9 replies to this topic

[NewToREM]

... I love it!  Best album since Hi-Fi, better than Monster and Out of Time!

After years and years of waiting this is finally the album that makes me realise why I like them in the first place.  Sorry to add yet another post about it but I just had to say it!

Right, when's the next album due

[michaels]

I'm still gorging myself on the tracks that have not been released until now, so couldn't make such a bold statement as yet. I don't rate NAIHF among their best personally, think UP outstrips it by far. All the best sounds like something from Monster; I instantly like this. There's something about Marlon Brando that reminds me of Will Oldham, which is a good thing. Just the laconic shuffle that it has. And 'everyday' is great too. Blue is the one track that grates me.

[ebowtheloser]

I think it is truly amazing. Personally, I'd go all the way back to Automatic for the People for an R.E.M. album that works this well for me.

When Discoverer rises out of the ashes of Blue... I get chills!

[CUYACOAT]

Is anyone hearing this for the first time? I have ruined it by listening to the previous stuff released and keep skipping to the tracks I dont know. I havent a clue on first listening whether the album is any more than 'good' but I want someone whos new to it all to tell me if they think it flows well from beginning to end as a virgin listener!

[ebowtheloser]

CUYACOAT, on 02 March 2011 - 08:53 AM, said:

Is anyone hearing this for the first time? I have ruined it by listening to the previous stuff released and keep skipping to the tracks I dont know. I havent a clue on first listening whether the album is any more than 'good' but I want someone whos new to it all to tell me if they think it flows well from beginning to end as a virgin listener!

Fight the urge to skip!  One of the things I think is best about this album is how well it holds together as a complete work. Not something I would have predicted.

[Discoverer]

ebowtheloser, on 02 March 2011 - 09:00 AM, said:

Fight the urge to skip!  One of the things I think is best about this album is how well it holds together as a complete work. Not something I would have predicted.

The first 6 times I listened to the record I listened all the way through...now its on random. It works really well as a whole

[Mottje t.H.]

The first prereleased songs were growers. I hope the album will be too (I'll wait for the cd.) But I have to keep myself from watching any other videos than the lyric-videos! They're disturbing these positive impressions.

[oneeyelove]

I love the new record.  I have given it 4 listens and now I cannot wait to have the hard copy in my hands.  Enjoy!

[Reverend Bill Funderburk]

I. LOVE. IT.

[robin]

I'm one of those "old school" types (fan since 1983) who was willing to wait because I wanted to hear the whole album all at once.
So tonight I listened to the whole thing on the NPR stream.  
Love it!  Love it! Love it!!!!

I was really pleased with Accelerate but I love this one even more.

Have only listened to it once but that's enough to know that it will be very good to hear it next week when the cd is released.

I get what people are saying when they compare it to New Adventures in Hi-Fi.  There's a lot more variety on this one than we heard on Accelerate so it does remind me of New Adventures (one of my favorite albums).  The arrangements seem a lot more rich on this one but it still rocks in places.  And Mike is still singing a lot!

Some reviewer was complaining about all of the guest appearances (Patti, Peaches, Lenny Kaye) but to me this seems very much like REM's album.  What's the big deal?  They had Jane Scarpantoni show up on Green and Peter Holsapple and Kate Pierson on Out of Time.  The guest appearances are not distracting or overblown.  Besides, I liked Patti's earlier vocal on New Adventures...