Life's Rich Pageant

[jem88]

Quality album. Listening to it now for the first time in ages. R.E.M. was top-notch in the 80's and early 90's.

 

[Faerluna]

Quality album. Listening to it now for the first time in ages. R.E.M. was top-notch in the 80's and early 90's.

 

[AbeBeta]

Quality album. Listening to it now for the first time in ages. R.E.M. was top-notch in the 80's and early 90's.

Absolutely.

That is their best. Cuyahoga is one of my favorite tunes. Have to give that a spin next week.

Too bad about what they've become

 

[Duane]

It's so funny that you mention Life's Rich Pagent since I was listening to it last night. I'm a huge, huge early R.E.M. fan and I rank LRP right under Fables of the Reconstruction as far as R.E.M.'s best albums go.

As far as tracks on Pagent I'll say that The Flowers of Guatemala is my favorite followed by Cayahoga.

 

[Duane]

Absolutely.

That is their best. Cuyahoga is one of my favorite tunes. Have to give that a spin next week.

Too bad about what they've become

I think their first six albums/EPs (Chronic Town through Document) are as good as any bands work, ever. After that it's really hit and miss in my eyes.

 

[jem88]

I think their first six albums/EPs (Chronic Town through Document) are as good as any bands work, ever. After that it's really hit and miss in my eyes.

I agree, although I do like Automatic For The People.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think their first six albums/EPs (Chronic Town through Document) are as good as any bands work, ever. After that it's really hit and miss in my eyes.

hit and miss doesn't capture it.

bitterly disappointing. After Green, I thought, OK, minor misfire. But Out of Time and most everything that followed.... A few good songs on each but not good albums

 

[Duane]

hit and miss doesn't capture it.

bitterly disappointing. After Green, I thought, OK, minor misfire. But Out of Time and most everything that followed.... A few good songs on each but not good albums

That's what I was trying to say but didn't do so as bluntly.

There is a magic that's in those early albums that hasn't been captured since. I don't know if it has to do with them moving away from Athens or what.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'll check it out. I've heard various things from R.E.M and all but since I was a pretty young kid, for most of the 80's, I can't say I actually experienced their high period.

 

[Duane]

I'll check it out. I've heard various things from R.E.M and all but since I was a pretty young kid, for most of the 80's, I can't say I actually experienced their high period.

In my personal order of preference but they're all great:

Fables of the Reconstruction
Lifes Rich Pageant
Murmur
Chronic Town EP
Reckoning
Dead Letter Office
Document

 

[AbeBeta]

That's what I was trying to say but didn't do so as bluntly.

There is a magic that's in those early albums that hasn't been captured since. I don't know if it has to do with them moving away from Athens or what.

Ultimately great bands stop being ground breaking and start following the pack.

Berry leaving the band may have contributed as well -- he wrote many of the bands more rootsy (Driver 8, Can't get there from here) and also some of their most touching tunes (Perfect Circle, Everybody Hurts).

 

[Duane]

Ultimately great bands stop being ground breaking and start following the pack.

Berry leaving the band may have contributed as well -- he wrote many of the bands more rootsy (Driver 8, Can't get there from here) and also some of their most touching tunes (Perfect Circle, Everybody Hurts).

You know I thought about Bill leaving as part of it, but their decline started before he left. So I have a hard time placing much of it on his shoulders.

In any event we're left with a band who's greatness peaked 20-25 years ago.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

In my personal order of preference but they're all great:

Fables of the Reconstruction
Lifes Rich Pageant
Murmur
Chronic Town EP
Reckoning
Dead Letter Office
Document

Much appreciated. I'm always looking for something I haven't listened to before to add onto my musical tastes.

 

[Duane]

Much appreciated. I'm always looking for something I haven't listened to before to add onto my musical tastes.

No problem... There is a guy who has posted a ton of the old rare live tracks from many of those albums on YouTube. Do a YouTube search for REMchout if you're interested.

 

[jem88]

Ultimately great bands stop being ground breaking and start following the pack.

Berry leaving the band may have contributed as well -- he wrote many of the bands more rootsy (Driver 8, Can't get there from here) and also some of their most touching tunes (Perfect Circle, Everybody Hurts).

It'll be interesting to see if that happens with Radiohead. They certainly haven't let up in recent times.

 

[jem88]

I'll check it out. I've heard various things from R.E.M and all but since I was a pretty young kid, for most of the 80's, I can't say I actually experienced their high period.

Two other worthwhile late 70's/80's bands to check out:

XTC and Talking Heads. I'm sure there are many others that aren't coming to mind right away.

 

[Duane]

Two other worthwhile late 70's/80's bands to check out:

XTC and Talking Heads. I'm sure there are many others that aren't coming to mind right away.

Husker Du, The Replacements and The Pixies are three of my favorite 80s alt rock bands. It's also hard to beat The Smiths/Morrissey, Elvis Costello and X.

 

[AbeBeta]

Jesus and Mary Chain is about all you guys left out from that era.

But if you wanna drop the Smiths, Costello, XTC, and Talking Heads you've got to take it back to Joy Division/New Order (early) and Devo (1st 3 albums) too. Hell, throw Bauhaus into that mix -- screw their cult status, they had a run of albums that was amazing.

You boys got good taste -- it is a bit late but let me start another thread on best albums of 2007 -- I'd love to hear what you were listening to.

 

[jem88]

Jesus and Mary Chain is about all you guys left out from that era.

But if you wanna drop the Smiths, Costello, XTC, and Talking Heads you've got to take it back to Joy Division/New Order (early) and Devo (1st 3 albums) too. Hell, throw Bauhaus into that mix -- screw their cult status, they had a run of albums that was amazing.

You boys got good taste -- it is a bit late but let me start another thread on best albums of 2007 -- I'd love to hear what you were listening to.

I'd love to see that thread. Admittedly, I haven't kept up to date on new releases (other than Radiohead and The White Stripes,) so I'd love to get some suggestions.

 

[jem88]

Husker Du, The Replacements and The Pixies are three of my favorite 80s alt rock bands. It's also hard to beat The Smiths/Morrissey, Elvis Costello and X.

I love Elvis Costello!

Top Elvis songs to download (even better go out and buy, but for anyone looking to get started):

- New Amsterdam
- I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
- Green Shirt
- Boy With A Problem
- Alison
- High Fidelity
- Night Rally
- Oliver's Army
- Accidents Will Happen
- Clubland