G M T Official Forum

From a 50,000 seater venue to a 7,500 venue - oh dear REM. Oh dear.
Never bothered with the last CD - the first single put me off, 'Leaving New York' or something, very dreary. This is what happens when people vanish up their own arses - Stipe has always been pretentious, but this decade has seen him become worse than ever, then you have the other guy who has never caused any trouble, suddenly acting up on an airplane
To be fair to REM, they were pretty much on the slippery slope a long time before they released their killer tracks in the late 80's and 90's but they had to move the goalposts a lot to achieve this thus becoming very untrue to their goals and beliefs.
I think the huge amount of money and success that REM have had have sadly left them back in the situation where they can make the music that THEY want to make but unfortunately very little of the paying public want to hear it ... of course I could be wrong and REM will reinvent themselves once again - but I very much doubt it.

Well I would argue that they have regained their frequency, to be honest with you, but then I would, wouldn't I?

Accelerate is certainly their best offering since drummer Bill Berry left the scene in '97 although UP, Reveal and Around The Sun did have their moments. They have publicly admitted they lost sight of where they were going with the last album. By putting together a 'best of' ,touring said album, releasing a dvd and recording they were doing too much at once.

The Dublin 'live rehearsals' were a brave move last year, there aren't many bands I can think of that take unfinished tunes out onto the stage and play them in front of their fans, some of whom had flown from all over the world.

As for from 50,000 to 7,500 venues, I think Twickenham, LCCC, The Rosebowl and Cardiff International Arena might argue the toss with you there about their capacities? That's just in this country!
I for one don't think the band are particulary worried about the size of the venue. In recent years I have seen them play the Hammersmith Apollo and Brixton Academy (approx capacity 4,500) and they were great shows, but I would say that, wouldn't I?

You would say that, wouldn't you?



Michael is not amused...

Are you sure that isn't Redial ? !!