R.E.M. broke up today. I had every intention of talking about re-discovering my Counting Crows bootlegs late last night/early this morning, but R.E.M. broke up today.
It seems weird to say that I listened to them all day, but that I don't own enough of their stuff. It's true, though. That's just my immediate reaction. They're one of those bands that, for whatever reason, I just feel it to my soul that I need all of their music. They had a biography come out some years ago by a british author whose name escapes me at the moment. I do recall, however, that the title of the bio was Fiction. The genesis behind the title, from what I remember, was Michael Stipe stating at one point, that he didn't want a biography about his band, but that if one had to be written, he'd much rather have a fiction writer just make stuff up about them, because it would be more interesting than what really happened.
Because I am who I am, I just looked up the book. David Buckley is the author. It wasn't without its flaws, but the thing I remember most was that the prose seemed to capture the feeling of the band. Couldn't find the quote, though, I'll keep digging, and post it when I find it.
They were a band for 31 years. They were a band for as long as I've been alive. I've never known a world where R.E.M. didn't exist... what will that be like tomorrow?
What's funny is that I was all set to go on an epic Counting Crows bender, and then I found out that R.E.M. had split. Finding my bootlegs last night will only intensify that experience (thanks goes out to S.L. for that prompting).
My life tends to run in cycles around the bands I love. It's been a while since I've really slipped into a Counting Crows phase. If I had to trace the roots of the current bender, it most definitely goes back to the release of the live CD/DVD from Town Hall. Going back last night and finding those 6 or 8 shows, along with all of the individual tracks that I've stumbled across over the years was like opening a box and finding a bunch of old love letters. The emotion that it brought on was almost overwhelming in its intensity. It was definitely one of those things that you either want to share with certain people, or just keep entirely to yourself, if only because it means you don't have to rip yourself open in front of the rest of the world.
I did some playing today (finally!). Almost all of it was related to the band. Still not sure if I've got the right combination of chords for the verses on one of the tunes that has spent the last few weeks incubating in my head, but the chorus is right. That much I know for sure. The second of the tunes I'd been working on feels like it might be the album-ending acoustic number. The progression isn't quite right yet, but I figured out a quirk in the progression today that will stay in there for sure.
Didn't get a chance to record today (fail!), but I did text back and forth with B. She wanted to know what time this week or next week worked for us to chat. Sunday night works perfectly. The rest of the weekend looks packed full of fun, but Sunday night was wide open for both of us. Which is good. I've missed my band. Plus, it gives me the next few days to try and get those ideas laid down in between everything else. Gotta have more stuff ready for J.
Besides, now that R.E.M. has broken up, there's room for another huge band in the world. It might as well be mine.
It seems weird to say that I listened to them all day, but that I don't own enough of their stuff. It's true, though. That's just my immediate reaction. They're one of those bands that, for whatever reason, I just feel it to my soul that I need all of their music. They had a biography come out some years ago by a british author whose name escapes me at the moment. I do recall, however, that the title of the bio was Fiction. The genesis behind the title, from what I remember, was Michael Stipe stating at one point, that he didn't want a biography about his band, but that if one had to be written, he'd much rather have a fiction writer just make stuff up about them, because it would be more interesting than what really happened.
Because I am who I am, I just looked up the book. David Buckley is the author. It wasn't without its flaws, but the thing I remember most was that the prose seemed to capture the feeling of the band. Couldn't find the quote, though, I'll keep digging, and post it when I find it.
They were a band for 31 years. They were a band for as long as I've been alive. I've never known a world where R.E.M. didn't exist... what will that be like tomorrow?
What's funny is that I was all set to go on an epic Counting Crows bender, and then I found out that R.E.M. had split. Finding my bootlegs last night will only intensify that experience (thanks goes out to S.L. for that prompting).
My life tends to run in cycles around the bands I love. It's been a while since I've really slipped into a Counting Crows phase. If I had to trace the roots of the current bender, it most definitely goes back to the release of the live CD/DVD from Town Hall. Going back last night and finding those 6 or 8 shows, along with all of the individual tracks that I've stumbled across over the years was like opening a box and finding a bunch of old love letters. The emotion that it brought on was almost overwhelming in its intensity. It was definitely one of those things that you either want to share with certain people, or just keep entirely to yourself, if only because it means you don't have to rip yourself open in front of the rest of the world.
I did some playing today (finally!). Almost all of it was related to the band. Still not sure if I've got the right combination of chords for the verses on one of the tunes that has spent the last few weeks incubating in my head, but the chorus is right. That much I know for sure. The second of the tunes I'd been working on feels like it might be the album-ending acoustic number. The progression isn't quite right yet, but I figured out a quirk in the progression today that will stay in there for sure.
Didn't get a chance to record today (fail!), but I did text back and forth with B. She wanted to know what time this week or next week worked for us to chat. Sunday night works perfectly. The rest of the weekend looks packed full of fun, but Sunday night was wide open for both of us. Which is good. I've missed my band. Plus, it gives me the next few days to try and get those ideas laid down in between everything else. Gotta have more stuff ready for J.
Besides, now that R.E.M. has broken up, there's room for another huge band in the world. It might as well be mine.
I believe in you Steve!
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