Murmur Vs Life’s Rich Pageant
The business world tells us the customer is always right. I guess this is one of those instances where it’s good I’ve not made a fuckin’ dime on this site because it frees me to ignore the counsel of a would-be customer. My brother told me the other night there’s been too much Springsteen/R.E.M. talk of late. He has a point. I’m not saying he doesn’t.
I have mixed a few other things in. There was a Radiohead obsession, some talk of Glen Phillips, and plenty of Counting Crows mixed in. I’ve even got some Pearl Jam carry-on. There has also been a good bit about Nick Moss & The Flip Tops (and there will be still more of that very, very soon).
I can go in any direction at the drop of a hat. This morning, I tried listening to Mudcrutch so I’d forget that I woke up with R.E.M.’s “I Believe” in my head. It didn’t work. I listened to the last 4 songs on Life’s Rich Pageant and now I’ve queued up Murmur. I guess R.E.M. and I aren’t through with each other.
The first thing that strikes me this morning is how good this record still sounds. I’ve gotten pretty obsessed with mastering and remastering and started to fall for the “new is better” way of thinking. Listen to Murmur and tell me anything is sonically wrong with it. A real skilled audio master — think Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs — might be able to improve upon the original but I’m not sure about that. Even if improvement is possible, it will be measured in inches, not miles.
I must go home and write 100,000 times: I will not go this long without listening to Murmur again.
11 and I talked about what a great 1-4 opens Life’s Rich Pageant, but could Murmuractually be better?
| 1. Radio Free Europe | 1. Begin The Begin |
| 2. Pilgrimage | 2. These Days |
| 3. Lauging | 3. Fall On Me |
| 4. Talk About the Passion | 4. Cuyahoga |
That first one is a real toss up. I guess that is the definition of a draw because I’ve hit backspace three times trying to explain why I like one better than the other. Very strong.
I listened to “These Days” a ton leading up to the concert and if I were answering this question before this morning I’d have told you “These Days” was my winner. That’s just silly. “These Days” is a great song, but “Pilgrimage” is the winner here.
The only song I’ve listened to more this month than “These Days” is “Fall On Me.” I listened to it 20x one day last week. I fuckin’ love me some “Fall On Me.” It might be the band’s most perfect song. That said, I have long had a soft spot in my heart for “Laughing.” This isn’t as one-sided as you might think. There’s something about the title, and the juxtaposition of such a happy word with a melancholoy melody that is just brilliant. “Fall On Me” has to win here, but “Laughing” is an underappreciated gem.
As much as I’d like to start a new country-a, “Talk About the Passion” is my winner here. Mike Mills’ backing vocal on “Cuyahoga” makes it a strong challenger, but “Passion” resonates with me more.
So who wins? It looks like Murmur, going 2-1-1 over those first four matches. Admittedly, this is a flawed way to examine two records and I’m not really after a definitive answer. Both albums boast great opening quartets. Both albums have more where that came from. I know what I’m going to be listening to for the rest of the day. Sorry, Brother. It looks like R.E.M. is here to stay.
Filed under: Tags: R.E.M.
That’s so weird…I have had “I Believe” on the brain all morning too. If you are just looking at the first four songs then I think Murmur just edges out Life’s Rich Pageant. But I reserve the right to change my mind after listening to those two albums. Thanks for being an enabler, Josh.
I need to start gearing up for Lolla in August but I just can’t seem to get away from REM right now. Did you see that they are playing in New Orleans @ the Voodoo Festival in October? I wonder if they will schedule more US tour dates later in the year.
Murmur is indeed a great sounding album (and a great album, of course – and, dammit, NOT on my Ipod at the moment.) All one need do is turn it up – everything sounds really warm and wonderful. A modern remaster not by someone like MFSL or Audio Fidelity would likely simply result in typical LOUD remaster where it loses all the subtlety and depth that the original had. I’ve pretty much given up on remasters except to get the extras that they come with. It’s pretty rare where they actually do them right, sadly.
Speaking of Mudcrutch, as you briefly did above, my copy of the vinyl version with the included audiophile CD is on its way. I keep hoping I’ll find it when I get home each day and keep getting disappointed. I have no need for the vinyl, but I’m very excited about them releasing a completely uncompressed, unmessed with version of the audio on CD. I feel like I’ve been waiting to hear this album for ages.
I have infiltrated your thoughts, S.Rod. Just wait until I start publishing what you’re really thinking. muahahahahahahaha. BTW… I always suspected that about you.
I’m starting with “RFE” and I’m sure I’ll listen all the way through again. Fantastic record.
As for more dates… a few “internet rumors” are circulating that they are coming back for more. Start saving your pennies now. I won’t miss them again. Atlanta was too terrific to bypass.
You’re right, Tom. I meant to get in to some of that but got sidetracked a bit. The And I Feel Fine compilation was mastered intolerably loud. Yes, there are some clarified and improved aspects but the damage done by the increased compression and loudness renders those insignificant.
I remember you writing about the Mudcrutch vinyl/CD package on your site. I might have to buy that as well. I’d love to compare the two. It’s not like the conventional pressing was all that oppressively loud in the first place. That album was recorded to sound vintage.
Listen to your brother, dude!
Weird. My brother told me there wasn’t enough El Bicho references.
my brother told me there have been too many Joe Bonamassa references.
wait…i don’t have a brother….
I agree with El Bicho. He has not been referenced enough around here. I have three of my best personalities working on that as we speak.
I’ve heard the El Bicho is rather ripe this time of year, and is selling better than corn.
‘Pilgrimage’ is near the top of my REM list, and that is lofty praise for a band with so many great songs.
Did you know “Pilgrimage” is actually about El Bicho?
Not one “iguana” Glen Boyd reference here. Oh wait, thats over on the Springsteen thread innit’?…
-Glen