Today wraps up my trek through R.E.M.'s 80's discography. Admittedly, it hasn't been my favorite series of listening sessions, but it also hasn't been painfully terrible. There've been a few standouts along the way, but for the most part, much of it has been mediocre at best.
Upon the release of 1987's Lifes Rich Pagent, R.E.M.'s contract with I.R.S. expired. Rather than renew, the band voiced their disappointment with the label's overseas production and support, prompting them to leave, and sign with Warner Bros. Though Warner wasn't the highest offer they received, ultimately, they chose the label because of the promised creative freedom.
Green would be a departure from the college rock and jangle pop sounds of previous album, pushing the band into full on mainstream alternative rock. As a result, the album would become their biggest selling at the time, reaching 2X platinum in the USA and Canada, while also going platinum in the UK.
Singles, Orange Crush, and Stand would dominate the Mainstream Rock charts, taking the number one spot. Third single, Pop Song 89 would also chart, but taper off at number sixteen. Stand, and Pop Song 89 would also reach the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six and eighty-six, respectively.
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Though it wouldn't be until 1990, with the debut of the Chris Elliott starred, Get A Life that the band would finally hit my radar. That being because the series utilized the song, Stand, as its opening theme. This prompted me to eventually get their album, one of the first CD's I owned in the early 90's (Thanks, Columbia House!).
While I couldn't really get into the album back int he day, in retrospect of today's Retro Spin, I appreciate it far more. The hits are bar far the biggest standout, but as a whole, it's not a bad album. Granted, I couldn't tell you what any other songs are, nor would I be able to hum them back to you at this point.
Green is definitely the full transition for R.E.M. to the sound that they would launch into superstardom within the 90's. Being the decade where I essentially first heard of them, I was actually shocked when I first learned they were not only around in the 80's but had so many albums to boot.
At the end of it all, I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a fan of the band, I've said that many times throughout this series of Retro Spins. However, I will say that the hits are fantastic...well, most of them towards the tail end, '86 and on. I'm still not impressed with their stuff prior to that.
But that wraps up my journey with them, and I'm off to find something else to listen to.
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And now, 31 Days Of Halloween!
Ah yes, Jaws. The horror film where back in the day only garnered a PG rating, prompting many children to not only see it, but be horribly scarred in the process. Fun fact. You can thank Steven Speilberg for the PG-13 rating, which came about because of his 1984 films, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, and Gremlins.
I've seen all four of the Jaws films, having owned them previously on VHS, and currently on DVD. Candidly, with exception of some parts from the first, I really couldn't tell you much about any of them. I vaguely remember one of them had an underwater facility, and a shark smashing into the glass, but which one that was, I have no clue.
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