This is the Thread Where You Bash REM's Monster

The first NEW rem album that came out after I became a super fan. I liked it at the time because it wasn't awful and I was IN on the band so much. I tried to listen to it the other day and couldn't get through it. "Tongue" is the one I still like because it isn't overworked. In a perfect world I would switch it with "Ignoreland" on Automatic, putting "Ignoreland" on Monster so I could toss the whole damn thing.

Radiohead did indeed slay on their opening slot touring.

Sonic Youth opened for REM on the Monster tour date that I saw (KC) and similarly upstaged them. REM had a lot of sound problems with the mix that night too, I don't know if that was atypical

i was at that show!

I saw REM on the Monster tour with Radiohead, at Milton Keynes Bowl (?), and "High and Dry" was the most out-of-tune vocal I've ever heard, like literally a whole field of people wincing. Great show though

As in, "Don't leave me [much too high] highhhhh, don't leave me [much too low] dryyyyyyyy"

Blur opened on one of the Milton Keynes dates. Bit weird to think about imo.

from what I read on Wikipedia, bill berry was really influenced by Echobelly for the Monster guitar sound. I think maybe they did that tremolo thing too?

Surreally, Dan Rather interviewing the band and even performing a bit of "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ucWfkML7g

the cover art is the worst thing about this album, in retrospect

special 12" remix of Dan Rather singing "Kenneth."

Banged by Blame

Warner Bros - release the Rather mixes, you cowards....