4 replies to this topic

[Trytek]

Random musing I was having earlier today.

A lot of R.E.M.'s work has been praised as sounding "timeless", especially the I.R.S. output, which managed to avoid all the pitfalls usually associated with music from the 1980s.

However, do any albums in particular stick out to you as sounding from the time they were released? Not dated, per se, just dateable.

To my ears, Out Of Time sounds the most like its era. I can't even put my finger on what it is, but even the album sleeve evokes the early 90s.

[thomas08]

monster really sounds like a 1994 album, kind of rocking like the grunge music of the early 90's but evolving in the same pattern it was at that period.

[michaels]

UP is of its time for me, musically anyway. I will always love it, it's one of my favourites. The obvious reference is the direction Radiohead were taking around about the same time, but bubbling underneath both of these bands was a whole kraut rock, post rock (sorry if anybody hates these types of tag) scene. Bands like Kreidler or Tortoise, for example, but there are so many more.

I remember reading Buck talking about how they were listening to a lot of kraut stuff at the time, but don't have the source, sorry.

[unclejel]

It's difficult to name something as timeless if you bought the album the week it came out. Providing you devoured the record during that period it's initial imprint is stamped on the mind. The timelessness of the I.R.S. years comes from the fact that the recordings' could have been made 20 years before. Bearing in mind that these have been remastered from the original source using the latest technology with, I assume 'Document' next to come this year. Does this mean the timelessness has been removed so you aren't getting the real deal?

[SaladMan]

Monster.  It musically sounds like a 1994 album, especially Star 69, You, and Circus Envy.