R.E.M. - Murmur (Deluxe Edition)
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One of the most important albums, R.E.M.'s Murmur was re-released yesterday as a Deluxe Edition by Universal Records. What sets this release apart from the original 1983 release and the "IRS Vintage Years Edition" from 1993 is obviously the packaging and bonus second disc, featuring a rare entire live concert from Larry's Hideaway in Toronto, Canada (July 9, 1983).
The live tracks sound excellent with no evidence of it being a bootleg (e.g. no loud/talkative audience or fuzzy cassette recordings). No way, this audio sounds like it was recorded from the soundboard and features most of the songs from Murmur done live but with some then b-sides and one amazing cover rendition of The Velvet Underground's "There She Goes Again".
Like many of you from my generation, I wasn't hip to R.E.M. until they had their big hit crossover song, "Losing My Religion" (which incidentally, Out of Time was re-issued by Warner in 2005 to include an extra DVD-audio 5.1 mix of the album) but quickly went to the stores to pick up their back catalog. I bought it all, eventually, starting with Green (for "Orange Crush" and "Stand") to their first album, Murmur.
To be honest, between all the R.E.M. CDs, the one that was worn the most was Eponymous, which was a compilation of odds and hits and my least favorite was Dead Letter Office which seems kind of broken. I even joined their fanclub, which I think was also called "Dead Letter Office." That was a long time ago, that was in the days when people still mailed each other mixtapes.
So, anyway, I picked up Murmur rather late, in the early 90s, when they had started re-issuing most, if not all, of the vinyl releases on "compact discs." I guess, at the time, if you'll remember that I had been impressed with Out of Time, listening to Murmur didn't speak to me.
I've always thought that their big hit for this album, "Radio Free Europe," was sort of a protest song about Europe's tight control over the radio airwaves (despite that I keep reading that the song has "unintelligible lyrics"). I mean, I have no idea what they are talking about:
The live tracks sound excellent with no evidence of it being a bootleg (e.g. no loud/talkative audience or fuzzy cassette recordings). No way, this audio sounds like it was recorded from the soundboard and features most of the songs from Murmur done live but with some then b-sides and one amazing cover rendition of The Velvet Underground's "There She Goes Again".
Like many of you from my generation, I wasn't hip to R.E.M. until they had their big hit crossover song, "Losing My Religion" (which incidentally, Out of Time was re-issued by Warner in 2005 to include an extra DVD-audio 5.1 mix of the album) but quickly went to the stores to pick up their back catalog. I bought it all, eventually, starting with Green (for "Orange Crush" and "Stand") to their first album, Murmur.
To be honest, between all the R.E.M. CDs, the one that was worn the most was Eponymous, which was a compilation of odds and hits and my least favorite was Dead Letter Office which seems kind of broken. I even joined their fanclub, which I think was also called "Dead Letter Office." That was a long time ago, that was in the days when people still mailed each other mixtapes.
So, anyway, I picked up Murmur rather late, in the early 90s, when they had started re-issuing most, if not all, of the vinyl releases on "compact discs." I guess, at the time, if you'll remember that I had been impressed with Out of Time, listening to Murmur didn't speak to me.
I've always thought that their big hit for this album, "Radio Free Europe," was sort of a protest song about Europe's tight control over the radio airwaves (despite that I keep reading that the song has "unintelligible lyrics"). I mean, I have no idea what they are talking about:
Raving station, beside yourself
Keep me out of country in the word
Deal the porch is leading us absurd.
Push that, push that, push that to the hull
That this isn't nothing at all.
Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio free Europe
Keep me out of country in the word
Deal the porch is leading us absurd.
Push that, push that, push that to the hull
That this isn't nothing at all.
Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio free Europe
Speaking of lyrics, I love some of the lyrics to "Talk About The Passion": "Not everyone can carry the weight of the world". Although I didn't quite catch the rest of the lyrics - but apparently this contains some French "combien du temps?" (How much time?)
As I previously mentioned, this was an important album; you have to remember this was in 1983 and this relatively unknown band was doing what is known now as alternative indie rock which was very strange. All the music preceding this was utilizing synthesizers and trying to basically sound like Gary Numan or Duran Duran. Not that this was a bad time for music, it was just that this REM's style of alternative music was a breath of fresh air.
As I previously mentioned, this was an important album; you have to remember this was in 1983 and this relatively unknown band was doing what is known now as alternative indie rock which was very strange. All the music preceding this was utilizing synthesizers and trying to basically sound like Gary Numan or Duran Duran. Not that this was a bad time for music, it was just that this REM's style of alternative music was a breath of fresh air.
If you're not familiar with Universal's Deluxe Edition series, I have previously written about them, so please check them out. The Deluxe Edition series have been very popular with collectors and have a few copycat series spawned by other record companies - but I would reckon Universal since they came on the scene first.
One minor complaint I should mention about Murmur is that the lyric booklet is a fold-out poster of the album artwork with a few essays written by people involved with the album (well most of them anyway). I am not a fan of the layout, which is kind of a cut and paste style that looks amateurish. I realized this is "the look" they were going for, but I just like things to not look messy, you know? And unlike some previous Deluxe Edition releases, the printed item is pretty bare bones with just a couple of photographs of the band by Sandra Phipps, circa 1983. However, Michael Stipe never looked more serious than in these photos.
One minor complaint I should mention about Murmur is that the lyric booklet is a fold-out poster of the album artwork with a few essays written by people involved with the album (well most of them anyway). I am not a fan of the layout, which is kind of a cut and paste style that looks amateurish. I realized this is "the look" they were going for, but I just like things to not look messy, you know? And unlike some previous Deluxe Edition releases, the printed item is pretty bare bones with just a couple of photographs of the band by Sandra Phipps, circa 1983. However, Michael Stipe never looked more serious than in these photos.
What's important is that the remastered tracks, lead by Dana Smart, sound even better than my original IRS album! I even tried to listen to the original CD and, on my headphones, I can tell that the Deluxe Edition's audio is clearer and better than the original CD I have. I don't think I can go back to listening my original copy, sorry!
If you're an R.E.M. fan, you should definitely do yourself a favor and pick up the Deluxe Edition. The album is available at all record stores.
Bonus: Here are some of my favorite R.E.M. songs:
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Links: www.remhq.com myspace.com/rem
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Comments
This REM review is a feast for all the Vox readers. Thank you so much!
Hmmm. "Driver 8".... what a song. My fave too from their not so famous era.
What do you think about their latest ouevres? "Electron Blue"? " Supernatural Superserious"?
Not to mention he looked like he had a lot more hair.
so. central train kills me.