what I'm hungry for

Your leg, perhaps?

Posted 16 years ago by lmic [ Reply ]

I don't know what I'm hungry for
I don't know what I want anymore

Posted 16 years ago by leshwatt [ Reply ]

Yes. Crank it up!

Posted 16 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

GChevy410 wrote:

Mute, as with nearly every REM song

Crank it up, as with nearly every REM song! To those who think that REM went south after IRS, it's really more of an evolution, an ability to create music with far more funds, cash, free time, to break free of their traditional bonds. Bands evolve. Sometimes that evolutions is downward or not original. U2 has bee accused of this (maybe rightly so!) but that' creativity. Sometimes it works, sometimes it fall flat on its face. I think at the end of the day, Michael Stipes and crew will be able to look back at the day, kick back and smile. And I'll be smiling with them.

Posted 16 years ago by horstman [ Reply ]

bigB_3 wrote:

Please stop talking about your sex life.

This is a family forum.

Ha! That's the way we should treat all the RP trolls.

Posted 16 years ago by MonkeyPod [ Reply ]

pushkinjim wrote:

Mediocre, lousy, boring!

Please stop talking about your sex life.

This is a family forum.

Posted 16 years ago by bigB_3 [ Reply ]

Mediocre, lousy, boring!

Posted 16 years ago by pushkinjim [ Reply ]

ladybinnath wrote:

This is pleasant. But that's not a compliment for a band that once was so much more than pleasant.

Well put. Their edginess is gone from this one.

Posted 16 years ago by rbigelo [ Reply ]

This is pleasant. But that's not a compliment for a band that once was so much more than pleasant.

Posted 16 years ago by ladybinnath [ Reply ]

I think this is their most underrated album, 10 easy

Posted 17 years ago by petercroob [ Reply ]

YES!!!!!! THOSE GREAT COLLEGE DAYS!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

Posted 17 years ago by jwbeadle [ Reply ]

Has anyone else had these lyrics go through your head during a break-up? "I'd sooner chew my leg off.."

Posted 17 years ago by MutualDisdain [ Reply ]

7

8

Posted 17 years ago by bigB_3 [ Reply ]

TJOpootertoot wrote:

REM = sucky So sad.

Removed the superfluous stuff for ya. No need to thank me,I'm just doing a service for mankind.

Posted 17 years ago by bokey [ Reply ]

Extra nice.

Posted 17 years ago by slowhand [ Reply ]

99 wrote:

No kidding. New Adventures in Hi Fi is certainly no Fables of the Reconstruction but Green, Out of Time and Automatic were all solid albums on the WB label. I even enjoyed a few songs on Monster.

Yup. Automatic's the borderline for me, that album is great throughout (with the exception of everybody whines). though there certainly were moments of both green and oot that presaged a disappointing future. didn't like a track on monster. 7 for this one, it's about the best later rem song i've yet heard.

Posted 17 years ago by supergroverx [ Reply ]

TJOpootertoot wrote:

WB REM = sucky = lamest, most unoriginal "they sold out!" argument in rock history except for the guy who yelled "Judas!" at Bob Dylan. So sad. TJ

No kidding. New Adventures in Hi Fi is certainly no Fables of the Reconstruction but Green, Out of Time and Automatic were all solid albums on the WB label. I even enjoyed a few songs on Monster.

Posted 17 years ago by 99 [ Reply ]

dmax wrote:

That's so out of touch on his part. "Guitar band"? Nothing wrong with that. The Stones and the Velvets and almost every other freakin great rock band is anchored in their guitars. IRS REM = best band in America WB REM = waste of time

WB REM = sucky = lamest, most unoriginal "they sold out!" argument in rock history except for the guy who yelled "Judas!" at Bob Dylan. So sad. TJ

Posted 17 years ago by TJOpootertoot [ Reply ]

RobK wrote:

I have to agree...that is, with the other listeners who have said you don't know what you're talking about. You think those of us who liked New Adventures haven't listened to enough old R.E.M.? Puhleaze. I've got 'em all from Chronic Town on just like everybody else, and they've all been worn down to nothing from repeated use. First the tapes and then the cd's that replaced the tapes. Of course we know and love the vintage stuff that made them great. Just because those days are gone means they can't make great music anymore? Says who? I think you're the one who needs advice on how to listen to R.E.M. You've missed out on a lot of good stuff since the Green album, when you apparently threw in the towel. Oh and just for the record, Nomar, R.E.M. is a band, not one person.

Well said. I, personally, have enjoyed the evolutionary ride of REM.

Posted 17 years ago by Land_Shark [ Reply ]

odd. it's odd that he's asking if i'm tired and naked. because he already said that he was both tired and naked.

Posted 17 years ago by optimusprime10 [ Reply ]

Nomar wrote:

I have to wonder how M. Stipe can sleep at night knowing that he used to give us such gems as "Don't go back to Rockville" and "Exhuming McCarthy," and now all he can do is pump out this drivel. Anyone who thinks this is the best REM has to offer needs to spend some quality time with their earlier stuff - and "Monster" certainly doesn't qualify. Think pre-"Green."

