R.E.M.'s Murmur (33 1/3)
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Review
"'A brilliant idea' The Times; 'Neat' Nick Hornby; 'Pocket-size books about favourite albums is a nice idea, akin to TV's Classic Albums and with an equal amount of care and attention.' The Guardian (Friday Review)"
Product Description
R.E.M. s debut album, released in 1983, was so far removed from the prevailing trends of American popular music that it still sounds miraculous and out of time today. J. Niimi tells the story of the album s genesis with fascinating input from Don Dixon and Mitch Easter. He also investigates Michael Stipe s hypnotic, mysterious lyrics, and makes the case for Murmur as a work of Southern Gothic art.EXCEPRT: In the course of an interview that took place some twenty years ago, Michael Stipe made passing reference to an essay that had a deep impact on him. It s what came to his mind when, after having been harangued by fans and journalists alike about Murmur s lyrics, already grown weary from having to continually entertain their broad speculations, he finally threw up his hands. Anyone who really wants to figure out the words to our songs should probably read this essay, then go back and listen, Stipe told the interviewer. It talks about how people misinterpret something that s being said, and come up with a little phrase or word that actually defines the essence of what the original was better than the original did. What Stipe was trying to say is that if you want answers to R.E.M., you re not only looking in the wrong place, you re also asking the wrong questions.>
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
R.E.M.'s first album is regarded by many to be their finest, and this instalment in the 33 1/3 series pulls out all the stops, offering some intense analysis. Be warned, this book is not for the faint hearted.
As someone who discovered "Murmur" over a decade and a half ago, and would try to listen to it at least once or twice a month, I found it frequently very hard to follow all the contrasting strands that Justin Niimi is attempting to pull together in an attepmt to explain the mysitque of this enduring classic.
Guitars are pin-pointed, drum patterns are celebrated, song structures de-constructed and the lyrics transcribed (no mean feat in itself).
The problem is the sheer amount of depth that the book goes into. Unlike some of the other books in the series, Niimi's reads more like an academic text in places, resulting in a situation where, if you want to get something out of it, you've got to put a lot into it.
Whilst reading the book, in particular the song by song analysis, I found myself unable to follow some of his points and frequently failing to recognise the passages he was referring to. Dilligently, I got the album out and listened to it, only to find parts of the record I guess I'd never really heard before.
So there I was, listening to "Murmur" whilst reading a book about "Murmur". In a sense, the ultimate music nerd, and the target audience of these books. They got me hook, line and sinker.
As someone who discovered "Murmur" over a decade and a half ago, and would try to listen to it at least once or twice a month, I found it frequently very hard to follow all the contrasting strands that Justin Niimi is attempting to pull together in an attepmt to explain the mysitque of this enduring classic.
Guitars are pin-pointed, drum patterns are celebrated, song structures de-constructed and the lyrics transcribed (no mean feat in itself).
The problem is the sheer amount of depth that the book goes into. Unlike some of the other books in the series, Niimi's reads more like an academic text in places, resulting in a situation where, if you want to get something out of it, you've got to put a lot into it.
Whilst reading the book, in particular the song by song analysis, I found myself unable to follow some of his points and frequently failing to recognise the passages he was referring to. Dilligently, I got the album out and listened to it, only to find parts of the record I guess I'd never really heard before.
So there I was, listening to "Murmur" whilst reading a book about "Murmur". In a sense, the ultimate music nerd, and the target audience of these books. They got me hook, line and sinker.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
18 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Surprisingly thought provoking
2 Dec 2005
Format:Paperback
I really didn't expect much when a friend guided me to this book. All he mentioned was the track by track analysis of instrumentation and arrangement. But the amazing part of this book is the latter section dealing with language and the effectiveness of non-linear, yet familiar lyrics in evoking feelings beyond logic and language. I became consciously aware of an intuitive process through the shared experience of the record and the author's thoughtful considerations. Quite a bargain for the price!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Best R.E.M. book yet
17 July 2005
Format:Paperback
This book on Murmur is a great read. I am glad i stumbled on it at the check out counter of my favorite record store.
Mr. Niimi captured the record's weird and intangible magic, not
an easy feat. He did a particularly good job examining Bill Berry's
unusual playing style and incalculable contribution to not
only R.E.M.'s sound but compositions. Even though Niimi himself is a drummer, he explains things in a manner any non-musician will appreciate.
He also got some great quotes out of producers Don Dixon and Mitch
Easter as he delved into the details of the making of the record. Along the way he tells the terrific story of R.E.M.s rapid rise from Athens bar band to architects of the college rock, indie rock explosion of the '80s.
I followed R.E.M. very closely in this time frame and the author captures the feeling and emotional impact that R.E.M. had on its fans quite well. The book brought back many good memories. I highly recommend it to both the casual and serious R.E.M. fan.
Mr. Niimi captured the record's weird and intangible magic, not
an easy feat. He did a particularly good job examining Bill Berry's
unusual playing style and incalculable contribution to not
only R.E.M.'s sound but compositions. Even though Niimi himself is a drummer, he explains things in a manner any non-musician will appreciate.
He also got some great quotes out of producers Don Dixon and Mitch
Easter as he delved into the details of the making of the record. Along the way he tells the terrific story of R.E.M.s rapid rise from Athens bar band to architects of the college rock, indie rock explosion of the '80s.
I followed R.E.M. very closely in this time frame and the author captures the feeling and emotional impact that R.E.M. had on its fans quite well. The book brought back many good memories. I highly recommend it to both the casual and serious R.E.M. fan.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Salad Days Revisited
10 Jun 2005
Format:Paperback
I'm a big fan of the 33 1/3 Series from Continuum Books and J Niimi's MURMUR is a fine addition. One problem I have with books of this ilk is the tendency to emphasize studio craft and the technical aspect of the making of a record over the content and emotional effect of the music. Mr Niimi avoids this nicely- although all the studio tricks are exposed in their entirety! Its also a great look back at the times and trends that produced this fine record.
After reading the book I put the record on and, after wading through the inevitable waves of nostalgia, rediscovered a great band and record that I haven't listened to for far too long.
After reading the book I put the record on and, after wading through the inevitable waves of nostalgia, rediscovered a great band and record that I haven't listened to for far too long.
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