Up

by

R.E.M.

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When REM signed it's monumental $80 million contract, executives at Warner Brothers were probably hoping for more Losing My Religions and Man on the Moons for years to come. These songs were huge singles for the band but don't expect any hits off Up!

The first post Bill Berry album finds the (now) trio in an experimental mood. From the first hypnotic synthesizer tones of Airportman to the subdued ballad closer Falls to Climb, Up is a maudlin, slow paced effort. It also contains some of the most ambitious music this amazing band has made to date.

Only Daysleeper (the already failed single) and Lotus recall earlier work by the band. The driving Bill Berry beat has been replaced by drum machines and occasional real drums. Outstanding tracks include the Beach Boys tribute "At my most beautiful", the driving Hope (to the tune of Leonard Cohen's Susanne) and the almost positive "Walk Unafraid".

One final warning. Unless you are prepared to sit down and spend some time absorbing this album, don't expect it to grab you by the neck like Out of Time. However if you do love this band and appreciate their past uncommercial efforts, you will find a cornocopia of amazing music on Up.

The best material from Up is truly a departure from REM's previous work. 'Suspicion' and 'Diminished', spare vibe-laden ballads, are delicate and subtle without being dull. Some songs ('The Apologist', 'Walk Unafraid') are effectively propelled by throbbing, intermittent instrumentation (guitars I think).

Up does suffer from a common malady of the CD age: lack of brevity. Only about 35-40 of the 65 minutes of Up is compelling. Some of the ambient songs are fragile and understated to the point of blandness ('You're in the Air'). REM resorts to formulaic songs too often: 'Daysleeper' is a generic orchestral ballad that seems to have been added to bolster commerical appeal. 'Lotus' is a rocker that falls flat (though it's excellent live). Other material is slight, serving only to add space ('I'm not over you'). Stipe's lyrics are generally interesting and often more directly personal than ever before ('At My Most Beautiful'). Some lines seem annoyingly idiosyncratic. 'The tectonic dispatcher shifts to smooth the ocean floor' from 'Parakeet' seems unrelated to the rest of the song. Though generally an interesting songwriter, Stipe occasionally succumbs to such indulgences.

Up seems to represent a crossroads for REM. Though they try a few new things, much of the dabblings seem tentative and uncertain. Up indicates that REM is still capable of making compelling, inventive music if they are willing to make a more complete departure from the past. Still, REM deserve accolades as one of the few remaining popular artists who seem willing to take chances.