I've been quiet for a while, which would be a problem if there was someone besides me who'd read any of these posts. But on the odd chance that there is one other soul out there that might stumble on this site, apologies. I guess I haven't had much happening lately that has inspired me to write a post, that is until April 1, 2008 came along.
For me, this is the day that REM returned from a LONG break. Between 1987 and 1996, I can honestly say that a cheesy statement like "REM helped write the soundtrack to my life" is true. The moment that I became an REM fan was a family vacation to Colorado during the summer of '88. I was a surly teenager, and had a walkman and two cassettes -- One was a copy of Warren Zevon's "Sentimental Hygiene" and the other had "Document" and "Life's Rich Pageant". (REM was basically Zevon's backing band on that album, so in my mind, it was kind of an REM album).
I don't really know why, but for some reason, I played the heck out of those two cassettes during that trip, and something just clicked with me. I'd actually had the Document/Pageant tape for several months, but had never really latched onto it until that summer. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place with "Green", which came out the next November, then a group of kids played "Driver 8" at the school talent show, many of my friends were jumping on the REM bandwagon -- so they were cool -- and I bought a copy of "Eponymous". From that point on, they were my favorite band, and I searched through the back catalog of albums and became more and more entranced. Their grip on my musical world started to loosen a bit with "Monster", which I loved at the time, but tired of quickly. "New Adventures in Hi Fi" has improved with time to reflect on it, but it just had a few too many tracks. Then Bill Berry left and the band sounded lost. He may have just been the drummer, but I think his other main role in the band was to be the glue between the different sensibilities that the other 3 guys brought to the band. Stipe does the weird stuff, Mills goes the bubble gum pop route and Buck just wants to rock. Berry, I think, was the guy that tempered all of that and streamlined it into what we all now consider the REM sound. "Up" and "Reveal" are albums that I liked, but never really loved no matter how much I wanted to. "Up" was too mellow to really stick with me, and with "Reveal", I just think they tried to hard to marry the classic REM sound with the electronic stuff they'd been exploring. "Around the Sun" isn't a bad album, either, and for the first couple of days after I first heard it, I kinda half remember thinking "They are back and this record is good". When I think about that record now, I think its more a case of I just don't care about it rather than dislike it. Now I've got my hands on "Accelerate", and I'm going to stop just a bit short of the whole "REM is back" thing. But, that said, this is a very good record, and easily the best record they've put out since Hi Fi, and maybe the best since Automatic. So, since I haven't had anything to say for such a long time, I am going to waste lots of time and space by reviewing the record track by track (too much time on my hands? Maybe.....)
1. Living Well Is the Best Revenge: One of the most "rocking" songs they've ever written. Its a tough to sit still when you listen to this one. Stipe sounds angry and pissed off, and I'm fairly certain this is basically a flip off to anything that has annoyed him in the days since "Around the Sun" came out -- people writing the band off, the war in Iraq, whatever. The thing that struck me immediately on this track was how good it sounds to have that classic Stipe/Mills vocal sound back.
2. Man Sized Wreath: Nice 2nd track. Not really anything Earth shattering, but it does get stuck in your head, and again emphasizes that the harmonies from Mills was an ingredient that was sorely missed over the last couple of albums.
3. Supernatural Superserious: Great choice for the first single. Its more REM-sounding than the first two tracks. It does seem a bit weird to hear guys in their late 40s singing about the "Teenage Station", but as you listen you kind get that they are trying to say you never lose that feeling completely no matter how old you get. If there is a track on this album that will be a hit song, this could easily be it.
4. Hollow Man: The first time I listened to this song, I cringed. After 3 up-tempo songs, here was a song that sounded all too much like the worst of Reveal and Around the Sun. But then the chorus kicks in and you relax. Its more of a classic REM song, too. Definitely one that will stay in your head after you hear it.
5. Houston: Yet another track that starts out like an REM classic. This one's about the evil government and the aftermath of Hurricaine Katrina. Its not a bad song. The keyboard they use takes a bit to get used to, and is the token "New REM meets old REM" facet to the song. I guess if you really want to split hairs you could say that this is a bit to obvious for REM given their history of political commentary, but its good to see they can still write a good, straightforward political tune.
