I was out in LA recently and at Universal City Walk a couple of nights (NOT my favorite place - UCW I mean - but made the kids happy). I was shocked to have heard 10 R.E.M. songs over the course of 2 nights woven into an eclectic mix of everything else. I don't remember them all, but they weren't necessarily hits - I do specifically remember them playing You Are the Everything which is not befitting a mecca of tourism, consumerism, and cookie cutter restaurants.
I think lists of greatest bands are more pointless now than they've every been. As far as I'm concerned the "best band ever" is not a single band but probably a list of a few hundred. It's not a competition. And how anyone could guage anything meaningful about a band's place in the rock canon based upon airplay on the average station these days is way beyond me.
4
REM: Forgotten giants
Started by SAGAN48, Aug 06 2008 12:07 PM
26 replies to this topic
#22
House In Order
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Posted 29 August 2008 - 09:59 AM
There are 3 types of bands. Those who have a burst of success and then disappear and then those whose success peaks but they continue on making music and playing live. Lastly are the HUGE acts who simply continue to make sucessful albums and sell out huge venues with no trouble.
In the first catagory are lots of fly by night bands whose success peaked over the span of say 2 years and then either broke up or found themselves playing state fairs. Men At Work, The Knack, ect.
The second catagory is where REM falls into but they have GREAT company with the likes of Elvis Costello, Prince, David Bowie ect. They havent had hits in a number of years but they continue to put out quality music and have whats most important to them. The respect of their peers and a label of being gerat songwriters and a musician's musician. They can no longer sell out arenas but continue to draw well and always put on a great show. They also tend to remain more popular abroad than at home for some reason and lastly what do all of these types of groups have in common? Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.:D
And the last group? They are the flukes. The U2s and Tom Pettys of the world. It seems that no matter what they do they continue to sell records and sell out concerts.
In the first catagory are lots of fly by night bands whose success peaked over the span of say 2 years and then either broke up or found themselves playing state fairs. Men At Work, The Knack, ect.
The second catagory is where REM falls into but they have GREAT company with the likes of Elvis Costello, Prince, David Bowie ect. They havent had hits in a number of years but they continue to put out quality music and have whats most important to them. The respect of their peers and a label of being gerat songwriters and a musician's musician. They can no longer sell out arenas but continue to draw well and always put on a great show. They also tend to remain more popular abroad than at home for some reason and lastly what do all of these types of groups have in common? Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.:D
And the last group? They are the flukes. The U2s and Tom Pettys of the world. It seems that no matter what they do they continue to sell records and sell out concerts.
#23
Preston
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Posted 29 August 2008 - 01:18 PM
House In Order said:
There are 3 types of bands. Those who have a burst of success and then disappear and then those whose success peaks but they continue on making music and playing live. Lastly are the HUGE acts who simply continue to make sucessful albums and sell out huge venues with no trouble.
In the first catagory are lots of fly by night bands whose success peaked over the span of say 2 years and then either broke up or found themselves playing state fairs. Men At Work, The Knack, ect.
The second catagory is where REM falls into but they have GREAT company with the likes of Elvis Costello, Prince, David Bowie ect. They havent had hits in a number of years but they continue to put out quality music and have whats most important to them. The respect of their peers and a label of being gerat songwriters and a musician's musician. They can no longer sell out arenas but continue to draw well and always put on a great show. They also tend to remain more popular abroad than at home for some reason and lastly what do all of these types of groups have in common? Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.:D
And the last group? They are the flukes. The U2s and Tom Pettys of the world. It seems that no matter what they do they continue to sell records and sell out concerts.
In the first catagory are lots of fly by night bands whose success peaked over the span of say 2 years and then either broke up or found themselves playing state fairs. Men At Work, The Knack, ect.
The second catagory is where REM falls into but they have GREAT company with the likes of Elvis Costello, Prince, David Bowie ect. They havent had hits in a number of years but they continue to put out quality music and have whats most important to them. The respect of their peers and a label of being gerat songwriters and a musician's musician. They can no longer sell out arenas but continue to draw well and always put on a great show. They also tend to remain more popular abroad than at home for some reason and lastly what do all of these types of groups have in common? Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.:D
And the last group? They are the flukes. The U2s and Tom Pettys of the world. It seems that no matter what they do they continue to sell records and sell out concerts.
Not that I don't really like U2 and Tom Petty, but if I was a musician, holy shit would I want to be lumped into the company of Elvis Costello, Prince, and Bowie!
#24
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Posted 29 August 2008 - 02:10 PM
U2 and Petty are great musicans as well and are also RRHOF members. What sets them apart from the second group is that they somehow continue to be able to sell out big venues when they tour. Any musican I can think of would gladly share a stage with any of them.
#25
Preston
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Posted 29 August 2008 - 02:32 PM
House In Order said:
U2 and Petty are great musicans as well and are also RRHOF members. What sets them apart from the second group is that they somehow continue to be able to sell out big venues when they tour. Any musican I can think of would gladly share a stage with any of them.
Agree. They're both outstanding in terms of live performance. My comment though, was that for artistic impact and taking chances (and sometimes failing miserably), the artists you cited in the middle group outshine these crowd pleasers.
#26
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Posted 29 August 2008 - 05:45 PM
Preston said:
Agree. They're both outstanding in terms of live performance. My comment though, was that for artistic impact and taking chances (and sometimes failing miserably), the artists you cited in the middle group outshine these crowd pleasers.
I couldent agree more. Elvis has never been one to worry about how many albums he sells.
#27
rainydayinjune
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Posted 01 September 2008 - 07:11 AM
House In Order said:
And the last group? They are the flukes. The U2s and Tom Pettys of the world. It seems that no matter what they do they continue to sell records and sell out concerts.
last decade u2 or madoona or springsteen are doing one show without changes, just with small variations. it's boring but people like surprises just in the show, not in the music. but honestly, their music is dead. u2 was great, but after 'pop' and its failure they are making stamps, not songs. there is a big difference with r.e.m. for me. r.e.m. are always searching own music, and i hope not so good 'accelerate' sales and problems with sell-outs can't stop them.
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