Green

All of the live performances they've released in this 25th Anniversary collection have been really great, but the band really is in top form throughout this recording. And getting to hear early live versions of "Belong" and "Low" is also nice. This was the first R.E.M. album I ever owned (unless you count the cassettes of Pageant and Document I...let's say "borrowed"...from my older sister) so there was the nostalgic aspect of picking this one up in physical form rather than just an .mp3 format...opening up the box and pulling out the liner notes and reading through them...unfolding the poster...popping the discs into the stereo for a listen. I remember listening to "You Are The Everything" while riding down the wooded and tree canopied Main Rd. from West Ashley to Kiawah (on the other edge of the continent) on summer afternoons. Well, that and lemons, limes, and tangerines. All of that said, if you're not a big fan of a band or of a particular album, then the Deluxe Edition of that album probably isn't for you. It's a remastered album and some bonus material; in this case a recording of the Greensboro, NC (fitting) show from the Green tour.

This is R.E.M. after they already became mainstream (DOCUMENT) while making a smooth transition onto a major label (WB). This is an interesting album to me because they still maintained their college rock, underground creativity while embracing their ever growing mainstream audience, YET they hadn't morphed into their superstar (a la U2) status just yet. The next album, OUT OF TIME, solidified their world domination status. GREEN: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition is just as revealing and satisfying as all the other anniversary editions that came before it. The live concert CD is maybe even better than the others in that R.E.M. were true concert veterans at this point and the set list is just as tight as it gets. Also, GREEN was my favorite tour because my fascination with them was at its peak. I saw the show twice in a one week period in two major cities (Philadelphia and Washington, DC), AND I got to meet the band after the DC show. (Side note: the only bad part of this experience is that Michael Stipe was the only band member who refused to give me his autograph. I think he was feeling his oats at this point (arrogance? scared?). Whatever, I remain a fan to this day and I am in love with this edition of GREEN.

In regards to the new Green anniversary edition, the concert on disc 2 is the same show as featured on Tourfilm. However, Tourfilm only featured 17 songs so if you count the Record Store Day EP (or if you get the itunes or MP3 version) you get 9 more songs than on Tourfilm. The only song from Tourfilm that is not included in this set is their cover of The Velvet Underground's After Hours that played over the credits. It can be found on the UK Losing My Religion CD single from Mar 91 and the UK Losing My Religion 12" single from Feb 91. There were a couple of snippets of other peoples' songs that Stipe sang as song intros that were on Tourfilm but are not included here. These were before I Believe and King of Birds. However, the spoken intro to I Believe is still in tact, they just edited the song snippet out that came between the intro and the song. Other songs on this CD (and/or mp3) that keep their spoken intros from Tourfilm include: You Are The Everything, and I Remember California. Other songs that had spoken intros on Tourfilm but lost them on CD are: Turn You Inside-Out, These Days, World Leader Pretend, Get Up, Begin the Begin, and Finest Worksong. Also, for the b-side collectors and completists, some of these same Tourfilm recordings had previously appeared as follows: 1. Stand: Losing My Religion (UK CD) (Mar 91). 2. Turn You Inside-Out: Losing My Religion (UK CD) (Mar 91). Note: The single version includes the spoken intro from Tourfilm not included on this Green CD. 3. Belong: Radio Song (US CD & 12" single and UK & German CD) (Nov 91). 4. World Leader Pretend: Music From Tourfilm (US promo CD-Video) (Oct 90), and Losing My Religion (UK CD) (Mar 91). Note: Neither the single version nor this Green CD version include the intro from Tourfilm. 5. Get Up: Music From Tourfilm (US promo CD-Video) (Oct 90), and Shiny Happy People (UK CD) (Jun 91). Note: The single version includes the spoken intro from Tourfilm that this Green CD does not. 6. It's The End Of The World As We Know It: Music From Tourfilm (US promo CD-Video) (Oct 90). 7. Pop Song 89: Shiny Happy People (UK CD) (Jun 91). 8. You Are The Everything: Radio Song (UK CD) (Nov 91). Note: Single version includes same spoken intro as on Tourfilm and this Green CD. 9. I Remember California: Shiny Happy People (UK CD) (Jun 91). All of the above (except for #6) were also part the the R.E.M. Singles Collection 4 CD box set (Dec 91) which collected together singles for Radio Song, Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People, and Near Wild Heaven. So, this Green CD includes the following live tracks not previously realeased officially on Tourfilm or any music format: Exhuming McCarthy, Good Advices, Orange Crush, Cuyahoga, Life And How To Live It, and Low (and on RSD EP & mp3: South Central Rain, and Strange).

