Tag: R.E.M.

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Music Reviews

R.E.M.: “R.E.M. At The BBC” Review

 

In my recent review of R.E.M.’s The Best Of R.E.M. At The BBC [which you can read here], I explained that while that two-disc compilation had some good songs on it, it really just made me want the all-inclusive boxed set from which it was culled, R.E.M. At The BBC (CD, digital), a seven CD, one DVD collection that presents everything the band ever recorded for BBC radio and TV. But as with any big, multi-disc collection, the question is always how big of a fan of the band do you have to be to make this worth your while.

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Music Reviews

R.E.M.: “The Best Of R.E.M. At The BBC” Review

R.E.M. The Best Of R.E.M. At The BBC

 

Like similar collections by Guns ‘N’ Roses [Appetite For Destruction: Deluxe Edition] and Pink Floyd [The Early Years 1967–1972: Cre/ation], R.E.M.’s The Best Of R.E.M. At The BBC (CD, vinyl) is a two-disc sampler from a much larger boxed set, the 8CD/1DVD R.E.M. At The BBC (CD, digital) [my review of which is here].

But while there’s a lot of good music on R.E.M.’s Best Of collection, it’s hard to recommend when the vastly superior complete collection is so readily available.

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Music Reviews

R.E.M.’s “Automatic For The People: 25th Anniversary Edition” Review

 

Depending on your perspective, R.E.M.’s 1992 album Automatic For The People is either one of their best, or their most uneven and inconsistent. But whether you adore it or just think it’s okay, you’ll find something to enjoy in the new Automatic For The People 25th Anniversary Edition. In fact, the only real question is whether you buy the regular version on CD, the deluxe version on CD, the digital edition, or the vinyl.

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Music

R.E.M.’s “Out Of Time: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition” Review

 

Like a lot of bands who’ve issued expanded versions of their old albums, the Deluxe Editions that R.E.M. have released have been great for people who want the album to sound better, but a mixed bag for hardcore fans hoping to hear something new or looking for a complete live show from that era. So it’s not surprising that the reissue of Out Of Time — which is available as both a two-disc regular version (CD, digital) and as a 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (CD, digital) would basically be the same problematic mix of good music and obvious omissions.

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Music

15 Best Live Albums You’ve Never Heard

 

Ever since I got into music in the late-’70s, I’ve been a big fan of live albums. But I’m also very particular when it comes to them; I only like them if they’re organic, cruelty free, and soundboard-to-stereo. In other words, they have to be from a single show, be the whole show, not be “fixed” in the studio, and be professionally recorded by the band, from the soundboard, or broadcast on the radio or the Internet. If they’re two or three shows mixed together, missing songs, feature overdubbed guitar parts and vocals, or recorded by some guy who snuck a tape recorder in by stuffing it down his pants — a guy I’ve been — then I don’t care.

But while I may be super picky about what live albums I’ll put in my speakers, there are actually quite a few great ones that meet the criteria. They’re just not always the most readily available.

Here’s fifteen great sounding, mostly uncut, single show live albums you might’ve missed.

 

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