Upby Anonymous
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February 20, 2008:
It takes more than a little intellectual arrogance to make a go at criticism, at least when it comes to new works of art. It's much like assuming that journalism is a sort of instant history, which of course it cannot be, because history is the product of time and impartial reflection-- not emotion, hasty judgment or opinion. Rilke, a sensitive and informed critic himself, knew about the fallibility of instant judgments. "Always trust yourself and your own feeling," he wrote in Letters To A Young Poet, "as opposed to argumentations, discussions, or introductions of that sort if it turns out that you are wrong, then the natural growth of your inner life will eventually guide you to other insights." When it comes to so-called criticism, Rilke knew, we don't often get it right the first time. Personally, I've found that to be the case with the entire post-Bill Berry R.E.M. catalogue, from Up to Around the Sun. Up, in particular, was particularly baffling upon its initial release. With loops and waves of feedback in large part replacing the familiar R.E.M. jangle, it didn't exactly blow you away upon first listen "or second listen, for that matter". It's certainly not the finest collection of R.E.M. songs ever recorded, but it's certainly not as bad as some critics would have you believe. It does, after all, contain the wry and melodic "Daysleeper," which certainly belongs in the upper echelon of the R.E.M. catalogue. Accustomed to brilliance and artistic growth with nearly every R.E.M. release, what most of us refused to acknowledge was that Up was the work of a band learning to work with each other again. Drummer Bill Berry's retirement following his illness and emergency surgery during the mid-nineties Monster tour not only left R.E.M. without its percussive engine, but it also left the band bereft of a songwriting force, as well "Berry's drunken slip of the hand while playing around on acoustic guitar, which led to the "Man In The Moon" intro, is part of the R.E.M. legend". Perhaps it's not exactly equivalent to the Who carrying on without Keith Moon, but it's close. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to see that Up, although far from perfect, does contain a handful of unforgettable songs: "At My Most Beautiful," "Daysleeper," "You're In The Air," and "The Apologist." Personally, I have a special liking for the latter, which combines feedback and keys, countermelody and a chorus reminiscent of "South Central Rain." I'm sorry, too, for at first judging Up so harshly. Why is it that your favorite albums are often the ones you couldn't stand on first listen? Up might not be my favorite R.E.M. album, and it's certainly not among their best, but it's far better than most critics would have you believe. It's definitely worth another listen.
Upby Anonymous
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October 31, 2005:
7 years after it was released, Up is the R.E.M. album that has grown on me the most. An underrated masterpiece, it represents the first look at a new R.E.M., going forth without founding member Bill Berry. (Why does this website list him in the credits? He did not play on this album at all!) His departure had an effect on both the music and lyrics. Without a drummer, the band was propelled a few albums ahead of where they had been musically - singer Michael Stipe even said this himself. Drum machines and electronic flourishes pepper the album, and the effect is marvelous. "Airportman" is an intricately layered introduction with lyrics as an afterthought. From there it just gets better - the rocking "Lotus" stands out from the 13 other ballads, but nevertheless, it fits well on here. "Daysleeper" and "At My Most Beautiful" were only mild hits, but they are just as wonderful as the ubiquitous chart-toppers like "Losing My Religion." Lyrically, the album deals with loss, disappointment, and the eventual moving forward - listen to "Sad Professor" or "Diminished" (plus the one-minute guitar piece tacked on to the end of it, "I'm Not Over You") and try not to be emotionally moved. I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in expanding their musical consciousness, or wants a soundtrack to a recent breakup. If you're new to R.E.M, however, I would advise you to start with Automatic For The People, or Out Of Time (although all their albums are excellent!!)
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