R.E.M - ...And I Feel Fine: The Best of the IRS Years 1982-1987
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Free Music Notes for ...And I Feel Fine: The Best of the IRS Years 1982-1987
Free Music Review: The best of early R.E.M.
Hit: 5 Stars
THE BAND: Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitars). Mike Mills (bass, piano), Bill Berry (drums & percussion). Origin: Athens, GA.
THE DISC: (2006) 21 tracks clocking in at approximately 78 minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page booklet containing song titles/credits, what songs came from which albums, year released, and a storied 5-page intro from Anthony DeCurtis (NY Times & Rolling Stone Magazine). As the title of the disc states, this release follows the band's beginning only - from 1982-87. There is a 2-disc special edition available as well (with disc-2 containing an additional 21 songs of demos, unreleased tracks, and assorted live cuts). Remastered sound. Label - Capital Records / I.R.S.
SONG REPRESENTATION: Murmur (4 songs), Reckoning (4), Fables Of The Reconstruction (4), Lifes Rich Pageant (4), Document (4), EP Chronic Town (1).
COMMENTS: When I think back of R.E.M., the terms "college radio" and "alternative music" come to mind (especially back in the early 80's when alternative really didn't exist yet). The band decided their music career was more important than college (thus dropping out of the University of Georgia)... and so it was. "Murmur" (1983) was a huge success - labeled Rolling Stone Magazine's "Album of the Year". Records sales unbelievably remained slow, and their songs somehow evaded Billboards famed "Top 40" list... until "Document" (1987). "Document" contained the song, "The One I Love", which was their 1st Top 10 hit. Stipe has one of those voices that's instantly recognizable - singing crystal clear or often times mumbling - it was equally effective. As the band matured, so did their lyrical content... many songs touching on the environment as well as social/political activism. THE GOOD: All the early staples are here - "Radio Free Europe", "Talk About The Passion", "Pretty Persuasion", "7 Chinese Bros.", "So.Central Rain (I'm Sorry)", "Can't Get There From Here", "Driver 8", "Fall On Me", "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", "The One I Love", etc. The liners notes are informative (from writer DeCurtis). Remastered sound has it's ups & downs depending on your stereo. THE NOT SO GOOD: I love to hear the band change/mature through the years in chronological order, but you won't find that here... the track listing is random. The remastered sound is great in some aspects, but disappointing in others. The acoustic guitar on "Talk About The Passion" sounds incredible. As does the entire "7 Chinese Bros". On the flip side though (on many of the tracks), the remastering pulls the percussion up front, and the guitars to the rear. Sadly, some of those subtle little noises are now seemingly as loud as the drums & guitars. I think like so many of the "remastered" discs released today where quality issues come up... the sound will depend on the caliber of your stereo & speakers. A few minor tracks missing ("Pilgrimage", "Harborcoat", "Letter Never Sent"), but in the long run the song selection is perfect for a compilation. In fact, if I could add a song or two here, I wouldn't know what song(s) currently on the track list to get rid of... it's that good. The only solution is an additional disc covering that much more of their material. OVERALL: I liked R.E.M. because they were different at the time. I was in college in the early/mid 80's and they were just making a name for themselves. Their songs blended perfectly on the local college radio stations. And, decades later, the songs still sound fresh. This "And I Feel Fine... The Best Of The I.R.S. Years" shows the band in young form, prior to their monstrous commercial success. New fans looking for a great intro will like the single disc package. Long time fans should absolutely aim for the 2-disc version. Despite a few extremely minor flaws, this is a fantastic disc (5 stars).
Free Music Review: Chronicles of a legendary period *****
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember watching a Vh1 special on Spring Break in 1998 (I was a senior in high school), and they were listing the "100 greatest bands of all time," chosen by producers, record exec's, magazine reviewers, and artists. R.E.M. popped in at number 50. I was currently listening to "Automatic For the People" around the clock, so I was happy to see they made an appearance on the list. I heard a song while the show was talking about the band and only later found out it was "Radio Free Europe." Curious, I thought, that I'd never heard such a great song by a band I loved. This was my first exposure to the first half of REM's career (yep, pretty lame). A few years later, I came across a website that listed the greatest artists, albums, singles, etc in order based on listings in music magazines and websites acrossed the world (called Acclaimed Music). REM slated in at number 11. Considering the vast array of legendary bands in rock history, 11 is pretty darn high.
