R.E.M. is no more

[Escobar123]

http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/09/21/rem-breakup/?iid=rcfooter-music-r.e.m.+calls+it+quits

After over three decades and 15 studio albums together, R.E.M. have decided to call it quits.
In a statement posted to their official website, the band told fans that Collapse Into Now (which was released earlier this year) would be the last thing the band recorded as a unit.

 

[SwampCreature]

It's the end of the world as we know it.

 

[driver 8]

... and I feel fine

The greatest band of my life

Very sad to see, but it was time to go.

R.E.M. - The Greatest!

 

[Eddie Dingle]

They were dead to me after Green.

 

[Mingo]

Sad, another one bites the dust as more and more rubbish gets played on the radio

 

[RisingPhoenix]

Given how long its been since REM were actually relevant, probably not an entirely bad move.

 

[bradrowe#32]

That's a shame. Really struggled to get into them after "New Adventures..." which was 1996 from memory.

 

[RisingPhoenix]

That's a shame. Really struggled to get into them after "New Adventures..." which was 1996 from memory.

Likewise.

Sadly Stipe appears as big a w***er as ever.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3323215.htm

"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it."

...........some 14 years too late.

 

[Mr Eagle]

You should REALLY listen to their last two albums. A massive bounce back to form after three weak efforts. Collapse Into Now was definitely a strong note to go out on.

They've been a huge part of my musical life for years... wish I'd been able to see them live more than once

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Likewise.

Sadly Stipe appears as big a w***er as ever.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3323215.htm

"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it."

...........some 14 years too late.

Exactly, New Adventures was really their last great album and that was kind of thrown together. Are they all going to become farmers like Bill did back in the day when he quit?

 

[XFactor1979]

One of my favourite bands

Im surprised they lasted so long given that they took a confrontational approach to songwriting, and is not really a band you can play in the office workplace. Their lyrics were either cryptic, or just out-and-out told people to "f off!" or "f you!". They along with Radiohead made depressing but incredibly pretty music


Fav songs (just to list a few)
Country Feedback
Let Me In
Life and How to Live it
Carnival of Sorts
Leave



And I never saw them live , I think they were down in Australia when grunge music was at its peak in the 90s

 

[E Shed]

Adored their first few records with 85's "Fables of the Reconstruction" my fave.
88's "Green" was where I lost interest,not much idea what's happened since then so won't effect me greatly! Loved love loved their jangly guitars, snarling, poetic lyrics and the air of southern decadence and splendour that seemed to permeate their songs.
Driver 8 & Cuyhoga are good examples of this.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

One of my favourite bands

Im surprised they lasted so long given that they took a confrontational approach to songwriting, and is not really a band you can play in the office workplace. Their lyrics were either cryptic, or just out-and-out told people to "f off!" or "f you!". They along with Radiohead made depressing but incredibly pretty music


Fav songs (just to list a few)
Country Feedback
Let Me In
Life and How to Live it
Carnival of Sorts
Leave



And I never saw them live , I think they were down in Australia when grunge music was at its peak in the 90s

Zither from New Adventures in HiFi was always a favourite or mine for some stupid reason, was an instrumental after all.

They kicked off their Monster World Tour in Jan 1995 in Perth, it's the same tour when they all got injured in some way be it aneurysm or whatever. There was a massive amount of interest in and around Perth from everywhere because at the time they were probably the biggest band on the world with U2 taking a break etc. The guitarist got married in Scarborough.

The wonderful Grant Lee Buffalo supported them.

 

[dr0ne]

I think it was time...they were really good and they made some brilliant albums but they were starting to lose their touch. I'll always enjoy their classics!

 

[krusden]

http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/09/21/rem-breakup/?iid=rcfooter-music-r.e.m.+calls+it+quits

annoying, but their lack of touring of late down under sort of hinted at a disinterest in album sales.

Automatic for the people is truly a 90s highlight, but they were really patchy after that.

 

[driver 8]

I always thought Up is a very under rated REM album. They adjusted to Bill Berry leaving beautifully (on record anyway). Probably my favourite post-Bill record. Am also quite fond of Accelerate.

Automatic for the People would have to be my favourite for sentimental reasons..

Top 5 albums
Automatic for the People
Lifes Rich Pagent
Murmur
New Adventures in Hifi
Up

Some of my lesser known favourite songs

Talk About the Passion (Murmur)
Perfect Circle (Murmur)
Be Mine(NAIHF)
Try Not to Breathe (AFTP)
Turn You Inside Out (Green)
I Took Your Name (Monster)
Half a World Away (Out of Time)
Talk About the Passion (Murmur)
Why Not Smile (Up)
She Just Wants to Be (Reveal)
Driver 8... obviously (Fables)

Honestly, I could go on about this band forever...

 

[Dan Moody]

Great list D8, add The Wrong Child to it.
Beautiful song.
Remember seeing REM at Festival Hall in 88, great concert.

 

[XFactor1979]

The news of them breaking up didnt make my day any better (in terms of being consoled)

Nor does listening to their music either

[youtube]cZUmrpzmYCg[/youtube]

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[Plugger35]

Great band, shame to see them break up but all good things must come to an end. They will probably reform again in a few years for a reunion tour like most bands do these days anyway.

I've got Automatic for the People, Monster, New Adventures in Hi-Fi and Reveal and all are great albums. Also read a very good REM biography a while ago called 'It Crawled from the South' which traces their whole story from their early days starting out in Athens Georgia, fascinating stuff for any REM buffs or music fans in general.

 

[Rohan25]

My favourite band. I own every one of their albums, and they mean something new to me every time I listen to them. I don't think they ever released a bad album. Most people hate Around the Sun, but I thought it was gorgeous. I'm going to spend the next few weeks with REM on in my car, listening to one album after the other.

Any word on a final best-of CD of some sort? Or maybe something with some really rare stuff on it. That would be cool.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

I thought I was into them a few years ago but never really got around to buying an album, then I completely lost interest. By the sounds of things I need to get one of their 80's albums. Anyone have any reccomendations?

 

[Mingo]

Most people hate Around the Sun, but I thought it was gorgeous.

I agree. Love Worst Joke Ever

 

[Ray Nolan]

Brilliant band, one of my favourites as well, have every album.

I thought their last 2 albums were very good, went out on a strong note.

Glad I got to see them play their 25th anniversary show in Adelaide back in 2005, was a great gig.

 

[XFactor1979]

Glad I got to see them play their 25th anniversary show in Adelaide back in 2005, was a great gig.

Argh the burning feeling of inconsolation!

It burns!


Oh well *ultimate admittance* You cant have everything, or do everything

 

[Mr Eagle]

Any word on a final best-of CD of some sort? Or maybe something with some really rare stuff on it. That would be cool.

http://www.prefixmag.com/news/rem-greatest-hits-album-coming-in-november-with-ne/56677/

Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982 – 2011
Whole career (IRS and Warner) plus possibly some new material post-Collapse Into Now. Sounds like it was the putting all this together that got them thinking about retirement...