ITEOTWAWKI: Disappointment
So R. E. M. has a little update on their web site. They apparently are not recording or touring in 09. I didn’t think they would tour, but thought from some stuff I read that recording was a possibility, at least the start of the process. Oh, well.
Then they announce they are releasing a re-mastered version of Reckoning, just like they did with Murmur. I knew that was coming and couldn’t wait to see what the bonus disc was since Peter Buck was recently interviewed saying he wants them to release all kinds of old, rare concerts.
The bonus disc will be from the “rehearsal” sessions they held in Dublin while they were recording Accelerate. These things were available in full online from fans within 24 hours of the show. I think I have all five saved on my hard drive somewhere.
They have lost their mass appeal. They really are only drawing a niche audience now, many of whom have access to most of the live recordings available. Why would they entice people by releasing one of the ones most easily available?
The worst part is I’m dumb enough to buy it anyway.
nicolai
March 27, 2009I guess you got something wrong… 😉 They wrote: “…both a live recording of the 2007 Dublin Working Rehearsals AND a deluxe version of Reckoning.” I guess that means two seperate releases…
brian
March 27, 2009See, I read it as one package, but hopefully you are right.
Jocko Apa
March 28, 2009Good lord no, the bonus disc for Reckoning deluxe will of course be something Reckoning-related, probably a 1984 live show comparable to the Murmur deluxe package. The Dublin rehearsals will be released in some form, and will of course be much better quality than anything currently available online.
Read and understand before you post and whine.
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May 8, 2009[…] the last time I did one of these updates, I expressed disappointment that the re-release of “Reckoning” would be paired with a […]
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August 21, 2009[…] few months ago, I expressed disappointment with R.E.M.’s release plans for this year. I thought the live disc with the Reckoning […]