R.E.M. - Opinions

Fenrik · 11-28-2012, 10:34 PM

Favourites: It Happened Today, Leave, Find The River.

Burning Down · 12-01-2012, 11:28 AM

I was sent a link to some old REM footage from 1981, from a club gig in Atlanta, that was uploaded only a couple of weeks ago, and I've never seen it before. So here it is, I imagine that not a lot of other people have seen this either.

Meddle · 12-01-2012, 10:09 PM

Good stuff

Doranta · 12-13-2012, 10:18 AM

They are good enough, at least the used to be!

Moody · 12-13-2012, 12:32 PM

Rapid eye movement?

Burning Down · 12-13-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moody

Rapid eye movement?

Uh, no... this thread's about the band REM

Okay yeah, it stands for rapid eye movement but they picked the name randomly from a dictionary.

Burning Down · 01-07-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanadon

think they're quite boring every single song sounds the same

You haven't listened to enough of their music. But yeah, they have a style just like every other band and maybe that's it.

Lisnaholic · 01-29-2023, 09:11 AM

Just a ten-year bump to this thread of opinions about R.E.M.

I'm here because of a recent discussion in another thread. Thanks to Janzsoon, rubber soul, SGR, Synthgirl and elphenor (playing the role of devil's advocate), I'm listening to Chronic Town for the first time. On the first run through I particularly liked Stumble, where the drums actually seem to stumble over themselves.... now on the second listen, I'm definitely enjoying it much more, especially that jangly guitar that infects every track. Nice.

Here's a question for REM-o-philes: I just read these rather contradictory comments about Chronic Town:
on Youtube "...outstanding concept...brilliant lyrics..."
on Allmusic: "...incomprehensible mumbled vocals...I don't pay attention to the lyrics..."

So my question is: what percentage of Stipe's lyrics do you pay attention to?

rubber soul · 01-29-2023, 09:16 AM

Very little. He really does mumble a lot, especially on the earlier recordings. Maybe he saw himself as another Dylan. What impresses me more is Peter Buck's jangly guitar and Mike Mills' bass playing. To me, that's what makes the band really rock.

SGR · 01-29-2023, 09:24 AM

A buddy of mine joked to me recently that Stipe was the first mumble-rapper. Yeah, he does a lot of that on the early stuff. Personally, I don't pay that much attention to the lyrics - at least in the early stuff where it's hard to understand what he's singing.

I think your next REM record chronologically would be their debut, Murmur. Definitely not one to be missed. After a couple listens, many of these songs are just going to be stuck in your head - and I bet you won't even mind. A great, great record. One of their best.

Looking back through this thread, I saw ancient posts from a version of me in 11th grade, asking others for their input on what albums I should buy for $8. Man, time flies.

12-01-2012, 10:09 PM	#173 (permalink)
Meddle Groupie Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 28	Good stuff __________________ "Each year that passes rings you inwardly with memory and might. Wield your heart, and the world will tremble." lastfm

01-29-2023, 09:11 AM	#178 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Just a ten-year bump to this thread of opinions about R.E.M. I'm here because of a recent discussion in another thread. Thanks to Janzsoon, rubber soul, SGR, Synthgirl and elphenor (playing the role of devil's advocate), I'm listening to Chronic Town for the first time. On the first run through I particularly liked Stumble, where the drums actually seem to stumble over themselves.... now on the second listen, I'm definitely enjoying it much more, especially that jangly guitar that infects every track. Nice. Here's a question for REM-o-philes: I just read these rather contradictory comments about Chronic Town: on Youtube "...outstanding concept...brilliant lyrics..." on Allmusic: "...incomprehensible mumbled vocals...I don't pay attention to the lyrics..." So my question is: what percentage of Stipe's lyrics do you pay attention to? __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

11-28-2012, 10:34 PM	#171 (permalink)
Fenrik Groupie Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 3	Favourites: It Happened Today, Leave, Find The River.

12-01-2012, 11:28 AM	#172 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	I was sent a link to some old REM footage from 1981, from a club gig in Atlanta, that was uploaded only a couple of weeks ago, and I've never seen it before. So here it is, I imagine that not a lot of other people have seen this either.

12-13-2012, 10:18 AM	#174 (permalink)
Doranta Groupie Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 5	They are good enough, at least the used to be!

12-13-2012, 12:32 PM	#175 (permalink)
Moody Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 48	Rapid eye movement?

01-29-2023, 09:24 AM	#180 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	A buddy of mine joked to me recently that Stipe was the first mumble-rapper. Yeah, he does a lot of that on the early stuff. Personally, I don't pay that much attention to the lyrics - at least in the early stuff where it's hard to understand what he's singing. I think your next REM record chronologically would be their debut, Murmur. Definitely not one to be missed. After a couple listens, many of these songs are just going to be stuck in your head - and I bet you won't even mind. A great, great record. One of their best. Looking back through this thread, I saw ancient posts from a version of me in 11th grade, asking others for their input on what albums I should buy for $8. Man, time flies.