Life After R.E.M.: Discussion Thread

[Wildpeace]

Anybody been attending the Michael Shannon R.E.M. tribute shows? I've seen him the last couple years and they just came by doing Life's Rich Pageant in full and a bunch of other rarities. It's a ton of fun! Even a member of Wilco is in the band.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I'm intrigued by the fact that once a year most of actual REM shows up to the Michael Shannon shows.

I didn't realize they traveled the country, though. Maybe they can do a double bill with Hank Azaria's Springsteen band

 

[U2inUtah]

I'm intrigued by the fact that once a year most of actual REM shows up to the Michael Shannon shows.

I didn't realize they traveled the country, though. Maybe they can do a double bill with Hank Azaria's Springsteen band

speaking of which: Stipe joined them for "These Days" last night in Brooklyn

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

speaking of which: Stipe joined them for "These Days" last night in Brooklyn

He did Imitation of Life as well, which reminded me of how much Iike that song

 

[lazarus]

I believe the second song was The Great Beyond, not Imitation.

A shame, because the former is easily in the top 5 most overrated R.E.M. tracks; their Electrical Storm, if you will.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I believe the second song was The Great Beyond, not Imitation.

A shame, because the former is easily in the top 5 most overrated R.E.M. tracks; their Electrical Storm, if you will.

It was.

I'm a doofus.

 

[U2inUtah]

Speaking of The Great Beyond and Imitation of Life, it amazes me how much better R.E.M. charted in the UK in their later years compared to the US.

Their last top 40 hit in the US was Bang and Blame in 1994.

Meanwhile in the UK:
1996: E-Bow The Letter hit #4
1998: Daysleeper hit #6
1999: At My Most Beautiful #10
1999: The Great Beyond #3
2001: Imitation of Life #6
2003: Bad Day #8
2004: Leaving New York #5

 

[monkeyskin]

Speaking of The Great Beyond and Imitation of Life, it amazes me how much better R.E.M. charted in the UK in their later years compared to the US.

Their last top 40 hit in the US was Bang and Blame in 1994.

Meanwhile in the UK:
1996: E-Bow The Letter hit #4
1998: Daysleeper hit #6
1999: At My Most Beautiful #10
1999: The Great Beyond #3
2001: Imitation of Life #6
2003: Bad Day #8
2004: Leaving New York #5

Until streaming changed everything, the UK Singles Chart was based solely on units sold. Radio airplay didn't factor in at all to rankings. Not sure what things were like in America from the 1990s to mid-2000s, but CD singles were big business in the UK.

Most of those R.E.M. singles were lead-off singles released prior to the album. For an established band like R.E.M., these would usually chart highest due to fans wanting the song physically ASAP and they were likely to have the most non-album track b-sides. At My Most Beautiful did well to crack the top ten as a third single release.

The Great Beyond was a non-album single and had live tracks from Glastonbury as the b-sides, a major reason why it was their highest ever charting single in the UK. I've still got my copy.