Still, in my book, REM easily grabs one of the top five slots. And I listen to a LOT of music. This collection of singles and album cuts chronicles one of the most fruitful musical outings in modern rock history. Forget Metallica, Husker Du, The Replacements, U2, and the SMiths. REM was the best band of the 80's, and this Greatest Hits collection illustrates why.
The B-Sides are what will attract die-hards (to be expected), but the first disc is an absolutely PERFECT way for a non-fan to experience the IRS years. Every single, and many of the major songs from "Chronic Town" through "Document" are showcased in a crystal clear remastering (making the fans wonder if remasterings of the full albums is in the works). Now alternative radio staples, like "Radio Free Europe," "Talk About the Passion," "Life and How to Live It," "The One I Love," and "Don't Fall on Me," will dazzle newcomers and remind old-timers.
An objective listener will admit that each of REM's periods has its advantages and downfalls. Vintage REM is strongest by far album-wise. They made nary a bad note, but there's also a lack of diversity (tell me where I can hear as stark a difference as, say, "King of Comedy" and "Strange Currencies" on the same album in those early years!). Warner phase REM were one of the world's biggest bands; they're strong suit being the singles, with less consistent albums ("Automatic For the People" being an obvious exception). And Trio REM have neither stellar albums, nor particularly noteworthy singles (exceptions abound, though), but the music has been creatively mellow thus far. ( I still have a special place in my collection for "Up." I listen to it in my car every time it rains). Overall, this collection is stellar, from the tracklisting to the sound to the sheer number of tracks (21) to the nostalgia. Perfect for any alternative fan, with a grand showing from two of the greatest albums of all-time, "Murmer" and "Life's Rich Pageant," both total watersheds of the then bergeoning alternative, indie scene.
REM albums (and 5 star ratings):
Chronic Town ***
Murmer *****
Reckoning ****
Fables of the Reconstruction ****
Life's Rich Pageant *****
Document ****1/2
Green ***1/2
Out of Time ****
Automatic For the People *****
Monster ****
Adventures in the Hi-Fi ****
Up ****
Reveal ***
Around the Sun *
In Time (88 - 03) ****
And I Feel Fine (82 - 87) *****
Free Music Review: Wow. Wow. Wow. A disc for the newbies and one for the diehards.
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, I must say the remastering on this CD is nothing short of astonishing.
Now you can hear the lyrics to "Radio Free Europe" and STILL have no freakin' idea what he's saying. It's like a thick layer of grime has been wiped off the recording and you can hear the driving drums, nimble bass, swirling vocals and chiming guitars in all their unfettered glory.
Seriously. This is revelatory.
The first disc of the two, is the way music fans who would like to get introduced to R.E.M. SHOULD be initiated. This improves upon an already impressive "Eponymous", by way of crystalline sound and a bigger & better song selection.
In fact, I'm not a rabid fan of the group, but I'm pretty familiar with their canon. I have all the albums.
This disc blew me away. It converted me.
I'm now foaming at the mouth. These guys are awesome.
You can see the list of songs above, and the significant thing about the sequence is that you'll find R.E.M. sprung fully formed from the get-go, yet still exhibited growth and ambition through the next four records.
One could go song-by-song and point out the breathtaking improvements found in each and every one. Suffice to say that the entire catalog needs to be redone. Now. Please.
What comes through...shining through...is a beauty and mystery the band brought to rock music that was nowhere to be found in the early 80's. Sure they rocked fast and hard on many songs, but in just as many, they gave us these vast, panoramic yet murky pieces you could come back to again and again. It is clear that was totally by design. The over-used adjective for them is "atmospheric" but the tunes are so much more than that.
There are few rock bands with a single disc collation as good as this. Very few. Count them on one hand maybe.
The second disc is to appease the super-fans, but it has a lot for those who aren't yet, but will be.
There are a handful of "album tracks" (as if they really had "singles"), some early singles and demos, and a few live tunes. They are all here for several reasons.
1) Comparing the first "Radio Free.." to the final one has definite academic and artistic value.
2) Comparing the supposed demo of "Pilgrimage" to the album version is enlightening, in that they actually went ahead and used it.
3) The album tracks add depth to the case this compilation makes: this was a tremendous five-album run virtually unmatched by any of their contemporaries.
