R.E.M.'s seventh album was released in 1991. This was their first album of the 90's and the first one where I was alive when it was released. Now go listen to it!
Out of Time marked a departure from arena rock R.E.M. to a quieter more folky sound. At the same time it had the same mix of earnest rockers, cryptic ballads and silly lighthearted songs that populated most of the the previous 2 albums. There are guest stars (a rapper!) their biggest hit to date (losing my religion) a couple highly underrated gems (half a world away and country feedback). Also thrown in is R.E.M.'s most irritating song - shiny happy people , supposedly written after the record company said the songs were too slow and somber, and the strange/intriguing songs - low and belong. One of the most diverse R.E.M. albums I think. In the end while it's an interesting listen, it still does not seem to hang together like their best releases do, maybe because of all the different styles. The band certainly does show it's versatility and Stipe steps back a little from Green, going back into writing more cryptic lyrics on some songs, while being more direct than ever on others, but without the arena rock aggression that he'd been moving towards before. I've read comments before stating that this was R.E.M.'s last "great" album, I don't agree with that but I can see why people like it, there was a little something for everyone on it. I would not put it at the very top of their releases but it was enjoyable listening to it again, I think it holds up pretty well for the most part.
This album was not the easiest to listen to. It starts out great with the first two song but then it slows down in the middle before picking up again for the last three or four tracks. The sound is still between their older and newer stuff but most of it has the newer feel. Overall it definitely has the much bigger and fuller sound. While Losing My Religion is always a fan favorite, I would have to say that I would not pick any of the other songs for a greatest hits album. I'm sure being around for the release of the album makes it seem a lot more special, but as someone who went back and listen to it 20 years after release it just doesn't get it done all the way for me as an R.E.M. album.
Out of Time marked a departure from arena rock R.E.M. to a quieter more folky sound. At the same time it had the same mix of earnest rockers, cryptic ballads and silly lighthearted songs that populated most of the the previous 2 albums. There are guest stars (a rapper!) their biggest hit to date (losing my religion) a couple highly underrated gems (half a world away and country feedback). Also thrown in is R.E.M.'s most irritating song - shiny happy people , supposedly written after the record company said the songs were too slow and somber, and the strange/intriguing songs - low and belong. One of the most diverse R.E.M. albums I think. In the end while it's an interesting listen, it still does not seem to hang together like their best releases do, maybe because of all the different styles. The band certainly does show it's versatility and Stipe steps back a little from Green, going back into writing more cryptic lyrics on some songs, while being more direct than ever on others, but without the arena rock aggression that he'd been moving towards before. I've read comments before stating that this was R.E.M.'s last "great" album, I don't agree with that but I can see why people like it, there was a little something for everyone on it. I would not put it at the very top of their releases but it was enjoyable listening to it again, I think it holds up pretty well for the most part.
ReplyDeleteThis album was not the easiest to listen to. It starts out great with the first two song but then it slows down in the middle before picking up again for the last three or four tracks. The sound is still between their older and newer stuff but most of it has the newer feel. Overall it definitely has the much bigger and fuller sound. While Losing My Religion is always a fan favorite, I would have to say that I would not pick any of the other songs for a greatest hits album. I'm sure being around for the release of the album makes it seem a lot more special, but as someone who went back and listen to it 20 years after release it just doesn't get it done all the way for me as an R.E.M. album.
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