R.E.M. - Opinions

Rickenbacker · 05-27-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I'd rather listen to Reveal than New Adventures In Hi-Fi

I'm starting to like Reveal. Imitation of Life is a great song. Up and ATS absolutely kill their late stuff for me though.

JJJ567 · 05-29-2009, 12:47 AM

I didn't think Up was that bad of an album. It's a bit long and some of the songs fail to stand out, but overall it's decent.

Burning Down · 06-04-2009, 04:01 PM

I like everything they did up until New Adventures in Hi-Fi in 1996, (I'm sure lots of people can agree with that), but I do like [I]Accelerate[/].

I think they lost something when Bill Berry left the band in 1997. He was a great drummer and a crucial part of their songwriting, arranging all the songs for them as well as other stuff.

JJJ567 · 06-04-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Down

I like everything they did up until New Adventures in Hi-Fi in 1996, (I'm sure lots of people can agree with that), but I do like [I]Accelerate[/].

I think they lost something when Bill Berry left the band in 1997. He was a great drummer and a crucial part of their songwriting, arranging all the songs for them as well as other stuff.

I personally think New Adventures ranks right behind Automatic and Murmur. It's a rather underrated album.

Rickenbacker · 06-05-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJ567

I personally think New Adventures ranks right behind Automatic and Murmur. It's a rather underrated album.

Not right behind... I'd put Lifes Rich Pageant and Fables and probably Reckoning in front of it... but pretty close.

When ranking their albums I'd go:

1. Automatic for the People
2. Murmur
3. Lifes Rich Pageant
4. Fables of the Reconstruction
5. Reckoning
6. New Adventures in Hi-Fi
7. Document
8. Out of Time
9. Monster
10. Green
11. Accelerate
12. Reveal
13. Up
14. Around the Sun

FooFighting · 06-05-2009, 08:53 AM

I'm not sure whatsd my favourite.. I've only heard a couple. But I absolutely love Losing My Religion

Burning Down · 06-05-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FooFighting

I'm not sure whatsd my favourite.. I've only heard a couple. But I absolutely love Losing My Religion

Me too, and it is their biggest song. The band themselves actually splits their career using LMR as the turning point - the pre-LMR and post-LMR periods!

This is how I'd rank their albums:

1) Automatic for the People
2) Out of Time
3) Document
4) Monster
5) Murmur
6) Reckoning
7) New Adventure in Hi-Fi
8) Lifes Rich Pageant
9) Fables of the Reconstruction
10) Green
11) Accelerate
12) Reveal
13) Around the Sun
14) Up

Notice how all the albums with Berry make my top 10!

Burning Down · 06-05-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJ567

I didn't think Up was that bad of an album. It's a bit long and some of the songs fail to stand out, but overall it's decent.

I think Up turned out the way it did because the band was still smarting over Bill Berry's departure. It's not that bad, but it obviously lacks the drum sound given to them by Berry.

Rickenbacker · 06-05-2009, 05:19 PM

I disagree. From 1992 - 2004, R.E.M. was in a bit of a "soft music" slump. It was more present on some albums (Around the Sun) than others (Monster), but it was always there. Sometimes it worked really well, like with Automatic, but, coming full circle with Up, it had begin to get boring and stale. Reveal and ATS didn't help much either.

Burning Down · 06-05-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickenbacker

I disagree. From 1992 - 2004, R.E.M. was in a bit of a "soft music" slump. It was more present on some albums (Around the Sun) than others (Monster), but it was always there. Sometimes it worked really well, like with Automatic, but, coming full circle with Up, it had begin to get boring and stale. Reveal and ATS didn't help much either.

Actually you have a point. Though I have a feeling that the songs on Automatic and perhaps New Adventures flow together better than the songs on Up.

I don't mind ATS and Reveal so much, they're pretty decent, but IMO Up was probably a really awkward album for them to make.

05-29-2009, 12:47 AM	#42 (permalink)
JJJ567 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 120	I didn't think Up was that bad of an album. It's a bit long and some of the songs fail to stand out, but overall it's decent. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/JJJ567

06-04-2009, 04:01 PM	#43 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	I like everything they did up until New Adventures in Hi-Fi in 1996, (I'm sure lots of people can agree with that), but I do like [I]Accelerate[/]. I think they lost something when Bill Berry left the band in 1997. He was a great drummer and a crucial part of their songwriting, arranging all the songs for them as well as other stuff.

06-05-2009, 08:53 AM	#46 (permalink)
FooFighting Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 61	I'm not sure whatsd my favourite.. I've only heard a couple. But I absolutely love Losing My Religion

06-05-2009, 05:19 PM	#49 (permalink)
Rickenbacker / Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Conn Posts: 1,338	I disagree. From 1992 - 2004, R.E.M. was in a bit of a "soft music" slump. It was more present on some albums (Around the Sun) than others (Monster), but it was always there. Sometimes it worked really well, like with Automatic, but, coming full circle with Up, it had begin to get boring and stale. Reveal and ATS didn't help much either.