On Monday, we begin the deep-dive into COLLAPSE INTO NOW, the final R.E.M. album. But what do YOU think of it? Love it? Hate it? Is it a fitting end? What are your favourite tracks? Tell us everything!
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Hey mates, as an American listener who has run a baseball message board for 20 years, I can explain "frozen ropes and dying quails" if you explain Squash. We just don't have that over here.
A "frozen rope" is either a hard-hit line drive that flies parallel to the ground for a long time, or similarly, a high-velocity throw from an outfielder back to the infield that looks, well, like a frozen rope.
A "dying quail" is definitely a more obscure baseball reference. When a batter hits a ball softly in the air (a "popup"), usually it's caught by a fielder for an out. But sometimes, that popup drops unexpectedly for a weak hit before anyone can catch it, which is known as a "dying quail."
I'm not sure I could ever evaluate it outside of its context as the last album--it will always hit differently for that reason alone. That said, I do enjoy it a lot. I kind of wish Blue weren't the last song, but Patti Smith is there, so I can't help but like it.
I found it pleasant - it's grown on me on revisiting it. It's kind of like a parallel universe 'best of' album... Tho only UBerlin, alligator_aviator, and oh my heart (or it happened today, not both) might sneak into a real one. The last two tracks are poor, which is a shame. A decent way to end.
Had no effect on me at the time - then I started the podcast and thought ‘better give it a fair go’. Now I would prob play it once a week, it’s like they’ve released a new album for me.
My favourite of Phase 3. REM revisiting their career through new songs.
Unlike with Accelerate, I never worked to convince myself that I liked Collapse more than I actually did. I did (and do) like it a good bit, but I often skip maybe a third of the songs. That said, I could listen to Discoverer and Uberlin any and every day, and Alligator always makes me smile.
Think it got completely missed on release, which is a real shame and some of these songs would have been incredible live. Hopefully WIM and Da Fookin' Bear go some way to granting it a reappraisal!
I like this one. A nice summation of their career with a mix of rock, folk and pop anthems. The questionably-titled "Mine Smell Like Honey" is probably my favourite REM chorus of all time.
It's my favourite album since Up! Blue is possibly my least favourite song on the album, so it sucked that it was the last track - IHT, All the Best or Discoverer would have been more fitting IMO.
Well done lads - it's been a great listen so far - thank you!
Felt like a fitting end to the post-Bill period to me but a fitting end to their entire career? Maybe not. That said, It Happened Today is probably in my top 20, I could do without Eddie Vedder though. I'd love to have seen Bill involved even if on a track or two, would have been a nice bookmark.
A great way to sign off your career. Oh My Heart, All The Best and It Happened Today are all up there with their finest work. Doesn’t get the love it deserves
Unfortunately it’s pretty boring… I quite enjoy Alligator_Aviator but in the end none of these songs even go on my playlist of the post Bill Berry age!
Warmth is the key word here - they feel comfortable in their own skin and showcasing the full range of their skills. Great cameos as well - beautifully complement their respective songs
Comments
My favourite of Phase 3. REM revisiting their career through new songs.
Well done lads - it's been a great listen so far - thank you!
I get what they were trying to do with the fadeout/in to discoverer, but it doesn't really work - feels tacked on.
And while it would have given the game away, segueing into Radio free Europe would have been more them.
Discoverer, Uberlin and Oh My heart are up there for me.
Don't know if you'll throw in the 3 songs from the best of, but We all go back to where we belong might be the most beautiful sign off