Too heavily amplified, frivolous, commercially-oriented, and a complete sell-out of the band's sound and indie credibility (in so many paraphrased words) were the primary complaints some long-time fans expressed upon the release of REM's sixth full-length release, "Green". And the criticism might be justified if you separate the phases of REM's recording career into universal points of absolute demarcation, but REM has always resisted being pigeonholed, incorporating distinctive instrumental flourishes that remind the listener of elements of the timeless, folk-tinged sound prevalent on REM's first (largely unamplified) three releases. Although some longtime fans might've considered the chirpier, conventionally-arranged "Stand", "Orange Crush", and "Pop Song `89" to be material included because it had the potential to mine universal commercial appeal, it's my belief that these are actually pop songs with a subversive edge to them; this CD was recorded during the last year President Reagan held office, after a number of decisions that were dubious in legality at best drove the highly aggressive foreign policy he chose to pursue during the course of his last term. "Stand" in this context sounds like a call to become politically engaged; "Orange Crush" , ostensibly about the negative, carcinogenic impact of the Viet Nam era defoliant upon the veterans returning from that war, can be interpreted in the context of preparing a new generation of young males for selective service in response to a foreseen militarization of American society (which thankfully has not yet come to pass); " Pop Song `89" obliquely refers to the trivialities that keep the public from becoming aware of the environment or political climate. Savagely indicting President Reagan for his unsanctioned interference in the sovereign affairs of other countries, "World Leader Pretend" examines the hubris of leadership that refuses to acknowledge the checks and balances of legitimate government. REM chose once again to work with Scott Litt, and he tightens the polish on the level of production (though it isn't as glossy as "Out Of Time"), bringing a punchy sense of aggressiveness to "Get Up" , "Orange Crush", "Turn You Inside Out", and "I Remember Califorinia". "You Are The Everything", "The Wrong Child", and "Hairshirt", however, are somewhat of a return to the band's acoustic roots, songs driven primarily through a heavily dominant mandolin line (marking this instrument's first appearance on an REM release) and sparse instrumental accompaniment, with "You Are The Everything" and "Hairshirt" given Micheal Stipe's plaintive, husky vocal treatment, and while there is a universally wistful feel to the music and Stipe's delivery, the lyrical content is largely affirmative. My suggestion is that "Green" is worth getting on its own merits, not simply because it contains several tracks that were in heavy rotation on the modern rock charts and two ("Stand" and "Orange Crush") that still receive airplay, nor because "You Are The Everything" is a perfect invocation and distillation of their timeless acoustic sound, but due to the sense of urgency and vitality that drive many of these tracks. Don't get it simply to cross it off of the kind of checklist maintained by a rabid completist; grab it because it shows that the band could evolve while still remaining true to its older musical roots, yet simultaneously recording songs with infectious hooks and more complex melodic arrangement.

Excelente disco. El envío estaba bien preparado y llegó en los tiempos comprometidos. Bendedor rwcomendable.

While Out Of Time and Automatic For The People have some real gems on them (ie Belong and Find The River) Green is the last album the band made that was solid all the way through, and the only album of their Warner Bros. years that stands up next to their first 6 albums. After Green, they pretty much decided to make entire albums that were variations on Swan Swan H. This vinyl reissue sound fantastic! While not quite on par with MFSL's recent Life's Rich Pageant vinyl, Rhino's Green reissue really highlights the beauty of Mills & Berry playing, in rich, deep tones.

The 25th Anniversary series that REM has been releasing of the early albums has been fantastic, the additional disk of a live concert has yet to disappoint! And it continues to show how much of a vital cog Bill Berry was to the band, this is REM at their best, not the band you slowly came to despise over the years after Berry left the band. Great songs, great concert disk, get this one!

Received cd in a timely manner. Great tunes, great service. Thanks’!!