@dz13 that was an excellent wrap up. To the OP I have read through this entire thread with interest because I have been wondering the same thing about REM. REM were relevant and the critics darlings, with a few missteps, all the way up through New Adventures in Hifi, the last album with Bill Berry as a part of the band. I myself bought UP and Reveal but have not been a fan since Berry left. I also primarily love the IRS years but appreciated them for the entire four piece run. Anyway, as I shopped for vinyl in the mid 2000’s through just a couple of years ago I would find original pressings of IRS era REM for $8 to $12 that were in pristine shape. I bought them because I’m loyal to them and love them, but wasn’t excited because I had sort of moved past them. Now that I’m 53 I’m bringing all my former loves back into the stable and fully appreciate them. The pricing on this vinyl got me wondering. It seemed millennials had not brought REM along into the must have great artists of all time. I am certain if you ran across an original pressing of The Smiths The Queen is dead that it would go for A LOT more than $10. I had someone beg me to buy an original pressing of Belle and Sebastian If you’re feeling sinister for $50 back in 2008ish. As I shop around and go to mainstream places like Barnes and Noble, or even Best Buy, the same stuff is always available. A lot of it amazing and great. Curated by people who know what the “greatest” albums of all time are. Nothing out of the ordinary is ever available. Even something like Murmur has slipped through the cracks and is not included. What’s curious is REM was definitely heading for all time great status but have been left behind. Maybe it’s because they stuck around as a 3 piece putting out less than great albums and maybe it’s because Stipe got to political. I’ll have to give the 3 piece albums another chance but I admit as a big fan that they were outstaying their welcome. I’m glad that a young person has discovered them and that they mean something to you.
Is R.E.M. underrated by new music nerds?
I've been in a R.E.M. phase in late 2018, they kept me going through the toughest period of my life. A lot of their stuff especially in their incredible 1987-1996 run means a lot to me and have been pivotal in growing my music taste but emotion aside I think quality-wise they were one of the greatest rock band of all time, if not one the best band. I actually think this is not a hot take.
What I think is an interesting thing to discuss is how R.E.M. are relevant to new audiences of my age (I'm 20 btw) like all the music nerds that grew on the Internet (RYM or /mucore) or the music channels or profiles on YouTube and Instagram that review or examine music.
I think that in this demographic area R.E.M. are underrated or more specifically they are put inside the categories of "Gen X bands" like U2 or similar. And i think it's a shame because they have one the best musical palettes of all time provided by really skilled musicians and an incredible and eclectic vocalist and songwriter like Michael Stipe. A band that even when they became globally famous they managed to stay coherent to their sound (until at least the early 90s) and political ethic. Their material should get more recognition among younger audiences like mine considering the huge influence they had on a lot of artist.
What do you think?
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- 95 posts total
- 95 posts total