New Adventures in Hi-Fi the 10th studio album from R.E.M. from 1996 is one of the many CDs that I have had in my hand in a charity shop on more than one occasion unsure whether I had it or not.
In this instance the conundrum has been resolved as I finally bought the bloody thing in Stranraer. Turns out I didn't have it. I do now.
Our resident R.E.M. expert the Robster rates it as the 9th best out of their 15 studio albums. I haven't heard them all but that sounds just about right.
The post Out of Time/Automatic for the People CDs pop up far more regularly in charity shops than the early ones do. I'm sure there is a reason for that.
The average price for the vinyl copy on Discogs is 80 quid. I'm glad I didn't pay that.£1.99 seems more appropriate.
Like the curate's egg it is good in parts although I could live without E-Bow the Letter.
Here are a couple of the better numbers - the first and last tracks.
R.E.M. - How The West Was Won and Where it Got Us
R.E.M. - Electrolite
Thanks for the link to TheRobster's REM Rundown, it's fascinating stuff, although I'm still reeling from 'Reckoning' being ranked so low down the list. 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' was REM's last hurrah, for me anyway, even if I didn't know it at the time. I was lucky enough to have an advance promo cassette of the album in August 1996 and have fond memories of playing it on constant rotation when I drove a car load of people to see Oasis at Knebworth. Whenever I hear 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' now it takes me right back to that day.
ReplyDeleteWow. 80 quid for the vinyl. Almost tempted to cash in.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you haven't done so already given your lack of pay rises over the last 7 years
DeleteCheers for the link. I still think NAIHF is a good record but could be better if it were three of four tracks shorter. You've picked two of the best, and if I was to stick my neck out I'd probably also recommend So Fast So Numb and Low Desert too. E-Bow The Letter isn't that bad - it's got Patti Smith on it!
ReplyDeleteWhen this first came out, I really couldn't get into it. Over the years though, it's grown on me a lot. I'd probably place it higher than #9 in my own REM list.
ReplyDeletePretty much recorded on the road on the Monster tour, this is very much a parting of the ways record; Bill Berry left shortly afterwards and while there are more highs than lows on this album, sadly the same can't be said for what followed...
ReplyDeleteJez