Anyone get the new R.E.M. cd?

[BayCityProgressive]

"Around The Sun"? I have almost every R.E.M. album and love them, but this thing is sounding likea funeral durge. Maybe I need tolisten to it more? I LOVED Reveal..but this one just sounds dull..

[wysi]

1. They are coming here...

... to Christchurch NZ in March. Should I go? I last saw them in Worcester MA in 1987 (Document tour)...

[Kire]

3. yes, of course

I saw them at the Vote for Change tour in Philly. They were great!

[Touchdown]

2. I got it in my car player now.

I like it, but it is a bit morose. Very topical to the election though. Listen to "Final Straw"...it's all about the chimp.

[BayCityProgressive]

4. Yes

I like that song. It isnt that i dislike the cd..it just seems so plain.

[ruthg]

5. I love the new REM

I find it haunting...It is the kind of record that grows on you.

Saw them at the VFC thing in Philly.....so good to see them after many years. Great night.

[nclib]

6. Yes and I love it.

It is a bit morose but I need that right now.

Every morning I pop it in, visit the "sorry everybody" site and have a good cry. It helps me cope with our loss.

[SensibleOne]

7. yes, have it and saw them in...

L.A. 2 days after Change Tour ended at Greek Theater. Very politicl concert, it was the night of the last debate (which I was taping) and Michael S. came out onstage and said "well, we just finished watching the debate backstage, one of them did really good" then he laughed. Ahhh, for the hopefulness of that time just weeks ago. The crowd went crazy, just a few booos.
The new album is morose and not my favortie. I love REM and buy all of their stuff, only a couple of songs stand out for me.

[Wat_Tyler]

8. It's a lot better than people have made it out to be.

But, then the last few albums have been good. Familiarity breeds contempt.

[tigereye]

9. it's boring as crap

and you know how tolerant I usually am. And I have loved REM since the early 80s. I will keep trying to listen a little more, but.... Stipe needs to get his head out of his navel.

[milkyway]

10. A great album. At first I was disappointed, but it keeps getting better

with each listen. Reminds me of when I first got into Dylan in the mid-70's. The more disappointed I was in an album at first listen, the more I would eventually love the album. And the songs I liked the least at first would be the songs that I would end up liking the most.

R.E.M. changed my taste in music with "Murmur" in the early 80's, and I've loved them ever since. My favorite album is the greatly underrated "Fables of the Reconstruction."

At first listen, the songs on "Around the Sun" don't stand out because they are of similar tempo. But the beauty and exceptional craftsmanship of each song is slowly revealed with each listening. My personal favorites right now are "Electron Blue," "The Outsiders," and "Final Straw."

I like to judge the strength of an album by trying to figure out which songs should be deleted that would make the album stronger. If I can come up with a lot, it means it's a weak album, top-heavy with only a few strong songs. If I only want to delete a couple songs, then it's a really strong album from top to bottom. Every song on "Around the Sun" stands by itself as a very good song. To me right now, only "The Worst Joke Ever" seems like it could be excluded without hurting the album (and only because it seems similar to a couple of other songs).

I saw R.E.M. in New York on November 4, their first show after the election. There was a bizarre vibe during the entire show. Many people still seemed stunned by the election. R.E.M. opened the show with "It's the End of the World As We Know It," which on past tours was used as a set closer or for an encore.

[Chovexani]

11. Lounge music.

Bordering on muzak. And I was a huge REM fan, still am.

I just think they jumped the shark in the 90s and haven't come back.

[tigereye]

12. what is so disturbing

is that Stipe is so interesting, with a wide range of projects. He is obviously a very motivated, intelligent guy with a lot to offer. But musically, he seems to be stuck in a rut. But then I like their old sound.

[Chovexani]

13. It's sad.

I really like Michael Stipe. I just don't like his music anymore. :(

I agree, I think he is stuck in a musical rut also. It happens to the best of us. I just hope he can get out of it.

[Frumious B]

14. It kinda sorta sounds OK...

until you break out Life's Rich Pageant or Automatic For The People and realize what a knock out band they used to be. At this point I think R.E.M. should either get on their knees and beg Bill Berry to return to the band as a writing and recording member of the group even if he doesn't tour or they should just hang it up. Otherwise, they're only going to keep getting sadder and lamer. Berry's presence and input were obviously more important than anybody could have figured.

If you want to hear some eighties bands making new music that actually sounds somewhat vital then I would direct you to the new albums from Duran Duran and U2. If you had told me fifteen years ago that I'd like a new Duran Duran album better than a new R.E.M. album then I probably would have laughed in your face.

[Touchdown]

15. Don't forget The Curse of Blondie

It came out last summer. There's a rash of 80s bands that are making albums lately....and it's pretty hard for U2 to make a bad album, but if they try (Zooropa/Unforgettable Fire), they can do it. How to...Atomic Bomb is excellent.