Comments on: The Biggest Wagon Is The Empty Wagon Is The Noisiest -or- Steve Is Wrong About Subjective Song Preferences http://adaniller.com/2009/06/30/the-biggest-wagon-is-the-empty-wagon-is-the-noisiest-or-steve-is-wrong-about-subjective-song-preferences/ "And you who were already conquered in your greatest victories, what will you be in the approaching defeat?" -Camus Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:34:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Judy http://adaniller.com/2009/06/30/the-biggest-wagon-is-the-empty-wagon-is-the-noisiest-or-steve-is-wrong-about-subjective-song-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-14910 Judy Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:32:07 +0000 http://adaniller.com/?p=2402#comment-14910 This discussion made me smile. That's all. Carry on, gentlemen. Even you, skates! This discussion made me smile. That’s all. Carry on, gentlemen. Even you, skates!

]]> By: SKates http://adaniller.com/2009/06/30/the-biggest-wagon-is-the-empty-wagon-is-the-noisiest-or-steve-is-wrong-about-subjective-song-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-14894 SKates Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:01:39 +0000 http://adaniller.com/?p=2402#comment-14894 First, you're both idiots for including Orange Crush. It's an unbearably bad song. The fact that it's on both lists and Wendell Gee is on neither is a travesty. And WG isn't even that great of a song. Second, I'll unshockingly take the Sean theory approach and suggest that both ends of the spectrum are pretty boring/worthy of ignoring (Ignorelanding?). Murmur IS a pretty boring album by REM standards, especially when compared with the rest of the work they were doing at the time. Andrew is right, however, in that AT LEAST "Talk About the Passion" has to be included. Finally, Dead Letter Office is criminally underlooked here, but it might just be the style and substance of the album. I'm a covers fan, and for my money, it's hard to do consistently better (with REM music) than the "Pale Blue Eyes" cover. Some southern roots, some simplicity and lots and lots of morosity. Think it compares rather nicely with Lou Reed and VU while destroying the Counting Crows and Patti Smith versions. First, you’re both idiots for including Orange Crush. It’s an unbearably bad song. The fact that it’s on both lists and Wendell Gee is on neither is a travesty. And WG isn’t even that great of a song.

Second, I’ll unshockingly take the Sean theory approach and suggest that both ends of the spectrum are pretty boring/worthy of ignoring (Ignorelanding?). Murmur IS a pretty boring album by REM standards, especially when compared with the rest of the work they were doing at the time. Andrew is right, however, in that AT LEAST “Talk About the Passion” has to be included.

Finally, Dead Letter Office is criminally underlooked here, but it might just be the style and substance of the album. I’m a covers fan, and for my money, it’s hard to do consistently better (with REM music) than the “Pale Blue Eyes” cover. Some southern roots, some simplicity and lots and lots of morosity. Think it compares rather nicely with Lou Reed and VU while destroying the Counting Crows and Patti Smith versions.

]]> By: Brad M. http://adaniller.com/2009/06/30/the-biggest-wagon-is-the-empty-wagon-is-the-noisiest-or-steve-is-wrong-about-subjective-song-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-14869 Brad M. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:17:18 +0000 http://adaniller.com/?p=2402#comment-14869 Steve's clearly an R.E.M.: The Next Generation fan. I'm guessing it's the combo of murky production and mumbling Michael Stipe 1.0 that causes the sharp divide in opinions between the two lists. After growing up primarily with the Warner Bros. era band, going back and listening to Murmur was like discovering a whole new band. For the record, my list is much more like Andrew's. Steve’s clearly an R.E.M.: The Next Generation fan. I’m guessing it’s the combo of murky production and mumbling Michael Stipe 1.0 that causes the sharp divide in opinions between the two lists. After growing up primarily with the Warner Bros. era band, going back and listening to Murmur was like discovering a whole new band.

For the record, my list is much more like Andrew’s.

]]> By: Steven Maloney http://adaniller.com/2009/06/30/the-biggest-wagon-is-the-empty-wagon-is-the-noisiest-or-steve-is-wrong-about-subjective-song-preferences/comment-page-1/#comment-14862 Steven Maloney Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:12:23 +0000 http://adaniller.com/?p=2402#comment-14862 I know that I get no indie cred for this, but I find Murmur to be a pretty boring album. It's funny, because every R.E.M. fan seems to have on album that is total white noise for them that others absolutely love. We know people who feel that way about Reveal, Monster, and New Adventures -- and I really enjoy all of those albums. But Murmur for me, is, with the exception of RFE - flat. As for Around the Sun and Accelerate - I think they have some fun, catchy tracks. I'd agree that they are ultimately unimportant tracks in the REM catalog, but I like having them come on when I'm in the car. I know that I get no indie cred for this, but I find Murmur to be a pretty boring album. It’s funny, because every R.E.M. fan seems to have on album that is total white noise for them that others absolutely love. We know people who feel that way about Reveal, Monster, and New Adventures — and I really enjoy all of those albums. But Murmur for me, is, with the exception of RFE – flat.

As for Around the Sun and Accelerate – I think they have some fun, catchy tracks. I’d agree that they are ultimately unimportant tracks in the REM catalog, but I like having them come on when I’m in the car.

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