i had to make do without this album for a long time
but just now, my brother presented me with a new cd
copy of it and i'm totally falling for the album in
a gushy salivating way again.

i've always considered this album to be to REM what
"achtung baby" is to U2. it's a weird, calydoscopic
songfest that rocks and swings with a rawness and a
drive that REM never had before or since. imo.

this album is an album that is simply amazing in an
otherworldly way. like some of the best albums by a
selected group of amazing bands and solo artists it
stands on it's own and creates it's own rules and a
sense of a band "imploding" by design.

all the songs have a demo like quality to them like
for instance "Dirty Mind" and still sound complex n
well crafted at the same time.

i think a lot of people misunderstood this album at
the time of it's release and since then they've had
a few hits with other stuff and Monster kind of got
forgotten about except for perhaps it's two rather
well selling singles "Kenneth" and "Bang and Blame"

but there is so much more to this disc. all of it's
songs have single potential and they all stand good
and healthy on their own. no filler here.

so, since i usually am on a level line with many of
you guys about albums i think are very very good, I
was wondering if anyone feels as strongly about the
album as I do?

well?

IstenSzek said:

I fall asleep as soon as I hear that man's voice. Rather interesting to read interview's with him, though. Especially the one in last year (or so)'s Butt Magazine.

I loved Happy Shiny Monsters on Sesame St.

That's about it.






PS I always wanna hit him if he paints his face. I think it is as preposterous as Bono's sun glasses. Male musicians in midlife crisis are always a bit preposterous, aren't they?

incidentally, this is also one of THE best albums ever
to make the soundtrack for a relationship/affair. i've
always kind of shyed back from it for fear of ruining
the album for myself, but it would be great.

it's the most grinding, sleazy, fucked up, raw, sexual
and emotionally twisted album i know. so it would be a
perfect one to tie into new love affair.

except for their later song "Lotus", i don't think i've
ever heard music from any band or artist that comes so
close to my perception of what music should sound like
if your body made it whilst you were f*cking.

I love "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and "Bang And Blame"!!!

Though I don't know the rest of the album...

HamsterHuey said:

stop bitching Hooey and download the album. that, or i will force feed
it to you on yahoo one of these days lol. i tell you, you will like it
well, perhaps maybe not. i just like grating voices. that's why i love
radiohead and bjork too. it's an acquired taste i guess.

IstenSzek said:

Many have tried. But no. Can't like 'm all.

"STRANGE CURRENCIES"

I don't know why you're mean to me
when I call on the telephone
and I don't know what you mean to me
but I want to turn you on, turn you up, figure you out, want to take you on

These words, 'You will be mine'
These words, 'You will be mine, all the time'

The Fool might be my middle name
But I'd be foolish not to say
Going to make whatever it takes,
ring you up, call you down, sign your name, secret love
Couldn't I take you in and make you mine?

I tripped and fell, did I fall?
What I want you to feel, I want to feel it now

You know with love come strange currencies
and here is my appeal:

I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance,
a word, a signal, a nod, a little breath
just to fool myself, catch myself, to make it real, real

These words, 'You will be mine'
These words haunt me, hunt me down, catch in my throat, make me pray,
say love's combined, oh

HamsterHuey said:

well, i still love you



despite you not liking REM's Monster

IstenSzek said:

Nono, you got that wrong; I dislike everything they ever did. Not just Monster.

Well, again, except Happy Shiny Monsters. That had the kind of self-parody I so miss in their own work.

IstenSzek said:

I know this is about REM, but I love Radiohead and Bjork.
It's something that inspires me.
Aquired taste for sure.

That was an AMAZING post.

I am going to do that too. Lemme try.


I knooooow this is about R.E.M. but I looooove chocolate cake.
It's something that inspires me.

[deity], I hope this thread picks up after the weekend...

As far as REM,
"can't never did nothing, neither did couldn't"
Maybe it's his voice.
Never got into REM.
I do respect them though.

HamsterHuey said:

Daaammnn.

Bfunkthe1 said:

~grins~

Sorry, was stronger than myself. HOLD ME BACK!

HamsterHuey said:

Riiight.
"I know I won't hold you back now".

Bfunkthe1 said:

You won't? I would let you use the handcuffs though!

Crush With Eyeliner

Ellie said:

Ellie, we need to talk...

I always liked the video for "What's the frequency, Kenneth" too. Really simple but very energetic, not just because of all the strobes, but also the fast editing thats right on beat with the music.

New Adventures in Hi Fi was the REM album that really won me over and made me a fan.

Tom said:

I liked Stipe's entire style in this period. He just seemed so out of it
and surreal. And it was not all just posing. In fact, I think it was very
little posing for once. He seemed sincerely estranged at the time.

He's not a very attractive man by any standard but something about him in
this Monster era made me weak in the knees.

HamsterHuey said:

it's baby Eek!

Ellie said:

I like that song too! I have to revisit my REM CD's.

This is probably my favorite REM album, next to Murmur. It probably has something to do with me being 15 when it came out. I might even like it better than Automatic for the People. I just really like the whole REM does stadium rock sound. My older friends who were into them since the beginning, however, really hate this album. I'm not sure why, other than I've heard that tour was not very good. They played everything really loud and were emotionally detached and stuck to mostly new stuff, ignoring the old. That probably helps shape some peoples' negative views on Monster.

IstenSzek said:

How come you are the only one to correctly identify him?

GooeyTheHamster said:

because I know all the Eek episodes back to front.

~well, gee, she's really....fat~

IstenSzek said:

Well geek

ermm
well geee, I meant
Really

POOK said:

Just cuz you did not have your medication yet. Pook needs shot.