R.E.M., The pride of Athens, Georgia, have made some of the finest rock albums of all-time. For some reason, many people feel that they lost the plot with 1996's 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi'. I can never understand this stance. This album ranks with their finest in both songwriting and playing. I find it a superior album to its predecessor, 'Monster' (still an album I enjoy), as it isn't as self-consciously "grunge" as that album was and the songs are stronger. 'New Adventures' is very much the album you would get if you mated 'Monster' with 'Automatic For the People' (their 1992 album which is one of the top-ten albums of all time according to The Bing Dynasty). To me, everything that followed 'New Adventures' has been inferior and I wonder if the departure of drummer, and founding member, Bill Berry had something to do with it.
The songs on this album are some of the strongest that R.E.M. have ever committed to tape. Original punk poetess Patti Smith's guest spot on "E-Bow the Letter" is inspired, her deep guttaral voice a perfect counterpoint to the reedy baritone of Michael Stipe. The album's centerpiece, "Leave", begins with a quiet acoustic intro before a shocking, repetitive siren loop interrupts and takes the song to a completely different (and inspired) place. And "Electrolite" is simply one of the finest R.E.M. ballads ever, Stipe's evocative lyrics namechecking Martin Sheen, Steve McQueen and James Dean overtop of a lovely piano figure by Mike Mills. The only somewhat weak song on this album is "Departure", which does not stand out in real way. That aside, every song is a winner.
I still listen to this R.E.M. album (and I own every single one from 1983's 'Murmer' to 2004's 'Around the Sun') more than any other, with the possible exception of 'Automatic For the People', because of the strength of the songs, Stipe's exceptional vocals, and the strength of the band's playing. One of the finest, and most criminally neglected, albums of the 1990s not to mention one of the best in a long, illustrious career from a band who has always stuck to its principles and made great music. Check it out, I dare ya...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
1 comment:
I am thrilled to know that there is someone else out there who loves this album as much as I do. "Ebow the Letter" is one of their finest moments as a band. Its kind of sad that it was the end of a great run of albums, and that everything they have made since really sucks. Kind of like Pearl Jam and "Ten". Colin
Post a Comment