Best Record of 2001: Day 46
Cover art courtesy of Warner Brothers
Good morning!
Today we’re taking a look at R.E.M.’s 2001 LP, Reveal.
Sometime ago, I raised some eyebrows not by declaring that Document was R.E.M.’s best record (a relatively safe pick, tbh), but by ranking Out of Time so high and slotting in AFTP so low at 9th.
There were a couple of caveats and carve-outs (it’s my list!). First, Up punches above its weight for the simple reason that no other song so perfectly describes the feel of an airport at 03:30 AM as Airportman does. This is a side of travel few see, but one that’s been my world for most of my adult life.
Second—and I think more relevant here—REM’s discography can be broken into three distinct eras, and the order you slot these records in depends a lot on which one your on-ramp was in. For me, this was Green and Eponymous. The latter is a comp, but there’s a very real calculus behind why the former sits at #5 for me.
I also feel like the post-Bill Berry years are a sort of denouement for the band. If the cut-out bins were anything to go by, this was the era that many listeners passed on. It certainly was for me, though YMMV.
Really, I think the one thing most fans can agree on is that Around the Sun has a lock on last place. Pretty much everything else is up for grabs.
That said, something has to come in next to last, and up until now, that something for me has usually been Reveal.
By this point, I’d kind of checked out. I’d still give any new release at least a cursory glance, but I was perfectly happy to stay behind, enjoying Green, Out of Time, and even Monster. Up was interesting- an appreciation that grew over time, but Reveal passed me by entirely. Knowing me, I probably dismissed it out of hand. No Bill Berry? No, thank you. Never mind the reasons behind his (very amicable and very necessary) reasons for leaving. I could be pretentious that way—not unlike my gatekeeping ancestors who felt the same way for anything post-IRS. Really, I think it was 10 years too early for me. I wasn’t ready.
Listening again, I’m surprised at how solid the first three tracks are. I’ve long held a soft spot for “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)” but “The Lifting” is a lot better than I’d remebered. It’s a harkening back to something closer to their earlier sound; almost an antidote to the way Up left off. Maybe a reminder to all of us that 3/4s of the band we grew up on was still there/ Maybe it was a reminder to themselves.
“Disappear” is a bit of a dirge, which…ok. I mean, I know that plays with a huge part of the fan base, but I prefer my R.E.M. a little more jangly, thankyouverymuch. Ditto “Saturn Return.” “Beat A Drum” pulls things up a bit and reminds me of the Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys. Not my bag, but it’s objectively pleasant.
“Imitation of Life” was the “big” single of the album, and its catchiness and hook make a solid case for why it deserved to be. The video reminds me of Weezer’s “Island in the Sun” with trippy effects. Actually, a lot of videos from this era went all in on this motif. Were we into this back in the day? These didn’t look like any parties I was going to, I’ll tell you that for free. And I like the wistful vibe that closer “Beachball” sends us out on.
As noted, Up has long punched above its weight thanks to Airportman. That’s an all-timer for extremely niche reasons, but Reveal took that same nose for experimentation and pulled it into a much sharper focus.
Going in, I wasn’t really sure what I was gonna get. Time can be kind or cruel in equal measure. But after years of slagging off the last 1/3 of the discography, I was really hoping for redemption. And I’m happy to say it came. None of my top 5 is at risk, but even just typing this, I think it deserves to be scooched up at least a notch or two.
Bottom Line: This is up against Super Furry Animals’ Rings Around the World LP. a record that has a fervent fan base. I can certainly repsect that, but sometimes you gotta dance with who brang ya, ands this is one of those times. R.E.M. for both bracket pick and my vote today.
Any thoughts on either of these records? Agree/disagree with my take? Sound off in the comments!
Kevin Sent 