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Michael Stipe Pissed At Youtube For Rejecting Homoerotic Album Promo
Youtube recently rejected a totally tame video clip for being “non family safe,” and now Michael Stipe has called them out for homophobia. More »
A Discussion Of Coldplay’s Cover Of R.E.M.’s ‘Everybody Hurts’
It was with great sadness that we brought you news of R.E.M.‘s breakup last week, and it’s with great ambivalence that we now bring you Coldplay‘s cover of “Everybody Hurts.” Chris Martin and his gang performed the song at a show in Georgia, the state that spawned R.E.M. Once again, I chatted with musician Kasey Anderson about Coldplay’s version of “Everybody Hurts” and the legacy of R.E.M. More »
My Five Favorite R.E.M. Songs
Today’s a pretty sad day for music: seminal band R.E.M. has announced their breakup. Michael Stipe and his crew have been around since 1981, and in that time they’ve released 15 studio albums. People often say that R.E.M. fans are very intense, devoted, and specific in their love for the band, and I’ve always found that to be true. Because I edit this little old blog which means I can, here are my five favorite R.E.M. songs. More »
Your Official Government Shutdown Playlist
So, the government is like on strike or whatever. But there’s still mail. While you’re holed up in your bomb shelter eating Twinkies and hoarding toilet paper, we recommend these jams as accompaniment. More »
Watch Jem Cohen’s Music Video For R.E.M.’s ‘Oh My Heart’
For their 15th studio album, Collapse Into Now, R.E.M. have commissioned a music video for each of the record’s 12 tracks. Filmmaker Jem Cohen took on the song “Oh My Heart” with this simple and ethereal offering. Pretty images for a pretty song — perfect for our rainy afternoon. More »
RIP Vic Chesnutt
Talented musician Vic Chesnutt of Athens, GA passed away yesterday (December 25, 2009). From the New York Times:
He had been in a coma after taking an overdose of muscle relaxants earlier this week, said the family spokesman, Jem Cohen.
In a two-decade career, Mr. Chesnutt sang darkly comic and often disarmingly candid songs about death, vulnerability, and life’s simple joys. A car accident when he was 18 left him a quadriplegic, but he has said that the accident focused him as… More »
Throwing Muses, Kimya Dawson, Keren Ann and More Play R.E.M.
Throwing Muses with Kristen Hersh, Kimya Dawson, Ingrid Michaelson, Glenn Hansard, The Apples in Stereo, Tommy James and the Shondells, Jolie Holland, Keren Ann, Guster, The Db’s, Bob Mould, Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power, Rachel Yamagata, Calexico, Patti Smith, and others will be at Carnegie Hall on March 11 for a benefit for underpriviliged youth. They will all be playing the music of R.E.M. It’s presented by Michael Dorf (owner of the Knitting Factory and the new wine store/music venue… More »
R.E.M. to Tour with the National and Modest Mouse
Rock legends R.E.M. will be touring with two bands who are have been making their mark on the musical landscape for the past few years: The National and Modest Mouse. These three bands will be touring North America in the spring and are sure to put on an excellent show. Here are the dates announced so far:
May 23 – Vancouver, BC – Deer Lake Park
May 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
May 31 – San Francisco, CA – Greek… More »
R.E.M. Names New Album
Michael Stipe & Co. have released the name of their 14th album: Accelerate. It should be out in April and it was recorded in Vancouver and Dublin and produced by Jacknife Lee. According to NME:
Confirmed tracks for the album include ‘Until The Day Is Done’, ‘Living Well Is The Best Revenge’, ‘Mr Richards’, ‘Staring Down The Barrel Of Middle Distance’, and ‘I’m Gonna DJ’, a regular in the band’s set on their 2004/2005 world tour.
Frontman Michael Stipe said the guitar-driven… More »