加速前進 (下)

隨著首張專輯《Murmur》的好評與成功,
R.E.M.開始了各地的巡迴演唱並且廣泛受到地下音樂圈及大學校園的歡迎。
他們藉由不斷地巡迴演唱建立了良好的聲譽, 也逐步累積自己的音樂實力。
爾後經過幾年努力的R.E.M., 漸漸將自己的音樂版圖由地下發展至主流音樂圈。



1987年,由R.E.M.所錄製的《Document》專輯, 成了80年代美國校園搖滾的最具代表性的作品。R.E.M.也因為這張專輯首度進入TOP 10, 單曲「The One I Love」當時紅遍全美, 也因此打入了主流排行成了熱門單曲。



由於專輯《Document》的成功, 立即吸引了Warner Bros. Records(華納唱片)的注意, 雙方即於1988年簽訂了合約。 從此R.E.M.正式由獨立唱片圈轉戰至主流音樂市場, 而這時的他們開始關心政治,社會及環境等等議題。另外, 多場跨地域的大型演唱也將他們推向更高的位置。
緊接著1988年在華納所錄製的年度專輯《Green》, 則為R.E.M.打下了全美90年代另類市場的基礎。


到了1990年代初期,
R.E.M.接連以 《Out Of Time》 (1991) 和 《Automatic for the People》(1992)兩張專輯,獲得了有史以來的商業成功, R.E.M.自此躋身重量級另類搖滾大團。
由於R.E.M.的空前成功, "alternative rock" (另類搖滾)便因此順勢進入主流音樂圈,
另類音樂終於在90年代逐漸受到美國市場的重視與肯定。


1996年,R.E.M.和華納再次簽署了新的合約,
這個價值高達8000萬的合約金,在當時的音樂圈創下史上最昂貴唱片的合約紀錄。

97年,鼓手 Bill Berry 離開R.E.M.,儘管他們仍舊還是受到市場的青睞,但是由於專輯過分修飾的結果,導致一向尖銳鮮明的曲風漸漸消失,這種情形在上一張作品《Around The Sun》尤其明顯。

自2004年發行了《Around The Sun》之後,讓樂迷等待了四年R.E.M.終於在2008年4月發行了他們的第14張專輯《Accelerate》。

R.E.M. - Accelerate [Trailer]



在新專輯《Accelerate》推出之後,R.E.M.團員(吉他手)Peter Buck 接受權威音樂雜誌 [Q]訪談時提到:
"R.E.M.的上一張專輯《Around the Sun》在美國地區只賣出240000張的銷量,而且還得到許多不好的評價聲浪。
這些讓我很氣, 我們很擔心R.E.M.從此無法再做出像以前ㄧ樣好的作品,這令我們感到生氣和害怕"
Buck 也承認團員們一直處在無法超越過去的壓力中,
"我們都非常希望創造一個更好的紀錄"
他甚至告訴記者:"You know, if we make another bad record, it's over."


這張專輯的成敗攸關R.E.M.在音樂上的成敗。可喜的是,它並沒有讓久違的樂迷失望。
《Accelerate》不僅獲得 N.M.E. , Spin , Q , Rolling Stone 等音樂權威刊物的高度肯定,並且在市場上也創造出相當不錯的銷量,這讓睽違四年的他們終於在2008年交出了一張漂亮的成績單。



專輯中的主打曲《Supernatural Superserious》，在主唱 Michael Stipe 充滿感情的詮釋下,配合著 Peter Buck 流暢飛揚的吉他伴奏,實在叫人捨不得把耳朵移開。而這聲音彷彿讓我們聽到 R.E.M. 在變與不變中融合新舊兼備的感動。

就音樂性來說,《Accelerate》這張專輯讓他們跳脫前兩張專輯的沉悶,也讓他們再次回到80、90年代獨立唱片時期的R.E.M.,
那種粗糙、吵雜，卻很真實的特質又重新回來了；另外,就歌詞意涵上,他們的炮火依然猛烈。
這些年來美國的政治及社會現況令人憂心，而如今惡劣的政治情勢也確實幫助 R.E.M. 找回原本的核心價值。

對重新出擊的R.E.M.來說,這張專輯不但一掃之前的頹勢,也相當的滿足了老樂迷的耳朵。
而對新世代樂迷來說,或許也會因為這張作品而對R.E.M.這個老牌搖滾尖兵有了不同的認識。

對於一個成軍27年的樂團,在2008年的今天仍然不斷努力地尋求音樂上的突破,這種對音樂的用心與執著,真的很難不叫人欽佩!



