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R.E.M. Unveils Final Work As quick as REM announced their end as a band thats how quick it was before the last release was announced, a day after their announcement plans for a final compilation with a few new tracks was unveiled by Warner Brothers. And though REM has had a compilation for Warner, and 2 for IRS, this will be the first time all music is joined on one release, and some alternate versions of singles used on this compilation.
below is the track list for their very unique titled release.VERY COOL cover too!! [img:$uid]http://thumbnai.../img:$uid]  One of the new tracks, We All Go Back to Where We Belong , goes to radio and on sale on October 18th. Read the Warner Bros. press release which includes Track-listing for the Greatest Hits below: After R.E.M. ignited the blogosphere on September 21st with the news that they had decided to “call it a day as a band” via a statement on their website, the beloved band have announced that they will release their final album, R.E.M., Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982 – 2011, on Warner Bros. Records on November 15th, 2011. The album is a 40-song career-spanning retrospective that collects, for the first time ever, songs from R.E.M.’s entire back catalog, including the pioneering American band’s years on both the IRS label (1982 to 1987) and Warner Bros. Records (1988 to 2011). The album is currently available for pre-order on Amazon here. A brand-new song, “We All Go Back To Where We Belong,” goes to radio and will be available for sale on October 18th. R.E.M. formed in 1980 when singer Michael Stipe met guitarist Peter Buck in an Athens, GA, record store where Buck worked. After recruiting bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry, R.E.M. released its first single, “Radio Free Europe,” in 1981, followed by 1982’s Chronic Town EP, capturing the imagination of a new generation of music lovers and bringing “guitar pop back into the underground lexicon,” as All-Music put it. Widely credited with inventing the college-rock genre, R.E.M. became the most influential American alternative rock band in history — inspiring such artists as Sonic Youth, Pavement, Nirvana, and Radiohead — for achieving multi-platinum mainstream success while maintaining their distinct identity. Over the course of its career, the band has released 15 studio albums: Murmur (1983), Reckoning (1984), Fables of the Reconstruction (1985), Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Document (1987), Green (1988), Out of Time (1991), Automatic For The People (1992), Monster (1994), New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996), Up (1998), Reveal (2001), Around the Sun (2004), Accelerate (2008), and Collapse Into Now (2011). They have sold more than 85 million albums worldwide. “Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey,” says Mike Mills of choosing the songs that appear on R.E.M., PART LIES, PART HEART, PART TRUTH, PART GARBAGE, 1982 - 2011 . “We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.” In addition to liner notes written by band members Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe, the album also features three new songs that R.E.M. finished after they completed their last album, Collapse Into Now: “A Month of Saturdays,” “We All Go Back To Where We Belong,” and “Hallelujah,” which were recorded over the summer in Athens with Accelerate and Collapse Into Now producer, the estimable Jacknife Lee. The band came roaring back with those two albums in the last two years, achieving some of the best reviews of their career and enabling them to go out at the top of their game. The track-listing for R.E.M., PART LIES, PART HEART, PART TRUTH, PART GARBAGE, 1982 - 2011 is as follows: Disc 1: Gardening At Night Radio Free Europe Talk About The Passion Sitting Still So. Central Rain (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville Driver 8 Life And How To Live It Begin The Begin Fall On Me Finest Worksong It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) The One I Love Stand Pop Song 89 Get Up Orange Crush Losing My Religion Country Feedback Shiny Happy People Disc 2: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Everybody Hurts Man On The Moon Nightswimming What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? New Test Leper Electrolite At My Most Beautiful The Great Beyond Imitation Of Life Bad Day Leaving New York Living Well Is The Best Revenge Supernatural Superserious ÜBerlin Oh My Heart Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter A Month of Saturdays We All Go Back To Where We Belong Hallelujah
"We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Wow. That looks juicy enough to purchase! | |
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interesting track listing. some albums had singles skipped in favor of album tracks. i think they did a good job w/ the selection overall * * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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i'm not too familiar with their work (just LMR, The 1 I love, Stand, Shiny Happy Ppl, Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts). I might have to cop this to see if there are gems i like | |
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As a long time REM-fan i am very impressed with the selection they made: as No Video said, nice balance of singles and (popular) album tracks.
It's good to see Shiny Happy people on there: the band itself might not like it, but it was one of their biggest hits, and next to be being a 'silly pop song' its simply a very well written popsong..lol
The only issues i have: - Where is Drive? its one of their best and most popular slow tracks. I would have taken off either Pop song '89 or Get up (4 songs from Green? a bit much maybe?) and replace it with Drive. - Oh my heart from Collapse into now i consider one of their weakest ballads: i had rather seen Find the River from Automatic for the people on this collection. - 'Alligator' is one of the lesser tracks on Collapse into Now IMO: i would rather have seen It happened today on this collection (preferably the longer video-version).
But apart from that this collection seems very representative and it's also chronological, which i like best.
