Talk About The Passion

March 30, 2005 | |

murmurrem.jpgI was playing around with my record collection last night while trying to come up with a loose tracklisting for my next mixtape/podcast and I pulled out Murmur, a record I hadn't listened to in ages. It was a staple of my listening diet in college but I probably hadn't listened to the whole thing all the way through in at least 5 years. So this morning before commuting in, I popped the CD into my eMac and uploaded it into my iTunes and my iPod.

I had honestly forgotten what a great record this is. I was scaring people on the Metro as I was bopping my head along to Laughing and Sitting Still. The whole album sounds so fresh and so clean. If nothing else, this record, along with Reckoning, reminded me why I used to love REM so much ("used to" being the operative phrase here). And it drove home why their last few records have sucked; little or no backing vocals from Mike Mills. That and the tepid musicianship and uninspired songwriting, but I digress...

I have a rather large treasure trove of old REM bootlegs at home, I'll have to delve into them this weekend and post some of the highlights here for downloading next week.

Anyone got an old album they just listened to for the first time in a long while?

Is there a third Gorillaz album in the pipeline? While we wait to find out, watch the video for Feel Good, Inc. (Windoze MP)

Idlewild to tour the UK. Actually I just used that tidbit to say - If you have the new Idlewild record - get at me.

I heart Teenage Fanclub and the set list they played at their comeback gig last night.

Graham Coxon at the Black Cat tonight.

Hemingway said:

As for the new Idlewild record, as someone who loved their last two records all I can say is "Eh."

Though I do have great story about the night I spent talking to the guys in Idlewild and Brian "Pee Wee" Molko ended up nearly assaulting me...

March 30, 2005 2:09 PM
Tigidal said:

I have to agree about Idlewild... I dig the first track, but the rest are pretty ho-hum. Nothing compared to 100 Broken Windows.

March 30, 2005 2:43 PM
Xtian said:

Here's your counterpoint: I actually am really enjoying the new Idlewild. It's not radically different from the last one, but still good. REM circa Life's Rich Pagent moments abound. I'd happily trade a copy of it to you for a choice REM boot, btw.

March 30, 2005 2:50 PM
Jasper said:

New Idlewild is Boooooring. Hopefully they'll still tour the States, though.

March 30, 2005 3:21 PM
satellite said:

I agreed about the new Idlewild.. at first. I'm enjoying it the more & more I listen to it. I can definitely hear much more of American influence this time around. Not the instant classic that 100 broken windows was, but I'm loving it.

March 30, 2005 4:31 PM
Paz said:

Oddly just re-listened to Murmur as well. Moral Kiosk and Catapult sounded particularly good.

When I'm particularly nostalgic and don't care how cool my neighbors think I am, I have been known to blast Rancid's ...And Out Come the Wolves. True story.

March 30, 2005 6:50 PM
melina said:

jealous: graham coxon

March 31, 2005 3:45 PM