Listening Party #18 // R.E.M. - Automatic For The People // Weds 5th April, 8pm UK

stickyfiddle

I missed this - first week in a new job so passed out early (GMT+4 here!)

Will definitely listen today though

Jfingers

I couldn't join in at the time but I did this afternoon whilst 'altered'

I've been a massive fan since Murmur, yet drifted away.

Just listened to that and selected tracks from several other albums.

Thanks OP, that was wonderful.

stickyfiddle

Just gone through this afternoon. First time on vinyl and it's utterly wonderful. REM will always be one of my favourites. I saw them at Glastonbury 2003 (front row!) and vowed I'd go see them again as soon as I had any money. Sadly they split before I got any money so I never got the chance, and that still hurts almost 15 years later. 

Everybody Hurts is still one of the most beautiful and powerful bits of songwriting in history. And Nightswimming is at least as good. 

The bass on Sweetness Follows is definitely bowed acoustic instrument - the lowest note is just into a cello's range so that's more likely than a double bass. 

roberty said:

Can’t work out if that’s bowed cello or bowed double bass. I think it’s too low for cello

MagicPigDetective said:

The sound of that acoustic is so good. Is it a Martin? That's my perfect acoustic guitar sound, there

The way it sparkles around that washy organ sound. Sublime

Most likely either a Gibson or Guild jumbo - Peter Buck was/is a big fan of them.

stickyfiddle

And as with all the best albums, there's a documentary for anyone who hasn't seen it: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaiLpMsz2FE

stickyfiddle

Behold! 

roberty

stickyfiddle said:

Behold! 

Must be a drop tuning ;-)