64 replies to this topic

[rhmevers]

What’s the plan ??

Okay no touring, but where are the demos that didn’t make the album etc etc

Why does remhq not report any news about R.E.M. and the future, only side projects

Is it to hard to play on a tv show or so ??

Is it the end of the ………. ?

[thomas08]

thats a tough question, i think michael said in an interview they wont be splitting up this year but that he's not so sure about the future. i think the band is just way too focused on their other projects these days, like peter and scott, michael with art stuff.

one thing that really stuck me as odd was when michael was asked by a fan recently what he's most proud of throughout his career and he said his corner shots, that to me shows his main priority has shifted from music to photography/sculptures. its a shame cos to me the band still does brilliant work.

but then on the other hand, imagine in 1996 when REM finished an album and record contract with the line "im not scared, im outta here". imagine what was going through fans heads back then and they still continued making albums so its hard to know whats going to happen. this time things seem different though, the bands being so vague when talkin about their future together.

[Driver Nate]

rhmevers, on 13 May 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

What’s the plan ??

Okay no touring, but where are the demos that didn’t make the album etc etc

In at least one interview they discussed some of the material that didn't make the record. Have demos from past albums immediately surfaced following their release?

rhmevers, on 13 May 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

Why does remhq not report any news about R.E.M. and the future, only side projects

To the contrary, several of the articles in the News section have to do with Collapse Into Now. As for the future of the band, have you read any of the interviews the band have done in conjunction with the release of Collapse Into Now? In regards to their side projects, is HQ not supposed to report those? They always have, at least to my recollection.

rhmevers, on 13 May 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

Is it to hard to play on a tv show or so ??

When they said they wouldn't be touring support of this record that evidently also meant they wouldn't be making any TV appearances as a band.

rhmevers, on 13 May 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

Is it the end of the ………. ?

In one of the interviews they've done since releasing the new album they said they'd be having a band meeting at some point to determine the future of R.E.M.

[zapiekanki]

I probably won't be as specific as Driver Nate was but here are some general thoughts:

After Monster, later after New Adventures in Hi Fi, many people who followed R.E.M. deserted the band. Sales declined. Purists said the band didn't need those new fans anyway. This line of thought was fairly acritical, in my opinion.

My point is: this is not the first time the future of R.E.M. has aroused this soul-searching. It's been happening since at least 1994. This time around it may be different, for at least two reasons.

The first is that the new record didn't sell as expected. It didn't gain any important chart positions in the U.S. while in comparison the Decemberists topped a Billboard chart.

Second, the three R.E.M. members have reached middle age. New, younger and fresher acts are appearing not just in the U.S: in Canada, in Europe, in South America... Many of these bands draw inspiration from R.E.M. (there's even a major band these days with an overt aspiration to become 'the next R.E.M.') but in the end music is a market and R.E.M. must compete with these younger acts.

The only song that's giving a battle for Collapse into Now is ÜBerlin. Marketers, experts and sales teams are championing the record on the basis of this to the point where the notion of a second single is blurry. What exactly is the second single? None, there is no second, or third single this time around because R.E.M. have decided that their new weapon is art cinema. This isn't wrong, but new: albums weren't championed on the strength of their aesthetic initiatives, they were (are) championed on the strength of their radio singles.

Which brings me to the no-tour decision. While I respect this decision, I don't necessarily agree with it. Respect and agree are not the same. One can abide to decisions (like in the military) respect them, even enforce them, but be of a different soul. If R.E.M. is not touring that's OK, I respect R.E.M. and their choices, but every decision has a consequence. If today R.E.M. says 'we're not touring' they must assume, tomorrow, the consequences of not touring today.

Seeing your band performing live is a pòwerful experience: it motivates the audience, produces stamina, shivers run through the spines of thousands of fans. The earth shakes, literally. This experience isn't remotely close to the insight provided by an interview transmitted by the electronic media.

When one thinks of the future a helpful tool is scenarios. I'll draw two future scenarios for R.E.M., the first being more optimistic than the second.

First scenario: R.E.M. record, produce, distribute their own albums, independently of a music label (à la Radiohead). If the reason why they joined Warner Records is correct (they needed wider distribution than I.R.S could provide) then they would have to enter into some form of distribution alliance with a record label (be it Warner or not).

Second scenario: R.E.M. disband. Peter Buck joins the Decemberists full time while Michael Stipe has more time to refine his artistic output.

