24 replies to this topic

[2headedcow]

Twentieth century collapse into now

Cinderella boy
You've lost your shoe

Cinderella boy
Your coach awaits.

I imagine MS riding away feeling proud of REM's career.

[stipeeyes]

MurmursAdministrator, on 05 October 2011 - 09:41 AM, said:

Your sense of entitlement is really quite something. I've admired it for years.

I know no one is allowed to state their opinion.  And whenever you don't like it you always have something sarcastic to say.

[barnsleyjohn]

Christratton2007, on 04 October 2011 - 09:10 PM, said:

And whatever Bill does, you figure he'll be happy. That's cool with me - just heard the other day that he wrote, for the most part, "Everybody Hurts." That's amazing, and his role in "You are the Everything" and "Get Up," among other things, for those I'll always be grateful to him.

I'm sure I read that "Leave" was also mostly Bill. Probably my second favourite R.E.M. song ever.

[Driver Eight]

Driver Nate, on 05 October 2011 - 10:52 AM, said:

Mentioning Murmur wasn't really my point, it was that I didn't read things into everything R.E.M. did, lyrical, artwork or otherwise. Others seem to make it a full time job. I just enjoyed listening to the music.

Your point was clear. Good for you, and for them. Vive le difference!

I wasn't here for it, Nate, but it sounds like there was a sustained argument at the time Collapse came out between some who read some of its songs as an epitaph (I'd've been in that group had I been here) and you and maybe some others who said not to read too much into the lyrics. One question for you: do you agree the songs needn't have read "Hi, this is our last album, and this is one of the last songs" in order for someone to have reasonably read into them that the guys were on their way out as a band?

As I've shared, it was clear to me on one listen, at most two to Collapse that it was likely over - I certainly didn't spend hours obsessing about what the songs were saying. This was different from, say, "I'm not scared, I'm outta here," in "Electrolite," which came at a time that REM was on top of the world or near it. With the big contract over and with uneven efforts in recent albums and even worse sales figures, at their age, it was more than reasonable to take such a read on the lyrics on Collapse. Your experience and your interpretation were different, but I'd hope you'd agree that others' approach no was less valid, even if they did obsess over the words and their meaning. Each of us has our own way to enjoy music.

[Driver Eight]

barnsleyjohn, on 06 October 2011 - 05:03 AM, said:

I'm sure I read that "Leave" was also mostly Bill. Probably my second favourite R.E.M. song ever.

Yeah, it's a great one, for sure. I think "Leper" is a Michael one, feels like it, but it's another fave for me off that album. Great album altogether, I really like that itinerant, band in flight, sound checky, on-tour feel. Glad they decided to release it in that form.