I imagine a lot of folks stay away from this because they've written off anything post-Bill Berry, post-Document, etc. but as Bertis Downs noted in one of his "Postcards" on FB recently it may well be one the most underrated live records out there. To my ears, it's the sound of R.E.M. going back to the well in inspiration for the recording of Accelerate (which is the album many of these new songs ended up on). It nothing else, this self-described "experiment in terror" proved that R.E.M. was still a ferocious live act even without Bill Berry. Said with all due respect, of course.
It's a great live album. Most of the new songs that they were trying out sit seemlessly with the older ones, which is high praise given the old songs they dug out. Driver 8 and Maps and Legends are my favourites but I also love the versions of Houston and Until the Day is Done.
"Guitars talk. If you really want to write a song, ask a guitar." Neil Young
I imagine a lot of folks stay away from this because they've written off anything post-Bill Berry, post-Document, etc. but as Bertis Downs noted in one of his "Postcards" on FB recently it may well be one the most underrated live records out there. To my ears, it's the sound of R.E.M. going back to the well in inspiration for the recording of Accelerate (which is the album many of these new songs ended up on). It nothing else, this self-described "experiment in terror" proved that R.E.M. was still a ferocious live act even without Bill Berry. Said with all due respect, of course.
It's a great live album. Most of the new songs that they were trying out sit seemlessly with the older ones, which is high praise given the old songs they dug out. Driver 8 and Maps and Legends are my favourites but I also love the versions of Houston and Until the Day is Done.
If I remember right, they dug deep into the treasure chest as a treat to the audience because of all the new stuff they were trying out. As for as latter R.E.M. concert records go, I definitely prefer this one to R.E.M. Live.
The haters can go fuck themselves. This ain't Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. What this is is an amazing record from a semi-legendary band from Cincinnati, OH. I was listening to Black Love yesterday and I was struck by the similarity in sound to The National. Considering the Cincinnati roots of both bands, it makes perfect sense. "Algiers" is a "Song of the Year" candidate.
You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
- DPM
cortez the killer wrote: The haters can go fuck themselves. This ain't Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965. What this is is an amazing record from a semi-legendary band from Cincinnati, OH. I was listening to Black Love yesterday and I was struck by the similarity in sound to The National. Considering the Cincinnati roots of both bands, it makes perfect sense. "Algiers" is a "Song of the Year" candidate.
Haters? Most of the reviews/thoughts I've seen of this have been at worst neutral, and at best very positive. I've not seen anything that could be classed as hateful. Have you got any examples?
Which is more than can be said for that other high profile reunion/comeback album by Pixies. It's been widely trashed. FWIW I think its pretty decent, even if it probably sounds like a Frank Black solo effort with Joey Santiago as a hired hand on guitar. Which I guess Pixies without Kim Deal basically is.
cortez the killer wrote:KG raises tinnitus' blood pressure with RSD, & now Iowan & RMD wanna fuck with him w/ anti-Sonic Youth bait. This site get odder by the day.
I'll add this caveat. I'd never really given the Sonic Youth a fair listen. From the snippets I had heard, they seemed acceptable, but not as good as they're given credit for. Given the fact that they are held by many to be the epitome of alternative rock (whatever that means), they seem to fall far short of that label. So I put on "Daydream Nation". It was definitely better than "sucks", but it just made me want to listen to Dinosaur Jr., which I did.
"Sucks" probably isn't fair, but they just don't work for me at all.