Whatever the final outcome, R.E.M. have already produced a lasting legacy. Some people in the future would turn to their music for confort, solace or joy, some would not. But the legacy will still be there.

[Harshil]

The main reason the Decemberists topped the Billboard chart was due to the album being available for $4.99 on Amazon on its week of release. Something in the region of 72% of its sales were attributed from Amazon alone. Collapse Into Now was never going to set the charts alight, Accelerate was the band's 'return to form', many relapsed fans or younger people bought the album, sales surged. For a veteran act (31 years!), a no. 5 placing is really not the end of the world. Anyway, album sales figures have been declining dramatically for the pat three years- there is not one band or artist who has not been hit.

I respect and admire their decision not to tour. Touring can be a drag, I would much rather see a R.E.M. show where the constituent members want  to be performing, and not to see it as an obligation. R.E.M. had completed three extensive world tours prior to Collapse Into Now-playing the same songs, quite possibly in the same venues! R.E.M. do not owe us anything, I am more than happy with the new album. If it is their last, it is a worthy goodbye.

[liamthedon]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 09:53 AM, said:

Many of these bands draw inspiration from R.E.M. (there's even a major band these days with an overt aspiration to become 'the next R.E.M.')

Second scenario: R.E.M. disband. Peter Buck joins the Decemberists full time while Michael Stipe has more time to refine his artistic output.

I agree with a lot of your post on this topic, but a couple of questions arose from the points above.

Which major band are you referring to here? My first thought was The National, or was your implication The Decemberists?

Also, I find the idea that Buck would, in the light of R.E.M. disbanding, join The Decemberists full time unlikely. Minus 5 with further volumes of The Baseball Project would seem the more likely.

[Driver Nate]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 09:53 AM, said:

What exactly is the second single? None, there is no second, or third single this time around because R.E.M. have decided that their new weapon is art cinema.

One has to wonder where you're getting your misinformation from. Nowhere have I read that R.E.M. have abandoned the singles approach in lieu of "art cinema". Methinks you've misread Stipe's comments about the Collapse Into Now film project. You also seem to have totally overlooked the fact that "Mine Smell Like Honey" was released as a single.

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 09:53 AM, said:

When one thinks of the future a helpful tool is scenarios. I'll draw two future scenarios for R.E.M., the first being more optimistic than the second.

First scenario: R.E.M. record, produce, distribute their own albums, independently of a music label (à la Radiohead). If the reason why they joined Warner Records is correct (they needed wider distribution than I.R.S could provide) then they would have to enter into some form of distribution alliance with a record label (be it Warner or not).

Second scenario: R.E.M. disband. Peter Buck joins the Decemberists full time while Michael Stipe has more time to refine his artistic output.

Peter Buck join the Decemberists? Just because their latest record was produced by Buck and is largely an homage to vintage I.R.S. era R.E.M., this somehow leads you to believe Buck would join the Decemberists in the event that R.E.M. disbands? Surely, you must be on crack and/or some very strong hallucinogens. Mills has already said that he will be doing a solo album. In all likelihood, if R.E.M. breaks up Buck would continue working with the Minus Five and The Baseball Project.

[zapiekanki]

Driver Nate, on 13 May 2011 - 11:14 AM, said:

One has to wonder where you're getting your misinformation from. Nowhere have I read that R.E.M. have abandoned the singles approach in lieu of "art cinema". Methinks you've misread Stipe's comments about the Collapse Into Now film project. You also seem to have totally overlooked the fact that "Mine Smell Like Honey" was released as a single.

You're right, I forgot Mine Smell Like Honey was at some point released as a strictly U.S. single, as uninspiring as the song is.

Driver Nate, on 13 May 2011 - 11:14 AM, said:

Peter Buck join the Decemberists? Just because their latest record was produced by Buck and is largely an homage to vintage I.R.S. era R.E.M., this somehow leads you to believe Buck would join the Decemberists in the event that R.E.M. disbands? Surely, you must be on crack and/or some very strong hallucinogens. Mills has already said that he will be doing a solo album. In all likelihood, if R.E.M. breaks up Buck would continue working with the Minus Five and The Baseball Project.

I was using scenario theory to answer the main question, this theory is one of the most helpful tools to anticipate the future.

One of the scenarios I suggested was Buck joining the Decemberists, but as you suggest and liamthedon also suggests, the scenario could be better formulated by saying that in the future Peter Buck might abandon R.E.M. to join either the Decemberists, the Minus 5 or The Baseball Project.

