’’Maybe Im crazy, Maybe diminished, May Im innocent, Maybe finished’’.......what Im going to pen down will go as one of the biggest BLUNDERS in the HISTORY OF ROCK!
The story goes like this..Ive been infected with REM for fours years now. The ONLY reason I think so : I consider myself lucky for being among the very few who appreciate REM. And today, this ill-fated day, I have a feeling that most likely i’ll end up ’spreading this disease’ ( ’’Im sorry, so sorry’’). Committing crime is simple actually. We do it everyday. Its so simple that all I need to do today is to tell you about ’’UP’’. Why ’’UP’’? Because its one their most adventurous albums ( dont believe it?.its coming from an ugly sinner..pleaaaaaasssse dont!)
’’They call me the apologist.
And now that I’m at peak.
You know at first it really hurt.
We joke about these things.
Ive skirted all my differences’’
(song - Apologist)
Its not making much sense, isnt it? Well, its not supposed to...until you read till the very end. Funny part being, there is no guarantee that it will by the time you reach the end...the bloody end. I know your patience might be running out already. I guess I’ll tell you one secret about REM. I have to now. REM is nothing but cracking puzzles. Its deciphering codes..lots and lots of it!! Most of the songs are so personal that its tough to interpret and relate.
Take this :
’’Listen to the devils in my ear
Tell me what, what I want to hear
You’re so funny, you’re so fine.
You’re so perfect, you’re so mine’’
( song -- suspicion)
Its full of suspicions. The cure being ’’cant you see.// I need // Nothing to deep’’
It starts making some sense (in a weird kind of way...as I call it). Dont all of us need simple things in life to stay happy? Isnt it the complications which make it all confusing. Im not saying REM talks about simple things. What it does though is convey in the song the uselessness of all our contradictions at times.
’’Walk Unafraid’’ is one song that you can catch up during your initial listenings of the album. The music is faster as Michael Stipe sings ’’Everyone walks the same// Expecting me to step // The narrow path they’ve laid // They claim to // Walk unafraid’’.
Are there some romantic people around? Im dying to tell you this. There are two amazing songs to watch out here. I regard ’’At my most beautiful’’ as one of the better love songs I’ve heard till date.
’’I count you eyelashes, secretly.
WIth every one, whisper I love you.
I let you sleep.’’
Its tender. Its touching.
The other one is ’’You’re in the air’’. And I’m not telling you a thing about it. Except that you’ll feel like an acrobat going ’’upside down’’ if you just let yourself go with the music.
REM is gifted with Michael Stipe. It was his charisma and strong stage presence that got REM established in the beginning. Its his voice which has got them so far. And thats the reason, even when the drummer Bill Berry left the band in 1997 (due to health grounds mainly), the band just simply refused to be let down. They experimented, used sonic trickery and the result is that Stipe’s voice has come out much more clearly than ever before in this album.
’’Why Not Smile’’ has the power to cheer you up. ’’Hope’’ will make you think. ’’Parakeet’’ is odd..and will take long to grow on you.
For all those who believe Automatic For the People is their best record, I have something to say. It was the frank openness which made it popular. And its the personal touch, the sadness, the imagination which has made ?UP? being overlooked.
My sin is done for the day. I’ll leave it for you to decide ...how bloody it was!