Description

R.E.M. : “Up” 2LP

Up was the eleventh studio album by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on October 26, 1998, through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the band’s first without drummer and founding member Bill Berry, who retired from the band in October 1997. In his place, R.E.M. used session drummers such as Joey Waronker and Barrett Martin while also utilizing drum machines. The album was produced by Pat McCarthy, making it R.E.M.’s first album since Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) not to be produced by Scott Litt.

The songs on Up display a much larger electronic music influence than previous R.E.M. material, with extensive use of keyboards and drum programming. Among the ideas Stipe set out to explore lyrically were what he described as the “religious-spiritual versus science-technology-modern-age”, in addition to an “automatic, unconscious” style. The making of the album was tumultuous, with the band later admitting to coming close to breaking up during the process.

Upside
“Airportman” – 4:12
“Lotus” – 4:30
“Suspicion” – 5:36
“Hope” (Buck, Mills, Stipe, Leonard Cohen)[note 1] – 5:02
“At My Most Beautiful” – 3:35
“The Apologist” – 4:30
“Sad Professor” – 4:01
“You’re in the Air” – 5:22

Downside
“Walk Unafraid” – 4:31
“Why Not Smile” – 4:03
“Daysleeper” – 3:40
“Diminished” – 6:01
“I’m Not Over You” (hidden track)[note 2] “Parakeet” – 4:09
“Falls to Climb” – 5:06