I have to agree...that is, with the other listeners who have said you don't know what you're talking about. You think those of us who liked New Adventures haven't listened to enough old R.E.M.? Puhleaze. I've got 'em all from Chronic Town on just like everybody else, and they've all been worn down to nothing from repeated use. First the tapes and then the cd's that replaced the tapes. Of course we know and love the vintage stuff that made them great. Just because those days are gone means they can't make great music anymore? Says who? I think you're the one who needs advice on how to listen to R.E.M. You've missed out on a lot of good stuff since the Green album, when you apparently threw in the towel. Oh and just for the record, Nomar, R.E.M. is a band, not one person.

Posted 18 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

And here ends the string of 8 or higher...ah well. Pretty good, I guess, though just not too exciting.

Posted 18 years ago by Roverfish [ Reply ]

Mute, as with nearly every REM song

Posted 18 years ago by GChevy410 [ Reply ]

i'm sorry to be a pest, but could somebody please come up with a word besides "drivel" to describe something they don't like?

Posted 18 years ago by optimusprime10 [ Reply ]

Ever get caught up in something and then a song comes on RP that you somehow recognize and you reach to turn it up before who realize who or what it is? Sure sign of a song you really want to hear. Happens all the time with me and REM. Like just now...

Posted 18 years ago by NewFee [ Reply ]

timc wrote:

I think the biggest issue with Monster (which is not a terrible album by any definition of the term) is that it seems like a let down after the heights of Automatic for the People. Monster is also a departure from classical R.E.M. style, and a departure of that sort is guaranteed to generate animosity.

Monster was just part of the evolution. I remember reading an interview with Buck saying that he was concerned with being known just as a guitar band after Green. He wanted to put all electric guitars in the closet. So with Out of Time and Automatic they went another direction. After two albums (6+yrs) they went back to the electric guitar... and I think they did it well even though Monster is on the bottom half of my REM list.

Posted 18 years ago by fire5soon [ Reply ]

Nomar wrote:

I have to wonder how M. Stipe can sleep at night knowing that he used to give us such gems as "Don't go back to Rockville" and "Exhuming McCarthy," and now all he can do is pump out this drivel. Anyone who thinks this is the best REM has to offer needs to spend some quality time with their earlier stuff - and "Monster" certainly doesn't qualify. Think pre-"Green."

I've got to disagree completely. I've been a fan since summer of 83 when I first heard Laughing and bought Murmur, then CT, and then bought album immediately on release, got dozens of B-sides and bootlegs, and been to many shows since my first in an A&P-turned-bar in late 83, up to and including the last tour. I've logged more pre- and post-Green quality time than you can imagine. New Adventures stands with their best, and this song stands with their best.

Posted 18 years ago by rjs [ Reply ]

AlanCE wrote:

Is Monster REM's "Rattle & Hum"? I was told the following by a U2 fan long ago: "If you own several U2 albums plus Rattle & Hum, then you're a U2 fan." "but if you own only Rattle & Hum, you're not a U2 fan." :)

I actually think that's a pretty fair statement. But then you could also swap in Out of Time. I know plenty of alt-rockers who only own Monster and plenty of pop folks who own only Out of Time. I would hardly call either of these group's 'REM fans'. Of course, measuring your degree of REM fan-ness by such arbitrary means is rock snobbery and I oppose rock snobbery in all it's forms :P

Posted 19 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

Videll wrote:

When this CD came out, I believed it was a big step forward after Monster's step backwards.

That's funny because this song would fit on Monster nicely. I loved Monster, nice change for REM. Is Monster REM's "Rattle & Hum"? I was told the following by a U2 fan long ago: "If you own several U2 albums plus Rattle & Hum, then you're a U2 fan." "but if you own only Rattle & Hum, you're not a U2 fan." :)

Posted 19 years ago by AlanCE [ Reply ]

Nomar wrote:

I have to wonder how M. Stipe can sleep at night knowing that he used to give us such gems as "Don't go back to Rockville" and "Exhuming McCarthy," and now all he can do is pump out this drivel. Anyone who thinks this is the best REM has to offer needs to spend some quality time with their earlier stuff - and "Monster" certainly doesn't qualify. Think pre-"Green."

I was listening to Reckoning just last night :P And I think I said that this was the best song on New Adventures in Hi Fi. NOT one of their best ever. New Adventures is, IMO, one of their weaker albums (sorry, but I put Green and Fables as the other two especially 'weak' albums). That being said, if I were in charge of a 'best of' anthology for REM, this still would be one of my easiest choices for it.

Posted 19 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

Sample Lyric: "I don't know what I want anymore" super, so why write a song about it? Indulgent old rock star affliction...

Posted 19 years ago by coding_to_music [ Reply ]

Great song - the usual lovely REM melodies in Michael Stipe's voice but not often you hear Peter Buck's guitar churning away so joyously!!