Studio albums

Murmur (1983)
Reckoning (1984)
Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
Document (1987)
Green (1988)
Out of Time (1991)
Automatic for the People (1992)
Monster (1994)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
Up (1998)
Reveal (2001)
Around the Sun (2004)
Accelerate (2008)

2007年，R.E.M.正式進入搖滾名人堂。



R.E.M.
- Supernatural Superserious



Everybody here,
Comes from somewhere,
That they would just as soon forget,
And disguise.
At the summer camp where you volunteered,
No one saw your face, no one saw your fear.
If that apparition just appeared,
Took you up and away from this place and shared

Humiliation,
Of your teenage station.
Nobody cares,
No one remembers and nobody cares.
And you cried and you cried,
He's alive, he's alive.
And you cried and you cried and you cried and you cried.

If you call out safe then I'll stop right away,
If the premise buckles and the room starts to shake,
The details swap,
And the story's the same.
You don't have to explain.
You don't have to explain

Humiliation,
Of your teenage station.
Yeah you cried and you cried,
He's alive, he's alive.
And you cried and you cried and you cried,
And you realize your fantasies are
Dressed up in travesties.
Enjoy yourself with no regrets.

Everybody here,
Comes from somewhere,
That they would just as soon forget,
And disguise.
And you cried and you cried,
He's alive, he's alive.
Yeah you cried and you cried and you cried and you cried.
Oh, you cried and you cried.
Oh, you cried and you cried.

Now there's nothing dark and there's nothing weird,
Don't be afraid, I will hold you near,
From the séance where you first betrayed
An open heart on a darkened stage.
A celebration,
Of your teenage station.

It's an experience;
Sweet, delirious,
Supernatural, sperserious.
An experience,
Sweet, delirious,
Supernatural, superserious.



R.E.M. - Mr Richards(Live 2008)



So tell me how is prison?
Have they taught you how to listen?
We've begun to bridge the schism.
Pay attention, pay attention.

Mr. Richards, your decision.
Pay attention, pay attention.

You can thump your chest and rattle,
Stand in front of your piano
But we know what's going on.
Yes we know what's going on.
We're the children of the choir, hey
From the compound fire, hey
And we know what's going on.
Yes we know what's going on.



Hollow Man (Live in Seney-Stovall Chapel, Athens, GA 2008)



I've been lost inside my head,
Echoes fall off me.
I took the prize last night for complicatedness
For saying things I didn't mean and don't believe.

Believe in me, believe in nothing
Corner me and make me something
I've become the hollow man,
Have I become the hollow man I see?

Mmmmmm I see...This echoing.

You have placed your trust in me.
I went upside-down.
I emptied out the room in thirty seconds flat,
I can't believe you held your ground.

Believe in me, believe in nothing
Corner me and make me something
I've become the hollow man,
Have I become the hollow man I see?

I'm overwhelmed, I'm on repeat,
I'm emptied out, I'm incomplete.
You trusted me, I want to show you
I don't want to be the hollow man.

Believe in me, believe in nothing
Corner me and make me something
I've become the hollow man,
Have I become the hollow man I see?
I see...



Until The Day Is Done (live 2008)



The battle's been lost, the war is not won
An addled republic, a bitter refund
The business first flat earthers licking their wounds
The verdict is dire, the country's in ruins

Providence blinked, facing the sun
Where are we left to carry on
Until the day is done
Until the day is done

As we've written our stories to entertain
These notions of glory and bull market gain
The teleprompt flutters, the power surge brings
An easy speed message falls into routine

Providence blinked, facing the sun
Where are we left to carry on
Until the day is done
Until the day is done

A voice whispers "Son,
The blessed vision comes."
What have I done
What have I done

So hold tight your babies and your guns
Forgive us our trespasses, father and son

Providence blinked, facing the sun
Where are we left to carry on
Until the day is done
Until the day is done
Until the day is done
Until the day is done
Until the day is done
Until the day is done