6. Accelerate: I lump this one in with "I Took Your Name" from Monster and "Low Desert" from HiFi. Mid to up tempo minor key rocker, not bad in the context of an album, but kind of forgettable. Not bad, just nothing overly special. It sounds like the kind of song you've heard before from REM.
7. Until the Day is Done: This one, too, feels a bit like a retread. But a much more classic retread. You've got the 12 string acoustic, which leads into the jangly electric guitar. Typical Stipe lyrics. Again, its the kind of thing you feel like REM does without thinking by now, just like Imitation of Life on Reveal, most of Out of Time, etc. Not that its a bad thing.
8. Mr. Richards: Ok, we're back to the fuzzy guitars and a bit more angry. I like this song quite a bit. Its classic REM at points, but also sounds like a new direction for them. This is a dark horse to be a single if this ends up being a hit album and spawns more than the one single. But musically and lyrically, one of the best on the album.
9. Sing for the Submarine: This is the one track that still hasn't grown on me, so I'll call it this albums version of "Bang and Blame". The one thing that does stand out is that Stipe drops references to past songs such as Electron Blue and Feeling Gravity's Pull. This is the closest thing to a skip-worthy song that Accelerate has to offer.
10. Horse to Water: When Pearl Jam's "Vs." album came out many years ago, I remember reading that "Elderly Woman..." was one of the best REM songs of the year. Well, if PJ wrote a good REM tune, then to me this is REM returning the favor. Its got a very hard edge, and the song definitely rocks. This one should kill at a live show.
11. I'm Gonna DJ: The strangest song on the album, but a good closer. This one actually showed up on REM Live. It has also been stuck in my head since the day that I downloaded the album off of itunes. It's a bit unREM-like, but that's why I like it. A fitting closer to this album.
If you bought the album on iTunes, you may have the option to buy some extra tracks -- mainly live versions of a few of the better tracks on the CD, and a couple of b-sides: Redhead Walking and Airliner. The former is a 60's style number, while the latter is a wipe out like guitar romp. Neither are bad, but you can see why they didn't make the cut for the proper album. The live versions sound good, but not radically different from the single versions, so they are only really for the die hard fans like me who get a kick out of that kind of thing.
Overall impressions: I won't say their back, because this isn't in the same league as my favorites - Murmur and Life's Rich Pageant, or my next tier of discs like Automatic, Green and Out of Time. I'd put it as the logical continuation of the live set attitude from Hi Fi, a bit of the fuzz guitar mind set from Monster and the angry, political themed tunes from Document. Monster loses some luster the more time goes by, so I'd say they beat that one this time out, and bettered Hi Fi if only because at 34 minutes, its a very brief ride, and many of the songs struggle to get to 2 minutes.
If you were a fan back in the 80s and 90s when REM was on top of their game, this is a welcome addition to the catalog. I don't know that the "kids" will latch onto it. I think REM has become too uncool to ever have a U2 style resurgence, but if they've done a record since Berry left that could spawn a true hit single, this is it. It is a must have if you are a fan (even if you've been away for awhile), and worth a listen for non-fans. It will definitely be stuck on my playlist for a bit longer than the last few records.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Ridiculous
Missed work with a flu bug on Wednesday. Since I was home, I decided to watch the Congressional hearing involving Roger Clemens, Brian McNamee and the Mitchell Report. As a huge baseball fan, not to mention a Yankees fan, all I can say is that this whole thing is just such a waste of time. Why is Congress involved in this? Don't they have more important things to do?
Look, the whole steroid era is questionable. We'll probably never really know the exact affect that the drugs have had and likely continue to have on the game. I don't mean to defend the users, because I think its a shame that they've done this to a game that I truly love. But is anyone really foolish enough to think that this problem is about the star players like Clemens and Bonds? They are the easy targets, but what about the two players with marginal talent that are about equal, and one gets a shot because he cheats? That's the bigger issue to me.
And that's just at the pro level....What about the kids who despite warnings from coaches and parents try to emulate their heroes by taking drugs. Worse yet, what about the kids that are encouraged to do so by their coaches and/or their parents. Its sickening when you think about it.
