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R.E.M.

R.E.M. Live  Hear it Now

RS: 3.5of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4of 5 Stars

2007

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R.E.M.'s first live album — a CD/DVD combo recorded on their 2005 tour — is, if you are a real purist, two decades late. The band never released a full concert record with original drummer Bill Berry. But while this set goes back to 1984's Reckoning, Live is as much about forward motion as the records singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck and bassist Mike Mills have made since Berry left in 1997. In fact, songs that seemed overpolished on those albums — "Leaving New York," from Around the Sun; Up's "Walk Unafraid" — bloom in the electric momentum of live performance. Armed with the extra jangle of guitarist Scott McCaughey and the firm propulsion of drummer Bill Rieflin, R.E.M. are still one of rock's great live experiences, and old standbys like "The One I Love" sound born to bruise. There is a new song too, "I'm Gonna DJ," a rough blast of triumph — "I'm gonna DJ at the end of the world!" Stipe crows — that augurs well for the road ahead.

DAVID FRICKE

(Posted: Nov 15, 2007)

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Review 1 of 3

palais writes:

5of 5 Stars


While I agree that I wish for a live album from the Bill Berry era, the fact is R.E.M. is still one of the greatest live shows around. The songs rock out on CD. The DVD is less neccessary, but still reminds me of a totally awesome concert. I particularly love " Walk Unafraid" and "So Fast, So Numb" on this collection. They sound better live. The band also sounds better here than on any studio album since Up.

Nov 16, 2007 07:52:52

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Review 2 of 3

hal2222 writes:

2of 5 Stars


The accompanying DVD is an embarrassing hodgepodge of grainy footage, way way too many jump cuts per minute and vertiginous editing guaranteed to make you nauseous. For a classy band like REM to release this abomination on DVD is a slap in the face to their fans. It is MTV styled editing of the most vapid sort.

Oct 31, 2007 17:44:31

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Review 3 of 3

waldodio writes:

5of 5 Stars


Oh R.E.M., how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Proud to say I first bought the Murmur album in the spring of 1984, I've been a big fan ever since. I also saw them live for the first time on this tour in Houston, and it was everything I'd hoped for. All the stars in the Milky Way aren't enough to fairly judge this terrific live document.

Oct 31, 2007 09:26:16

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