I am here to report back that this record rules, and the answer is "Be Mine."
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 16 October 2014 00:01 (nine years ago) link
There's a chord in that song that's so beautiful. It reminds me of the Verlaines. Right at the end of that repeating progression - when it goes from F# minor to the parallel major. And then the two added sixth chords that wrap it back around to the beginning.
― timellison, Thursday, 16 October 2014 00:24 (nine years ago) link
That is exactly it. When that came around and I just found myself rocking along, pummeling an imaginary guitar and letting my heart dip a little into my stomach - oh, yeah.
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 16 October 2014 00:27 (nine years ago) link
In my darkest hour as an REM fan, when all my beliefs seemed to be put under test, this was the one WB era album I could never deny.
― cpl593H, Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:29 (nine years ago) link
This could be a sort of anti-New Jersey album, a follow up to a huge but not that beloved album (not to me, I really like all REM albums up to this one, Monster included) which surpasses its predecessor in every way but falls very short commercially. Maybe it was the lack of a clear lead single, maybe there was REM exhaustion to some degree, but there are a lot of standout tracks in here and though I suppose So fast So numb would be my choice, any of the other songs could be a pick depending on the mood.
Back then I was really into William Messner Loebs' Wonder Woman and Mark Waid's Flash, and I can't listen to this album without recalling the image of WW selling burgers.
― cpl593H, Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:45 (nine years ago) link
sales slid after 'monster' scared the people who started listening because of 'out of time' and 'automatic'? their loss. who else makes a record that rules this much ten albums into it? "so fast so numb" and "leave" are so good. "bittersweet me" might be michael's best set of lyrics, and that's really saying something. "oh my peer, your veneer, is wearing thin and cracking -- the surface informs the underneath: the underneath is lacking." fuck
― reggie (qualmsley), Thursday, 16 October 2014 12:06 (nine years ago) link
poor show for Be Mine.
― piscesx, Thursday, 16 October 2014 12:17 (nine years ago) link
I'm really surprised too. Interesting that Yorke seems to be a huge fan of that song as well.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:00 (nine years ago) link
at the Tibetian Freedom Concert Yorke sang the Patti Smith part in "E-Bow..."
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:07 (nine years ago) link
Just a wee bit long and dips a little in the middle, but this is a very very good album. All REM albums make me think of travelling. This one especially so.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:24 (nine years ago) link
It's no exaggeration to say that this is one of a handful of albums that saved my life/sanity.
― Shed Your Nasty Jewelry (Old Lunch), Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:21 (nine years ago) link
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, October 16, 2014 9:07 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i was there! Stipe also sang with Radiohead for "Lucky"
― some dude, Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:22 (nine years ago) link
So was I. Will never forget the sonic boom that was God hurtling a thunderbolt as punishment for the Herbie Hancock-Dave Matthews Band jam.
Kudos to R.E.M. for playing "Airportman" and a bunch of other new and obscure songs while Stipe shimmied in a sarong.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:28 (nine years ago) link
god smote them later
― da croupier, Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:33 (nine years ago) link
http://img2-2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070309/michaelstipe/skirt_l.jpg
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:35 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, 'Be Mine' has always been a favourite... great set of chords in the chorus! Mike Mills was responsible for writing the music for that one (hence why he's playing guitar on it). Really though, I don't know what I would have voted for in this poll. My favourite on this album changes all the time, there's not one track on the album I dislike, and it's one of the few albums of this length that I can listen from start to finish and it doesn't seem to drag for me. I have no problem with a lot of what R.E.M. did afterwards, but if they'd broken up after this record they certainly would have ended on a high.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Monday, 20 October 2014 22:26 (nine years ago) link
I've enjoyed the talk on this and the previous albums. I'd like to see a threadpoll for Up but I'm scared to make an album poll in case I screw up the track list. It's my favourite Rem album. I've been thinking about "Suspicion" recently and it's one of the best things they ever did.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Monday, 27 October 2014 03:05 (nine years ago) link
I Ate The POLLtus: REM's "Up"
(I did 'em all, back in the day, as the runup to a tragically fumbled ballot poll.)
