Search - Rem :: Bang & Blame

Overall, pretty darn nice

Brian Stuart | Boston, MA | 10/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As R.E.M. Maxi-Singles go, this is a tad disappointing. They usual produce great B-Sides, but for Monster, they opted for all live tracks of previously release material. A lot of jewels in them, but this CD is one of the lesser efforts."Bang and Blame" is a great rock song. At times, Stipe seems a little of his element, though. The verses are great, but the rocking chorus doesn't always come off as well as it probably could. Still, the great playing of Mills, Buck, and Berry are all excellent and produce a really strong track."Losing My Religion" is the first live track. Not much to be said. It's "Losing My Religion" live. It always sounds the same to me, and this is not the first time a live version of the song made its way into a B-Side. I think the band has just gotten into a groove for doing this song. Its always really good, but never great."Country Feedback" is a very nice inclusion, though. A fan favorite, its simple beauty comes across very well here. You can tell that Michael Stipe really enjoys singing this. A beautiful rendition."Begin the Begin" is another fan fav which closes out the single. The performance is good, although the recording left something to be desired. Still, it is a live recording, so you get about what you should expect.Overall, I don't consider this album a must buy. If you like either "Country Feedback" or "Begin the Begin", though, you won't be disappointed by the versions you'll find here. Not a great single, but pretty darn nice."

The whole world hinges on yr swings

Funkmeister G | 02/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm very sure this was my 1st ever purchase of the great group, soon followed by a tape of Green then a rapid succession of everything else, nearly. Bang & Blame was the 2nd single off Monster & received a decent bit of airplay. A lot of people seemed to think the chorus was a bit inane, 'bang x20' but he does actually sing something else. The verses are the highlights though w/ Stipe really putting in a performance on his intellectual lyrics over the subtle grooves & effected guitar lines of Peter Buck. Anyway, you've probably heard the song already, so on to the b-sides, 3 live tunes, from a Greenpeace concert in 1992, which they stretched out over the 5 Monster singles, there's the old "Oh Life, it's bigger" song which is nice enough but following it is a better & more obscure song off the same album Out of Time, Country Feedback. This version I would probably say is better & more affecting than the lp version. Rounding it off is a big stomping political tune called Begin the Begin, which opens Life's Rich Pageant. It's a very fine single & the packaging's nice & arty [the photo above the lyrics features a headless shot of the band]. So basically if you have all the albums & you need more, this is a justifiable purchase. If you haven't got the album yet get it too, it's quite underrated."

Banging Song

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 05/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Bang & Blame" is the best song from R.E.M.'s great Monster album. The song has a sinister sound to it with a pulsating bass line and a wicked guitar. Michael Stipe sings with a sneering drawl and it is just a tremendous track. The three live songs are also well worth it. "Losing My Religion" is solid, but "Country Feedback" is tremendous and the old Lifes Rich Pageant "Begin The Begin" is excellent."