188 replies to this topic

[Kimo]

beyond, on 26 September 2011 - 10:36 AM, said:

Surprised that "Country Feedback" is not on there, being Michael's favorite song.  Also surprised about "New Test Leper" but as NAIHF is my favorite record, pleased.  Not my choice of tracklist for a best of (a common thread, of course), but I see where they're going with this.  Might as well been called "Singles Collected."

Keen on hearing the new songs.  Is "Hallelujah" a cover?  I should hope not.

- Oh but it is ! (Track 19 , Disc 1)

- Hallelujah is an outtake from the Collapse Into Now sessions! Shouldn't be a cover

[Sweden]

Quote

[Corporate blurb]

OK, one positive thing about the breakup - less Warner press releases with marketing language that contrasts so brightly with how R.E.M. themselves and their HQ has always spoken about the band. Less hyperbole.

Slightly disturbing that the wording is not that the split "shocked and saddened fans and followers all over the world", but that it "ignited the blogosphere". Correct focus, dear music fans marketing people at WB. Damnit.

Oh well, I think the tracklisting is pretty good and it seems the band was pretty heavily involved. Will be fun to hear the final songs, even though they have the difficult tasks of measuring up against "the best" of 31(29) years.
Look forward to it!

/D

[OatiosSpellCheck]

I don't see this as a release for us hardcore fans anyway. This collection is R.E.M. 101 for future generations. I made my own playlist of these tracks this morning (obviously without the new tunes), and it does a good job of telling the R.E.M. story - the range of song types and sounds, along with their progression of songwriters. Sure there are obvious omissions, but that's not the point - this album is the band's final "we are R.E.M. and this is what we do."

I have a not-yet 2 year old daughter, and in ten years I could see myself loading this collection on her iPhone 16S (or whatever) and using it as a way to introduce her "daddy's favorite band."

[REMCHICAGOBOY]

I love the artwork, all forms of music media through-out their career: the cassette, the single, vinyl record, CD, and now. Pretty cool.

A few notes:

I just ordered this from Amazon and it saddens me that it's the last physical release from them during their existence. I guess "all things must pass" but it's still hard, and sad. I listened to them all weekend, and really, there isn't a band or artist that comes close to them for me.

"Shiny Happy People" finally makes the cut. I love that.

I love that there are four songs from Green. I hope they have rediscovered the strength and beauty of Green while working to put this compilation together. I also love there are three songs from 'Collapse into Now' (although "It Happened Today" would have been better than "Alligator" since it made a ton of lists from people on here from their "favorite records and songs" thread)

I love they included "New Test Leper" from NAIHF. Excellent.

They could have really left off "Bad Day" for another Up or Reveal song. "Bad Day" really isnt that great (but they must love it) I'm really surprised "I've Been High" didn't make it since they all raved about the song after Reveal was released.

Poor ATS. At least we get "Leaving New York" (I am sure that was a Michael choice)

I wish they would have recorded "Staring Down the Barrell of a Middle Distance" as one of the "new" songs. It would have been a fitting ending.  

I guess Berry isn't on the three new tracks. It would have been a fantastic ending to a fantastic 31 years.

I am very much looking forward to the liner notes.

I played "Endgame" over the weekend, and it hit hard that it's over.

I will miss you Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe. Forever and ever.

[fanfan]

I'm looking forward to the three new song!

[Coop]

pelagius42, on 26 September 2011 - 10:26 AM, said:

Didn't EMI/IRS already do that with the "In The Attic" compilation from about 15 years ago?  Definitely seemed like a barrel scraper
http://en.wikipedia....85%E2%80%931989

Point taken!

[beyond]

REMCHICAGOBOY, on 26 September 2011 - 10:39 AM, said:

Um..."Country Feedback" is right after "Losing My Religion" and right before "Shiny Happy People".

D'oh!  You're right...40 songs is a lot to process.

[Driver Nate]

REMCHICAGOBOY, on 26 September 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

I wish they would have recorded "Staring Down the Barrell of a Middle Distance" as one of the "new" songs. It would have been a fitting ending.  

