R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi

A drummer isn’t often a key member of any band.  But after this album Bill Berry (the drummer) quit the band after suffering a brain aneurysm on stage.  The quality of REM’s catalogue dropped considerably. 

REM almost defined underground music in the 80s.  Their first 5 albums are, quite rightly, considered foundation stones of indie music as they embody both the spirit and the sound of the scene. 

This album, mostly written at soundchecks of their first world tour in 5 years, is good.  But it’s not great.  While this album has some great songs on it (E-Bow the Letter, Electrolite, The Wake Up Bomb) it could certainly have done with a bit of a trim.  There’s too much filler here.  My advice?  Listen to any of the albums that precede this one in the catalogue.  They’re all great.