Aaaaaaaaaaaah thank you thank you thank you! One of my fave early REM songs (and early REM is generally the best REM) done beautifully. And yes, I have listened to this song hundreds of times and never knew half the lyrics but you're right, it doesn't matter. Glorious. 😍😍😍
R.E.M. was my go-to Feeling Sad band when I was in college at good old Pomona. I spent many an hour moping in my room in Lyon Court or Smiley or Harwood or Lawry or wherever I was living at the time, sighing over "So. Central Rain" or "Perfect Circle" or "Wolves, Lower" and bemoaning whatever it was I had to be distressed about in those golden, youthful days. I seem to remember that the "Dead Letter Office" album insert had something funny to say about covering "Toys in the Attic" as well as "King of the Road." Thanks for the memories, guys! I'm going to make a playlist of R.E.M. songs for my upcoming road trip.
Was just reminiscing about the time I was supposed to see you both at Oxegen in 2008. I was determined to go see REM on the Saturday but we were up the front for Feeder and The Zutons at a different stage and my friends wanted to stay. A guy absolutely off his tits PISSED DOWN MY LEG midway through The Zutons… I was only just turned 18 and just stood there crying until one of my friends got me to tell the bouncer and they threw him out (though he did make his way back up to the front again). I missed REM, had my first pair of leggings ruined and my dignity thrown out the window 😂 but I DID get to see WAS the next day for the second time ever, and it was glorious (I sometimes still mutter ‘Bar Bar ID required’ to myself from your onstage craic, even if literally no one else gets it).
I think this was always a problem for The Zutons — people getting peed on while watching their shows. Of course one hesitates to say that the band were to blame, but after it happens enough times, folks just start losing interest.
It all suddenly makes sense - the toilet paper flying around the campsite was for them! I would like to see them another time sans urine, maybe 15 years has been enough time for the trauma to fade...
Argh!!! I am so completely happy right now! This is a fabulous cover of a truly wonderful song (the only thing missing is the beautiful bass line, but I was adding that in from memory as I listened along) I cannot overstate what a huge REM fan I have been since the age of 15 (so a LONG time) and this cover ticked all the boxes.
I attended the Accelerate tour in the UK that autumn. Sadly you guys weren’t supporting but we did have the pleasure of The Guillemots and Editors in Cardiff so it wasn’t a total loss. At the time I remember this as the best concert of my life so far for the sheer number of hits played and the way it transported me on a tour of all those albums which I loved whole-heartedly. Fall On Me was definitely played and also Disturbance At The Heron House (although it’s possible I’m having a Chris Night Swimming moment) I like to think I heard Green Grow The Rushes but I’m pretty sure I did not. I would’ve been the person in the crowd shouting every word and crying - to everything 🤷♀️
I would highly recommend the album Dead Letter Office to anyone that has not heard it. Not only does it include the brilliant Chronic Town EP but also some excellent Velvet Underground covers, a reworking of Seven Chinese Brothers called Voice of Harold - which I like better than the original - and the aforementioned Toys In The Attic cover. It may well come second only to Lifes Rich Pageant in my list of favourite REM albums.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am now even more devoted than ever.
And does an admirable imitation of both Michael Stipe and Mike Mills in this cover which is rather impressive. I have listened to this several times now and it only gets better!
Realizing that a cat finding out about your plan to bag him is actually a perfectly good time to say "the cat's out of the bag."
Aaaaaaaaaaaah thank you thank you thank you! One of my fave early REM songs (and early REM is generally the best REM) done beautifully. And yes, I have listened to this song hundreds of times and never knew half the lyrics but you're right, it doesn't matter. Glorious. 😍😍😍
R.E.M. was my go-to Feeling Sad band when I was in college at good old Pomona. I spent many an hour moping in my room in Lyon Court or Smiley or Harwood or Lawry or wherever I was living at the time, sighing over "So. Central Rain" or "Perfect Circle" or "Wolves, Lower" and bemoaning whatever it was I had to be distressed about in those golden, youthful days. I seem to remember that the "Dead Letter Office" album insert had something funny to say about covering "Toys in the Attic" as well as "King of the Road." Thanks for the memories, guys! I'm going to make a playlist of R.E.M. songs for my upcoming road trip.
