Long-time fan from the early 80s, I gave up with 'Around the Sun' which was deadly dull, and haven't bothered with the new one. Has it revealed itself as a minor masterpiece, or shall I ignore them for good and catch up on all the great music around?

I saw an interview with the singer out of Elbow at Glastonbury. He said that in his opinion, bands are constantly writing the same song over & over again.
This sums up very succinctly what I feel about REM, & I was also a big fan of their stuff, probably up to the point where they discovered the mandolin.
Matt.

Yes, nothing but the odd track since 'Reveal'.

Steve

I bought the new one but haven't been able to work up the enthusiasm to listen to it yet. I guess I am afraid it will confirm why I gave up on them several years ago.

Matt

I thought the Live album was good.

Are you guys losing your religion?

Personally, I haven't really taken much notice of REM since Automatic for the People.

quote:

I saw an interview with the singer out of Elbow at Glastonbury. He said that in his opinion, bands are constantly writing the same song over & over again.

I thought that was a very intuitive comment, though he possibly hasn't listened to The National. Not sure if i have mentioned The National before on this Forum

REM, god i used to love them. Became irrelevant many years ago in my opinion. It's a shame that bands and artists who are well past their sell by date are still promoted as cool and essential. Oasis spring to mind also. Interestingly other bands such as Elbow who have been going for yonks seem more relevant now than ever. The same thing happened to Pulp a good few years back.

Regards



Diccus

"*"

Completely agree about Around the Sun, which was inexcusably dull. But I would have said the seeds were there in Up, which while it has it's merits is a little on the boring side too.

That said, I've liked some of their later albums very much - Reveal is great and New Adventures in Hi-Fi is one of my favourites (though I think I'm in something of a minority with that one).

Part of me wants to hear the new album, part of me doesn't want to be disappointed. I suspect I'll wait until I see it remaindered nice and cheaply.

regards, Tam

When I read about one band or another "going off the boil" I am forcibly reminded of two composers who wrote such huge bodies of work - Bach and Haydn - and who only improved with maturity! They had to write weekly music for peanut salaries, and yet filled their works with a spirit that was always looking outwards.

Perhaps this outward looking, probing approach is what kept them both fresh for composing careers of about sixty years.

Are there any artists [classical or popular] like that nowadays. I cannot think of any, but then I am not really closely in touch with the modern scene ...

Years ago I used to enjoy some of Micheal Stipe's music, for sure ...

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
I thought the Live album was good.

Agreed. But isn't that symptomatic? It was a relief to re-hear some good stuff (again) after 'Around the Sun'.

I'm in no hurry to try the latest.

Steve

quote:

It's a shame that bands and artists who are well past their sell by date are still promoted as cool and essential. Oasis spring to mind also.

oasis are essential,far better than most of the modern, mundane, melodic crap today.

Oasis are fine by me, anybody who hates PC can't be all bad

well said sir.

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Are there any artists [classical or popular] like that nowadays. I cannot think of any, but then I am not really closely in touch with the modern scene ...

Mackerras, for one, some of his best work has been done since he turned 60.

regards, Tam

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:


Are there any artists [classical or popular] like that nowadays. I cannot think of any, but then I am not really closely in touch with the modern scene ...



ATB from George

My Vote for maturing and making better music as they grow old are Beck, Damon Alban, Souxsie & The Banshees, Richard D James, Autechre, Squarepusher, Miles Davis, Two Lone Swordsmen they got better with age for me anyway.



I suppose with REM like all the "biggest band in the world" acts its hard to sustain the level of achievement that there best albums hit and subsequently everything after is a bit of a let down, trying to hard maybe?



Dean..doesn't own any REM

Dean

you forgot to mention Christy Moore another artist who gets even better as he gets older

ATB Rotf ... who owns lots of REM records

Black Francis sounding as good as ever.

But for someone who has had exemplary albums in the 60's 70's 80's, 90's and 00's as said in another thread



Ladies and gentlemen it's Leonard Cohen.



SJB

I'd mostly agree about Miles Davis, though I'm not sure his music kept getting better - what he did do that was remarkable was keep churning out good stuff and keep breaking new ground.


I've heard Alfred Brendel a few times in the last couple of years, and despite his age he still has a magic.


I'd agree mostly about Cohen. I like a lot of his 80s and early 90s (I'm Your Man and The Future are favourite albums of mine) and Ten New Songs is pretty decent, but I found Dear Heather a little disappointing.


regards, Tam

the spice girls.