The songwriting muse moves in mysterious ways. She only shines her blessing on the young. Sadly, most artists peak around 29 -- and it's usually all downhill after that. Bummer for us Sound & Vision staffers who are in our 30s, by the way. Anyhow, by the time Michael Stipe was in his mid-30s, the post-Monster decline set in...and it's a trend that has never been reversed. Maybe if Bill came back it would all be good again?
While this song is clearly no Driver 8, Life & How to Live It, S. Central Rain or Green Grows the Rushes, this is a SOLID new REM tune. Welcome to Supernatural Superserious.
The word is that they are going back to their original sound and rediscovering the viability of classic tunes like The Auctioneer, Harbor Coat and Wolves Lower. Clearly this new song is not on that caliber, but it seems to be a move in the right direction. REM will also be revisiting many old classics on their upcoming tour. The Sound & Vision staff will be there with a beer buzz, big smiles on our faces and a warm, fuzzy feeling that we felt when we saw them in 1986.
REM, Michael Stipe, Supernatural Superserious
2 comments:
Actually, Bill Berry WOULD make it better. It turns out, according to interviews I've seen, that in addition to those awesome old R.E.M. harmonies, he was "Mr. Chorus".
It seems that Bill was responsible for saying "Pete, we oughta do that hooky-riff thing here", as well as making sure that even slower stuff like "Camera" didn't drraaagggggg.
BTW, According to Robyn Hitchock, the original R.E.M. has been playing together again for fun.
While Berry won't tour, maybe playing the old songs with him reminding the 3 aging rawk stars that are now R.E.M. that "oh yeah, these WERE good songs!"
That said, there's no way they can recapture whatever it was they had on the legendary "Pittsburg and It's Raining" bootleg.
-Luther Wills-Dudich
Hey Luther...thanks for the comment. I did not know that they have been jamming with Bill again. Good stuff. he did perform with them at thair watershed moment - the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last year. u should check out the clips online...they played "Gardening at Night." A classic...indeed.
BTW - the Pittsburg bootleg is a classic.
- Matt
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