Comments for R.E.M., New Adventures In Hi-Fi

The highlight include, in the following order, best to worst. 1) Be Mine 2) E-bow the Letter 3) Wake-up Bomb 4) New Test Leper 5) Electrolite 6) Bittersweet Me 7) So Fast so Numb 8) Low Desert 9) Leave 10) How the West Was Won and Where it Got Us 11) Binky the Doormat I don't live the live stuff nearly as much as the studio stuff Zither, Undertow, and Departure pretty much all suck.

One of their most daring albums (leading to comparatively weak sales so far, which is amusing when they've just signed for $80 million!!) Why have you put "Style: Rock" ? Variety is the keynote here - I started loving the Monster/Document type belters like Bittersweet, Wakeup, and Departure and Undertow (wh I heard live in '95), but the slowies Be Mine, Leper and Electrolite are also up to their best. Some of the best tracks were 'accompanying' single trax rather than A sides (is there a term for this on CD singles?)

I just can't figure out why more people don't love this album. It combines all of the various styles that you'll find throughout the R.E.M. catalogue with a spontaneity that works amazingly well. You really can't tell that these are live sound check versions in the sound. However, the songs have a loose feel that can only be attained in a live setting. The songs travel from dreamlike prose to all out rockers. I think that the back to back of E-Bow the Letter and Leave is a perfect example of these styles that both work. Critics loved this album, but for some reason it didn't sell very well, which is suprising because it contains the best elements of Automatic for the People and Monste both of which were huge sellers. Listen to the critics this time.

that spelling is wrong on purpose; it's meant to show that r.e.m. are POSEURS who write so-called 'deep' lyrics that are actually fag stipe mumbling in his sleep and heard by bill berry through a distortion box. man, if i write lyrics like 'tastes like fear' i'd be ashamed to show myself in public.

This album was recorded in a bathroom, and boy does it show.

I can`t believe this is primarily a live album! Most of thesongs were recorded during sound checks on tour. One waseven recorded in a hotel room.