I heard someone say this morning that if Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder hit 60 home runs this season will anyone believe it. Its sad to me, because I have so many memories that have been tarnished by the scandal already -- The Sosa/McGwire HR chase in '98, the Yankees '98 team, Rick Ankiel last season...These are just a few, but any fan has the same list. It doesn't completely ruin all of it, but it does make you look at it in a whole new light. But to hold up one guy like Clemens ignores the fact that somewhere between 20% and 80% of the batters he faced were probably also guilty of using the same types of drugs. There are no easy answers to the problem, but dragging someone's name through the mud doesn't address the issue. It just leaves an even worse taste in your mouth.
Look, the whole steroid era is questionable. We'll probably never really know the exact affect that the drugs have had and likely continue to have on the game. I don't mean to defend the users, because I think its a shame that they've done this to a game that I truly love. But is anyone really foolish enough to think that this problem is about the star players like Clemens and Bonds? They are the easy targets, but what about the two players with marginal talent that are about equal, and one gets a shot because he cheats? That's the bigger issue to me.
And that's just at the pro level....What about the kids who despite warnings from coaches and parents try to emulate their heroes by taking drugs. Worse yet, what about the kids that are encouraged to do so by their coaches and/or their parents. Its sickening when you think about it.
I heard someone say this morning that if Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder hit 60 home runs this season will anyone believe it. Its sad to me, because I have so many memories that have been tarnished by the scandal already -- The Sosa/McGwire HR chase in '98, the Yankees '98 team, Rick Ankiel last season...These are just a few, but any fan has the same list. It doesn't completely ruin all of it, but it does make you look at it in a whole new light. But to hold up one guy like Clemens ignores the fact that somewhere between 20% and 80% of the batters he faced were probably also guilty of using the same types of drugs. There are no easy answers to the problem, but dragging someone's name through the mud doesn't address the issue. It just leaves an even worse taste in your mouth.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Lost is definitely back
I don't want to spoil anything for those of you that haven't seen the latest episode yet. So instead, I'll just say that the first two episodes have been so @#$!@#$ good, even though I don't really get what's going on. I am counting the minutes until next Thursday so I can see what they come up with next. I sat through the whole episode, didn't really completely understand what was going on, and wanted to watch it all again as soon it was over to see what I missed.
This show is incredible.
This show is incredible.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
A Great Super Bowl
(With the Album "Barenaked Ladies are Men" playing....)
Each year, I sit down to watch the Super Bowl and hope for one thing (with the exception of 1986 and 2007, when my favorite team -- the Bears -- were playing in the game). For a stretch there, it seemed like a game where one team didn't jump out to a 20 point lead would be good. But over the last 10 to 12 years or so, it seems this game has gotten closer and closer. More often than not, we enter the 4th quarter with the losing team still having a shred of hope.
This year's game was fantastic. You had a team making a bid for an historic win, and another on an historic streak looking to shock the world. The Giants did just that. I will brag a bit and say that when these two teams met in week 17, I turned to my wife and said "I have a funny feeling the Giants will make it to the Super Bowl". I believed it at the time, but I also thought that same week 17 game would spell the end of the Giants should they meet the Patriots. Having seen them once, I thought the Patriots would steamroll them and march on to history. I am happy that I was wrong, though I do feel a little bit of sympathy for the Patriots. To be this close and come up short -- I can't imagine how tough that is. I'm sick of the Patriots and don't really like them, but I do respect what they've done over the years, and I'd take any of their players on my team in a heartbeat.
I've never really liked the Giants much, either. I think Coughlin is kind of annoying, I get tired of Strahan and I think Plaxico Burress is kind of a jerk. But, I do like Eli and have followed his career. I saw him play at Ole Miss, and though I never really thought he'd be Peyton II, I knew he'd be a good NFL quarterback. I desperately wanted the Bears to draft him, and as he's struggled in New York, I had hoped the Bears could deal for him. That won't happen now, but I am glad to see he has taken full advantage of his chance to silence all his critics. That last drive proved the kid has the heart of a champion, and while he might not be Peyton, he is worthy of a Super Bowl ring.
So I'm happy the Giants win. We've got at least one more year of the '72 Dolphins and their champagne toast when the last unbeaten falls. The only thing I wanted and we didn't get was for Eli to get up on that podium and say "Hey Tiki....Who's comical now?" He's got too much class for that, but it would have been a great moment.