[Edited 10/5/11 9:24am] | |
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Tempted, shame there's no "Perfect Circle" though. We're here, might as well get into it. | |
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I think the same things you mentioned about "missing" i was surprised to see so much from Green and im not sure if that version of Pop Song is studio or acoustic because that has been circulating on some random best of REM's that are on the net lately. Alligator was a shock, i wasnt shocked about OH MY HEART though against Find The River i would have went with River, thats one of their best songs ever, but i was shocked the re-done video version of "It Happend Today" isnt on this, thats the best song from "Collapse" IMO, but its tough to squeeze out 40 songs from a band that had such strong albums. REM needs a box set one day. WAY too many bsides, non album and live tracks around. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Agree with your comments, especially "Drive". I don't mind 4 from "Green" but I think the 4th should have been "Turn You Inside Out" instead of "Get Up". Or just stick with 3.
I would have liked "Walk Unafraid" and/or "I've Been High" - two of my favorite REM tracks, and I believe favorites of the band if I recall correctly. "Discoverer" would have been my pick from "Collapse into Now" instead of "Oh My Heart" and "Alligator".
But minor quibbles aside, it's a pretty strong career overview. I like the fact they went for "New Test Leper" * * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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yeah its one of the best compilations that i have seen, for me its right up there with the John Mellencamp "words and music" and Rick Springfield "anthology" and a-ha's "25" all of these compilations were double sets with approx 40 tracks.
I dig "Ive been High" too, surprised it didnt make it, and "Discoverer" was a great song from "collapse" "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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"Words and Music" is a terrific compilation, I agree. It's almost perfect. I'd have liked "Without Expression". I think there are a couple other minor singles missing, but overall it's fantastic.
I would have preferred it in chronological order, though. * * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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Yeah i have mixed feelings about going in order on compilations, i kind of like the mix because alot of times there is drastic sound differences even though remastered,i was glad the a-ha 25 wasnt in order because of the difference in the maturity of the band, though again, its kind of cool to hear them go from synth band to a deep meaning acoustic band and then more piano driven power pop. Same thing goes with the Rick Springfield compilation, possibly one of the best double discs i ever bought, even though i had almost everything except his ZOOT years in 1968-1970 "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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All in all, it looks like a good track listing. Though having 3 songs from their last album - not even a year old - seems a little redundant.
I'm really happy to see "Country Feedback" on here. | |
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I truly hate what REM have done. Not only a slap in the face to their fans, but also these "poor me" tactics (like Phil Collins did some months ago) are pathetic.
their last two albums are their best since 1992 and all seemed to work well. So, this whole thing seems like a cynical attempt to grab some $ AND to get some huge worldwide promotion for their upcoming (really?) "solo" careers, c'mon; at least A-ha had the balls to (indirectly) admit that they were breaking up (again) due to low sales and lack of support from the labels, but REM's health was (is?) fine...
oh, and this new compilation not only has a dreadful title, it also lacks several post-92 key songs
not excited...  | |
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JoeTyler said: I truly hate what REM have done. Not only a slap in the face to their fans, but also these "poor me" tactics (like Phil Collins did some months ago) are pathetic.
their last two albums are their best since 1992 and all seemed to work well. So, this whole thing seems like a cynical attempt to grab some $ AND to get some huge worldwide promotion for their upcoming (really?) "solo" careers, c'mon; at least A-ha had the balls to (indirectly) admit that they were breaking up (again) due to low sales and lack of support from the labels, but REM's health was (is?) fine...
oh, and this new compilation not only has a dreadful title, it also lacks several post-92 key songs
I don't recall a-ha ever citing sales and label support? Their current album in 2009 had a top 10 single and the album was a top 5 Uk album plus many other countries. USA was never on their map, so there break up was more between two members (Mags and Paul) with the lead singer casting the deciding vote to end it the following year with a world tour celebrating 25 years and recording one last song. So a-ha never cited anything but "a mutual split" but doing it now rather than it getting ugly years from now. REM is quite different since they just stopped and had a compilation all ready to put out.so I'm sure it was known prior to the last album that it was over not excited... "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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I agree the title sucks. And that's its missing some key songs, but... with a band like R.E.M. if you're going to do a 2-disc compilation, by necessity because of the sheer volume of their output, some key tracks are going to be missing.
I think as a career overview and starting point for casual fans, it's a good set. Obviously folks can delve into all their studio albums if they want. * * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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I just bought "The IRS Years". I should've waited.
"Shiny Happy People"? Either R.E.M. finally caved or they had no input on this. [Edited 10/12/11 10:42am] | |
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Or maybe they finally came to the realization that it's just a fun pop song, there is nothing wrong with it, and people enjoy it. And as one of their few major pop singles, it certainly deserves a spot in their career-spanning retrospective.
* * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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The title of the album may seem a bit strange, but it was actually the answer Peter Buck gave during an interview when the journalist asked him how to describe REM's music. IMO it is rather fitting.
And i agree with NoVideo that Shiny Happy People should be on there. Many people simply love that song, and i am sure the band doesnt feel as bad about it as they sometimes say they do (I mean: they did perform a version of it on Sesame street, where they simply seemed to enjoy themselves). It is what its: a silly, uber-catchy pop-song, nothing more, nothing less, but definitely nothing to be ashamed about.
