Don't argue - The best band in the world. (REM in general)

Member Name: driver8

Product:	REM in general
Date:	14/05/01 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stipe, Mills, Buck

Disadvantages: Too short.

I have just returned from a trip to Cologne to watch REM live on the final leg of their European Promotional tour for their new album 'Reveal'.

Let me talk about the concert first. It took place in the open air beside a very big church indeed (Cologne Cathedral). The weather, for once on the tour, was gorgeous and the support band from Berlin (Seeed) were splendid. They have a new album out in a week's time, so we'll try to get that one.

At 9 o'clock, Messrs Stipe, Mills & Buck took to the stage with their entouurage of two multi-instrumentalists and a drummer. (sorry...I don't know their names, and there were no band intros - although I think the drummer is Joey Waronker (son of Lenny?))

The set list consisted of around 5 songs from the new album, on the strength of which everyone should buy it. Interspersed throughout the set were some of my own personal favourites - So. Central Rain, Find The River (touchingly dedicated to a friend of the band), The One I Love, It's the end of the world.

They also played tracks from the forgotten albums - New Adventures in Hi-Fi and Up. The greatest thing about this concert for me, is that it forces you to go back and re-assess those albums. If they lie unplayed in your CD stack then go and play Electrolite, Daysleeper and At My Most Beautiful, they are truly wonderful songs.

I was also impressed by the way REM play it all so straight down the line - no wayward solos, no artifically lengthened songs, just straight ahead, guitar driven rock music. What a pleasure and a re-affirmation of all that's great about Rock Music - clever tunes, witty, cerebral lyrics and musicians who know what they're doing.

Since I've only just got the album proper I've only heard the first four tracks, but so far so good. Stand out track for me is All the Way to Reno which they played in Cologne. I suspect that this is going to take
REM right back to their pre-eminent position as "The Greatest Rock Band in the World". If you'd seen them in Cologne you wouldn't want to argue.

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