14 replies to this topic

[twistedkite]

Clive: I remember first listening to 'Reveal'; I was trying desperately hard to appreciate and admire who R.E.M. had become in 2001 but deep down I knew they were almost 10 years past their peak and rapidly drifting further from it. This is why the opening guitar strums of 'Chorus And The Ring' were so refreshing to me. The song harks back to the sombre tones of Automatic For The People and Stipe sounds menacing for the first time in years.

Sadly the appeal of the song waned a little after first listen. It's got the "classic R.E.M." sound to it, but is it a good song? I'm not sure. I think it's just pleasant on the ears and a nod to the fans who prefer old school R.E.M. Nevertheless it was an obvious choice to cover from 'Reveal'.

Not meaning to blow my own trumpet, but I think this is the closest I've come to reproducing an R.E.M. song so far. I believe lack of percussion can be thanked for that. Apart from a few cymbals and the flute (if that's what it is) in the chorus, all other sounds are made by me and my guitars.

Rob: R.E.M. have a habit of burying some of their weirdest (and best) songs in the middle of the second half of their albums (see: “Hairshirt,” “Camera,” “Kohoutek,” “Star Me Kitten,” and the list goes on). “Chorus and the Ring” proudly covers both adjectives. It’s no secret that many fans weren’t in love with Reveal, and I was one of them. As far as I’m concerned “The Lifting” and “Chorus and the Ring” are the only two good things about that album (let the wars begin!).

“Chorus and the Ring” is the type of song that makes me pine for early R.E.M.—it’s morose, somewhat tuneless, dark, ambiguous, challenging, and beautiful. I was literally shocked when I first heard it—I couldn’t believe the band that produced this song also produced all the others on Reveal. I wanted to talk to the band: I wanted to scream at them—“See!? You guys are still awesome! Write more songs like this! Not that luvy-duvy garbage you’ve been doing!” As a side note, I’m listening to Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto and I’m stunned that the band who wrote the gorgeous Parachutes is now basically what R.E.M. were in their later years—and no that is not a compliment. Coldplay, what the fuck happened? [side note: I do like “Paradise.”]

A-hem. Moving on, I won’t pretend that my voice is as raspy or as menacing as Stipe’s; however, I’ve made the song my own in other ways. It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of harmonies. And I also love it when vocals are doubled an octave apart. So you can imagine my joy when I find that both worked quite well on this song—a song that is originally just one voice with one harmony at the very end.

Finally, for those of you that care, from now on I will be posting a link to each cover download the song as a lossless WAV. Please note volume levels between songs may vary—we plan to iron this out when we’re finally done the project) . The link is here.

I will eventually post a thread containing links to all the other WAVs/covers we’ve done.
Again, thanks for listening. And let the discussion begin: am I the only one who loves this song to death?

[7 chineSe robs.]

Not one of my favorites -- "I've Been High," "Disappear" and "Beat a Drum" are highlights from an otherwise terrible album -- but I think you did a great job with this, as always. I look forward to your next offering.

[sashwap]

i love this song to death. one of only a few on reveal i can truthfully say that about and one of the highlights of the berry-less era for sure. despite your descriptions i don't think it sounds like anything else in their catalog -- especially the rhythm, the way it lopes along like that. the lack of character in the guitar playing is quite distinct, it always felt amateurish to me (refreshingly so, in the context of the album). for me, it succeeds mainly on the strength of the melody and singing, which reminds me of the lost tunefulness of early r.e.m. (odd to hear you refer to their melodic peak as tuneless )

wish you had done something a bit different with this one (i.e. re-imagined in the style of earlier r.e.m. or something) but as a straight cover it succeeds.

[twistedkite]

sashwap, on 11 April 2012 - 02:10 PM, said:

wish you had done something a bit different with this one (i.e. re-imagined in the style of earlier r.e.m. or something) but as a straight cover it succeeds.

A bit different? I thought having a slew of harmonies and different voices in the song was different. Musically, however, Clive prides himself on how closely he can imitate the actual recordings...so in a way he and I are kind of at opposite ends of the spectrum (not that I want him to stray that much). Still, I appreciate the reply.

[sashwap]

twistedkite, on 11 April 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

A bit different? I thought having a slew of harmonies and different voices in the song was different. Musically, however, Clive prides himself on how closely he can imitate the actual recordings...so in a way he and I are kind of at opposite ends of the spectrum (not that I want him to stray that much). Still, I appreciate the reply.

hmm, i'll listen again louder, i was in a noisy environment! but i will say i was referring to the instrumental part specifically, and i shouldn't have couched my wish in terms of your specific cover. more like, i was thinking out loud that it'd be cool to hear this one with more of a full-band arrangement. i'll definitely appreciate more harmonies when i hear 'em.

now replaying: hey, you sound kinda like jeff mangum on this one. cool. your voice is pretty versatile.

[elkokolores]

Wow. Frankly... I think this is your best one yet. Another very menacing R.E.M.-ish take on another R.E.M.-song, without just emulating what it could have been in the eighties. Great, great, wonderful song. This adds so much to the original. Thank you! Hope you plan on more of such melodic experiments on later R.E.M.-songs... Ah, I won't begin making wishlists...

[pauloedu]

wow... that was fantastic. congrats...

[twistedkite]

All appreciated. It's a delicate balance--there are a few covers we have planned where it's very obvious to me that there should be an extra harmony (ie: see our version of Perfect Circle) or backing track in the song, but again it's a 50/50 situation with some people appreciating the song as a cover we've "made our own" or some people being turned off that it strays from the original.

I guess the bottom line is to do what feels right sonically. I've got a bunch of ideas for "Until The Day Is Done" but I have to see if they actually sound good.

I am, however, VERY happy with our version of "That Beat" as that song has harmonies (not in the REM version) all over it. And of course there's my infamous backing track in "Theme From Two Steps Onward"--I can't wait to post those two...in time.

[Remixomatosys]

I've always loved Reveal. The track that really stands out, in my opinion, is Imitation of life.
But from time to time, I fall in love with other songs on the album (which I really, really like as a whole).
Your cover made me rediscover Chorus and the ring, and I agree that it harks back to Automatic for the people, somehow.
The guitar work is exceptional, very close to what Peter does on the record; I also liked the doubled vocals.
All in all, great job once again.
I really hope to get even more "newer" songs' covers (from 2001 onwards). UTDID seems to be a great choice.
Thanks for the download link !

[MilosMolis]

For me its all buzzing around about old times.. nostalgy nothing more. This song is one of my most favourite, I dont feel any less value in it than old classics, and i hlad to see iam not alone.

[wrong child- jr.]

Chorus and the Ring is my favorite song off Reveal.


My opinions might be a bit skewed, but it could be your best cover so far!

[sharathamm]

I am a big fan of Reveal.. Chorus is an OK song for me..You have done a good job as far as cover is concerned..My favorite is Saturn return and beat a drum..

[fanfan]

Would you mind posting the lossless file again? I somehow missed this. Thanks in advance!

[twistedkite]

Thanks fanfan, here is the link: http://rapidshare.co... Unmastered.wav

[fanfan]

Very nice rendition!!!