Friday Night Jazz Alt-Rock: R.E.M.
R.E.M. is the original alternative rock band. Their first album, 1983's Murmur, transformed the post-punk, underground college-rock era into brand new genre: What you take for granted as alternative rock was essentially created out of whole cloth by R.E.M.
I was a huge R.E.M. fan in grad school, and their first few albums were enormously powerful and influential.
They came up in conversation with an old friend recently, who noted that the band just released its 14th album, "Accelerate."
Most of you young'uns probably are familiar with the band's later bigger commercial hits -- "Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People, Everybody Hurts, Stand, etc." That stuff is all good for what it is -- better than most of the pop on the radio at the same time, anyway.
But if you really want to delve into this seminal and influential band's best work, you need to go back to 4 of their first 5 albums.
Genius lay that way.
A little context: In 1983, the US Stock market had just awoken from a 16 year slumber. Reagan was President, polyester had not yet gone away. The movie Saturday Night Fever was still relatively fresh in people's minds, and there was plenty of Disco on the air, along with Journey, Boston, and Foreigner. It was an ugly, if simpler, time.
Along comes R.E.M., from of all places Athens, GA. Murmur broke boundaries, and literally created a new genre. The music lay somewhere between the jangling guitar work of the 1960s bands (Beatles, Byrds), with a drive that was not unlike later bands (Clash, Patti Smith).
I was surprised to see that the CDs of both Murmur and Reckoning are $7.97 at Amazon. It is long overdue for the music industry to use dynamic pricing on the back catalogues of artists. I suspect, however, they are a decade too late, and have already lost a generation of CD buyers.
R.E.M. was overtly political. Their songs were barbed attacks on the status quo, hidden beneath hauntingly beautiful melodies, arcane lyrical language, driving drumbeats, jangly guitars, and mumbled vocals. It was a completely idiosyncratic approach, but it worked well.
What stood out most of all were their collections of songs, alternatively beautiful and compelling. Dramatic structures, majestic melodies, lush vocal harmonies and somewhat archaic language combined for a unique sound.
The band became a critical darling, and sold increasingly well. Each subsequent album sharpened the band's focus, and saw their writing become increasingly layered and complex, culminating in the tight, driving rock of Document. This was the album that catapulted R.E.M. from college radio favorites to mainstream stardom -- and with good cause, too. It also marked their critical (but not their commercial) peak.
A recent WSJ piece noted the commercial decline:
"It has been a long, slow fade for a band that came to be known both as one of the founders of alternative rock and one of the genre's most bankable names. Its 1996 contract turned out to be the high-water mark of a five-year frenzy of wildly expensive superstar contracts across the music industry, whipped up by interlabel bidding wars and CD sales' seemingly boundless potential for growth. Most of these deals, such as Sony Music's $60 million contract with Michael Jackson in 1991, and Virgin's $70 million 1996 pact with his sister Janet, proved overly optimistic about the commercial prospects of artists who were past their prime."
That sound about right. None of these artists have since achieved any level of their former commercial -- or critical -- success.
I hope REM breaks the streak. I have yet to hear the entire new album, Accelerate, but the first single, "Supernatural Superserious" is encouraging. Reviews have generally been positive, calling the album R.E.M.'s "most relevant in years."
Must Own Albums:
• Murmur (1983)
• Reckoning (1984)
• Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
• Document (1987)
New Album
• Accelerate (2008)
Videos:
"Supernatural Superserious," from R.E.M.'s new album, Accelerate
Radio Free Europe (on Letterman)
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine...)
Losing My Religion
Man on the Moon
~~~
Out of Time was the bands best-selling (but by no means best) album. Sales have been downhill ever since.
Sources:
REM Official Website
http://remhq.com/index.php
REM Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M.
Concert Project
http://www.NinetyNights.com/
R.E.M. Attempts to 'Accelerate'
The Veteran Rock Band, Facing Fleeing Fans, Ramps Up Its Publicity
ETHAN SMITH
WSJ, March 28, 2008; Page W6
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120666540285170459.html
Friday, April 04, 2008 | 07:01 PM | Permalink
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Love ya Barry - but what? No mention of The Replacements as founders (part of a BIG group including, Butthole Surfers, Husker Du etc. - don't make me go back to Iggy!). If you are not familiar with The Replacements, lemme know and I will point you in the right direction for your listening pleasure.
Thanks for the blog and the Friday Night levity.
Posted by: Asshat | Apr 4, 2008 7:13:13 PM
I loved REM pre 1988/through Document.
I remember first time I heard Driver 8. Driving to Clarkson University on CHOM FM out of Montreal. I had chills.
There was an excellent REM cover band in Potsdam, Gigolo Aunts. They went on to do their own stuff but had REM nailed in 1985.
