Time passes and music passes with it. Some bands are a quick flash, while others are long term endeavours that shape music and are reshaped by the music around them. I would like to talk about about a couple of bands that are no more that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy to this day.
If anyone knows me at all, they know that I am on the verge of being an R.E.M. fanatic. I can still recall the first time I heard and recognized an R.E.M. song. I was either 12 or 13 riding in the car with my mom down Shipyard Blvd. just past Independence Blvd as the sun was setting in front of us. The One I Love was on the radio and I was really enjoying the guitar from Peter Buck and the passion in Michael Stipe's voice. The DJ came on after the song and remarked at how mean the song was. It was at that time that I understood what he was talking about and I also realized that there can be hidden, multiple meanings in the world around us. At that time I was just beginning to find my own musical taste. Fast forward to my 14th birthday. My parents took me to the local record store to pick up some music, the first that I had picked myself. One of the cassettes that was purchased for me was Green. I remember taking the plastic off and opening that case to reveal the smell of new music. That's right, there was always a smell to a new tape. I studied the liner notes and read the lyrics printed for World Leader Pretend. The most interesting fact was the appearance of the number 4 over the R's on the cover. They were printed in a way that, if viewed head on, they would nearly disappear. While viewed from the side, they would reflect light and stand out. Also, on the back cover the number 4 in the track listing was replaced with R. Once I bought the CD years later I found that the R/4 printing was no more. One day, while looking through used CD's, I found a version with the R/4 printing and bought it. How could I not?
I listened to that tape countless times and it remains one of my favorite albums of all time from any band. Eventually I would collect all of their previous studio albums. I loved to listen to their older work as much as the new music they were producing. I read books about the band, bought T-shirts and hats. I went to my first R.E.M. concert in 1995 during the Monster Tour. I would go on to see them only two more times, one of which included Bill Berry reuniting with the other three original members for a couple of songs. AS he was introduced that night, the entire audience raised the decibel level as he made his appearance on stage. I could feel the energy of the crowd, even me on the lawn wet from drizzle on that cool night, rise as he walked across to his friends. October 10, 2003 in Raleigh NC, Bill performed backing vocals on Radio Free Europe, the first ever R.E.M. release, and then returned to his place behind the drum kit to play on Permanent Vacation. Fortunately, someone made a recording of the concert and I was able to retain a copy for myself to relive the moment. Someone even got video and posted it to Youtube.
R.E.M. finally called it quits in 2011. Though this has not stopped the release of music. They have thus far released 25th anniversary editions of all of their studio albums. They have also released the two MTV Unplugged shows. Youtube has a great collection of work from the band as well. Peter Buck and Mike Mills are still very active with various other musical projects.
The next band on my list is Thursday (Wikipedia site) I was introduced to this band by a coworker in Wilmington in 2001. He had just purchased Full Collapse and we listened to it while working. The thing that struck me most about this band was the intensity and fervor of their style. At times screaming the lyrics while the music exploded, this was a new style to which I was unaccustomed. I took an immediate liking to it. After moving away from Wilmington I continued to follow the bands progress and buy their records. This is another band of which I had the joy to see perform live. The live performances were like frenzied explosions. The sets seemed to end prematurely, though they never were short of titles from their catalog. Again, in 2011, this band ceased to be. You can go to Youtube to get a taste of their music also, though it doesn't seem to be as extensive as R.E.M.'s collection
These are just a couple of bands that I miss. Which bands do you wish were still around to bring us new music?
If anyone knows me at all, they know that I am on the verge of being an R.E.M. fanatic. I can still recall the first time I heard and recognized an R.E.M. song. I was either 12 or 13 riding in the car with my mom down Shipyard Blvd. just past Independence Blvd as the sun was setting in front of us. The One I Love was on the radio and I was really enjoying the guitar from Peter Buck and the passion in Michael Stipe's voice. The DJ came on after the song and remarked at how mean the song was. It was at that time that I understood what he was talking about and I also realized that there can be hidden, multiple meanings in the world around us. At that time I was just beginning to find my own musical taste. Fast forward to my 14th birthday. My parents took me to the local record store to pick up some music, the first that I had picked myself. One of the cassettes that was purchased for me was Green. I remember taking the plastic off and opening that case to reveal the smell of new music. That's right, there was always a smell to a new tape. I studied the liner notes and read the lyrics printed for World Leader Pretend. The most interesting fact was the appearance of the number 4 over the R's on the cover. They were printed in a way that, if viewed head on, they would nearly disappear. While viewed from the side, they would reflect light and stand out. Also, on the back cover the number 4 in the track listing was replaced with R. Once I bought the CD years later I found that the R/4 printing was no more. One day, while looking through used CD's, I found a version with the R/4 printing and bought it. How could I not?
I listened to that tape countless times and it remains one of my favorite albums of all time from any band. Eventually I would collect all of their previous studio albums. I loved to listen to their older work as much as the new music they were producing. I read books about the band, bought T-shirts and hats. I went to my first R.E.M. concert in 1995 during the Monster Tour. I would go on to see them only two more times, one of which included Bill Berry reuniting with the other three original members for a couple of songs. AS he was introduced that night, the entire audience raised the decibel level as he made his appearance on stage. I could feel the energy of the crowd, even me on the lawn wet from drizzle on that cool night, rise as he walked across to his friends. October 10, 2003 in Raleigh NC, Bill performed backing vocals on Radio Free Europe, the first ever R.E.M. release, and then returned to his place behind the drum kit to play on Permanent Vacation. Fortunately, someone made a recording of the concert and I was able to retain a copy for myself to relive the moment. Someone even got video and posted it to Youtube.
R.E.M. finally called it quits in 2011. Though this has not stopped the release of music. They have thus far released 25th anniversary editions of all of their studio albums. They have also released the two MTV Unplugged shows. Youtube has a great collection of work from the band as well. Peter Buck and Mike Mills are still very active with various other musical projects.
The next band on my list is Thursday (Wikipedia site) I was introduced to this band by a coworker in Wilmington in 2001. He had just purchased Full Collapse and we listened to it while working. The thing that struck me most about this band was the intensity and fervor of their style. At times screaming the lyrics while the music exploded, this was a new style to which I was unaccustomed. I took an immediate liking to it. After moving away from Wilmington I continued to follow the bands progress and buy their records. This is another band of which I had the joy to see perform live. The live performances were like frenzied explosions. The sets seemed to end prematurely, though they never were short of titles from their catalog. Again, in 2011, this band ceased to be. You can go to Youtube to get a taste of their music also, though it doesn't seem to be as extensive as R.E.M.'s collection
These are just a couple of bands that I miss. Which bands do you wish were still around to bring us new music?
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