Scenario theory allows you to build several scenarios, there is no limit to them. You might want to build your own.

liamthedon, on 13 May 2011 - 10:32 AM, said:

I agree with a lot of your post on this topic, but a couple of questions arose from the points above.

Which major band are you referring to here? My first thought was The National, or was your implication The Decemberists?

I saw a magazine cover where Arcade Fire was hailed as the next R.E.M.

[Driver Nate]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 11:53 AM, said:

You're right, I forgot Mine Smell Like Honey was at some point released as a strictly U.S. single, as uninspiring as the song is.

Whether you find the single "uninspiring" or not is beside the point. Fact is, you evidently misinterpreted the entire concept behind the Collapse Into Now film project which doesn't have anything at all to do with releasing (or not releasing) singles.

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 11:53 AM, said:

I was using scenario theory to answer the main question, this theory is one of the most helpful tools to anticipate the future.

One of the scenarios I suggested was Buck joining the Decemberists, but as you suggest and liamthedon also suggests, the scenario could be better formulated by saying that in the future Peter Buck might abandon R.E.M. to join either the Decemberists, the Minus 5 or The Baseball Project.

You never said anything about Buck "abandoning R.E.M.", you were referring to what would happen in the event of R.E.M. disbanding which are two entirely different things.

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 11:53 AM, said:

Scenario theory allows you to build several scenarios, there is no limit to them. You might want to build your own.

How about the scenario that you're full of shit.

[bflood]

Peter Buck is just as likely to join the Doobie Brothers as The Decemberists if R.E.M. ceases to exist.

[zapiekanki]

Driver Nate, on 13 May 2011 - 12:08 PM, said:

Whether you find the single "uninspiring" or not is beside the point. Fact is, you evidently misinterpreted the entire concept behind the Collapse Into Now film project which doesn't have anything at all to do with releasing (or not releasing) singles.

Well that's my opinion and I intent to stand behind it. In every forum I will defend such opinion by providing my arguments.

Driver Nate, on 13 May 2011 - 12:08 PM, said:

How about the scenario that you're full of shit.

OK I'm full of shit. I'm trying to reason here Sir, forgive me if the scenario of just ignoring you becomes reality.

[Driver Nate]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 12:27 PM, said:

Well that's my opinion and I intent to stand behind it. In every forum I will defend such opinion by providing my arguments.

I'm not referring to your opinion of "Mine Smell Like Honey", I'm referring to you thinking R.E.M. weren't releasing singles and were instead focusing on the Collapse Into Now film project.

[zapiekanki]

I wasn't even referring to Mine Smell Like Honey

[Driver Nate]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 01:14 PM, said:

I wasn't even referring to Mine Smell Like Honey

In regards to your opinion, nor was I. I was referring to your apparent misinterpretation that R.E.M. aren't focusing on the release of singles for this record and are instead concentrating on the Collapse Into Now film project. The fact of the matter is, they are indeed releasing singles for it.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

zapiekanki, on 13 May 2011 - 09:53 AM, said:

After Monster, later after New Adventures in Hi Fi, many people who followed R.E.M. deserted the band. Sales declined. Purists said the band didn't need those new fans anyway. This line of thought was fairly acritical, in my opinion.

I'm not sure about that. The band when it started never expected to become the  behemoth it did. All 4 (including Bill Berry) were taken aback by their level of success, especially early on. While I'm sure they enjoyed it and the financial rewards, I  remember several interviews where they've all said they'll do it as long as they feel it's good work and they enjoy working together. Bill shrugged it off at what he felt was  time. Peter said that he does music for the love of it, and that may be where the band is showing fracture lines. Stipe clearly is happier spending time on  visual arts projects and mingling with celebs, Mills has said he might might give going solo a chance, and Peter, well, Peter has always filled REM downtime on the road with other bands. Ask any group of fans and you will get different opinions on when they did their best work. Many say the IRS years and they sold out to Warners. Others say it went downhill when Bill left and REM never recaptured the magic. Some cite Up as the best record they ever made, although I don't agree. There are plenty of people here think the guys have what they need to keep going post CIN. Again, I am not so sure.

Quote

Which brings me to the no-tour decision. While I respect this decision, I don't necessarily agree with it. Respect and agree are not the same. One can abide to decisions (like in the military) respect them, even enforce them, but be of a different soul. If R.E.M. is not touring that's OK, I respect R.E.M. and their choices, but every decision has a consequence. If today R.E.M. says 'we're not touring' they must assume, tomorrow, the consequences of not touring today.

