58 replies to this topic

[7 chineSe robs.]

I liked "Around the Sun" from the get-go, even if it never cracked my top 10 R.E.M. albums. It's far superior to "Reveal."

[old archibald yates]

I really like Around the Sun (although admittedly, less than i like every other r.e.m. album).  

somehow i feel it is r.e.m.'s most emotionally direct album.  There's always a lot of emotion in r.e.m. songs, to be sure, but usually it feels like it's being channeled from some mysterious dreamland that the listener can never fully grasp.  And, to be sure,  this is r.e.m.'s forte.  

But to me Around the Sun conveys more emotions that can be directly related to.  Most strikingly, the emotional arc of the album seems to mirror the demise of a relationship, roughly:

- Leaving New York sets the tone; the most affecting break-up song r.e.m. have written (country feedback is more intense, but not so clearly a breakup song)
- The Outsiders: the initial, devastating shock of the break-up (i realize stipe has said this song is about something else...)
- Make it all OK: frustration with not being able to repair the relationship
- Aftermath: the numb feeling that comes with properly realising the relationship is over
- High speed train is a kind of desperate searching/running away to deal with the emptiness
- The Ascent of Man is the rebuilding of the ego, rediscovering sex, etc., after the breakup
- Around the sun is, finally, the feeling of freedom that comes with moving on, moving full circle.

While the album is somewhat lacking in whatever mysterious element it is that characterises r.e.m.'s best work, for me there are more actual 'tearjearker' moments than any of their other albums.  And thinking of it as a breakup album, the generally downbeat pace seems appropriate to the mood.

[Reverend Bill Funderburk]

I still think it's pretty awful by R.E.M.'s standards. To me it will always be their worst effort. I don't think I've had any desire to listen to that album in at least two years.

[G.K.]

I love aftermath hugely, but none of the other songs are right up there for me.

[Pilgrimager]

I've never liked it but when i was listening to Live a while back I suddenly realised how much I loved the chorous of Acent of man which made me think maybe I'd lke some of the others if I gave them more of a chance. LNY got me soon after although I hate the fact he says Leaving NY never easy without the is. If he couldn't get it to be grammatically correct or w/e then he should have just wrote some more words. Ultimately now after deciding to try and like the album, if that makes sense, I think it's got some nice tunes but JEeeeeeezzzzz it's one dimensional and one paced. I don't think I've ever heard a more one paced album but Micheal's singing is nice and it's got some nice moments...that's all I can think to say about it...it's got some nice tunes on it. It's a very uninspired album though and very one paced. ha ha ha. It's also rather downbeat but I like that 'cause the tunes are quite nice.  I prefert it to Reveal who's melodies haven't revelaed themselves to me yet. I only listen to it in the summer though so I'll have to revisit it next year...if I'm still alive.
I jsut had the idea earlier that on this they weren't trying hard enough and on Accelerate they're trying too hard.

[hikerdeb]

http://www.spin.com/...derrated-record

In this interview, Mike explains why he thinks "Around the Sun" didn't turn out the way the band had hoped it would.

[High_Speed_Train]

I never had the need to re-visit Around the Sun, because I play it quite often. At some point it´d be the only thing I´d play and on several occasions I wanted to believe this was, or this is their best album.

Leaving New York, Electron Blue, Final Straw, Make it All Okay, High Speed Train, Worst Joke Ever, Boy in the Well, Around the Sun.

Those are the outstanding songs here. I often ignore the rest, although I must confess that Wanderlust has its moments.

The problem I have with the album is those two-three tracks I skip, The Outsiders and Ascent of Man included.

On the contrary, I never skip a track on New Adventures or Lifes Rich Pageant.

Despite all this, I consider myself an apologist of Around the Sun. I cannot say the same about Reveal, of which I consider myself a detractor.

[jwolpert]

I've been listening to both UP and Around the Sun a lot lately. I love both records

I think that the song Around the Sun is beautiful. I prefer the live version that I heard opening nite tour 2004/5 at the Greek in LA

[patjoller]

good or bad album, I just think that a lot of artists would kill to have such an album in their discography, but according to REM's album standards it's rated quite low.
I do have to say that I still enjoy ATS more than reveal.....

