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R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious

 

http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/W798CD.JPG

Out 25th February 2008

 

"Supernatural Superserious" may be a pleasant surprise for R.E.M. fans fearing the band's 14th studio album would be yet another dispensable entry in their catalog. It's a sharp, compact rock song that's softer than Monster, but nowhere near as soggy as Around the Sun. Producer Jacknife Lee - you know him from Snow Patrol, Editors, and Bloc Party albums - makes each element stand out, suggesting the democratic sound of the band's I.R.S. years. Mike Mills inhabits the low and high ends with a pulsing bassline and high careening backing vocals, while Peter Buck's guitars scribble around in the middle, pushed along by a double-time drum beat. There's even a little old-school jangle in the background. Sure, Stipe still telegraphs the song's underlying be-yourself sentiment- a lamentable tendency since Up - and sure, he's been writing this same bridge for a while now, but he sounds rougher and more urgent here than he has in a while, he and Mills creating an intricate vocal weave on the chorus hook. R.E.M. are still a corporate band, but on "Supernatural Superserious" they sound like an interesting corporate band, with renewed energy and sense of purpose.

 

What do you think of R.E.M.'s "comeback" single?

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well it's undoubtedly the best song they've written in years, I think. REM always suffer from their work sounding very samey - and whilst there's no doubting who this song is by - it's not bad at all - doesn't outstay its welcome, has a great hook and sounds like it was made for radio.

 

One thing with REM, though - why is their artwork always so grotesque? Each and every single one of their cover designs has been appalling - a pinnacle of ugly design and, seeing this new album, it seems it's a trend they're keen to continue. Yeuch.

Producer Jacknife Lee - you know him from Snow Patrol, Editors, and Bloc Party albums

 

then again i guess there must be at least one person who knows him from his solo albums - had a promo of his last year that was so not worth listening to i've forgot what it was - was his albums as uninspiring as the tracks i've forgotten??

 

btw Compulsion - anything like Snow Patrol??? a before their time arena-stadium-janglepop-thing??

 

One thing with REM, though - why is their artwork always so grotesque? Each and every single one of their cover designs has been appalling - a pinnacle of ugly design and, seeing this new album, it seems it's a trend they're keen to continue. Yeuch.

 

Each and every one??? but as they've been going since like 1609 - there must be a design you like

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/OutOfTimeCover.jpg

 

too simple maybbe???

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/REM_Document_cover.jpg

 

too much a 23 envelope-wannabe???

I don't like a single one of REM's covers - just checked the whole back catalogue - and they're, without doubt, the most aesthetically displeasing bunch of album covers I've ever seen - not one of them is any good. You think they'd have gotten it right by now, wouldn't you? :D

The awesome video:

 

 

Great song, great video. I know Accelerate is going to be a brilliant album, with only Around The Sun becoming their only duff LP in my eyes. :P

  • 3 weeks later...
The awesome video:

 

 

Great song, great video. I know Accelerate is going to be a brilliant album, with only Around The Sun becoming their only duff LP in my eyes. :P

 

yeah its a great video - saw it for the first time on the hits 4 music buzz chart - howver as far as REM's albums are - like fellow "aretheyalternativearetheydadrockstadiumtypes" - i find them all very hit and miss - theyre are great great songs in their back cat - but others that bore

 

this is a good one!!

 

however altogether now "Leo-nard Bern-stein!!!"

I don't like a single one of REM's covers - just checked the whole back catalogue - and they're, without doubt, the most aesthetically displeasing bunch of album covers I've ever seen - not one of them is any good. You think they'd have gotten it right by now, wouldn't you? :D

 

Yep, I have to agree, REM do pretty rubbish album covers.... :lol:

 

i still like their artistic view with their covers...

btw, the cover of "Accelerate" is amazing!

 

"Supernatural Superserious" is very good as always.

that band cant dissapoint you.

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