I disagree with you on this point Joe Tyler:
Since Bill Berry left there have been reports about severe tensions within the band. The band was on the verge of Break-up during the sessions for Up. And after the release of Around the Sun Peter Buck expressed that he had considered leaving the band, because in his opinion Mike and Michael were spending too much time in the studio , while he himself wanted to record REM's music much more quickly. The quick recording-proces for the album Accelerate was a reaction on that.
I think lower sales weren't much of an issue for REM: they did get a monster contract of 80 million dollars from WB in the mid-nineties, and all of them are millionaires.
I think they just gradually grew out of eachother as persons and artists in the last 10 - 15 years. The time in between album releases became much longer, Michael was busy as a movie-producer, Peter seemed to find more satisfaction in playing in dozens of other bands, then wasting months and months of time in a recording studio, Mike was.. well.. probably busy golfing. When the commitment and fire isn't there anymore, why should you continue as a band? I mean: look at the Rolling Stones, i think they are only in it for the cash-flow nowadays and is there anybody who really cares for the new albums they release every 4 or 5 years or so?
Personally i also disagree with you that Accelerate and Collapse into Now are their best records since 'Automatic'. They are better albums then the lowpoint called 'Around the Sun', but IMO both UP and Reveal are far better albums in terms of songwriting and production. Both Accelerate and Collapse into now sound to me as albums giving in to Peter Buck's wishes: showing they can record quickly and are a 'rock' band, whatever that might mean.. But on a compositional level i consider these last two albums as lesser then Up and Reveal.
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It's a career retrospective more than a greatest hits, which is going to be a mix of album cuts and singles. They already have a few greatest hits out.
But to me, the past decade, REM played enough shows to be able to see them, but I guess a lot of people passed. Now they're complaining because they're not doing a farewell tour.
Maybe they'll play live shows here and there, but I bet if they do, it'll be all 4 of them. There would have to be a good reason for it to happen though. | |
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i dont really have a problem with the title because it kind of sums up the way the band always was. I think they are more referring to a career and how they are perceived, they are perceived so many different ways, i mean we all know that people think they are great, terrible, happy, sad and full of shit. so the title fits to me, as does the design. As for song selection we will all differ on that im sure, when a-ha had "25" they had the japanese version special to that country and let the japanese fans choose 5 songs, in place of any 5 already on the discs, with REM i dont think that would have worked because they pretty much were an american band, and had success in varying degrees overseas, but the hits were the hits pretty much all over, a-ha had some odd songs released in japan and a few other countries that werent singles elsewhere.
BUT i think it has to be remembered that the band surely knew they were done, the label IM SURE didnt which i think is the reason for this collection, the new songs are not really recorded for this package as they are left over from the last. And again the a-ha example was they really served it all up because it was a finale, they planned it, and collected on it, despite having just been on tour a few months earlier for a hit album. REM didnt tour for "collapse" however to do a farewell minus a member i think even REM felt that was not right, they chose this graceful exit for them, because U KNOW if they did a farewell world tour everyone would say, cant be a real tour and farewell without the whole band! "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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i think tensions MAKE a band, Queen were forever fighting, big time fights, but they had a rule, whoever wrote the song, wins, there was no out voting the writer of a song, opinions could be used but the writer doesnt give it up. my favorite a-ha had tensions from the middle of their first album in 1985, after take on me hit, the shit hit the fan, it got crazy and they felt off track, they were suddenly posterboys that had no clue what they were doing. They grew quick and the label in the states and fans in the states basically let them go, while overseas embraced them, but while they were in their second album things were so tense 2 members actually thought of kicking out the lead singer because he was too good looking! and that was being advised by the label and mgmt. But when a-ha decided to end it in 2010, when the decision came in 2009 it wasnt mutal it was a 2-1 vote, but then the one was convinced, a-ha was ready to break up after every record, they actually disbanded during 1993-1998 though not on paper, so REM's tensions are well felt and that quote brings back the a-ha members quotes to SUM UP their 25 years together. MAGS said "i'll miss that rare occasion when we collaborated and made magic together as 3" and PAUL said "sum up a-ha, hmmmm 3 solo artists" when i heard this chills went up my spine because this band through that created the best shit i have ever heard, and held it together for that long. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Going back to the music again. REM have so many great songs that aren't included on this collection.
The Flowers of Guatemala, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...jkJZ5N6Jnw
[Edited 10/12/11 16:09pm] | |
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I'm going to buy this event hough I own two comps (I might consider getting rid of the WB one since that has a lot fo lapover).. I would like to read on that. They obviousy tried to bury it down for a while. | |
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Yeah I think they went through a period where they were embarrassed by it, but just like with anything else feelings change over time. When you look back over their whole career, that was definitely a song that people remember... for better or worse lol * * *
Prince's Classic Finally Expanded The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/ | |
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Here is a link to one of the new songs (their new single?) on their upcoming best-of collection:
http://ozonlaag.tumblr.co...beach-boys
Allthough it isn't a truelly remarkable composition, i love the arrangement: it reminds me of the Reveal album, but without the added electronics, its a bit more lush and subdued: like Burt Barbarach meets the Beach Boys. | |
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