R.E.M.

R.E.M.

1980-Present

Members:

Michael Stripe- Vocals

Peter Buck- Guitar

Mike Mills- Bass

Former Members:

Bill Berry- Drums

Discography:

Studio albums
Murmur (1983)
Reckoning (1984)
Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
Document (1987)
Green (1988)
Out of Time (1991)
Automatic for the People (1992)
Monster (1994)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
Up (1998)
Reveal (2001)
Around the Sun (2004)

R.E.M.: 80s Pride

R.E.M. began in Athens Georgia with Bill Berry (Drums), Peter Buck (Guitar), Mike Mills (Bass), and Michael Stipe (Vocals). With the help of a 'jangly' guitar tone and an expressive lead vocalist, R.E.M. quickly became one of the more popluar alternative rock bands of the 80s. Unfortunally...anything after the 80s doesn't really matter to me. It's quite similar to Van Halen. So there are a few songs after David Lee Roth that keep me excited, and I never doubt Eddie's playing..It is sadly an example of music changing to meet times.

Music was in transition in the early 80's. Music influenced by early heavy bands such as Led Zeppelin, had taken off in the mid and late 70's. Van Halen, Iron Maiden..ect Then the bands that were shadowed; hair bands were dime-a-dozen: Ratt, Poison, Winger, Warrant, White Lion. in between this heavy transition were a pile of bands who held their own: The Talking Heads, Men Without Hats, Flock Of Seaguls, The English Beat..Unfortuanlly, only a handfull of these bands were acctually any good.

R.E.M. has one of my favorite charactaristics in a band: simplicity. Their are an excess of bands who rely on their virtuosity to make their music interesting. For instance, Yngwie Malmsteen. I HATE Yngwie Malmsteen. There is no doubting Yingwie's speed on guitar, but this is all that stands out in his playing. Live shows are fully equiped with Yngwie jerking himself off via guitar as his band members lay down a 4/4 rock ballad or 3/4 walce. Their is no structure or natural build, he plays all of his cards, and does not hold back for effect. R.E.M. on the other hand, holds my attention with the same chords over and over again. How do they do this? By using all available musical elements. The song "Finest Worksong" off the album "Document" is my favorite example of this. In acctuality, this song only consists of 5 common chords, but it is the surrounding atmosphere that makes this song. A horn section adds to build, various percussion instruments give the song depth, a bass solo is included for variety, a choir in the back screams "blow your horn!" as the hook begins, what else do you need?

Michael Stripe! Michael has made his way over the years into being one of my favorite vocalists. He sings with expression and his voice carries a sense of raspiness that gives it a unique quality. This is not all though. Because of R.E.M's simplicity, a great deal of pressure falls on Michael's melody. It is one thing to sing what the chord changes provide for you, and it is another thing to be able to sing an interesting melody. Michael has accomplished this without a doubt. Another of my favorite vocalists, Thom Yorke of Radiohead, says, ""When I was in college, the Pixies and R.E.M. changed my life"

New "Obscure Band Of The (Every Other) Day"

I was speaking with my friend Steve recently and he asked me, "are you a Tortoise fan?"..sure I am..but to write an article on them? I havn't heard enough. This is when I came up with my newest idea, and may I add the title is my best work, "Obscure Band Of The (Every Other) Day". Check out the right side of the blog every other day for a new obscure band

July 16 - 23: Spock's Beard

Spock's Beard: 1992- Present

Current Members:

Alan Morse: Guitar (Vocals, Theremin, Cello)
Ryo Okumoto: Keyboards
Nick D'Virgilio: Drums and Vocals
Dave Meros: Bass

Former Members:

Neal Morse: Keyboards and Vocals



Discography:


Studio albums

The Light (1995)
Beware of Darkness (1996)
The Kindness of Strangers (1998)
Day For Night (1999)
V (2000)
Snow (2002)
Feel Euphoria (2003)
Octan (2005)
Spock's Beard (2006)


Live albums and compilations

Official Live Bootleg/The Beard is Out There (1996) (recorded 1995)
From the Vaults (1998) (rarities - From the Vaults, Series 1)
Live at the Whisky and NEARfest (1999)
Don't Try This At Home (April 2000) (recorded 1999) (live)
Nick 'n Neal live in Europe - Two Separate Gorillas (October, 2000) (From the Vaults, Series 2)
Don't Try This @ Home Either (2000) (recorded 1999) (live - From the Vaults, Series 3)
There and Here (2000) (live - From the Vaults, Series 4)
Gluttons for Punishment (2005) (live)


Videos

Spock's Beard Home Movie (Video, 1998)
Live At The Whisky (Video, (1999)
The Making of V (Video, May 2001)
Don't Try This At Home (2 DVD Set, November, 2002)
The Making Of Snow (DVD, 2004)





This week I have chosen one of my favorite Progressive Rock bands, Spock's Beard. As I take a retrospective on all the Progressive music I have listened to, I consider Spock's Beard to be one of my most unique encounters. For me, they have managed to create this pure 'Spock' sound through three main consepts: Remembering The Beatles, composing powerful guitar and keyboard leads, and including personal religious views as lyrical inspiration.





1. Remembering The Beatles

The Beatles accomplished a level of creativity that still runs strong 40 years later. Their music has the ability to draw out the gamut of emotions, and infact does so in a single song. An example.."A Day in the Life" off "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band": This song starts off with a melancholy feel as John talks about blowing minds out in a car and what not...Eventually the song progresses into a disturbing qualm from the constant crescendo of the symphony and Pauls lingering "on on on..." Finally, with content, I accpet the following progression; an up-beat jitter that makes me want to atleast do something. The greatest thing about all this...is the fact that you get repeat it all over again. I first noticed Spock's ability to do this when I heard the epic song "The Light" off their debut album "The Light". See..I would gladly map out the many changes in this song, except that it is a 15:32 musical rollercoaster. It even ends up in a Spanish style passage..."I am senor Valasco, I drink my milk with tobasco". On top of all this, Spock includes the simplistic Beatles-esc chord changes that we know and love. "Strange World", from "The Kindness of Strangers" is a song that I feel most exemplifies this.

2. keyboard and guitar leads

This, my friends, is what makes Spock's Beard this week's choice. Their leading riffs are by far the most prominent in music today. Their is not much i can say that can't be said by listening, so do yourself a favor and please check this out. If you want my personal suggestions on where to start then I say listen to, "In The Mouth of Madness", "Made Alive / Overture", and "At The End Of The Day"

3. Lyrical Inspiration

I am usually not one to put equal emphasis on lyrics, but this is an acception. Neal Morse (former singer of Spock's Beard) is by all means a spiritual man. He takes a great deal of lyrical influence from his born again christian experinces. I can see both good and bad sides to this. Many people do not enjoy being preached to through an art form, but for me, I say sing what you believe in...his lyrics only make the music that much more powerful. Neal does an excellent job of giving hope and meaning through his lyrics, he is quite the uplifting composer.

"Now I somehow have understanding

Like I've never had before in my life

Do you know what that's like,

I think you know what it's like

To love beyond words"

Introduction

Hello everyone,

This is my first post on my blog 'Band A Week' (or BAW for short), where I hope to share a nose pickin' good anaylisis of a weekly band I enjoy. The new bands each week will range anywhere from Progressive Rock, to Rythm & Blues, to some of the greatest bands of each era. I also plan to post audio files of the weekly band on my page, giving you a closer look into their music. All opinons of the featured bands are welcome and encouraged.