New Adventures In Hi-Fi - R.E.M.

R.E.M. are a band I have grown up with. From first hearing "Shiny, Happy People" on the radio at the tender age of twelve in 1991 (Where does the time go people?) I have been hooked by their distinct sound and unique music. However, it was the release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi that propelled them through my CD collection to become my favourite band and there they have remained ever since. Released in 1996 New Adventures in Hi-Fi is for me R.E.M's finest hour. It is not in any way a commercial album and as such does not contain instantly catchy songs like in previous albums. You will find no "Losing My Religion" here nor will you find an ...  Read the complete review

I have always like REM, but for me they are a little to POP. Some of there music lasks the edge I tend to enjoy in music. However this album 'New adventures in Hi-Fi changes all that! They are like a new band, heavy rock, loud guitars, agressive lyrics, very un REM. Thats why I love it so!! So as usual here is what I think of each song. 1. How the west was won and where it got us - An unusual song to start. Some strange words and weird music, quite a slow song and when I first heard this I wondered if had made an error in judgment buying this! 7/10 2. The Wake-up Bomb - BANG!!! Album explodes into life! Loud guitars fast beat, everything ...  Read the complete review

'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' is one of R.E.M.'s most under-rated albums. It was released in 1996, just two years after 'Monster' and hot on the heals of the ill-fated Monster World Tour, during which only Peter Buck was left physically untouched by serious illness. All of the material contained on New Adventures was written during that tour, recorded at sound checks, in back rooms, or simply prepared for studio recording. At the time I remember being pleasantly surprised that Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe had managed to release another album so quickly, and today I am equally as thankful - want to know why? Well, anyone who knows anything ...  Read the complete review

Probably the most overlooked R.E.M. album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi outwardly appears to be a hotch-potch of different styles, disjointedly compiled, and unfortunately for many as easily forgotten as it is missed on the record store's shelf. But it is, as you've probably guessed I would say, so much more than that. For those not as familiar with R.E.M. as I am, and also for those who may have, however bizarrely, developed a distaste for their particular strand of alternative-rock, R.E.M. are about the intangibility of the true essence of the world we inhabit. I know what your thinking, 'what a pretentious wipesnagger', but New Adventures is a ...  Read the complete review

Now, we all know that REM are supposed to have fallen into an awful lull in recent years, with the throwaway 'Monster', and a difficult 'Up'. But how fair is that on 'New Adventures...'? Well, it all depends how you measure it. 'Out Of Time' had classic album written right the way through it, like a stick of rock. And 'Automatic For The People' was at least as good, with what is possibly the Best Ever REM Song: "Find The River". But! i digress! What about 'New Adventures...'? Well, musically, it's not a million miles from the two preceding albums. But it didn't get anything like the ...  Read the complete review