[Driver Nate]

patjoller, on 10 January 2012 - 01:50 AM, said:

I do have to say that I still enjoy ATS more than reveal.....

As do I. I also like Up the best of the post-Bill Berry records with Collapse Into trailing not far behind. Still, none of those even come close to the I.R.S. era recordings. Not a popular opinion but it's mine.

[patjoller]

Well yeah, Up is an excellent album, for me it is great because it was a change of direction that was needed in that time. Most fans may think that it's too drum machine oriented but it was the right way to do and it was an album you have to listen and listen to dive into it and enjoy it.
Reveal has good songs, but as a whole it doesn't do it for me. Reno is one of the worst thing they've done and couple of other tracks are ok but as filler on a rarities compilation... that's my opinion.
I do agree with the IRS years, murmur is still on top of my list, so is pageant... and there are a lot of tracks that are incredible in that period, that's why the dublin live album is perfect... lots of old gems and new songs in the work from an excellent album to come.
So to sum up, ATS is a fine album and the last 2 are really really great, in a nearly perfect discography

[Remixomatosys]

I like Around the sun. Not as much as Reveal or Up, but I find it enjoyable.
It should be a couple of songs shorter

[patjoller]

Remixomatosys, on 12 January 2012 - 12:22 AM, said:

I like Around the sun. Not as much as Reveal or Up, but I find it enjoyable.
It should be a couple of songs shorter

the same comment applies to reveal... I think

[remalba]

There are 4 Albums I possess that I hold dearer than any other.

REM- Around the Sun
REM- Green
REM- Automatic for the people
REM- UP

Around the sun is such a special album because there is no filler, just stellar album tracks.  

I love LNY, special song and wonderful production.

Electron Blue is awesome and is typical REM sound(whatever this is)

Outsiders- Would have been a number 1 the world over if released.

The rest... best song on the record is high speed train, followed by worst joke ever and around the sun.   The rest are still stunning songs.

Overall the album is light years better than reveal, accelerate or CIN.   Another spin from me tommorow en-route to work.

[Remixomatosys]

remalba, on 13 January 2012 - 03:18 PM, said:

There are 4 Albums I possess that I hold dearer than any other.

REM- Around the Sun
REM- Green
REM- Automatic for the people
REM- UP

Around the sun is such a special album because there is no filler, just stellar album tracks.  

I love LNY, special song and wonderful production.

Electron Blue is awesome and is typical REM sound(whatever this is)

Outsiders- Would have been a number 1 the world over if released.

The rest... best song on the record is high speed train, followed by worst joke ever and around the sun.   The rest are still stunning songs.

Overall the album is light years better than reveal, accelerate or CIN.   Another spin from me tommorow en-route to work.

I agree that Around the sun is better than CIN. I think Reveal and Accelerate are better, though

[Pilgrimager]

Driver Nate, on 10 January 2012 - 09:33 AM, said:

As do I. I also like Up the best of the post-Bill Berry records with Collapse Into trailing not far behind. Still, none of those even come close to the I.R.S. era recordings. Not a popular opinion but it's mine.

I think that's the conventional wisdom!

[Pete B]

I liked it but on my ipod i took 2 songs i didn't like so much and put Bad day & Animal in there place and that does it for me as they should have been on there in the first place !!!

[cjr67]

Pete B, on 20 January 2012 - 10:22 AM, said:

I liked it but on my ipod i took 2 songs i didn't like so much and put Bad day & Animal in there place and that does it for me as they should have been on there in the first place !!!

What's the track order for your personal ATS?  I replaced The Outsiders (feat. Q-Tip) with the itunes original version and sequenced the live at the olympia version of On The Fly between that and Make It All Okay.  Makes for a very strong side 1, imo.  Never could figure out a good place to fit in Animal, though.

[fredrik]

Pete B, on 20 January 2012 - 10:22 AM, said:

I liked it but on my ipod i took 2 songs i didn't like so much and put Bad day & Animal in there place and that does it for me as they should have been on there in the first place !!!

I don't think BD would have been re-recorded for ATS. That was just for the Best Of.