REM - Live from Austin, Texas

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 4 / 12 / 2010




REM - Live from Austin, Texas

Anthony Strutt examines R.E.M's new seventeen song DVD, which comes from American TV show, 'Austin City Limits', and was filmed at the time of their 2008 album 'Accelerate'





Article

There have been a number of live R.E.M. DVDs and videos over the years, but this latest one, which was recorded on March 13th 2008, is probably the first to feature an uncut TV broadcast. It comes from America's long standing TV music show, 'Austin City Limits', which has a history something like 'Later...With Jools Holland'. It lasts 72 minutes and shows R.E.M. previewing their then unreleased new album, 'Accelerate'. This is the perfect Christmas present while we wait for their fifteenth album which due in the Spring is called 'Collapse Into Now', and features twelve new songs for which the track listing is 'Discoverer', 'All the Best', 'Uberlin', 'Oh My Heart', 'It Happened Today', 'Every Day is Yours to Win', 'Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter', 'Walk It Back', 'Mine Sell Like Honey', 'That Someone is You','Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I' and 'Blue'. There are no extras and no back stage interviews, but the film features instead eight new songs from that then new album and stunning versions of nine others, all of which show the band at ease with themselves. The songs shine bright and there is just enough sparkle in each to show off what makes a decent song. It doesn't get much better than this.




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Profiles


The Demise of R.E.M. (2011)
REM - The Demise of R.E.M.
Several Pennyblackmusic writers provide their reaction to R.E.M.'s recent decision to break up after 31 years together

Live Reviews


Royal Albert Hall and iTUnes, London, 24/3/2008 and 26/3/2008
REM - Royal Albert Hall and iTUnes, London, 24/3/2008 and 26/3/2008
At two showcase gigs to promote their new album 'Accelerate', one at the Royal Albert Hall, the other a tiny show at the iTunes Store, Anthony Strutt watches two very different, but almost equally powerful performances
Hammersmith Odeon, London, 19/2/2005
Make Trade Fair Oxfam, Hammersmith Apollo, 20/9/20
Carling Academy, London, 24/6/2003 (1st Night)
Carling Academy, London, 25/6/2003 (2nd Night)

Favourite Albums


Fables of the Reconstruction (2010)
REM - Fables of the Reconstruction
Anthony Strutt examines R.E.M.'s 1985 third album, 'Fables of the Reconstruction', which is the latest of their albums to be remastered
Automatic for the People (2010)


Digital Downloads




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