| Up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 26, 1998 | |||
| Studio |
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| Length | 64:31 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | ||||
| R.E.M. chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Up | ||||
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Up is the eleventh studio album by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on October 26, 1998 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the band's first without drummer Bill Berry, who retired from the band in October 1997. In his place, R.E.M. used session drummers such as Joey Waronker and Barrett Martin while also utilizing drum machines. The band produced the record with Pat McCarthy, marking the end of a partnership with Scott Litt which extended back to Document (1987).
The songs on Up display a much larger electronic music influence than previous R.E.M. material, with extensive use of keyboards and drum programming. Among the ideas Stipe set out to explore lyrically were what he described as the "religious-spiritual versus science-technology-modern-age", in addition to the use of an "automatic, unconscious" style. The making of the album was tumultuous, with the band later admitting to coming close to breaking up during the process.
While Up was commercially successful, reaching the top 3 in both the US and UK, its sales fell short of R.E.M.'s previous albums. Four singles were released from the album, with "Daysleeper" and "At My Most Beautiful" being the most successful. Critical reception has been positive, with many considering it to be a transitional record for the band and praising its integration of electronic elements. The band toured throughout 1999 in Europe and the US in promotion of the album. In 2023, Up was reissued with bonus material for the 25th anniversary of its release.
Background edit
Throughout 1995, R.E.M. embarked on a tour for their ninth studio album Monster (1994), their first tour since promotion for Green (1988) concluded in 1989.[5] While the tour was critically and commercially successful, the band was marred by health problems, including an aneurysm suffered by Berry at a show in Lausanne, Switzerland.[6] After receiving emergency surgery, Berry made a full recovery, although the band had to cancel the rest of their spring tour.[6] The next year, the band signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records worth an estimated $80 million, which had been regarded as the largest recording contract awarded up to that point.[7] In the spring of 1996, the band parted ways with longtime manager Jefferson Holt due to allegations of sexual harassment.[8] In September of that year, the band released New Adventures in Hi-Fi, which had been partially recorded live and during soundchecks from the Monster tour.[9] The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number two in the US and number one in the UK.[10][11] However, none of its singles managed to reach the top 40 in the US and sales were lower than the band's previous few releases.[10]
After the release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi, the band split off and returned to their own projects; Stipe increasingly focused on movie production, such as Velvet Goldmine.[12] Berry continued to be troubled by his aneurysm and Holt's departure, in addition to an impending divorce.[13][14] While he would contribute to early rehearsals for the album, he would also find himself spending time wandering on the beach and losing interest in working with the band.[13][14] Around late summer to early autumn of 1997, Berry told band manager and advisor Bertis Downs he wanted to leave the band.[13] When the band reconvened in October 1997, he announced his departure to the other three members, and Up would turn out to be the band's first album as a three-piece.[14]
Recording edit
R.E.M. first started work on a new album with rehearsals at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia in February 1997.[14] These rehearsals produced around 20 backing tracks, and the band began to consider bringing Scott Litt in to produce the forthcoming record. However, due to other obligations, Litt declined.[14] The band then got together at Buck's house in Maui in March 1997, putting "about 40 songs on tape"; mostly using drum machines with very little guitar.[14] Material produced at this time included a demo entitled "Pounce Pony", which would evolve into the album's closing track "Falls to Climb".[13]
References edit
Sources edit
- Black, Johnny (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M. Backbeat. ISBN 0-87930-776-5.
- Buckley, David (2002). R.E.M.: Fiction: An Alternative Biography. Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-927-3.
- Fletcher, Tony (2013). Perfect Circle: The Story of R.E.M. Omnibus. ISBN 978-1-78038-698-0.
Citations edit
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 10, 1998. p. 29. Misprinted as September 12 on source.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 5, 1998. p. 23.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 8 March, 1999: Singles". Music Week. March 6, 1999. p. 25.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 28 June, 1999: Singles". Music Week. June 26, 1999. p. 25.
- ^ Stafford, James (11 July 2015). "Revisiting R.E.M.'s Cursed 'Monster' Tour". Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b Power, Ed (28 July 2020). "When REM created a Monster: inside the tour that almost destroyed them". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Philips, Chuck (25 August 1996). "R.E.M., Warner Records Sign $80-Million Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Philips, Chuck (22 June 1996). "R.E.M. Manager Resigned After Harassment Complaint". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Peacock, Tim (10 September 2023). "'New Adventures In Hi-Fi': How R.E.M. Expanded In All Directions". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
billboardwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "R.E.M. Songs and Albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Fletcher 2013, chap. 21
- ^ a b c d Buckley 2002, chap. 10
- ^ a b c d e f Black 2004, chap. 18