Posted by: sport | Apr 4, 2008 7:16:29 PM
I loved REM pre 1988/through Document.
I remember first time I heard Driver 8. Driving to Clarkson University on CHOM FM out of Montreal. I had chills.
There was an excellent REM cover band in Potsdam, Gigolo Aunts. They went on to do their own stuff but had REM nailed in 1985.
Posted by: sport | Apr 4, 2008 7:16:31 PM
Barry, I hate to be a nitpicker but the Clash and Patti Smith were certainly not "later bands", they had already done their best and most influential work by 1983. I'd say R.E.M. was more of a commercial version (not in a derogatory way) of the "college rock" that had started percolating up in the late 70s.
R.E.M. was a necessary precursor for the grunge explosion of the early 90s, though.
Posted by: HankP | Apr 4, 2008 7:34:44 PM
HankP
I think what Barry meant by "later bands" was that they were later than the Beatles and the Byrds.
But he can answer for himself - and he had better concur or he can't talk rock anymore.
Posted by: Asshat | Apr 4, 2008 7:43:43 PM
Add Dead Letter Office to the list of must have albums. "Windout" is a punk/surfer masterpiece, and they slapped the EP Chronic Town on the tail end of the album.
Posted by: DonkeyKong | Apr 4, 2008 7:48:05 PM
Barry, I think what DiggerDan meant when he wrote "REM was a joke of a band with a bunch of femanized wimps whining and crying" is: I have no idea what I'm talking about.
Posted by: MitchN | Apr 4, 2008 8:00:53 PM
I often skip the Friday night jazz section but REM have a sound and quality that appeals to all. Unquestionable talent and a great call by Barry :)
You could have renamed this weeks Friday Night Jazz to.....Friday Night Swimming .... arguably REM's finest hour
Posted by: Diarmuid | Apr 4, 2008 8:03:08 PM
The fifth must own REM is their EP released prior to Murmur. Not a stretch to suggest that it has all been downhill since that first release, though the rate of descent barely perceptible in the first couple of years.
Posted by: Puzzled | Apr 4, 2008 8:34:21 PM
as someone already mentioned, their ep chronic town is good, and contains their 1st national (college radio) hit, 'carnival of sorts (boxcars)'. don't underestimate 'fables of the reconstruction/reconstruction of the fables',
a fine album.
Posted by: p.a. | Apr 4, 2008 8:37:35 PM
There is good stuff in the later albums (though I have declined to buy anything since Hi-fi) but not the radio hits. But that has always been the case. Night swimming or Find the river, Just a touch, Inside out, the cover of Tighten up, Pretty Persuasion. Most of their best music isn't on the radio. If you are judging them on Shiny Happy People, Stand, and It's the end of the world as we know it, then you are depriving yourself. This weekend tickets to R.E.M., Modest Mouse, and The National are on sale this weekend in Nor Cal. I hope R.E.M. can still bring it, and if not, Modest Mouse and The National will still make it worth it. Just with that much talent someone is going to have too short a set.
Posted by: philip | Apr 4, 2008 8:52:19 PM
Barry,
Great writing here on your part... not joking or being derogatory here... you could have had a career at Rolling Stone. Its interesting that your thoughts almost mirror exactly an article in the most recent edition of Time Magazine... check it out, you will get a kick out of how close your comments match theirs. Peace.
Posted by: Cameron Dean | Apr 4, 2008 9:04:47 PM
Barry,
I have to agree with Cameron Dean above. This is some excellent music writing; you are succinct yet informative and right on the money in your criticism.
Do you just bang this stuff out on the fly? I suspect from the timestamp that this was written previously and automatically posted, but, even so, this is incredibly thoughtful writing for a blog post. How can you possibly have the time for the blog, your obviously demanding business and media appearances, and still have a homelife (which you obviously do). I am in awe. Whatever riches your efforts generate are amply deserved.
I also agree with p.a. above. "Fables of the Reconstruction" is their finest hour in my opinion. I had the great good fortune to see them at the Wang Center in Boston back in 1985, I think. One of the best concerts I've ever seen, period.
Once Stipe started enunciating, I started to lose interest, though I was glad to see the band achieve the success that came later. I'd love to think they could still be relevant, but I'm skeptical.
Have a nice weekend.
--Rodger
~~~
BR: Thanks for the kind words, but they are undeserved.
I approach music writing very differently than I do markets or economics. The finance stuff is stream of consciousness, which is then massaged into something readable.
With music, I will jot a few thoughts down, have a bit of a structure, then go hunting for other comments -- from the band, album liner notes, other reviewers.
Usually, a few words will catch my attention as particularly fitting. (People have been calling Peter Buck's guitar work "Jangly" for decades now) I'll work those words/sentences/phrases into my post.
