Paging Jack Van Impe
In "Upcoming Signs of The Apocalypse to be Featured in a sequal to the book series 'Left Behind" entitled 'More Atrocious Writing Meets Atrocious Theology Meets Atrocious Pop-Evangelical Marketing' or 'These Sorry S.O.B.'s Have Once Again Missed the Rapture Train'" news, (whew, what a mouthful), Mandy (gosh Lindsay Lohan is so much better) Moore & Michael Stipe, yes Michael I've-Lost-My-Mind Stipe have recorded a duet covering The Beach Boys track "God Only Knows."
I ask, simply, who out there still thinks Stipe hasn't completely gone off the deep end? I mean first a duet with Chris Freaking Carabba, and now another with Mandy "A 14 Year Old Girls Idol & A Dirty 53 Year Old Man's Fantasy" Moore?
In my mind this confirms three suspicions I've had for awhile:
1. Stipe has lost all street cred and can't find anybody better to perform with (unlike Buck who pulled off The Minus Five with Wilco)
2. R.E.M. has sucked since New Adventures in Hi-Fi
3. Todd is wrong. see #2
It bothers me so much because Automatic for the People is one of the best albums of the 90's, and Murmer/Green/Document/Out of Time are solid solid artistic works. But what on earth happened? Its like watching a close, familiar friend showup at your first child's birthday party with your underage little sister. Its just wrong, both particularly and in the popular music industry.
Blaugh. Hey, how 'bout that new U2 single, eh? Not too shabby! This will, of course, introduce millions of one-trick-pony U2 fans to the "everybody else knows about it" party of "Punk Rock". And yes, Totten, I know the song itself isn't actually punk but merely a testament to the early days of U2, which itself wasn't actually Punk but more like a "anthem rock" tribute to punk.
back to work
Josiah Q. Roe | By Josiah Roe | 5:00 PM
Comments
U2's not the greatest band in the world, they're just a tribute.
COULDN"T REMEMBER THE GREATEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!! THIS IS BUT A TRIBUTE---BONO
Posted by: holton at September 27, 2004 5:56 PM
I love the new song. It's not just a testament to the days of Boy and War, either... there's this screaming guitar under the chorus that's straight POP. It really is U2 putting together everything they've learned over the years.
There's no other band that's been around as long as U2 that is still making music that's as good as U2's recent stuff. All the early word on their upcoming album is highly positive.
Posted by: John at September 27, 2004 8:10 PM
I won't go so far as to come to solid conclusions, but... I haven't liked anything since Out of Time. I bought Drive, and it was the last REM album I bought. They were my favorite band throughout middle school and high school. I haven't figured out if my decision to only listen to their earlier stuff is because (a) I changed or (b) they changed or (c) both.
Posted by: scott cunningham at September 28, 2004 10:29 AM
