163 replies to this topic

[In the Corner]

lotus&peyote said:

Well, even if I'm a longtime R.E.M. fan, I joined the FC only a couple of months ago.
So I can't barely believe that my first single should feature Mikey's solo permormances with BILL!!!
I really hope so.
I curse myself for the delay of my enrollment...

What a cute post; I love your enthusiasm.  :D

sewayland said:

....Does anyone want to speculate on what the whole bird motif is all about?

In 07/08, they had an induction graphical theme that showed the polar magnetic fields and an electrical current induction drawing as well, all in honor of the Hall of Fame 'Induction'.

But what does the bird thing mean?  I find parallels to Wilco's 'One Wing' song and poster art theme from this year....

Wow, someone thinks about all this waaay more than I do. :p  But yeah, I was wondering about the bird.  The art looks like it was taken off a Thai rice bag or something.  Funky, cool, but not immediately identifiable with R.E.M.  The calendar is disappointing but I've decided to use it as a planner and carry it in my purse.

Kelly A said:

Be patient. We only received our fanclub packages 2 days ago, and just received our newsletters today. I think the order is pretty random, and it's not an either/or type of thing.

I received both the fanclub package and the newsletter yesterday.  I've only listened to the CD once but think Santa Baby is pretty funny; he performs it so seriously instead of making it camp.   Crazy Like a Fox - mmmmmm, Berrylicious drumming and backing vocals.  

Re the absence of Buck and Stipe - poor Mr Buck has been criss-crossing the globe with his other projects, and poor Mr Stipe has been, umm, trimming his beard and attending film openings and such in New York.  Much too busy to participate in recording a Christmas single. Yep.   So sweet of Mr Berry to come in and take up the slack.  :D

[Anton]

halfaworldaway said:

Shows that R.E.M. has lost alot of fans in the last decade, with there being less and less hardcore fans, people losing interest it seems.

I think the packs on eBay are not from 'real' fans, for instance the Decatur 'fan' seems more like a real "hardcore" seller to me...

Only in the fan club for a profit, not because they like the band?

But yes, in the Netherlands the fanbase gets smaller and smaller it seems, also because the radio and TV DJ's, for instance 'Music Guru' Leo Blokhuis lost interest in R.E.M.
People tend to have no opinion themselves anymore, but trust the media, ie Blokhuis.

Although I must add:
OOR magazine gave the Olympia set a small but very positive review!
:)
http://www.murmurs.c...=1&d=1260888973

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[Anton]

Did the package arrive somewhere in Europe already?

[halfaworldaway]

wahlers said:

Can anbody on here with the 2001 Fan Club Single confirm something for me?

I've heard a live version of Find the River supposedly from that single.  But, I know that the single had an audio track of it live from Athens, GA on 10/16/01 and also featured a multi-media track of them rehearsing it.

If the song I have heard is sort of tinny sounding with a echo/reverb on it and has no audience noise at all, is this the researsal recording, or does the live track sound the same? :confused:

Its a rehearsal track, done in the days leading up to the Bridge School Benefit shows, October 2001.

[wahlers]

So the rehearsal video on the 2001 single was the exact same performance as the CD audio track?

[slicingupeyeballs]

Here's some news on the Bill Berry appearance on this year's Xmas single: http://www.slicingup...a-fox-fan-club/

[montie]

We have a postal strike in Australia so we will most likely get the pakage after Christmas, not the first time that has happened.

[halfaworldaway]

wahlers said:

So the rehearsal video on the 2001 single was the exact same performance as the CD audio track?

Thats right. :cool:

[wahlers]

Cool!  Thank you so much for that.  I was always kind of bothered by the quality problems with that recording (like the original demo version of Final Straw from the internet back in the days).

At least I know that it's the best that's available.


P.S.  I'm still really loving both songs on the new single :D

[halfaworldaway]

wahlers said:

Cool!  Thank you so much for that.  I was always kind of bothered by the quality problems with that recording (like the original demo version of Final Straw from the internet back in the days).

At least I know that it's the best that's available.


P.S.  I'm still really loving both songs on the new single :D

I can't wait to hear them, not sure they have started arriving in Europe yet.

[wagtail]

montie said:

We have a postal strike in Australia so we will most likely get the pakage after Christmas, not the first time that has happened.

I'm pretty sure that's it's not a huge interruption to services, currently Australia Post is ramping up the rhetoric to make the union look the grinch.  The strike, up until now, amounted to workers not checking postage - this means that you could essentially post stuff for free - it was still being delivered.  

It's a huge loss of revenue to AP at this time of year, and since that company cares more about the bottom line than it does the safety of it's workers, then I'm sure it's hurting them.   My heart bleeds for them, not.  There is currently a senate inquiry re: Australia Posts treatment of injured and ill workers.  It's an important issue regarding the future management of cccupational health and safety in Australia.  


BTW:  South Australia is exempted from the strike today so that year 12 students can get their end of year exam results, but workers will strike on Thursday instead, it won't amount to much of a problem.


Back to the Christmas single.  The packaging is the always the highlight for me, they seem to come up some great designs every year.

[robbbin]

Usually have mine by now.

I hope we get a dvd, i thik the calendar might be michaels iphone photos, some stickers too!

[Lissy24]

Anton said:

Did the package arrive somewhere in Europe already?

Yes !!!!
My Dutch friend sent me a message this afternoon. She got hers today.
So I hope it arrives Germany tomorrow. :)

[Ubergrier]

I got my Christmas package yesterday!  I was really surprised to get it so soon.  It might seem like a bit of a let down compared to other packages, but they did so much with "Olympia".  Michael seems to be on a bit of a bird kick right now. There was a "postcard" backing two big stickers, a fancy holiday card, a Cd that seems to feature Mike, but Bill is on drums for the second number.  And a calendar with birds.

I don't know who John Keane is.

[surprisepig!]

Ubergrier said:

I got my Christmas package yesterday!  I was really surprised to get it so soon.  It might seem like a bit of a let down compared to other packages, but they did so much with "Olympia".  Michael seems to be on a bit of a bird kick right now. There was a "postcard" backing two big stickers, a fancy holiday card, a Cd that seems to feature Mike, but Bill is on drums for the second number.  And a calendar with birds.

I don't know who John Keane is.

John Keane is a local producer who has recorded many R.E.M. songs.

[Martine]

Lissy24 said:

Yes !!!!
My Dutch friend sent me a message this afternoon. She got hers today.
So I hope it arrives Germany tomorrow. :)

Got mine today as well! Made me laugh and cheered me up no end on an otherwise miserable day.

[Queen of Comedy]

In the Corner said:

.  The calendar is disappointing but I've decided to use it as a planner and carry it in my purse.

Ubergrier said:

Michael seems to be on a bit of a bird kick right now................And a calendar with birds.

What does it mean? Does the calendar have bird pictures instead of the band ones :confused:? (Just speculating, I haven't received the calendar yet :rolleyes: )

[Driver Nate]

The calendar consists of shots of Stipe's mustache, all from various angles.

[beatadrum]

Ubergrier said:

I don't know who John Keane is.

Yeah as said by surprisepig! John Keane has worked with REM for years. In the IRS years he did demos with them IIRC and he's been their local producer of choice for anything in Athens. Out of Time's demos were done with him, a few of which ended up on the finished record. He also played with REM (5th man) at the much bootlegged 1992 40 watt gig.

[luc]

Got mine this morning (Italy)!!! It's very VERY beautiful!! luv it!! :)
thank you R.E.M.!!!
and great Christmas to you all!!