"Radio Song" or "Belong" making it on from Out of Time--"Belong" is a very different take on the apocalypse than "It's The End..." or the later stuff, and the spoken vocals are really chilling--"The creatures jumped the barracades and headed to the sea, see..."
"Bang and Blame" and "Let Me In" from Monster--the former was a substantial radio hit and the latter has substantial cultural significance. (Even though I'm not a big fan of the album, it holds a place in my heart because I saw the Monster tour in Memphis.)
You know, maybe it's because I'm becoming a cranky old man, but I've gotten to the point that I just refuse to read websites that won't provide the option of reading a single article on a single webpage.
Here's the single-page version of the article (and these are Jessica Winter's opinions, not mine): "If you're going to do a 40-song retrospective, 38 of those songs should be from the first six REM albums. Michael Stipe is pretentious."
No replacing Talk About the Passion with Perfect Circle! Talk About the Passion is the rosetta stone of Peter Buck rickenbacker riffs. I do like her suggestions to replace "Get Up," though I'd go with World Leader. I'm glad they included Country Feedback.
Both of them managed to single out the worst songs on Automatic -- assume for argument that album gets four songs (this is not a good assumption). Those songs are: Drive, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Man on the Moon (barely), and Find the River.
Monster/New Test: Agree on Kenneth, and the replacement suggestion for Crush with Eyeliner. Throw in the Patti Smith duet on E-bow. You know Stipe wants to.
From 28 to the end, only Imitation of Life would make the cut. Rather than cannabilize album sales, just make it a 30 song record. Throw on All the Way to Reno, and Swan Swan H while you're at it.
Led Zeppelin II: Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid/Ramble On (or, alternatively, What Is and What Should Never Be/Lemon Song/Thank You)
Sticky Fingers: basically any three-song stretch that doesn't include You Gotta Move -- seriously, that leaves you with Brown Sugar/Sway/Wild Horses/Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Bitch/I Got the Blues/Sister Morphine/Dead Flowers/Moonlight Mile
Nevermind: Any three in a row from the first six: Smells Like Teen Spirit/In Bloom/Come As You Are/Breed/Lithium/Polly
Those are just the first three albums that came to mind. I'm sure that people will say Joshua Tree (I'm not on board, but the first three on Side 1 were huge hits), maybe some Springsteen, etc.
I'm definitely on board for Joshua Tree--the build from Streets to Still Haven't Found into the longing of With or Without You. There's also an argument for U2 on All That You Can't Leave Behind, with Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, and Elevation.
All great, particularly the Stones -- switching genres, I'd also add Lucinda Williams' Changed the Locks/Passionate Kisses/Am I Too Blue from her self-titled album.
I'd also argue for:
ReplyDelete"Radio Song" or "Belong" making it on from Out of Time--"Belong" is a very different take on the apocalypse than "It's The End..." or the later stuff, and the spoken vocals are really chilling--"The creatures jumped the barracades and headed to the sea, see..."
"Bang and Blame" and "Let Me In" from Monster--the former was a substantial radio hit and the latter has substantial cultural significance. (Even though I'm not a big fan of the album, it holds a place in my heart because I saw the Monster tour in Memphis.)
"Around The Sun" from Around The Sun.
"Strange Currencies" is one that stands out to me that she didn't mention. "Walk Unafraid."
ReplyDelete"Superman."
ReplyDeleteAnd I would add "How the West Was Won" from New Adventures in Hi-Fi, which I think is a very under-rated album.
You know, maybe it's because I'm becoming a cranky old man, but I've gotten to the point that I just refuse to read websites that won't provide the option of reading a single article on a single webpage.
ReplyDeleteHere's the single-page version of the article (and these are Jessica Winter's opinions, not mine): "If you're going to do a 40-song retrospective, 38 of those songs should be from the first six REM albums. Michael Stipe is pretentious."
ReplyDeleteNo replacing Talk About the Passion with Perfect Circle! Talk About the Passion is the rosetta stone of Peter Buck rickenbacker riffs. I do like her suggestions to replace "Get Up," though I'd go with World Leader. I'm glad they included Country Feedback.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them managed to single out the worst songs on Automatic -- assume for argument that album gets four songs (this is not a good assumption). Those songs are: Drive, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Man on the Moon (barely), and Find the River.
Monster/New Test: Agree on Kenneth, and the replacement suggestion for Crush with Eyeliner. Throw in the Patti Smith duet on E-bow. You know Stipe wants to.
From 28 to the end, only Imitation of Life would make the cut. Rather than cannabilize album sales, just make it a 30 song record. Throw on All the Way to Reno, and Swan Swan H while you're at it.
Is the answer to the title of this post "Maggie May"?
ReplyDeleteA little grossed out by the lack of You Are the Everything and Find the River.
ReplyDeleteMan in the Moon, Nightswimming and Find the River make up one of the best three-song combinations on any album ever.
ReplyDeleteChallenge accepted:
ReplyDeleteLed Zeppelin II: Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid/Ramble On (or, alternatively, What Is and What Should Never Be/Lemon Song/Thank You)
Sticky Fingers: basically any three-song stretch that doesn't include You Gotta Move -- seriously, that leaves you with Brown Sugar/Sway/Wild Horses/Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Bitch/I Got the Blues/Sister Morphine/Dead Flowers/Moonlight Mile
Nevermind: Any three in a row from the first six: Smells Like Teen Spirit/In Bloom/Come As You Are/Breed/Lithium/Polly
Those are just the first three albums that came to mind. I'm sure that people will say Joshua Tree (I'm not on board, but the first three on Side 1 were huge hits), maybe some Springsteen, etc.
I'm definitely on board for Joshua Tree--the build from Streets to Still Haven't Found into the longing of With or Without You. There's also an argument for U2 on All That You Can't Leave Behind, with Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, and Elevation.
ReplyDeleteYou don't even have to leave Athens: Begin the Begin/These Days/Fall on Me
ReplyDeleteone more: Detroit Has A Skyline/Eastern Terminal/Animated Aeroplanes Over Germany, from Superchunk's Here's Where The Strings Come In.
I tried to go mass-market, but sure, if we're going underground, we could be here all day.
ReplyDeleteAll great, particularly the Stones -- switching genres, I'd also add Lucinda Williams' Changed the Locks/Passionate Kisses/Am I Too Blue from her self-titled album.
ReplyDeleteFor mass market, couldn't the 2nd half of Synchronicity get on the short list?
ReplyDelete