omysoul's Xanga

And there we have it.

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:38:10 GMT

Hell yes.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:44:13 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Reveal"

You know, I have to take back what i said yesterday about enjoying all of R.E.M.'s album, I listened through this album (well didn't make it actually) and it's a train wreck. I mean it's really just a bad album. I think there's a good album in there somewhere that's trying to break out, but overall it's just a bore, and really uninspired, silliness. Now, that said, there are some AMAZING songs on here. I honestly don't know how "All the Way to Reno (You're gonna be a star)" even goes on this album because its so incredible. I mean it's just beautiful and shows that they still have life in them. Another great song is "Imitation of Life" which you can tell they know it's one of the few bright moments because its one of the few times they even are acting like they care. The album also kicks off with the nice "The Lifting", and there are MAYBE 2 or 3 other tracks that are worth listening to, but then the rest is just horrible, filler SHIT! I mean it, I just don't think you defend this stuff. I believe "Up" was a succesful, experimental departure for the band, but "Reveal" is just floundering. I don't own "Around the Sun", so won't make it all the way through their full lenght albums as far as reviews go, but I hear it is about the same level of quality as this one. I hate ending on a sad note for R.E.M. with this album, but here's to the hope that songs like "All the Way to Reno" and "Imitation of Life" point to some life that is still there, and that R.E.M. will make a great comback such as acts like Belle and Sebastian, Steely Dan or Oasis.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:36:20 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Up

I think the fact that I have 12 albums by R.E.M. and that I enjoy all of them says a lot about their ability. They just really have incredible consistency, though their last 3 albums I think have caused some to believe them to have really slipped up on their form. Some even don't think they've done anything good since "Automatic for the People", but I believe "Up" is one of those albums that can be too quickly disregarded, by myself included, but "Up" definitely has a lot to offer, though it's probably R.E.M.'s most dramatic departure they have taken their entire career. The change is understandable seeing how they lost their drummer due to health issues, which I think R.E.M. take in stride by not trying to be what they're not but instead redefining what they're trying to accomplish, therefore the album results in more reliance upon studio tricks and keyboards. But this makes for a very pleasant and unique album. The sound is incredibly soft and understated, not really ever getting very much energy, other than the upbeat "Lotus" and "Hope", both highlights of the album. But the album kicks off with a very soft and atmosphereic "Airportman", leading into the afore-mentioned "Lotus" which lends the most energy of the entire album. But then "suspicion" heads back into the atmospheric direction and is very pleasant if you give it a chance. "Hope" is a really great, textured song. "At My Most Beautiful" is many people's favorite, R.E.M.'s offering to the Brian Wilson ode genre. This is really an effective, layered, complex vocally engaging song. The album continues with a string of slower, though very softly textured songs, including highlights in "Walk Unafraid" and "Daysleeper". It's important to note that its really quite a change for R.E.M. in this album because not only are there printed lyrics, but Stipe's lyrics are incredibly clear, a huge departure from earlier work. But, yeah, I think that "Up" is no place to start for someone getting into the band, but it's also not a disappointing addition to their very full catalog.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:29:44 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "New Adventures in Hi-Fi"

Oh look at that brilliant lovely cover art! I am a huge fan of artwork, and this one just is so perfect for the purposes at hand on this album. I know I throw around the "overrated"/"underrated" tag a lot, but I think here at the very least its important to say that this one is definitely "overlooked". Mostly because its kind of the forgotten R.E.M. album, but you know what, it's a fucking incredible album. I think its definitely the 2nd best R.E.M. album after "Fables of the Reconstruction". It's just a brilliant, flawless rock and roll masterpiece. It's compiled as a travel album, which is kind of the theme, and many of it is recorded on the road, during sound checks and such, and really has an amazing ability to capture that feel. But it kicks off with the moody "How the West Was Won and Where it Got Us", "the Wake up Bomb" throws things into high gear, "New Test Leper" is a really raw and honest song from Michael Stipe regarding his views on Chrstianity, and though I don't agree with his views, you really have to appreciate emotional honesty he shows here. But yeah, I mean this one is just wall to wall excitement. I really suggest this one to R.E.M. fans who think they own the important material but have yet to look into this, one of their very best.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:58:52 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Monster"

People are all over the place when it comes to this one, but I am definitely a "Monster" fan, I think this one gets such a bad rap because its kind of different and loud and sounds kind of the same throughout, but I really love it. The thing about this album that you have to understand is that it has ATTITUDE! I mean it's just very bad ass. I think it's an album that R.E.M. wouldn't be the same without. And I mean "Belong" is a brilliant, shoegazer tinged R.E.M. treausre. But it's really a spectacular album, you can usually find like a dozen in your local used cd store, and don't be afraid to give "Monster" a chance.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:19:20 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Automatic for the People"