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 27 October 2014 12:53 (nine years ago) link
Cool, I'll probably be on that thread in a couple of hours.
What was fumbled about it?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Monday, 27 October 2014 13:21 (nine years ago) link
For some reason, I thought it would be cool to use the radio button poll results to generate the nomination list, which at the time seemed like a fun new way to use radio button polls. And there hadn't been as many artist-specific ballot polls so there wasn't really a standard in place. In hindsight the flaws in this approach are really obvious and basically it made for kind of crazy results although they were certainly interesting.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 27 October 2014 13:24 (nine years ago) link
\///\/// It's the ongoing R.E.M. SUPER SUMMER POLL of POLLS \///\///
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 27 October 2014 13:25 (nine years ago) link
god Buck's guitar tone on this album is so crucial. such a long distance from any of their previous iconic sounds and yet really great for this material, for Stipe's voice and themes. "Be Mine" is such a towering, pummeling thing but also so raw and crunchy and approachable.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 December 2020 18:16 (three years ago) link
Berry killing it too, obv
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 December 2020 18:17 (three years ago) link
it is a bit too long, but then i dont know exactly what i'd leave off. Probably the ones at the bottom of this poll I guess
― Specific Ocean Blue (dog latin), Monday, 7 December 2020 18:32 (three years ago) link
like say the lonesome crowded west, i think the sprawl is a feature. perfect driving record
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 7 December 2020 18:41 (three years ago) link
otmalso skimming back a bit, i think i must post about "Be Mine" every other time i listen to this album.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 December 2020 18:57 (three years ago) link
"Be Mine" is R.E.M. thinking, "Those dudes in Collective Soul made a lot of money with a power ballad..."
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 December 2020 19:17 (three years ago) link
“Be Mine” maybe 1 of 5 songs I have memorized on guitar.
I never thought of this as funnyIt speaks another world to meI wanna be your Easter bunnyI wanna be your Christmas tree
Probably some of the most genuine, heartfelt lyrics Stipe penned.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Monday, 7 December 2020 19:33 (three years ago) link
alfred, that is COLD. collective soul (who probably really got going saying "those dudes in R.E.M. made a lot of money with "Losing My Religion") wish they could manage something as good as "Be Mine."
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 December 2020 19:43 (three years ago) link
I like "Shine" (Dolly Parton's cover) and love "Be Mine."
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 December 2020 19:44 (three years ago) link
have we ever polled Collective Soul's singles? i admit i like a few enough to keep 'em in my 90s alt-rock radio playlist.
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 7 December 2020 19:51 (three years ago) link
I seem to recall reading Stipe somewhere saying that the character singing Be Mine is actually a bad, manipulative, controlling etc.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 7 December 2020 20:09 (three years ago) link
Some genius made a playlist of all their Xmas fan club singles. I really must go through this.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmTbXnVonpqc3EzXCcnfLZM9N4tw_KsXv
― piscesx, Monday, 7 December 2020 20:42 (three years ago) link
Thom Yorke shows up 30 minutes into this to sing Be Mine, and Mills says "That was his choice.. an interesting choice, i like that song a lot it's kinda one of mine.."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT1wdva2jbU
― piscesx, Monday, 7 December 2020 20:47 (three years ago) link
xp missing my fav, their goof on "Silver Bells"
― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Monday, 7 December 2020 20:59 (three years ago) link
when I saw R.E.M. at the Tibetan Freedom Concert, Yorke sang the "you 'n' me" bits.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 8 December 2020 00:09 (three years ago) link
what was THAT like.. seemed like such a weird gig from the random bits of footage i've seen.
crazy set..
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/rem/1998/robert-f-kennedy-memorial-stadium-washington-dc-5bd697f4.html
― piscesx, Tuesday, 8 December 2020 00:14 (three years ago) link
Stipe shimmying to "Airportman" in a sarong!
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 8 December 2020 00:23 (three years ago) link