42 replies to this topic

[robertandrews]

I haven't received mine yet (UK).
No spoilers please.

[Wichita_Lineman]

Received mine this morning (UK)
No spoiler but what a huge disappointment...

[ThunderRoad]

Why not open a spoiler thread.

I'd be interested to know what's in it.

[1two3four5]

Wichita_Lineman, on 22 December 2011 - 03:17 AM, said:

Received mine this morning (UK)
No spoiler but what a huge disappointment...

very disappointing indeed... got mine a few days ago. the first one for me, even though i was in the fanclub for several years, i never received it.

[twistedkite]

There's a whole other thread about this, but, yeah, what a disappointment. I know it's all fine and dandy for me to sit here in my basement and type about how "phoned-in" this package was, but still--I think I'm justifyed and I do have a point. I mean, let's consider the options that REM could have done:

1) They could have included a full CD of a concert on the 2008 tour---what a farewell present that would have been!
2) They could have included some sort of book with some rare photos from their history (I mean, the 1999 package had a large colour book.)
3) They could have included a DVD of their last encore--their last batch of songs played live. Actually that encore has too many hits for my taste, but still--I'm sure that would have thrilled the majority of you.
4) They could have included a double CD of all of their past X-mas songs---a definitive and official REM Xmas CD.
5) They could have included reproductions of some fanclub mailouts from the early 80s--some sort of facsimile box. I mean, the 1998 package was a giant box with a VHS tape in it!)
6) They could (at the very least) have included a CD with unreleased material or a final official Christmas song recording.

And of course the list goes on. I mean, let's be honest: REM have enough money that even if the production costs went over our ten dollar fee, I'm sure they could have swallowed the rest this one time since it was the LAST one and (one would assume) somewhat of a farewell to their fans/the fanclub.

So, without spoilers, don't expect too much this year Robert Andrews. Expect more of the same...and when I think about how great REM was/were "more of the same" isn't a phrase that factors into that equation at all!

[patjoller]

that's a good list of options.... I'm pretty sure that most of them will happen in the next coming years, to keep the b®and alive.The fan community will need "new" REM stuff once in a while.
Let's face it, they will release a complete show of the last tour, maybe a cd with demos/rare stuff that will include some of the christmas recordings (not live ones).
What is a shame is that this fan club is shutting down. They can still charge us 10$ a year, but only to receive a christmas package (the newsletter was useless the last few years, what's the point in receiving a piece of paper with a news you already know for a few month). And they can fill the cd with live material and maybe a few stuff from the vaults. They can easily go on for a long time like that.... That's my only regret. This years package, well I wasn't expecting something crazy just because it was the last one, so like each year I was grateful to receive something and complete my collection with another cool item.

[beatadrum]

I got a nice new coaster for christmas.

[C.A.]

I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed with the content - without being a spoiler, I thought they might have made it a bit more special this year.  Even if they had just signed the Christmas card I would have appreciated the effort, and that would have only cost them a little of their time which they will have more of now that they have retired.

[stipeeyes]

I don't think they will release anything from the 2008 tour.  Do we really need another live album when all the shows are out there on bootleg?  There are full length videos of many of the European Festivals they played on youtube.  Good quality too. Plus there is the Austin City Limits video.
I would never expect a full length album as a fanclub gift.

As for this year's single yes I think it should of been covers we haven't heard them do or new songs. Or even old demos brought back to life such as Theme From Two Steps Onward.  Anything that could be rare. (Of course even if they gave us new songs certain people who clearly do not like any of their newer material would say,
"I don't like it", and complain as always.)

That said. The guys knew for long time that they were calling it a day after the last album of the contract was released so they had plenty of time to give us something special.
The Calendar well I don't know what that is but it should be a collection of older photos to recent spanning their 31 year career.  That would of been really nice.  And even perhaps a proper note to the fans from each member.  Not like on the site with all that we're done and we don't care how upset you might be attitude.

It is what it is.  So now we won't have to worry about getting a fanclub gift anymore that we might be disappointed with.

[ThunderRoad]

Package is already up for sale on eBay.

Well, at least I haven't missed out on much by not renewing my membership.

Complaining about presents is basically a little bit over the top.
But hell, they could have done better.

As always, still keeping fingers crossed for an excellent box set in the future, similar to "Tracks" by The Boss or "Unearthed" by Johnny Cash.
They have one more chance.

[beatadrum]

ThunderRoad, on 22 December 2011 - 10:53 AM, said:

Complaining about presents is basically a little bit over the top.
But hell, they could have done better.

I think most people surely subscribe (at cost) for the 'present' as opposed to an out of date newsletter? At least the newsletter in autumn had the CIN tracklisting first.

[Tortoise]

Mine arrived yesterday. Went in the bin today:(

[michaels_muppet]

Got mine 2 days ago.... Forgot about it already...

[Driver Nate]

Tortoise, on 22 December 2011 - 02:42 PM, said:

Mine arrived yesterday. Went in the bin today:(

You threw it away?

[beatadrum]

Driver Nate, on 22 December 2011 - 06:45 PM, said:

You threw it away?

Well it was a bit of a 'throwaway' single! boom boom.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

I wonder how many will end up on ebay. Not that I think they will be hot sellers, seeing the reaction of die hard fans.
Haven't got mine yet, but from reading the posts, it wouldn't be any big tragedy if it got lost in the mail.

[wagtail]

Wow.  I really like this years package -  I think the calendar is  beautiful and the sentiment expressed through the package really strikes a chord with me.

I always seem to disagree with people around here.  Oh well.

Happy solstice everyone.

[eiluvrem]

my membership expired soon after the band broke up so won't have a chance to offer my opinion

[luc]

wagtail, on 23 December 2011 - 01:21 AM, said:

Wow.  I really like this years package -  I think the calendar is  beautiful and the sentiment expressed through the package really strikes a chord with me.

I always seem to disagree with people around here.  Oh well.

Happy solstice everyone.

I like it too!
you're not alone!! haha

edit:
btw arrived yesterday... (Italy)

[Scootre]

guess i didnt miss much, i think as an entity they are done.  i'm not expecting anything of substance from R.E.M. again.