Seeing your band performing live is a pòwerful experience: it motivates the audience, produces stamina, shivers run through the spines of thousands of fans. The earth shakes, literally. This experience isn't remotely close to the insight provided by an interview transmitted by the electronic media.

I totally agree with this. REM have made some stunning albums, but seeing them play live was almost like a religious experience.  TV and print interviews are not, and can never be the same as watching those guys set a crowd on fire. Pure joy and amazement. I'm sorry they're not touring, and I hope it's not a statement of the band fragmenting but that is a possibility.

Quote

When one thinks of the future a helpful tool is scenarios. I'll draw two future scenarios for R.E.M., the first being more optimistic than the second.

First scenario: R.E.M. record, produce, distribute their own albums, independently of a music label (à la Radiohead). If the reason why they joined Warner Records is correct (they needed wider distribution than I.R.S could provide) then they would have to enter into some form of distribution alliance with a record label (be it Warner or not).

Second scenario: R.E.M. disband. Peter Buck joins the Decemberists full time while Michael Stipe has more time to refine his artistic output.

Whatever the final outcome, R.E.M. have already produced a lasting legacy. Some people in the future would turn to their music for confort, solace or joy, some would not. But the legacy will still be there.[/font]

Fair enough. Time will tell.

ETA- missed the Decemberists thing. Nah. Not gonna happen.

[MAK]

I will only say this once...  R.E.M. will NOT stop making music (until death separates them). Look at their main influences:

PATTI SMITH
BOB DYLAN
NEIL YOUNG

have they stopped making music?? (all of them among their 60's-70's)

they can be on a hiatus for years but they will never come out and say "REM will not longer make music"  I don't see that coming (unless one of the members dies , then it will end.)


Expect following TOUR until 2013 at least  (that will be a 5 year gap between last tour)

[Driver Nate]

MAK, on 14 May 2011 - 09:25 AM, said:

I will only say this once...  R.E.M. will NOT stop making music (until death separates them). Look at their main influences:

PATTI SMITH
BOB DYLAN
NEIL YOUNG

have they stopped making music?? (all of them among their 60's-70's)

they can be on a hiatus for years but they will never come out and say "REM will not longer make music"  I don't see that coming (unless one of the members dies , then it will end.)

In this interview, when questioned about the future of R.E.M. Mills responded, "We'll always make music but will we make it together? I don't know, we'll have to find out."

He's also mentioned that he intends to record a solo album. I have no doubt they will continue to make music after R.E.M. hangs it up but there's nothing saying R.E.M. will never call it quits. Who knows what path they'll take but I've never seen them be so open about the fact that there are no plans for the band beyond the here and now.

[patjoller]

adding more fuel to the single-non single theory.
Don't forget that almost half of the album was released as downolads before the physical release. There were 3 singles depends on which region you're living in (oh my heart, uberlin, mine smell like honey). And even if it's a small release for RSD those 3 songs were released as a 7" set.
My theory (probably full of shit too), REM will continue to exist and probably secure one of deals with more independent labels, they've had their Warner era where cd were sold big time because we had no choice, now the industry is collapsing and they will never sell that much records again. The key is touring, bands like REM are surviving because they were huge once and can tour easily with a fan base still there to go and see them, and maybe add occasional new fans or people curious enough to go and check the band who wrote losing my religion, a song my father used to love and hear all the time.
So the plan is to release the rest of the remaster albums just to have an exposure and make the fans buy an album they already got and between a bunch of re-release, just make a new record, no more 1 record a year.
My only concern for this record is, as it was obvious it wouldn't sell that much, that the decision to not tour was not the best one, they did that for their best selling 2 records but that was another... century. If they continue to decide to not tour then the point of releasing new albums is almost useless these days.

[rocket21]

MAK, on 14 May 2011 - 09:25 AM, said:

I will only say this once...  R.E.M. will NOT stop making music (until death separates them). Look at their main influences:

PATTI SMITH
BOB DYLAN
NEIL YOUNG

have they stopped making music?? (all of them among their 60's-70's)

Velvet Underground
The Byrds
Syd Barrett
Television

[Milsean Cady]

bflood, on 13 May 2011 - 12:10 PM, said:

Peter Buck is just as likely to join the Doobie Brothers as The Decemberists if R.E.M. ceases to exist.

I think there's about an 80% chance of joining the Decemberists, vs. a 20% Doobie-merger.

I'd personally like him to join R.E.M. Just a little harder.