Category Archives: R.E.M.

Jan 04: Michael Stipe was born in 1960 Happy Birthday

MS And I don’t expect anyone can bring about a revolution in the way that Bob Dylan did – and really didn’t – in the 1960s.
~MichaelStipe 

 

Super casual music listeners. That’s most of the people in the world. And you have to understand, that’s why Top 40 radio exists. It’s not there for people who seek out music and who love music.
~Michael Stipe

R.E.M., 2 October 85, Rockpalast, full concert:

Michael Stipe was born in 1960 Happy Birthday

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October 6: R.E.M. released Automatic For The People in 1992


rem-automatic-for-the-people

Automatic for the People is the eighth album by R.E.M., released in 1992 on Warner Bros. Records. Upon release, it reached number two on the U.S. album charts and yielded six singles. The album has sold 18 million copies worldwide and is widely considered one of the best records released in the 1990s. It was released 10 years after their debut in 1982.

“Turning away from the sweet pop of Out of Time, R.E.M. created a haunting, melancholy masterpiece with Automatic for the People. At its core, the album is a collection of folk songs about aging, death, and loss, but the music has a grand, epic sweep provided by layers of lush strings, interweaving acoustic instruments, and shimmering keyboards. Automatic for the People captures the group at a crossroads, as they moved from cult heroes to elder statesmen, and the album is a graceful transition into their new status.”
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Allmusic)

R.E.M. – Find The River (live):

Continue reading October 6: R.E.M. released Automatic For The People in 1992

Today: R.E.M. released Reckoning in 1984 30 years ago


REM-Reckoning-Frontal

Reckoning is the second album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released April 9 in 1984 by I.R.S. Records.

It was produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon and was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984. Dixon and Easter intended to capture the sound of R.E.M.’s live performances, and used binaural recording on several tracks. Singer Michael Stipe dealt with darker subject matter in his lyrics, and water imagery is a recurring theme on the record. Released to critical acclaim, Reckoning reached number 27 in the United States—where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1991—and peaked at number 91 in the United Kingdom.

R.E.M. – So.Central.Rain:

I had bought Murmur and loved it, but it was this album that really sealed my love for R.E.M. , and you could (most of the time) hear what Michael Stipe was singing! Reckoning builds on the energy of Murmur, but they sound more mature. They had been touring and recording and sound so much more sure of where they want to go,  this album is the culmination of energy, experience and a clear view of what R.E.M. should be about. It is a classic album!
Continue reading Today: R.E.M. released Reckoning in 1984 30 years ago