Each year, I sit down to watch the Super Bowl and hope for one thing (with the exception of 1986 and 2007, when my favorite team -- the Bears -- were playing in the game). For a stretch there, it seemed like a game where one team didn't jump out to a 20 point lead would be good. But over the last 10 to 12 years or so, it seems this game has gotten closer and closer. More often than not, we enter the 4th quarter with the losing team still having a shred of hope.
This year's game was fantastic. You had a team making a bid for an historic win, and another on an historic streak looking to shock the world. The Giants did just that. I will brag a bit and say that when these two teams met in week 17, I turned to my wife and said "I have a funny feeling the Giants will make it to the Super Bowl". I believed it at the time, but I also thought that same week 17 game would spell the end of the Giants should they meet the Patriots. Having seen them once, I thought the Patriots would steamroll them and march on to history. I am happy that I was wrong, though I do feel a little bit of sympathy for the Patriots. To be this close and come up short -- I can't imagine how tough that is. I'm sick of the Patriots and don't really like them, but I do respect what they've done over the years, and I'd take any of their players on my team in a heartbeat.
I've never really liked the Giants much, either. I think Coughlin is kind of annoying, I get tired of Strahan and I think Plaxico Burress is kind of a jerk. But, I do like Eli and have followed his career. I saw him play at Ole Miss, and though I never really thought he'd be Peyton II, I knew he'd be a good NFL quarterback. I desperately wanted the Bears to draft him, and as he's struggled in New York, I had hoped the Bears could deal for him. That won't happen now, but I am glad to see he has taken full advantage of his chance to silence all his critics. That last drive proved the kid has the heart of a champion, and while he might not be Peyton, he is worthy of a Super Bowl ring.
So I'm happy the Giants win. We've got at least one more year of the '72 Dolphins and their champagne toast when the last unbeaten falls. The only thing I wanted and we didn't get was for Eli to get up on that podium and say "Hey Tiki....Who's comical now?" He's got too much class for that, but it would have been a great moment.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Its cold
A wild few days for Winter '08 here in Chicagoland. We started the day yesterday fairly mild for this time of year. I don't typically sit at work and stare at the little weather bug icon on my PC, but I do remember seeing the temperature as high as 50 during the day. In the afternoon, the temp started dropping, and by 6:00 pm, we were down under 10 degrees, the wind was howling, and snow was blowing all over the place and making it very tough to navigate the streets.
I don't mind winter that much. Truthfully, I don't think you can appreciate one season as much without the season before it, and I don't really ever care to live somewhere where the change between the seasons amounts to hot gets hotter. But when you jump from unseasonably warm to bitter cold in the span of an hour or two, that's a bit much to take.
I don't mind winter that much. Truthfully, I don't think you can appreciate one season as much without the season before it, and I don't really ever care to live somewhere where the change between the seasons amounts to hot gets hotter. But when you jump from unseasonably warm to bitter cold in the span of an hour or two, that's a bit much to take.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A few more thoughts
A couple of things on my mind that didn't seem to fit the tone of my last post, but that I am an the mood to babble about.....
I recently finished reading a book by Jim Walsh that was an oral history of the rock band The Replacements. While I never had the good fortune (or misfortune?) of seeing the band live, their albums have been among my favorites and always take me back to high school and college. The music is great on a historic level, and I've always thought that if there were justice in the world that the Goo Goo Dolls would have to give at least 50% of every penny they made to Westerberg for stealing his stuff. Anyway, it was a great book and very interesting.
Second thing....I just downloaded the new album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Liam Finn. Another band that I latched onto in high school was Crowded House. They are another band that I don't think gets the due they deserve. Liam is the son of CH leader Neil Finn -- who in my mind is up there with Westerberg as one of the greatest songwriters of our times. His son seems to be a chip off the same block. His voice reminds you of dad, and while his sound will remind you of the older Finn's work, its not just a carbon copy. If you're a fan of Neil, check out Liam's album. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I recently finished reading a book by Jim Walsh that was an oral history of the rock band The Replacements. While I never had the good fortune (or misfortune?) of seeing the band live, their albums have been among my favorites and always take me back to high school and college. The music is great on a historic level, and I've always thought that if there were justice in the world that the Goo Goo Dolls would have to give at least 50% of every penny they made to Westerberg for stealing his stuff. Anyway, it was a great book and very interesting.
