I got this text message from my 19-year old brother, Kyle, a few weeks ago:
"I always knew R.E.M. was a good band, but wow I just heard the song 'Nightswimming' and that song rules."
We text messaged back and forth a bit, me telling him I've seen them live four times. He wanted to know if one of those times was in the 80's, as that would be most impressive. Luckily, I just made the cool test as one of the concerts was in 1989.
Being a longtime R.E.M. fan, ever since hearing them on a college radio station when I was in 8th grade, I have just about all of their albums. So, I told Kyle that I'd make him a mixed cd. He agreed, as long as it includes 'Nightswimming,' and has bugged me about it a couple of times since.
I'm finally working on it today. It's a struggle to find just the right amount of songs for just one cd. I love so much of their work, but am also trying to be objective and pick tracks I think Kyle will enjoy.
We've been able to talk about and share musical tastes for a few years now, which I like. That didn't happen so much when he was younger and into Savage Garden or later when he went through his Norwegian black metal phase. I do like one of his very favorite groups, Blink-182, and he helped school me in the members of Rancid when I got to see them perform acoustically a few months ago.
I've been kind of homesick for my two younger brothers lately, so this is a good way to do some long distance family bonding.
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REM has always been one of my favorite bands, but I've never seen them in concert (I'm not much of a concert-goer). "Nightswimming" and "What's the Frequency Kenneth" are popular with my kids, now (although Morgan was a bit bummed out when we explained the story behind "Kenneth"). I haven't been thrilled with their latest releases - I'm not even sure if I've heard the latest one, maybe I need to check it out on iTunes...
My best friend was in a band in our college years and they did mostly covers. REM was a very popular choice.
I have to agree about the later releases. I really liked Up, but was thoroughly unimpressed by Reveal and Around The Sun.
They are great live. Michael Stipe is quite an energetic showman, which doesn't come across in interviews as he is so soft spoken.
I think I am one of the few who doesn't like R.E.M. Well I have never been like everyone else :)
That's okay, Dianna. I still remember that cool R.E.M. poster you gave to me when I was in college. I had it up at least 3 of the 4 years. : )
Of course I don't remember that, but if you had a picture I might...lol Still don't remember being at Universal with everyone that day. O well. Such is life.
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