Posted 20 years ago by britrock [ Reply ]

gandalfbmg wrote:

This is by far the best song on New Adventures, which is IMO second or third from the bottom of the list of REM albums. This and "Leave" are the only songs on New Adventure that are really make me wanna get up and cheer. I really don't get how people don't like Monster (re: comments that this was an improvement after Monster). Maybe I'm biased because my tastes are largely a product of the early 90's alt-rock movement and like REM's attempt to fit in, but I never get tired of hearing Monster. Not a lot of "WOW" singles, but a solid, consistent album (unlike New Adventures).

I think the biggest issue with Monster (which is not a terrible album by any definition of the term) is that it seems like a let down after the heights of Automatic for the People. Monster is also a departure from classical R.E.M. style, and a departure of that sort is guaranteed to generate animosity.

Posted 21 years ago by timc [ Reply ]

"Are you tired and naked?" No, but thanks for asking! :-s

Posted 21 years ago by timc [ Reply ]

zaknafein wrote:

I've spent a lot of time with the the band's IRS albums. Those are pure classic no doubt, but NAIHF gets my vote as the most underrated album in their catalog. I think had they edited out a few of the weaker tracks, it would have gotten the respect it deserves.

I definitly agree with you. I believe those who stoped listening to REM after there days with IRS are missing some really great music and NAIHF is an amazing album with some of the most meaningful lyrics Michael has ever written.

Posted 21 years ago by inmpls [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by dern: this is the weakest of all the songs on this great album. lots of folks gave up on this band a couple of records before "hi fi", but not me and it has paid off. "Up" is incredible.

This is absolutely my favorite track on this album. This song is REM making pop-rock all it should be.

Posted 21 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

I don\'t believe I\'ve heard this before. I have to agree with many of the comments below. This reminds me of the \"green\" and earlier albums, which is the REM I liked. I may have to check out this album.

Posted 21 years ago by FeatFanMike [ Reply ]

just a different flavor of rem, still tasty. not every rem song has to be "don't go back to rockville" or "driver 8." m. stipe has a wide range of approaches to writing a song, and i give him credit for that.

Posted 21 years ago by orpheus [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by Nomar: I have to wonder how M. Stipe can sleep at night knowing that he used to give us such gems as "Don't go back to Rockville" and "Exhuming McCarthy," and now all he can do is pump out this drivel. Anyone who thinks this is the best REM has to offer needs to spend some quality time with their earlier stuff - and "Monster" certainly doesn't qualify. Think pre-"Green."

I've spent a lot of time with the the band's IRS albums. Those are pure classic no doubt, but NAIHF gets my vote as the most underrated album in their catalog. I think had they edited out a few of the weaker tracks, it would have gotten the respect it deserves.

Posted 21 years ago by zaknafein [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by Nomar: I have to wonder how M. Stipe can sleep at night knowing that he used to give us such gems as "Don't go back to Rockville" and "Exhuming McCarthy," and now all he can do is pump out this drivel. Anyone who thinks this is the best REM has to offer needs to spend some quality time with their earlier stuff - and "Monster" certainly doesn't qualify. Think pre-"Green."

I'm afraid I agree to a large extent, though I do think you shortchange the triumvirate of Green/Out of Time/Automatic for the People - and reveal has a couple of lovely moments. Pre-Green, if you want rocking music from REM, it can be found much more engagingly done than what Monster/UP produced. "Can't get there from here" and "Driver 8" come to mind, for instance.

Posted 21 years ago by mperry [ Reply ]

This is by far the best song on New Adventures, which is IMO second or third from the bottom of the list of REM albums. This and \"Leave\" are the only songs on New Adventure that are really make me wanna get up and cheer. I really don\'t get how people don\'t like Monster (re: comments that this was an improvement after Monster). Maybe I\'m biased because my tastes are largely a product of the early 90\'s alt-rock movement and like REM\'s attempt to fit in, but I never get tired of hearing Monster. Not a lot of \"WOW\" singles, but a solid, consistent album (unlike New Adventures).

Posted 21 years ago by gandalfbmg [ Reply ]

This CD \"New adventures in Hi-Fi\" is great. Songs like this one and \"Leave\" are undoubtly the best of REM.

Posted 22 years ago by qosforever [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by lily33: echo thoughts from just below. best track on this cd, imho.

When this CD came out, I believed it was a big step forward after Monster's step backwards. It had a lot of "old school" feel & I was praying that it would be the beginning of a series of great discs. But Bill Berry left & we've been left with "Up" & "Reveal" which are OK recordings...it just hasn't been the same since Bill took up farming.

Posted 22 years ago by Videll [ Reply ]

This song is pretty good, but it's the line "I'd sooner chew my leg of than be trapped in this", delivered in Stipe's slightly aloof, somewhat irritated tone that qualifies it for the pop song hall of fame!

Posted 22 years ago by beachedge_bill [ Reply ]