R.E.M.’s Reveal: Of air and open spaces - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby Gil

Singer and lyricist Michael Stipe was quoted as saying that the songs in R.E.M.’s Reveal take place in open spaces. "There is the impression of air and breath and flying away." And that is just the feeling one gets while listening to the new album. There is a sense of being lifted up, of leaving the mundane for something greater, inspiring, almost spiritual.

R.E.M., spiritual? Inspirational? Why not? This band has consistently surprised its followers by overreaching limits, ever in search of the untravelled road and most of the time succeeding with its experiments. Hark back to those early days in 1980 when a gig in a rundown church by an unknown, totally inexperienced band resulted in 20 years of great rock music. Think of a band’s name that has absolutely nothing to do with it. R.E.M., just looks nice on the printed page. Think of how long R.E.M., resisted joining any of the major labels. And after it did, how it frequently refused to go along with the usual promo methods. Why in this day and age, R.E.M., must be the only band in existence without an official biography.

So although we read a lot about the albums and the usual band activities we still do not know much about Stipe or bassist Mike Mills, guitarist Peter Buck and until he left the group three years ago, about drummer Billy Berry, save that they were once students at the University of Georgia. These guys might as well be anonymous. All they talk about in the interviews is their music which is great but never fan magazine stuff. Followers though remain almost reverential in their admiration, thanks to Stipe’s rock star spunk and to the consistent flow of interesting materials from the group over the years.

Reveal comes in the wake of the unusually laid-back Up, and the soundtrack of the motion picture based on the Andy Kaufman bio, Man on the Moon. The music here has come to a lot of criticism from diehard fans. It is more synthesized than usual with broad hints of techno and touches of retro here and there. But it is also the most melodic with easy, soaring songs you want to listen to over and over again. The entire package feels like a spontaneous flow of inspiration, simple ideas that R.E.M., set to music and compiled in an album. Then they listened to it, found the results most satisfying and emerged from the project relaxed and content.

Does that sound like R.E.M., is losing the edge? No, they just discovered that a smooth blade can also be as deadly. Besides these guys are obviously happy so why fault them for that or for making no secret of it. The work in Reveal is up to par with R.E.M.’s best and given its tuneful contents might even win new followers for the band. Watch out U2.

Best of the lot is I’ve Been High. This is the kind of rock ballad that lingers in the mind and will surely return time and time again with various arrangements. Other cuts are The Lifting, All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna be a Star), She Just Wants to be, Disappear, Saturn Return, Beat a Drum, Imitation of Life, Summer Turns to High, Chorus and the Ring, I’ll Take the Rain and Beachball.

Top singles in the US

As of this week, the top singles in the US of A according to Billboard Magazine are the following: U Remind Me by Usher; Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & Pink; Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse; Peaches & Cream by 112; Let Me Blow Ya Mind by Eve featuring Gwen Stefani of the Cardigans; Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) by Train, Ride With Me by Nelly featuring City Spud, Get Ur Freak On by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott; My Baby by Lil’ Romeo; and Fiesta by R. Kelly featuring Jay-Z.

The releases leading the top 200 albums chart are: Devil’s Night by D-12; Break the Cycle by Staind; Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink-182; Survivor by Destiny’s Child; Moulin Rouge, the soundtrack of the motion picture of the same title, Luther Vandross by Luther Vandross; Return of the Dragon by Sisqo; Free City by St. Lunatics; Shangri-La Dee Da by Stone Temple Pilots; and From Chaos by 311.