@roxy54 Totally agree on Bill Berry. Hard to give REM superstar status with one weak link in the band but somehow, for me, they are up there given the vibrant energy they brought to rock n' roll at a time when the great bands of the 60s were lost in a fog of drugs and mid life crises.
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?
Showing 4 responses by dodgealum
@roxy54 Gotta take issue with the statement "I think thatt hey were average musicians". IMHO Mike Mills is one of the top 10 bass guitar players of all time. He carried the band, drove the music forward, and sang some decent backup vocals to boot. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that REM saved rock music, coming on the scene at the peak of the pompous, overwrought arena rock era and before the emergence of grunge and the whole Seattle scene. I can remember driving home from college in 83' cranking "Murmur" on my tricked out car stereo and feeling that music was alive again. A pivotal band that with an amazing discography until "Out of Time" when they lost their way and then fizzled out altogether. |
@kb54 copy The Smiths they were working the same field but on the other side of the water—and they also had a great bass player. |