147 replies to this topic

[Remixomatosys]

Many thanks, Ivana.
So Bonerama probably contributed to Oh my heart; New Orleans funeral march feel...
It makes me think to the pre title sequence of "Live and let die"

[NewToREM]

I meant drumming

[kizmatica]

NewToREM, on 28 November 2010 - 10:47 AM, said:

I meant drumming

Bill Rieflin.

[NewToREM]

Cool, I've not kept up to date so glad he's still around.

[michaels]

Thanks Ivana! Interesting reading. I am looking forward to the peaches track most of all for some reason....

[stipeeyes]

Mike said there were no rules making the album.  I know one of them has said that before. Maybe about Monster or Up.  They never follow rules.

[Driver Nate]

I first recall hearing something about throwing out the rules with Up, that's when they included a printed lyric sheet for the first time and allowed songs to go as long as five minutes. I'm sure there were more self-imposed rules they'd employed over the years that they abandoned with Up but those are the first to come to mind.

[clicli]

Driver Nate, on 28 November 2010 - 10:12 PM, said:

I first recall hearing something about throwing out the rules with Up, that's when they included a printed lyric sheet for the first time and allowed songs to go as long as five minutes. I'm sure there were more self-imposed rules they'd employed over the years that they abandoned with Up but those are the first to come to mind.

True, Up was the first record to include printed lyrics, but Everybody Hurts was 5:20 min long, half of New Adventures in Hi-Fi is over 5 minutes long as well.

Ivana, on 28 November 2010 - 07:05 AM, said:

I've finally scanned these pages from Q Magazine:

Thanks.

[Driver Nate]

clicli, on 29 November 2010 - 03:33 AM, said:

True, Up was the first record to include printed lyrics, but Everybody Hurts was 5:20 min long, half of New Adventures in Hi-Fi is over 5 minutes long as well.

Like I said, my memory isn't exactly clear on what "rules" they threw out during the making of Up, I just remember that they did. I'd have to dig up some old interviews to be completely accurate and I just didn't feel like going to the trouble last night.

[rivers of suggestion]

it will bw release in april???i can't wait...

[kizmatica]

It's a shame there is not much discussion going on about this release. I think the way the band have played their cards this time round has certainly contributed to that (for better imo), as we don't have any material or info to sink our teeth into and analyse. Apart from the Q magazine feature, and odd bits here and there, we really don't know what to expect. I wonder when things start picking up a bit (advance previews, snippets etc), or will it be like this up till March time.

[RamblingRob]

Looking forward to the release.  I hope the long run up to it is well worth it.  March or April?

[sciryl2K]

Is it me, or did the sidebar on HQ just add umlauts to "Uberlin" today? I'm guessing it's about something that is so characteristically "Berlin," it is almost "uber Berlin" or something like that in the lyrics.

[evry streetlite]

Driver Nate, on 29 November 2010 - 09:44 AM, said:

Like I said, my memory isn't exactly clear on what "rules" they threw out during the making of Up, I just remember that they did. I'd have to dig up some old interviews to be completely accurate and I just didn't feel like going to the trouble last night.

(I've never commented, though I check the site daily...)

One of the key rules violated by UP was the inclusion of a sincere love song.  "Be Mine" is creepy.  "Tongue"?  No...I remember when UP came out "At My Most Beautiful" was novel for that...and the inclusion of lyrics.  Yes, the songs were consistently longer than previous albums (though the great HiFi has some longer ones, too.)  I remember before UP came out how it was being promoted as a "headphonë album."  Yes, all their albums are the "best we've ever done"...but they don't usually overhype and disappoint to the degree of U2 (and Depeche Mode.)  My faith in U2 has never been weaker.  I feel like I don't recognize the band I used to respect, though I still try.  REM has made some forgiveable missteps, but it all feels like part of a longterm arc.  I know they'll get it right.  I know they still can.  Accelerate didn't do it for me, but it felt like a transition--never a standalone album/experience to me. I'm hoping this one is organic, a litte rough, and sincere.  I still have faith and still care what they do.  At least their news isn't all about real estate investments, taxes, and superhero musicals on broadway.  One last thing: I've seen both Peaches and Patty Smith live..odd that I've never seen Pearl Jam, I suppose.

