Review of the R.E.M. CD Up

Up is the latest release from R.E.M., and is another great one by this talented group.

It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that's exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn't a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own.

Up is a nicely varied, mix of 14 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly gifted musicians. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They're all here.

Overall Up is an outstanding release. Quite possibly R.E.M.'s best to date. Really spectacular from beginning to end. If you're even mildly into Rock music you'll enjoy this CD.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 5 - At My Most Beautiful, track 8 - You're In The Air, and track 14 - Falls To Climb

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 - Airportman. Outstanding!

Up Release Notes:

R.E.M. originally released Up on October 27, 1998 on the Warner Bros. Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Airportman 2. Lotus 3. Suspicion 4. Hope 5. At My Most Beautiful 6. Apologist, The 7. Sad Professor 8. You're In The Air 9. Walk Unafraid 10. Why Not Smile 11. Daysleeper 12. Diminished 13. Parakeet 14. Falls To Climb

R.E.M.: Michael Stipe (vocals, guitar); Peter Buck (guitar); Mike Mills (bass).

Principally recorded at La Casa Del Elefante, Seattle, Washington; Toast, San Francisco, California; John Keane Studios, Athens, Georgia; Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia.

Van Leasing