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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Not Lame <popmusic@notlame.com> |
| Subject | More REM |
| Date | Tue, 19 Oct 2004 08:35:08 -0600 |
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>> Just picked up the new R.E.M.-"Around the Sun" It's gotten a lot of
>> bad
>> press...too slow, too "adult", no edge, etc. If you liked
>> "Reveal"--and
>> that was the first R.E.M. cd I've liked in its entirety since
>> "Document"-(and everything previous)--then you'll like this. Lot's
>> of cool
>> sounds with interesting production and very melodic/catchy songs.
>> I've only
>> listened a few times, and I like it just fine. It is mellow and
>> decidedly
>> not rockin', but I guess like my own newer stuff, as musicians age,
>> sometimes so does their music/art. Haven't you ever been
>> mellow?...:)
>
> I have no problem at all with mellow. I do have a problem with an
> entire album's worth of songs with two decent choruses between them
> and tempos that never stray one b.p.m. over "mosey." It's not awful,
> like NEW ADVENTURES and UP, but it's dead frickin' boring.
I literally finished listening to it on the way to work just now and my
first response is dead=center to Stewart's above. I pick up every album by
the band, always will, but it's way, way too similar sounding to their work
of the last 6/7 years and, frankly(this is just one listen, though, keep in
mind---I'm open to change), it struck me somewhat uninspired.
I can't help but think the lack of Berry drumming for them left them w/o an
important spark that I have yet to recover from.
I don't expect a rehash of familiar paths w/ them but this one is all too
familiar w/o any memorable songs to get pumped up to put on an Ipod.
It's all pleasant enough, but it has a searching, uncertain, not terribly
confident feel to it. Stipe, m ost definitely, can do better in the lyric
department, not in the top 3/4 of his best work in that department(granted
no one can understand all the lyrics on the first four albums, so we'll
grant a pass there).
Peace,
Bruce
@ Not Lame
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