G has a really bad cough at night. Only at night though. Basically it has meant no sleeping for either one of us. I feel like Michael Stipe looks in this music video. I am all zombified today.

Click here for more info on R.E.M. – Up – "Daysleeper".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

R.E.M. - Up

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB3VTX0pxoE

I am biased. This was the first album I bought. I clearly remember riding in my brother's car as we were driving through the mountains, this album playing on tape, when it hit me: I loved music and I needed this album as soon as I could get my hands on it. It was not long before I had acquired all the albums R.E.M. had produced and to this day I think of R.E.M. as "my favorite band", though I must admit I am partial to the pre-"Up" albums.

Lots of people do not like R.E.M. and it usually falls one of two ways:

1. "all their music sounds the same" – They definitely have a sound that is common to multiple songs, particularly on their albums before "Out of Time". Also Michael Stipe's voice is not hard to pick out. I suppose to the casual listener, yes, it all sounds "the same" but the same could be true of most musicians then from my point of view. If you like that sound, as I do, then I fail to see how this is an issue. If you do not like the sound, I can't help you there. Listen to something completely different I guess, like this, that, or maybe even this

2. "shiny happy people, everybody hurts, and emotional themes" – I use to work with this big tough guy who was indeed a big and tough guy, and we would discuss music on occasion. He basically could not get over the overt happiness or sadness expressed in these songs without the cover of a heavier rock or country sound to make it sound more masculine and tough. For these men in R.E.M. to write these revealing and compromising emotional songs is part of what is endearing to me though. I feel I have always been able to relate to the awkwardness and uncertainty in life they portray. I suppose they are not a band for those who cannot handle it, relate to it, or would rather hide a facade.

I suppose there is probably a 3rd complaint regarding the ambiguous sexuality of some lyrics, and of Michael Stipe himself over the years. (May I suggest some reading so you can understand your problem: http://www.bidstrup.com/phobia.htm

Moving on…

In my book they're one of the best bands out there and my eyes teared up when I saw R.E.M. up on the big screen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Losing My Religion" being my favorite.

Track 2: Losing My Religion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB3VTX0pxoE

Track 4: Near Wild Heaven
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/near+wild+heaven/video/xrkwy_rem-near-wild-heaven_music

Track 6: Shiny Happy People
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/shiny+happy+people/video/xkkud_rem-shiny-happy-people_music

Track 8: Half A World Away
http://www.myvideo.de/watch/6400630/R_E_M_Half_a_World_Away

Track 9: Texarkana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP–MxYzTuo

PS: Check out "Texarkana". Everyone has heard "Losing My Religion" and "Shiny Happy People", but "Texarkana" is so cool and yet unknown.

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on R.E.M. – "Out of Time".

The CD may be purchased here…

R.E.M. - Out of Time