R.E.M. - Usenet rec.music.rem NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI INTERIM MINI-LIST OF FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS Version 1.2b Compiled 4 Oct 1996 by Ron Henry (rgh3@cornell.edu) --------------------------------------------------------------------- In the interests of collecting some of the common information about the new R.E.M. album that has been posted to rec.music.rem, I have put this interim "mini-FAQ" together. At some point, when the traffic of posts discussing the new album dies down, I will incorporate the most important of these entries into the full, permanent, FAQ document. Please email any suggestions, corrections, additions, etc. to me at the address rgh3@cornell.edu. Thanks in advance! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. "Where can I get the lyrics and chords to the album?" The best place to get lyrics is on the WWW at URL: The best source for chords on the WWW is the URL: Good general sources of info on the band include the URLs: 2. "Why isn't the song 'Revolution' from the Monster Tour on the new album, like all the other new songs they were performing on tour?" The choice of whether to include a song on an album is one only the band itself can really comment on, but recall that 'Revolution=92 dates back to the time of _Monster_'s release and therefore many of its timely political references (O.J., Ollie North, etc.) had become outdated by the time of the release of NAIHF, and this is a very likely reason for the song not having been included. (Nonetheless, I'd look for it as a track on a future maxi-single release.) 3. "What is an 'e-bow'?" An hand-held electronic gadget that -- when held over the strings of an electric guitar -- produces a characteristic sustained tone (yes, it is used by Peter Buck on the track). [For more information surf over to www.ebow.com.] 4. "Who is Patti Smith?" The background singer on the song "E-bow the Letter", Patti Smith, is an important figure from the late 70's punk/new wave scene in New York whose albums (especially "Horses" and "Easter") are considered by many people essential milestones in the development of American alternative rock. She has also published several books of Beat-influenced poetry over the years. Her influence on the members of R.E.M., especially Michael Stipe and Peter Buck, has long been noted in interviews with the band. 5. "Does the new album have 'named' sides like previously-released R.E.M. albums?" Those who have purchased the cassette version of NAIHF have reported sides named "Hi" and "Fi", the second side beginning with "Departure". The limited vinyl edition only has numbered sides, alas. 6. "Who _was_ Maria Callas, mentioned in 'E-bow the Letter'?" A renowned, U.S.-born, Greek, opera singer who lived from 1923 to 1977. In the 1950's, many considered her "the greatest soprano in the world." Among the many URLs with information on Maria Callas are http://www.opera.it/English/Cantanti/Callas.html (English), and http://www.opera.it/Cantanti/Callas.html (Italian). Included in these webpages are a discography. [Thanks to Stan Kalisch III .] 7. "What is that little sound clip before 'Be Mine'?" It sounds like someone saying, perhaps on a CB radio, "...Uh, speed zone up here, too." Some sources report that an early version of the song was recorded by Mike Mills on the tour bus, and perhaps the clip is meant to allude to this. 8. "I thought there was a new R.E.M. song called 'Sponge'. I don't see it on the new album." The song "Sponge" recorded by R.E.M. is actually a composition by Georgia singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt, and R.E.M's cover of the tune is included on the compilation record _Sweet Relief II_ along with other Chesnutt songs performed by various bands. The proceeds of the album go to a charity that assists musicians with medical expenses. His most recent album is _West of Rome_ and he did interesting (if loose) "cover" of R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World..." for the _Surprise Your Pig_ R.E.M. tribute album. 9. "What are the singles off the new album?" "E-bow the Letter" has already been released as both a CD single and as a CD-5. The CD-5 contains the following cuts: "E-bow the Letter," "Tricycle" (an instrumental, recorded at sound check in St. Louis), "Departure" (recorded at the Rome sound check), and "Wall of Death" (cover of the Richard Thompson song, previously included on the "Beat the Retreat" tribute). "Bittersweet Me" is supposed to be released on Oct. 29 as a single with a live version of "Undertow". The maxi-single, set for Nov. 5 release, will include the cuts: "Bittersweet Me" (album version), "Undertow" (live), "Wichita Lineman" (live), and "New Test Leper" (acoustic version). It has been reported that future singles will include "Electrolite" (12-6 release date?). 10. "Why isn't long-time manager Jefferson Holt mentioned in the new album's credits?" A recent press release from the band announced that Holt had left his position of manager. No further details about the split were confirmed by R.E.M./Athens Ltd., and much speculation on why and what happened remains rumor. In fact it has been reported that one of the terms of the dissolution is that none of the parties make public comment. 11. "Why does the phrase 'The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors' in the liner notes mean?" "The Bride Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors, Even" is the name of a painting by the Dadaist artist, Marcel Duchamp. It's listed on the album because there's a photograph of it on the CD insert: if you fold the insert out, it's on the side with the legal credits, on the end and left of the photo of the two blurry trees (it looks like a window with light shining through). The painting is done on a large (9 by 5 foot) piece of cracked glass, and also incorporates lead wire, foil, dust, and varnish in addition to the oil paint. Duchamp painted on glass to suggest four-dimensional space, as well as to make the room seen through the glass part of the composition. The complex and surreal mechanical imagery of the painting grew out of Duchamp's fascination with science and machinery. Duchamp created the work between 1915 and 1923, and it's now on exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Duchamp is most famous for his earlier Futurist painting, "Nude Descending A Staircase," and for his "ready-mades," which were common ordinary objects which Duchamp displayed in art galleries and called 'art.' Incidentally, Duchamp believed that each viewer of an artwork gives it their own personal meaning, which is more real than the artist's intended meaning, or as he put it, "the audience makes the pictures." This sounds similar to Stipe's comments that the lyrics people hear on the albums are more 'correct' than the ones he is singing, which is why he's reluctant to explain songs. Duchamp was also interested in the role of chance operations in art, which is similar to Stipe's interest in Walker Percy's idea (and essay) "Mistake As Metaphor." There's a Marcel Duchamp website, for more info, at . [Thanks to rastaman@mail.utexas.edu.] 12. "Where is Kill Devil Hill, mentioned in 'So Fast So Numb'?" The Kill Devil Hills are near Kitty Hawk, the site of the Wright Brothers' early airplane experiment, and they are both located on the Outer Banks, that long sandbar island that runs along the North Carolina coast. Kill Devil Hills (plural) is a community approx 4-5 miles north of Kitty Hawk. [Thanks to jpmcdon+@pitt.edu.] 13. "Did Michael Stipe really moon Bob Dole's plane?" 'Q' Magazine said: "Widely unfancied American presidential candidate Bob Dole has not been winning much credibility with the youth vote. Having attacked the film Trainspotting as glamourising drug abuse (a remark which led to Capitol Records, who released the soundtrack album, starting a poster campaign with Dole wearing a "Iggy Pop For President" lapel) he is now reported to have been mooned at by Michael Stipe of REM. The incident is supposed to have taken place at Seattle airport when the singer's plane arrived at the same time as Dole's." Stipe has confirmed in a Rolling Stone interview that he mooned Dole's plane twice (the second time when he thought they had a better angle on seeing him). 14. "Who are William Greider, Jimmy Dean, Steve McQueen, etc.?" For more information on the names of real people included in songs on this and other R.E.M. albums, get a copy of the revised "Real People Mentioned in R.E.M. Songs" document from one of the general R.E.M. websites listed in question #1 above, or by emailing me, rgh3@cornell.edu, and requesting it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Please email rgh3@cornell.edu for an email copy of this text, or for a copy of the full FAQ document on R.E.M. Many thanks to all those who have provided information. Further suggestions and comments are always welcome. Reproduction of this text is allowed provided credit is made to the source.