used to be one of my favorite bands.

i get turned off when people like michael stipe take themselves
way too seriously. don't believe the '80s hype, mike. just my opinion.

i guess i'd categorize them as "performance art" these days.
never liked preachy bands.

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bv
I have been to REM shows, thought they were ok. I bought their latest record and played it through several times but it did not mean sanything to me. Their previous records were better. I have a ticket for the REM show in Oslo early September and then I will know if they are still going strong. I suppose so.

You are one of the very few feople who appreciate Around The Sun. I like that recort as well and I have to say that I like Accelerate too, can not really say which one is better. They are very different, but both are great (according to me). Anyway - I am sure you will enjoy the gig in Oslo. Let us know.

As I said I am not a big REM fan but I saw them two times over a period of approx one year recently. It was probably just before the latest Stones tour, as I could not have had any time when the Stones toured. REM was great at the indoor show in Oslo Spektrum, crowd approx 7,000 people late 2004, but when they played the Ullevål Stadium crowd approx 25,000 June 2005 they felt like a mosquito in a field, it was too big for them. Also, they did not play Aftermath, which was one of my favorites, and the most heavily played REM song on Norwegian radio that year, so I felt disappointed.

Bjornulf

I saw them in early 2005 for the first time too, it was in an arena and I was also disappointed that they didn't play Aftermath. But the gig was great, I liked it a lot. This time I was a bit worried, since it was outdoors, the stadium wasn't sold out (as I wrote above - 20 000 tickets out of 30 000 were sold), but trust me, that this time it was much much better than in 2005. I didn't mind the size of the stadium, since I was in the third row and the atmosphere there was brilliant. I remember that in 2005 even people in the FOS area (where I was) were rather calm, they got more into it only at the very end. This time it was a big party from the very first song. At east where I was. I can't really say what it is to see them from the seats. The stage is surely much smaller than the Stones have, which might be a disadvantage. Anyway - try to get as close as possible!

I don't know, SNC... what exactly do they preach about? I sure wouldn't be able to say.

But I haven't really listened to one of their albums since Automatic for the People and have never heard this song "Aftermath"--is it good?

Papo you made my day....funny and right on.

And Bjornulf: I hope they are still as energetic for you in Oslo as they were in Toronto in June. Like the Stones, they are a band that is best appreciated LIVE.

Enjoy!

One of my favorite bands. They have reintroduced themselves in recent years as a top live band, but only now have find their sealegs again on record with the excellent "Accelerate". i caught them in Atlanta at the final gig of their US tour and it was inspiring. Cheers to a great band that has reaffirmed itself!

And Bjornulf, so cool you should mention "Aftermath" - it's my favorite track from 'Around the Sun', though it wasn't a hit here in the states.

Aftermath is great, but my favourite from Around the Sun is Electron Blue. At least half of the album is gret. In fact the only song I don't like is the Fial Straw. But the band is quite negative about the album, so they don't play a single song from it on this tour. What a pitty, Electorn Blue would pease me a lot and many others I am sure. Interesting is that they also don't play Everybody Hurts this time. It is like Stones not playing JJF. In fact I never liked EH much, but it is fantastic live.

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Happy24
Interesting is that they also don't play Everybody Hurts this time. It is like Stones not playing JJF. In fact I never liked EH much, but it is fantastic live.

that was the song that finally lost my interest in R.E.M. Going by relative timelines, I think it would be more like the Stones not playing "Fool to Cry."

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cc
I think it would be more like the Stones not playing "Fool to Cry."

I can not imagine a show like that!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-20 19:39 by Happy24.