Second thing....I just downloaded the new album by New Zealand singer/songwriter Liam Finn. Another band that I latched onto in high school was Crowded House. They are another band that I don't think gets the due they deserve. Liam is the son of CH leader Neil Finn -- who in my mind is up there with Westerberg as one of the greatest songwriters of our times. His son seems to be a chip off the same block. His voice reminds you of dad, and while his sound will remind you of the older Finn's work, its not just a carbon copy. If you're a fan of Neil, check out Liam's album. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Not the way I intended to start off, but......
I didn't mean for so much time to pass since my last entry, but these things happen. Its been a weird start to 2008. First off, in my neck of the woods, the weather has been up and down. In the 3 weeks since New Year's, we've seen temps as high as 60 and as low as -10. That's a pretty wide gap, especially considering the reputation that "Chicago in winter" has.
We've also seen perhaps the most interesting political race that I can remember. I try hard not to subscribe to the thinkings of either party, but if pushed for an honest answer, I'd have to say I probably lean more towards the Democrats than to the Republican side of things. Obama/Clinton in particular is interesting to watch because you have the chance for a truly historic candidate with either person. I'm less enthused about the Republicans, but still interested in how it will all play out. Its about 1 year away that we'll be swearing in our new President, and I hope that all this "change" that is being talked about becomes reality.
Sports-wise, I have to brag for a moment and say I said to my wife during the last Patriots-Giants game that I had a funny feeling the Giants will make the Super Bowl. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% serious, but I did say it. I am not a Giants fan, but my sister is an Ole Miss grad, and as a result I have followed Eli's career, and have to say I am happy for him that he has this chance to silence some of his critics.
Another thing that is on my mind tonight is today's news that actor Heath Ledger was found dead. I really am still a bit in shock on this one, but I have to say that it is a shame that someone who is only 28 years old, has a young child and what seemed to be a world of talent is no longer with us. I have seen several of his movies, but I can't say that I've watched any of them because he is in them. I have been impressed with some of work, although I have not seen his most acclaimed performance (Brokeback Mountain). I've tried to watch it a time or two, but just can't make myself sit through it. I am a huge Batman fan -- have been since I was 4 or 5 -- and so I am somewhat ashamed to admit that one of my first thoughts was "Oh, I hope this doesn't affect 'The Dark Knight'." I have heard that his performance in the movie is pretty much incredible, so hopefully it will stand as a tribute to his work, and the movie will draw a few extra patrons that might not have taken the time otherwise.
We've also seen perhaps the most interesting political race that I can remember. I try hard not to subscribe to the thinkings of either party, but if pushed for an honest answer, I'd have to say I probably lean more towards the Democrats than to the Republican side of things. Obama/Clinton in particular is interesting to watch because you have the chance for a truly historic candidate with either person. I'm less enthused about the Republicans, but still interested in how it will all play out. Its about 1 year away that we'll be swearing in our new President, and I hope that all this "change" that is being talked about becomes reality.
Sports-wise, I have to brag for a moment and say I said to my wife during the last Patriots-Giants game that I had a funny feeling the Giants will make the Super Bowl. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% serious, but I did say it. I am not a Giants fan, but my sister is an Ole Miss grad, and as a result I have followed Eli's career, and have to say I am happy for him that he has this chance to silence some of his critics.
Another thing that is on my mind tonight is today's news that actor Heath Ledger was found dead. I really am still a bit in shock on this one, but I have to say that it is a shame that someone who is only 28 years old, has a young child and what seemed to be a world of talent is no longer with us. I have seen several of his movies, but I can't say that I've watched any of them because he is in them. I have been impressed with some of work, although I have not seen his most acclaimed performance (Brokeback Mountain). I've tried to watch it a time or two, but just can't make myself sit through it. I am a huge Batman fan -- have been since I was 4 or 5 -- and so I am somewhat ashamed to admit that one of my first thoughts was "Oh, I hope this doesn't affect 'The Dark Knight'." I have heard that his performance in the movie is pretty much incredible, so hopefully it will stand as a tribute to his work, and the movie will draw a few extra patrons that might not have taken the time otherwise.
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