Yesterday morning, I opened the media closet and peered inside. What should I listen to on the way to work? Should I listen to something new for the web site or something old and comfortable? Okay, Yanni it is.
Just kidding. I pulled out Lifes Rich Pageant and headed out the door.
When it comes to old and comfortable, R.E.M. is the band I often turn to (sorry, Michael/Mike/Peter, if this makes you feel, um, aged). Their music has been with me for so long, it just feels right. About five years ago, I listened to nothing but R.E.M. for about six months straight. Yes, I know that sounds a little odd, but they have a lot of albums, so it's not quite as repetitive as you'd think.
One of the albums I played the most was Lifes Rich Pageant. From Begin the Begin to the somewhat hidden track, Superman, this record is a classic. Recorded in 1986 when the band was still a foursome and when Michael Stipe still had hair, LRP was the band's fifth album, and it's still one of their best. Songs like Fall on Me are melodically and lyrically beautiful, and songs like Cuyahoga are made for car-singing.
My favorite song on the album (and one of my favorite R.E.M. songs ever) is Swan Swan H. A simple track with acoustic guitar and amazing vocals, the song is sad and beautiful and perfect. If this were the only track on the album, the album would still be worth buying. It's that good.
If (and I shudder to write this sentence) you don't have any R.E.M. albums, this is a great place to start. My other favorites are Murmur, Document, Automatic for the People and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
Just kidding. I pulled out Lifes Rich Pageant and headed out the door.
When it comes to old and comfortable, R.E.M. is the band I often turn to (sorry, Michael/Mike/Peter, if this makes you feel, um, aged). Their music has been with me for so long, it just feels right. About five years ago, I listened to nothing but R.E.M. for about six months straight. Yes, I know that sounds a little odd, but they have a lot of albums, so it's not quite as repetitive as you'd think.
One of the albums I played the most was Lifes Rich Pageant. From Begin the Begin to the somewhat hidden track, Superman, this record is a classic. Recorded in 1986 when the band was still a foursome and when Michael Stipe still had hair, LRP was the band's fifth album, and it's still one of their best. Songs like Fall on Me are melodically and lyrically beautiful, and songs like Cuyahoga are made for car-singing.
My favorite song on the album (and one of my favorite R.E.M. songs ever) is Swan Swan H. A simple track with acoustic guitar and amazing vocals, the song is sad and beautiful and perfect. If this were the only track on the album, the album would still be worth buying. It's that good.
If (and I shudder to write this sentence) you don't have any R.E.M. albums, this is a great place to start. My other favorites are Murmur, Document, Automatic for the People and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
Swan Swan H
Swan swan hummingbird
Hurrah we are all free now
What noisy cats are we
Girl and dog he bore his cross
A long low time ago people talk to me
Johnny Reb what’s the price of fans
Forty a piece or three for one dollar
Hey captain don’t you want to buy
Some bone chains and toothpicks
Night wings her hair chains
Here’s your wooden greenback sing
Wooden beams and dovetail sweep
I struck that picture ninety times
I walked that path a hundred ninety
Long low time ago people talk to me
A pistol hot cup of rhyme
The whiskey is water the water is wine
Marching feet Johnny Reb what’s the price of heroes
Six and one half dozen the other
Tell that to the captain’s mother
Hey captain don’t you want to buy
Some bone chains and toothpicks
Night wings, her hair chains
Swan swan hummingbird
Hurrah we are all free now
What noisy cats are we
Long, low time ago, people talk to me
A pistol hot cup of rhyme
The whiskey is water the water is wine
