JACkory
Struggling Artist
Posts: 167
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Post by JACkory on Feb 3, 2006 16:53:05 GMT -5
Listened to Out of Time and Document today.
Out of Time is weak. Maybe two or three DECENT songs, and only one great song ("Country Feedback").
Document has a bit more going for it, though I confess that I always skip "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)", as I am about as sick of that song as one can be. I used to like it, but no more. It grates.
Weak moments of Document, IMO, are "Lightning Hopkins", "Exhuming McCarthy" and the cover of Wire's "Strange". Highlights are "Finest Worksong", "Disturbance at the Heron House", "Welcome to the Occupation" and "King of Birds".
I think I knew the moment I first heard "Lightning Hopkins" back in '88 that REM were stepping out into the downward slide...
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Post by kool on Feb 3, 2006 18:18:23 GMT -5
This talk has got me listening to a lot of REM lately. Last night's listen was Green. Such a beautiful album..... apart from 'Stand' of course which blows.
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Post by kool on Feb 3, 2006 18:45:07 GMT -5
Create your own 'best of'. 20 tracks max. I think I'm gonna burn myself a copy of the following for the car, I just hope they all fit. I must say it was pretty hard deciding on what to put on it. I think I can easily choose another disc's worth of great songs...
1. The One I Love
2. Orange Crush
3. Turn You Inside Out
4. World Leader Pretend
5. E-bow The Letter
6. Drive
7. Imitation Of Life
8. So Fast, So Numb
9. Low
10. Shiny Happy People
11. Monty Got a raw deal
12. Sidewinder
13. Finest Worksong
14. Man On The Moon
15. Nightswimming
16. Fall On Me
17. So Central Train
18. How The West was Won...
19. What's The Frequency Kenneth?
20. Try Not To Breathe
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Post by Kensterberg on Feb 3, 2006 18:50:23 GMT -5
It's funny, JAC, I'd almost flip your highs and lows of Document. My faves on there are Exhuming McCarthy, Welcome to the Occupation, It's the End of the World ..., Lightning Hopkins and Oddfellows Local 151. IMO Finest Worksong and King of Birds (which never really goes anywhere! I prefer Swan Swan H from LRP), along with the cover of Strange and Fireplace, are the weak spots on the record. That said, I don't think any of them are really "weak" songs, or at least not weak performances.
As for "Stand" ... it's almost too bad it became such a big hit, because it's a great, goofy single. It was like R.E.M. really embraced the lighter side that had shown in Underneath the Bunker and Superman on LRP, and numerous cuts from Dead Letter Office. I love the contrast in moods on Green, with the lightness of Stand, the sombre meditation of World Leader Pretend, the nostalgic You Are the Everything, and the cacaphony of tracks like Turn You Inside Out and Orange Crush all sharing space on the same album. I know a lot of people hate it, but I'm right back to where I was in '88 when it came out: Green is a great record!
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Post by Kensterberg on Feb 3, 2006 18:53:15 GMT -5
Create your own 'best of'. 20 tracks max. I think I'm gonna burn myself a copy of the following for the car, I just hope they all fit. I must say it was pretty hard deciding on what to put on it. I think I can easily choose another disc's worth of great songs... 1. The One I Love 2. Orange Crush 3. Turn You Inside Out 4. World Leader Pretend 5. E-bow The Letter 6. Drive 7. Imitation Of Life 8. So Fast, So Numb 9. Low 10. Shiny Happy People 11. Monty Got a raw deal 12. Sidewinder 13. Finest Worksong 14. Man On The Moon 15. Nightswimming 16. Fall On Me 17. So Central Train 18. How The West was Won... 19. What's The Frequency Kenneth? 20. Try Not To Breathe HA! I was just thinking about doing the same thing -- which will likely have many of the same tracks. I've been listening to a random mix of R.E.M. this afternoon, and there are so many incredibly good songs to choose from. "The Apologist" from Up wrapped up a few tracks back: I'd forgotten what a beautiful tune that is. Up isn't exactly a "warm" record, but it is a beautiful one. Just gorgeous sounds throughout ... except "Lotus" of course ... |
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Post by kool on Feb 3, 2006 19:03:29 GMT -5
oooh, 'The Apologist'! I totally forgot that neo-classic. Definitely going on disc B.
'Lotus' didn't work on Up because it sounded like it was left-over from the 'Monster' sessions.
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Post by Kensterberg on Feb 3, 2006 19:12:39 GMT -5
Yeah, Lotus sounded like a Monster out-take that should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Actually, it is a rather catchy tune, in an insidious sort of way ... I can see why the band included it on the album, but I think Up is no worse (and arguably better) if you just leave it off completely.
