Pop Culture Reflection: R.E.M Album: Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011

R.E.M might be ready to Begin the Begin to retire but the new songs included on their definitive collection still sound like classic R.E.M ballads which is comforting.

I give props to R.E.M for still having the song writing ability to remain as consistent as if they were writing music for albums in their I.R.S Records years.

While I liked the songs they selected for the definitive collection, I still feel like they exclude those real gems from the I.R.S. Records years like Feeling Gravity’s Pull, Auctioneer, Carnival of Sorts, Stumble, 9-9 and Lightin’ Hopkins.

If I could release my own R.E.M. hits collection I would choose the I.R.S years starting from Chronic Town to Document choosing only my favorites. It would go something like this:

The I.R.S. Hits

1. Carnival of Sorts
2. Stumble
3. Radio Free Europe
4. Moral Kiosk
5. 9-9
6. Sitting Still
7. West of the Fields
8. So Central Rain
9. Pretty Persuasion
10. Feeling Gravity’s Pull
11. Maps and Legends
12. Driver 8
13. Auctioneer
14. These Days
15. Superman
16. Welcome to the Occupation
17. The One I Love
18. It’s the End of the World as We Know It
19. Lightin’ Hopkins
20. All the Right Friends

I’m one of those fans that will never grow tired of owning the same great songs compiled in a different order. Even if I do already own that song on ten other albums in live and acoustic versions, and I’m pretty sure I do.

I listened to the new songs and A Month Of Saturdays was upbeat and gritty. The song reminds me of something that I would have heard included in their 1987 release Dead Letter Office.

The second song We All Go Back To Where We Belong was ok and had the same feel from their 1997 album UP .

But it was Hallelujah that stood out and I absolutely loved the song instantly. Thank you R.E.M for giving me just one more for the road.

Michael Stipe’s voice on Hallelujah gives me one more reason to love his vocal talent. His voice has always sounded distinct and it never ceases to amaze me.

I really could never compare his singing style to any other artist that I know. I also think he created the best way to sing the word hallelujah, without sounding like a church choir boy!

Tags: a month of saturdays, bill berry, Hallelujah, I.R.S. Records, Michael Stipe, mike mills, peter buck, pylon, R.E.M. part lies part heart part truth part garbage, Warner Brothers