Search - Rem :: Reveal (CD & DVD Audio)

New Re-Release Package

Thomas D. Ryan | New York | 11/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"To my mind, this is the most easily accessible of all R.E.M.'s albums. Musically, the instrumentation and arrangements are less dense, without many confounding effects to wrap your head around. Michael Stipe's lyrics are less opaque as well, though as personally interpretable as ever. It seems that a `less is more' philosophy pervades the CD, providing a light, summery feel to the music, and relevance to the title. "The Lifting" kicks off the proceedings on an appropriate note of positivity-laced reflection, a mood that continues on "I've Been High," "She Just Wants to Be," and ends with the closing track "Beachball". In between, "Imitation of Life" takes a narrower but no less artful view, concentrating on the (impending?) loss of innocence, while "All the Way to Reno" does the same, with self-delusion providing a sense of myopic optimism for the narrator.

It's ironic that as the band opens up to `reveal' themselves in a comparatively straightforward manner, a percentage of their core audience has moved on, growing older and further away from the contemporary scene, while the scene itself eschews anything resembling `rock and roll'. That's too bad, because R.E.M. has grown with their audience, and if media outlets would play it, they might realize that this is the R.E.M. album they were hoping for all along. A- Tom Ryan"

Revealing

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 12/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have always thought it an odd coincidence that U2's startling return to former glory All That You Can't Leave Behind came out roughly the same time as R.E.M.'s "Reveal." This is an album made to be eager to please, discarding the electronic squonking that buried what was worth hearing on Up (think U2's Pop) and delivering an album that honed in the band's strengths. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was revealing, yet "Reveal" got left behind.



To me, "Reveal" is a massively underrated album. R.E.M. continue with their new-found Brian Wilson fascination on "Summer Turns To High" and "Beachball," shimmering instruments set apart from creamy harmony. The first single and video, "Imitation Of Life" should have been this album's "Beautiful Day," and brings back the R.E.M. of Peter Buck's jangle guitar. "All The Way To Reno" delved into Michael Stipe's lyrical irony (who thinks they'll find stardom in Reno?) along with a dreamy chorus.



There were plenty of other songs on this album that merit note, but the one that hooked me was "I'll Take The Rain." I played this song and U2's "Walk On" during 2000 and 2001 when I needed a boost to my spirits.



"I used to think

as birds take wing

they sing through life so why can't we?

You cling to this

and claim your best.

If this is what you're offering?

I'll take the rain."



Given the spectral production on "Reveal," it gives the aching sadness of the song an amazing emotional sweep. The 5.1 remix offers the range of sound the band was obviously trying for, and I was hoping to hear in the DVD-A releases. The bonus features consist primarily of a documentary of the making of the album and some shots of the band playing a Rock In Rio festival and a weird electronic, Up-like mix of "I'll Take The Rain" set to animation. "Reveal" is an album where Buck, Stipe and Mike Mills find themselves comfortable working not just as a trio, but as an R.E.M. trio."

Not up to par

W. Miller | Michigan, USA | 01/28/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Being a long time REM fan, this CD/DVD-Audio is somewhat dissapointing. It is a very flat sounding album with little dynamics. That was my first impression anyway.



The surround mix is also lacking. Very little center channel and surround channel use with next to nothing in the bass channel. If you really like the vintage REM, you may be dissapointed with this."