But I've long thought that Up got a raw deal. Hearing the tracks in random play is putting it back in my very good graces again. Wonderful album.
Right now Drive has cued itself up ... another track that I tend to overlook when I haven't listened to it in a while ... really great stuff, and Buck's guitar work is absolutely perfect. One of the most versatile players of his generation IMHO.
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achn2b
Struggling Artist
Posts: 234
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Post by achn2b on Feb 3, 2006 19:34:53 GMT -5
Listened to Out of Time and Document today. we really are on the same wavelength lately. i listened to those same two albums today. and i do mean albums, as i gave the old turntable a workout. |
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JACkory
Struggling Artist
Posts: 167
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Post by JACkory on Feb 4, 2006 0:31:18 GMT -5
I'm afraid my "Best Of" twenty track comp will be very heavy on the early IRS years...oh, well.
1. Gardening at Night
2. Sitting Still
3. Shaking Through
4. Talk About the Passion
5. Harborcoat
6. Letter Never Sent
7. Life and How to Live It
8. Kahoutek
9. Feeling Gravity's Pull
10. Voice of Harold
11. I Believe
12. Cuyahoga
13. Disturbance at the Heron House
14. untitled (from Green)
15. Country Feedback
16. Sweetness Follows
17. Nightswimming
18. Find the River
19. Let Me Out
20. New Test Leper
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Post by melon1 on Feb 4, 2006 14:26:01 GMT -5
Hey JAC, I see that you put 2 Life's Rich Pageant songs on there and neither of them was "Fall On Me"  C'mon man! Certainly the best on that album and, in fact, possibly the best song they ever wrote. I really can't pick between it and "Talk About the Passion", which I noticed you DID include that one on your lineup(good job). Those 2 are the best 2 songs R.E.M. ever wrote. |
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achn2b
Struggling Artist
Posts: 234
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Post by achn2b on Feb 4, 2006 15:34:03 GMT -5
also heavy on the early stuff
wolves, lower
gardening at night
pilgrimage
talk about the passion
sitting still
harborcoat
7 chinese brothers
letter never sent
green grow the rushes
good advices
wendall gee
just a touch
cuyahoga
the flowers of guatemala
exhuming mcCarthey
king of birds
world leader pretend
near wild heaven
belong
nightswimming
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Post by melon1 on Feb 4, 2006 15:36:57 GMT -5
There it goes again. Three Life's Rich Pageant songs listed without "Fall On Me". I don't get it. Can someone please give this most stellar of R.E.M. songs some praise here?
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Post by bowiglou on Feb 4, 2006 17:05:43 GMT -5
here they are in order of release date
Gardening at Night
Talk About the Passion
Catapult
Radio Free Europe
So Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
Don’t Go Back to Rockville
Camera
Driver 8
Green Grow the Rushes
Can’t Get There From Here
Begin the Begin
What if we give it Away?
Fall on Me
The One I Love
World Leader Pretend
Losing My Religion
Near Wild Heaven
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight
Man on the Moon
What’s the Frequency Kenneth?
Crush with Eyeliner
Bang and Blame
Undertow
So Fast so Numb
Walk Unafraid
Imitation of Life
All the way to Reno (you’re gonna be a Star)
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Post by melon1 on Feb 6, 2006 17:53:05 GMT -5
Ah, "Fall On Me" at last, bow. Thanks.
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Post by Kensterberg on Feb 6, 2006 18:12:07 GMT -5
My Favorite R.E.M. Songs (in rough chronological order) : 1. Gardening at Night 2. 1,000,000 3. Radio Free Europe 4. Perfect Circle 5. Catapult 6. So.Central Rain (I'm Sorry) 7. Pretty Persuasion 8. Don't Go Back to Rockville 9. Green Grow the Rushes 10. Driver 8 11. Fall on Me 12. Superman 13. Crazy (Pylon cover) 14. It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine) 15. You Are the Everything 16. World Leader Pretend 17. Losing My Religion 18. Half a World Away 19. Man on the Moon 20. Nightswimming 21. Find the River 22. What's the Frequency, Kenneth? 23. Leave 24. New Test Leper 25. Electrolite 26. Daysleeper 27. Falls to Climb 28. Imitation of Life 29. The Great Beyond 30. I'll Take the Rain OK, so it was thirty ... hell, even that was tough (I left out Little America, We Walk, The One I Love, Can't Get There From Here ... and a ton more). Sue me.  |
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