[Driver Nate]

kizmatica, on 30 November 2010 - 05:03 PM, said:

It's a shame there is not much discussion going on about this release. I think the way the band have played their cards this time round has certainly contributed to that (for better imo), as we don't have any material or info to sink our teeth into and analyse. Apart from the Q magazine feature, and odd bits here and there, we really don't know what to expect. I wonder when things start picking up a bit (advance previews, snippets etc), or will it be like this up till March time.

I'm not sure what you're getting at. Would you prefer more info about the record or not? On the one hand you mention you're glad R.E.M. themselves haven't been more vocal about the sound of the record yet on the other you seem disappointed there's not been much press coverage. I'm not sure if the leak of the album title by Bertis was intentional or not but it seems like it's a little too early to be cranking up the publicity machine. Has an actual date other than "Spring 2010" even been announced yet?

Though it can be hard to do, I would prefer hearing the record without any notions from R.E.M. or anyone else thrown at me first. I'm content with what I currently know, that way the album will be more of a surprise the first time I listen to it. I imagine once we get into the new year and promo copies start making the rounds we'll hear more about it. As far as how R.E.M./WB plans to handle the publicity this time out, who knows? Last time we had the Nighty Nights thing. Perhaps they have something like that in store this time or something completely different. Given the state of getting your record heard these days (even if you're R.E.M.) I could only think they're going to use the internet to their fullest capability again.

[welliwonder]

Driver Nate, on 30 November 2010 - 09:22 PM, said:

Though it can be hard to do, I would prefer hearing the record without any notions from R.E.M. or anyone else thrown at me first.

I agree. And  so do those who have heard it , it seems, judging by the lack of spoilers and details. I've heard it just once, from start to finish, and I completely loved all the surprises, twists and turns without any spoilers and preconceptions, reviews etc, and so I certainly wont be ruining it for others by giving out any detail.It makes a change these days to hear a whole album without leaks and I must say that for me, it made for a far more rewarding listen.  To appreciate the sequence as designed and intended , without the urge to skip previously heard material is a joy.If, like me, you pine for the old days of vinyl LPs and the excitement of putting on a truly fresh album and letting it wash over you unpolluted , I'd sincerely recommend avoiding the leaks, if they happen.  All i can say is that everything said on here by others who have heard it was true for me too,it is very broad, that I found it intensely moving , and that of course it doesn't sound like anyone else.  I simply cant wait for its release to hear it again, but then again, I can, and I will.

[Pete B]

Track listing has changed today on HQ website mine smell like honey and alligator have swapped places !!!!

[MurmursAdministrator]

I kind of wish my first listen to this record was pure. It was a bit scattershot, literally listening as the songs were getting "printed" and finished. Plus some songs weren't ready.

But now that we're playing back for partners and such, its a thrill to see the looks on peoples faces on first listen.

I HOPE that we have something in the nature of the non-revealing Revealers on this record because its worth it. What would that be called this time?

[Siv_Dan]

MurmursAdministrator, on 01 December 2010 - 07:45 AM, said:

I HOPE that we have something in the nature of the non-revealing Revealers on this record because its worth it. What would that be called this time?

Good idea. How about 'The PROlapsers'?

[Mottje t.H.]

sciryl2K, on 30 November 2010 - 07:07 PM, said:

Is it me, or did the sidebar on HQ just add umlauts to "Uberlin" today? I'm guessing it's about something that is so characteristically "Berlin," it is almost "uber Berlin" or something like that in the lyrics.

I can see the "umlauts", too. That means a changing in meaning from "You, Berlin" to "about Berlin".

MurmursAdministrator, on 01 December 2010 - 07:45 AM, said:

...
But now that we're playing back for partners and such, its a thrill to see the looks on peoples faces on first listen.

It's a thrill to read this, too. What are their faces like and are they fans and what will our faces be like and   !

MurmursAdministrator, on 01 December 2010 - 07:45 AM, said:

I HOPE that we have something in the nature of the non-revealing Revealers on this record because its worth it. What would that be called this time?

Can somebody translate this into german, please? That sounds mysterious, I'm   and thinking of a hidden track now !