Its more of a mash up/remix then original writing. I am a great synthesizer, but I wouldn't call this original writing.
Posted by: Rodger Coleman | Apr 4, 2008 9:35:40 PM
The B52s were also from Ahens, GA. I know musicians. Athens, GA must have some awesome ganja.
Posted by: Marcus Aurelius | Apr 4, 2008 9:37:17 PM
New Adventures In Hi-Fi is a great recording - I have been a fan since day 1 (I can remember Murmur from senior year in HS), but my enthusiasm wavered in the 90s until this came along. I still listen to most of the catalog - and the the first four albums to me are the "original" REM, but if anything stands out since then it is this - I don't think Stipe ever sounded better.
Posted by: Anthony | Apr 4, 2008 9:41:18 PM
Barry, your jazz picks are great, but excellent change up with R.E.M. Murmur is on my top ten all-time. I still listen to them quite a bit. Often in a 80s compilation I have full of Replacemements, Husker Du, The Feelies, etc.. While I'm kissing some ass... thanks for the killer analysis and writing.. and the shot of east coast attitude for this right coaster on the left.
Posted by: Tyson | Apr 4, 2008 10:01:31 PM
Excellent REM album suggestions. I would add "Automatic for the People" as another must own. I think I will go listen to it now.
Posted by: Clay | Apr 4, 2008 10:07:46 PM
I'm glad to see there are some Replacements fans here. This is for you guys.
Mats, live 1981.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IINrFUCF8-g
Posted by: David | Apr 4, 2008 10:32:30 PM
I saw REM around 1987 or so at the Walter Brown Arena at Boston Univ. They started the set with this sound of a train screetching, I swore to God that a Trolly from the Green Line had jumped the tracks, run down Babcock street and made its way into the hockey arena.
From there they broke into Driver 8.
Unbelievable show and it inspired me to plunk down $500 for a used Rickenbacker semi-hollow body guitar that I still own.
Posted by: Coolio | Apr 4, 2008 10:56:40 PM
Whatever my friend ... think what you want. But, XTC was were it was at. Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement.
Posted by: bbbbutt | Apr 4, 2008 11:44:19 PM
yeah -- take the first 5 (up through fables, including initial EP) add first few 'mats CDs, trash the rest. But accelerate better than last decade of REM, in toto.
Posted by: Randy | Apr 4, 2008 11:54:28 PM
>Often in a 80s compilation I have full of Replacemements, Husker Du, The Feelies, etc..
Oh I did some drunken dancing to The Feelies back in the day. Saw them in Baltimore and DC early 90s. Loved their shows.
Posted by: sport | Apr 5, 2008 1:08:58 AM
Barry,
Thanks for this - I concur with Rodger above that "Fables..." is R.E.M.'s finest work (see my eMail address!)
It's interesting that the band hated recording it in London with Joe Boyd, and have since tended to disavow it. They were at their creative peak, in my view - still using the arpeggiating lead and melodic bass approach (Old Man Kinsey), but introducing some amazing harmonic ideas (Feeling Gravity's Pull).
They lost me with "Monster," and with the exception of "The Great Beyond" have written virtually nothing in the last ten years which compares with their early period. But that early period is a rich, rich seam.
Posted by: Andrew | Apr 5, 2008 1:09:28 AM
Just got back from some real Friday Night Jazz at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Octegenarian Ernie Andrews and his 5-piece band blew the LA chill off of some 400 strong audience members at a free concert to start the Friday Night Jazz season at LACMA. The elite senior citizen all-stars pulled off a 50 minute set followed by a strong 45 minute set 25 minutes later.
See http://www.lacma.org/programs/FridayNightJazz.aspx
"For over sixty years, Andrews has been thrilling audiences around the globe with hits recorded with such giants as Harry James, Cannonball Adderly, Gene Harris and Ray Brown. In a recent review, Los Angeles Times critic Don Heckman said, "[H]e blends a hard-swinging, outgoing vocal style with a quick-witted sense of humor . . . he does so with a rich timbre, a gift for drama and a singular capacity to stimulate an audience."
Seen REM at the Greek from the 4th row a few years back, but this was truly a classy and classic event.
Posted by: rockitz | Apr 5, 2008 2:02:33 AM
"Their songs were barbed attacks on the status quo, hidden beneath hauntingly beautiful melodies, arcane lyrical language, driving drumbeats, jangly guitars, and mumbled vocals. It was a completely idiosyncratic approach, but it worked well."
"What stood out most of all were their collections of songs, alternatively beautiful and compelling. Dramatic structures, majestic melodies, lush vocal harmonies and somewhat archaic language combined for a unique sound."
A little over the top on your wordsmithing don't you think Barry?
Posted by: kk | Apr 5, 2008 2:03:37 AM
