This is the Thread Where You Bash REM's Monster

Here Here, Keith!
(it's an injoke, folks.)

By the way, what's the injoke. I don't get it? Did I make it?

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.05.98/gifs/rem-9844.jpg
there

from

http://www.sem20.com/15-minute-interlude/rem.jpg
here

Monster got great hype before it came out. Don't they always? I can't recall ANY REM album ever getting a bad review, generally speaking, until, probably, Reveal (maybe UP too but I seem to remember the consensus generally being positive on that one too).

Crush With Eyeliner is particularly great as you get the sense that REM *knew* it was the one song that encapsulated everything they were trying to achieve on that record yet nonetheless spent the rest of the album chucking out pale Xeroxes of it.

Yeah, that's putting it well.

They should have just released "Kenneth"/"Eyeliner" as a single and been done with it!

That is one of the most powerful songs REM have done.

Songs = lyrics? Gier continutes to make claims that are just plain inscrutable.

This is still one of my favorite REM albums, and has aged better than "Up" or "Reveal."

plus, they redid Everybody hurts in Strange Currencies, only better!

i'll only excuse this comment under two circumstances: (1) you've never heard the song; or (2) you've never seen the movie. if neither of these apply, you're only other excuse is a complete lack of taste.

I think the surprising thing is how many of the songs on Monster I love, given the "different" nature of the album.

"Kenneth" has to be a classic. It's so straight-ahead, so rock-n-roll, but it's not plain. And that groove! Mike Mills rocks the melodic bass. And it's a song where Berry's work proves that drummers can be artists.

And another thing: ever notice how every single one of R.E.M.'s albums is both widely hated and widely loved? Seriously, for every Fables lover or Up apologist or OOT devotee, there is another person saying it's crap. Same for Monster. Is it like that for other artists whom I don't follow as closely?

Dude, he proved that on Murmur! (and so did Ringo, in 1963)

And another thing: ever notice how every single one of R.E.M.'s albums is both widely hated and widely loved? Seriously, for every Fables lover or Up apologist or OOT devotee, there is another person saying it's crap. Same for Monster.

R.E.M. are overrated and underrated. Their last few albums would force the haters to claim the former.

Well, I said it's *a* song. Not *the* song.

R.E.M. are overrated and underrated.

Is there another band comparable to R.E.M.'s under/overratedness?

Or is that a too-broad and dumb question? I can never tell on here.

http://product.ebay.com/Monster_UPC_093624574026_W0QQfvcsZ1226QQsoprZ3162438QQssPageNameZFavMerch_SO:BACK

I saw REM on the Monster tour with Radiohead, at Milton Keynes Bowl (?), and "High and Dry" was the most out-of-tune vocal I've ever heard, like literally a whole field of people wincing. Great show though

As in, "Don't leave me [much too high] highhhhh, don't leave me [much too low] dryyyyyyyy"

Blur opened on one of the Milton Keynes dates. Bit weird to think about imo.

from what I read on Wikipedia, bill berry was really influenced by Echobelly for the Monster guitar sound. I think maybe they did that tremolo thing too?

Surreally, Dan Rather interviewing the band and even performing a bit of "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ucWfkML7g

the cover art is the worst thing about this album, in retrospect

special 12" remix of Dan Rather singing "Kenneth."

Banged by Blame

Warner Bros - release the Rather mixes, you cowards....