New Adventures In Hi-Fi
by R.E.M.

REM's excellent follow up to monster. New adventures in hi-fi, was recorded during the band's world tour of 1995/96, and features songs recorded live, at soundchecks, and in various recording studios. The album opens deceptively with, how the west was won and where it got us, which probably wouldn't have sounded out of place on their next release, up. It's with the second track, wake up bomb, where the album starts to reveal it's true identity, it's a barnstorming rocker, similar to the sound on, monster. Other tracks along these lines are, undertow, Binky the doormat, and the excellent, so fast, so numb. Through this rock'n'roll haze, are some of REM's loveliest moments. Be mine, is good, but, electrolite, and, new test leper, are superb, arguably the best two songs on the album. Other standouts are the epic, leave, and the stoned drone of e-bow,the letter. There are a few throaways, departure, and, low desert, are hardly essential REM, but they're ok. This would be their last album with drummer Bill Berry, and would never quite be the same band again. Still, a brilliant record, one of their best.

From Tamthebam TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/05/2017 22:07 | #184976 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Follow up to the magnificent Monster this is R.E.M. at their best minimum fuss just straight forward rock music with touches of Automatic/monster/Life's Rich Pageant scattered around. Recorded after the Monster tour and written on the road it has a loose live feeling and all the tracks add up to make the whole album a tight sounding piece. Standout tracks E-bow the Letter, New Test Leper, Leave, Binky the Doormat & Electrolite. The remainder of the album is also good.

From Acktland 08/02/2019 18:16 | #240690 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Really under-rated album. Some similarities to Monster in that the distortion and fuzz are present on several tracks but there is a softening to the edges more reminiscent to late 80's R.E.M. A top notch album deserving a higher placing in the charts

From junodog4 TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/04/2012 03:23 | #41464 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

REM's last classic album. They were coming down from the high of being nearly the biggest band in the world, and the fatigue was palpable in the lyrics and subdued tone of the album. This album is gripping. Grossly underrated.

R.E.M.'s best album. It wows me track after track with every listen. Many will prefer Murmur, Documentary or Automatic for the People, but I think this album is the best version of R.E.M.