Was just reminiscing about the time I was supposed to see you both at Oxegen in 2008. I was determined to go see REM on the Saturday but we were up the front for Feeder and The Zutons at a different stage and my friends wanted to stay. A guy absolutely off his tits PISSED DOWN MY LEG midway through The Zutons… I was only just turned 18 and just stood there crying until one of my friends got me to tell the bouncer and they threw him out (though he did make his way back up to the front again). I missed REM, had my first pair of leggings ruined and my dignity thrown out the window 😂 but I DID get to see WAS the next day for the second time ever, and it was glorious (I sometimes still mutter ‘Bar Bar ID required’ to myself from your onstage craic, even if literally no one else gets it).
I think this was always a problem for The Zutons — people getting peed on while watching their shows. Of course one hesitates to say that the band were to blame, but after it happens enough times, folks just start losing interest.
It all suddenly makes sense - the toilet paper flying around the campsite was for them! I would like to see them another time sans urine, maybe 15 years has been enough time for the trauma to fade...
Argh!!! I am so completely happy right now! This is a fabulous cover of a truly wonderful song (the only thing missing is the beautiful bass line, but I was adding that in from memory as I listened along) I cannot overstate what a huge REM fan I have been since the age of 15 (so a LONG time) and this cover ticked all the boxes.
I attended the Accelerate tour in the UK that autumn. Sadly you guys weren’t supporting but we did have the pleasure of The Guillemots and Editors in Cardiff so it wasn’t a total loss. At the time I remember this as the best concert of my life so far for the sheer number of hits played and the way it transported me on a tour of all those albums which I loved whole-heartedly. Fall On Me was definitely played and also Disturbance At The Heron House (although it’s possible I’m having a Chris Night Swimming moment) I like to think I heard Green Grow The Rushes but I’m pretty sure I did not. I would’ve been the person in the crowd shouting every word and crying - to everything 🤷♀️
I would highly recommend the album Dead Letter Office to anyone that has not heard it. Not only does it include the brilliant Chronic Town EP but also some excellent Velvet Underground covers, a reworking of Seven Chinese Brothers called Voice of Harold - which I like better than the original - and the aforementioned Toys In The Attic cover. It may well come second only to Lifes Rich Pageant in my list of favourite REM albums.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am now even more devoted than ever.
Oh! Should also say Keith is totally on the mark regarding Michael Stipe’s lyrics (and Shiny, Happy People 😂)
And does an admirable imitation of both Michael Stipe and Mike Mills in this cover which is rather impressive. I have listened to this several times now and it only gets better!
Despite listening to this version and the original several times, now I only have bleedin' Shiny Happy People in my head 😠😆
Ear worm nightmare! 😂
I know! Getting edged out now thankfully.
😂 it may be just me, but the guitar intro to Notes In A Bottle has always reminded me of Shiny Happy People!
Ooh. Going to investigate this now
Oh, I totally get where you are coming from! Had not picked up on this before.
I thought this as well Lou, never realised how much Keith sounds like Michael Stipe at times 😯
Yeah, for sure! Really makes me want to hear a cover of Supernatural Superserious for some reason.
Your joy is as infectious as ever! 😘🤘
I just keep coming back to this again and again. It’s so damn good! I get shivers every time 🥹
Enjoyed your cover very much even if I heard it on a Wednesday. One album that apostrophes us quite well is the awe-inspiring Who’s Next.
Apostrophe as verb? Niiiiice 🥹
On the apostrophe point:
(What's The Story) Morning Glory.
Just checking everyone's watched the REM episode of Song Exploder on Netflix?! It's by far the best one.
Ooh I've only known Song Exploder as a podcast, will need to check this out, thanks!