Monster has been rising for me however I love how it's considered their "back to basics" rock LP after Automatic and Out of Time but it ends up being their approximation of a glam rock album (a style they had never done to that point) some of their weirdest/most beautiful songs on it too
yeah, there are always glimmers of really cool and brilliant moments on their most okay material. I think the whole "we're a democracy" approach is a very cool one that led to an interesting discography, sometimes to their detriment sometimes not. also has REM ever had a basic rock LP before Monster? cause lol that has always been weird to me since I heard that. I find that more accurate than calling it grunge tho
definitely not lol it was always a weird calling card for that album I feel like it was a case of music critics responding to them going to guitars with distortion after two LPs of minimal guitar, mostly keyboards and mandolins
I just figured bc of the time period and their connection to the underground that it was major labels trying to capitalize on the trends of the time, maybe get them new fans. I never cared to go before murmur so I never knew if they had like a punk ep or something lol
I’ve been listening through their discography along with R U Talkin’ R.E.M. re: Me. Digging Monster today more than I ever have before.
still haven't gotten to that one beyond singles I believe. sometimes they'll have the desire to ape things that inspire them (see: Michael Stipe rapping) and it doesn't always go well
I absolutely love Monster, and I think it being an album that “apes grunge” is a very surface level observation. It’s very much an album about the ‘90’s and its culture. It’s parodizing/critiquing while indulging in the same trends.
I wasn't criticizing monster, just to be clear, just explaining why I haven't listened to it yet. but it looks like everyone in here is into it so I'll check it out
I've always thought it was supposed to be a return to/twist on the Lifes Rich Pageant sound. Which is also what they went back to for Accelerate, which was billed as a "back to basics" rock album as well.
Fuck that's hard Nightswimming Half A World Away World Leader Pretend Shiny Happy People What's The Frequency Kenneth Drive Country Feedback The One I Love Losing My Religion Fall On Me
Nightswimming Cuyahoga So. Central Rain The One I Love Fall on Me Drive Man on the Moon Whats the Frequency Kenneth Harborcoat Radio Free Europe Looks like I really like the first track on a lot of their records!
interesting idea, I'll listen to it with this in mind then. I'm not sure I'd call that one a back to basics rock album either (LRP) but maybe they did
So. Central Rain Losing My Religion Everybody Hurts The One I Love End Of The World As We Know It Driver 8 Imitation Of Life What's The Frequency Kenneth Orange Crush Man On The Moon this was tough, tried to make it encompass their whole career, So. Central Rain being their most underrated song is the only guarantee
Nightswimming Harborcoat Sitting Still Losing My Religion Country Feedback Strange Currencies Driver 8 Man on the Moon Radio Free Europe The Flowers of Guatemala I think? Idk this is so hard like @iCarly Rae Jepsen I tried to encompass as much of their career as they could with this
“Country Feedback” “Strange Currencies” “Untitled” “Man on the Moon” “Nightswimming” “Find the River” “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” “Driver 8” “So. Central Rain” “E-Bow the Letter”
Mine is probably: Nightswimming Leaving New York Sweetness Follows Leave Harborcoat Radio Free Europe Imitation of Life Losing My Religion The One I Love At My Most Beautiful