I believe it was recorded for Accelerate so a recording of it already exists. Mills has said he feels confident it will see the light of day at some point. If the bottom of the barrel hasn't been scraped completely dry, I would wager a fairly educated guess that it'll appear on the box set.

[OatiosSpellCheck]

anyone know how WB was able to get the IRS songs? or does the band now own then?

[Davie]

REMCHICAGOBOY, on 26 September 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

Poor ATS. At least we get "Leaving New York" (I am sure that was a Michael choice)

Poor ATS?! POOR ATS?!?! What about poor Monster!!!!

As has been echoed above, there are of course some favourites missing, but it was bound to happen.

HOWEVER - majorly bummed about E-Bow. I wonder what possessed the guys to leave it off!

[TheMiddleDistance]

I would assume there would be some glorified version of this with multiple bonus disks, they did this with the other 2 recent compilations, right?

[bluemookie]

Davie, on 26 September 2011 - 11:18 AM, said:

Poor ATS?! POOR ATS?!?! What about poor Monster!!!!

As has been echoed above, there are of course some favourites missing, but it was bound to happen.

HOWEVER - majorly bummed about E-Bow. I wonder what possessed the guys to leave it off!

E-Bow is the only song on Hi-Fi that I will skip every time.  Always disliked that song, and yeah, I blame Patti.  Just like AAAA is much better on the live in-studio version because that chick isn't singing on it.

[lemonglidertime]

Some rather odd selections for the greatest hits. I'm with most of you on here concerning Ebow but it's tough when you are dealing with 30 yrs worth of music. My favorite REM song is I've Been High. Honestly- Reveal is in my top 5 REM albums. ATS is great as well- could have included Electron Blue or The Ascent of Man. Falls to Climb should have found a spot WAY ahead of Alligator....New Test Leper is strange but i get it. REM could put out a Greatest Hits album that had 60 songs on it and I could still find a few that Belong(ed). HA- see how i did that, good stuff

[mrocks7]

I'm all for a blown-up version of this release: DVD's, etc.

"Drive" seems like a missing piece here as well as, "World Leader Pretend." Impossible to make everyone happy here, though. They'd have to rerelease the entire catalog in one shot.

[Ignorelander]

Disappointing tracklist to say the least.  They should have differed it to the tracks that appeared on In Time and And I Feel Fine… more.  'New Test Leper'?!

[MAK]

16 of the 37 songs (until collapse) where played in their last ever setlist:  (via http://www.remtimeline.com/)

18 November 2008 - Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
set: Living Well Is The Best Revenge / I Took Your Name / What's The Frequency, Kenneth? / Fall On Me / Drive / Man-Sized Wreath / Ignoreland / Disturbance At The Heron House / Hollow Man / Imitation Of Life / Electrolite / The Great Beyond / Everybody Hurts / The One I Love / Find The River / Let Me In / Bad Day / Horse To Water / Orange Crush / It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
encore: Supernatural Superserious / Losing My Religion / I Believe / Country Feedback / Life And How To Live It / Man On The Moon


5 of the last 6 songs ever played live (in the final encore) are included in this "Greatest Hits" so I think the guys did make that final setlist "In case that was the last concert".  Fortunately we will have forever this video on remhq Youtube account



I remember that concert have professional cameras (about 4-5 cameraman) so I won't be surprised if sometime it ended as a Live DVD

[G.K.]

Dissapointed to not see Find the River and to a lesser extent Texarkarna and Aftermath, but I'm gonna get it.

[Circus Envy]

I feel "Until the Day is Done," and "It Happend Today" would have been stronger selections then "Oh My Heart," and "New Test Leper."

[NewToREM]

I think they knew they'd disband even when finishing recording accelerate. I think the reason they didn't tour Collapse is because they didnt feel any enthusiasm for a farewell.

How good would it be if the lead song from this compilation is actually a song written ages ago for when they did call it a say.

Err they'd better release weatherman one day!!!!