This album really is a masterpiece, the first really "serious" album from R.E.M. abandoning the ambiguous phrases and ironic silliness for making an album that is weighty in a symphonic way, creating a moody textured masterpiece. There's something very central and very essential about "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1". But this album is just a beautiful textured layered album that has lost absolutely none of its shine over 10 years later. It's definitely one of R.E.M.'s most enduring works and shines like a gray, rainy day.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:47:38 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Out of Time"

I really see this album as the prime dividing line between early and modern R.E.M., and incidentally it's the first 90's R.E.M. album, though no Stipe still has hair at this point. But you can tell the band is reaching for something new here with an album that is one of their weaker moments, though by no means a bad album. It's actually a great album with some amazing material. I think what makes this album weaker is that it is the first R.E.M. album to have several "duds" in a row. I really just think the songs "Half a World Away", "Texarkana" and "Country Feedback" fall short of what they're capable of. Though Stipe cites "Country Feedback" as what he believes to be his finest moment, though I don't quite understand why, because it's kind of, well, shit. But there is plenty of great stuff going on in this album. The wonderful hip-hop tinged "Radio Song" (R.E.M.'s first and seventh albums start with a song entitled "radio ____"... important? probably not, but I did notice that, it's like the beginning of stage 2 or something maybe) is on here, then probably R.E.M.'s most honest and introspective song to date, the heartbreaking "losing my religion". And there are some really nice, sublime and original songs on here like "Near Wild Heaven", which is just such a pleasant and happy Mike Mills sung piece. Also two great songs of rich texture, "Belong" and the closing "Me in Honey" are just beautiful. And of course there's the succesful "Shiny Happy People", which comes out both simultaneosly cynical and genuinely optimistic at the same time. But for the most part "Out of Time" stays in step with R.E.M.'s other great albums of this period, but does have some filler and off points.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:51:11 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Green"

Wow, I found a huge ass album cover art-work for this one! As the leading off "Pop Song '89" would indicate, R.E.M takes a more "poppy" direction than they had previously ventured. It's littered with either spectacular catchy rave-ups such as "Get Up" and "Stand" (just lovely) or more contemplative, weighty classics of "World Leader Pretend" and "I Remember California", both ranking with R.E.M.'s best. "Green" also has a pair of the hardest hitting, ambiguosly political great songs in "Orange Crush" and "Turn You Inside-Out". These varied styles really add up to something that really brings about the best "flow" any R.E.M. album has I would say. Including the simple genius of the closing, lovely track "Untitled". At one point my favorite album of theirs, though no longer, certainly still up there.

I had to come back and edit because who could forget "You are the Everything" (well I guess I could), but yeah, now THAT is a damn, fine song if I ever heard one!

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:57:40 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Document"

The album that solidified (though probably already had been) R.E.M. as the kings of indy-rock, to which no one has been able to unseat them. It's good that before leaving the small I.R.S. label, R.E.M. was able to crank out a major selling album with 2 of their biggest singles ever. The album kicks off with "Finest Worksong" which pushes far past the previous album's big opener "Begin the Begin", with one of R.E.M.'s most driving songs ever. It shows that R.E.M. in full form, starting the album with their biggest bang ever and the start of their most realized (though not best) album to date. But they certainly seem more confident and more focused than ever before on this album. On the album are two of the most undeniable R.E.M. tracks in "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)" as well as "The One I Love". But there are wonderful songs filled with great ideas running all over this album including the clever "Exhuming Mcarthy", having fun with this story of the overzealous communist hunter, long before "Good Night and Good Luck" was ever made ("have you no sense of decency sir...") And I love on "King of Birds" the line, "standing on the shoulder of giants leaves me cold. A main idea to call my own, a hundred million birds fly away", the fun of "Disturbance at the Heroin House" and the crazy, ambiguous closing "Oddfellows Local 151". Really a solid and great step forward both artistically and commercially for R.E.M.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:37:35 GMT

Album of the Day: R.E.M. "Life's Rich Pageant"

Incidentally today, per NME.com, R.E.M. has announced an anthology of the I.R.S. years including un-released material, which looks to be a very good thing, anyways... I think after making the gothic/southern masterpiece of "Fables of the Reconstruction", R.E.M. kind of left the darker textures for a brighter, "springtime" album in "Life's Rich Pageant", as allmusic.com puts it correctly, "Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite." It's just filled with lovely textured pop songs like "Fall On Me" with soaring guitar riffs and harmonies, like many early, independent R.E.M. versions of "Shiny Happy People". But overall probably the easiest to swallow of the early R.E.M. albums, and a testament to their consistency and variety they brought to their 80's albums. Stipe is still slightly difficult to follow in his lyrics and the track order on the outside label is out of order, continuing R.E.M.'s constant battle with cover art. The album ends with the Mike Mills sung, cover version (though I'm not sure of whom) of "Superman", at one point my favorite R.E.M. song, which in retrospect isn't as genius as some of their other work, but is definitely one of the funnest and quickly likable songs in their entire catalog.