4) The live cuts show their sense of humor, and how formidable a live band they could be. These roar.
One last point: the liner notes are amongst the best ever. There's an eloquent yet concise summary of their career by Anthony DeCurtis, and the band chimes in on a song-by-song commentary for the extras disc.
This is one tremendouse package, and well worth a purchase.
And if anyone who has any say in the matter happens to read this: I will re-purchase the entire catalog if you re-release them remastered at this level.
I promise.
Free Music Review: Pick of Dreams
Hit: 5 Stars
And we should all feel fine after the release of the very best of their early years. Generosity and thoughtfulness come to the fore for the selection and scope of this fine C.D. Now 'Eponymous' and 'Singles' seem imperfect I.R.S. collections in comparison. There are the hits we have come to know and love, like "Radio Free Europe," "Fall on Me," and "The One I Love," but, then, there's aptly picked excellence with "Welcome to the Occupation," "Feel Gravity's Pull," and "Cuyahoga". The second disc unearths some archive like gems, so it isn't all familiar. Just like the Warner collection, 'In Time,' 'Best of I.R.S. Years' gets it right in format and selection.
(Disc Two is plentiful and interesting. As the archival second disc, it does better overall, than the Warner special edition. There are the added studio gems, including the indispensible "Pilgrimage" and "King of Birds". Then we get some worthy live numbers. "Life and How to Live It" done in Holland resounds well in concert and has an interesting story that goes into the genesis of the song. "Ages of You, "We Walk," and "1,000,000" all come from a Boston concert and the performance are very good; ones that are nice alternatives to the studio versions. There are two fine carry-overs from the former collection, 'Eponymous'. One is great, the punkier version of "Radio Free Europe" and one is apt, an alternative version of "Finest Worksong" done with more brass to the forefront. Some of the rest of the results are mixed, including a lower-adrenaline version of "Hyena" and a slow version of "Gardening at Night". Both are good and interesting. Especially, the latter gives us a clearer sound and a rendition that helps us pick up some of the missing words. For me, it is the disc for the R.E.M. fan who has everything, or nearly everything. The "Theme from Two Steps Onward" starts off sounding like "Camera," but then becomes a likable song, even though we know the group was always too perfectionistic to take anything less than the best. "Mystery to Me" similarly satisfies with a less-than-perfect R.E.M. song to enjoy, knowing full well it wasn't good enough to put with their great albums.)
'And I Feel Fine' should make us feel satisfied, for it gives us everything we could ask for from an early R.E.M collection: their best songs, great live performances, interesting alternative versions, and songs never released before.
Free Music Review: The Great Old Days of College Radio
Hit: 5 Stars
On the lower floor of my college student union building, next to the coffee house, was a small, dark room with some couches and a projection TV. Every day at around noon, they would play a videotape of the previous night's "Late Night with David Letterman" show, and it was here that I got my first look at the four rag-tag guys who called themselves R.E.M. It was the mid-80's and popular music was in desperate need of something meaningful, having been caught in a strange brew of MTV celebrities (Michael Jackson, Boy George, Madonna); boyish, one-dimensional Teen-Beat groups (Duran-Duran, Culture Club, Wham); and the heavy-metal hair bands who couldn't accept (as in "This is Spinal Tap") that the late 70's were over.
Then appeared R.E.M. Four guys who weren't from London, New York or L.A. but from the unlikely southern college town of Athens, Georgia. Their music was simple but catchy, hard-edged but not offensive. Their lyrics (if you could make them out, which was always part of the fun) actually made listeners think, something that had been out of style since before the disco era. The band wasn't self-consciously political but they soon found a college audience who were looking to be challenged a bit. The rest of the story doesn't need to be told. Not until Nirvana came along in the early 90's would another garage-rock band influence music in such a profound way.
Sadly, as all good things must end, so did R.E.M.'s IRS years. 1988's "Green" moved the band to a major record label and put them in the national spotlight. Their small audience could no longer claim the band as their own. College radio gave way to "alternative rock" and eventually to hip-hop and rap.
But the music and the memories live on in this great CD set, which charts the period from their beginning to their wonderful 1987 release, "Document". The 2-CD set is well worth the additional few dollars, the 2nd disc being every bit as enjoyable as the first.
I miss my old college coffee house and I miss the old R.E.M. but we don't have to miss the great songs. Grab this one!