Tag: Reissue

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: R.E.M.
Album Title: Green
Year released: 1988
Year reissued: 2013
Details: 25th anniversary, 180 gram vinyl

The skinny: Onwards and backwards chronologically through my collection of R.E.M. records, we have now come to their sixth record. “Green” was where I came in, was properly introduced the band, and the first physical album by the band that I ever owned. Originally purchased on cassette tape, metal cassette tape to be exact, it found a home in my Sony Sports Walkman for many days at a time and at various points in time throughout my high school years. I later replaced it with a used compact disc at some point because I no longer had a means to play the cassette, though I am pretty sure I still have it packed away somewhere in my basement. As for this 25th anniversary reissue of the record on 180 gram vinyl, I actually only procured it early last year when I ordered it, along with the self-titled debut album by Fleet Foxes from Pop Music Toronto’s online store. So yeah, I’ve paid for this album three times in three different decades during my lifetime but each has and will continue to earn its keep. Just an excellent and timeless rock record.

Standout track: “Orange crush”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: R.E.M.
Album Title: Out of time
Year released: 1991
Year reissued: 2016
Details: 25th anniversary, 180 gram vinyl

The skinny: Going backwards through R.E.M.’s discography more than 25 years after each album was released, we have the benefit of hindsight. When their 7th studio album was released in 1991, “Out of time” felt like the Athens, Georgia quartet were at their peak. Of course, when set alongside the focus of last week’s ‘Vinyl love’ post, it feels a bit uneven and of its time, rather than out of it. Still, it has some amazing tunes – “Losing my religion”, “Low”, “Near wild heaven”, “Belong”, and yes, even the ultra-technicolor “Shiny happy people” – and it was a huge commercial success for a band that had taken a break from touring to focus on studio recordings. This was the first of the 25th anniversary reissues I picked up on in advance of its release. Much like the others we’ve already seen in this series, it is remastered from the original analog masters and pressed to audiophile, 180 gram vinyl. Another must have for an alt-rock music fan like myself

Standout track: “Losing my religion”

(Vinyl Love is a series of posts that quite simply lists, describes, and displays the pieces in my growing vinyl collection. You can bet that each record was given a spin during the drafting of each corresponding post.)

Artist: R.E.M.
Album Title: Automatic for the people
Year released: 1992
Year reissued: 2017
Details: 25th anniversary, 180 gram vinyl

The skinny: Unlike the focus of last week’s ‘Vinyl love’ post in this mini R.E.M. series, there was no hesitation in pulling the pre-order trigger when the 25th anniversary vinyl reissue of the band’s eighth studio album was announced. Much like the other two we’ve seen thus far, it was pressed to 180 gram vinyl and remastered, this time from the original analog masters, and man, does it sound great. “Automatic for the people” was recorded by the band while its predecessor was still climbing the pop charts and further making the band a household name. This one also did very well critically and commercially but it’s noticeably darker and in my mind, more cohesive. “Automatic” is, without comparison, my favourite R.E.M. album. Each side is perfectly balanced. I love every tune. There are no weak links. I have spun it countless times since I received it in the post almost five years ago and I imagine it will forever remain the record by this band that will hit my turntable the most.

Standout track: “Nightswimming”