R.E.M. - Mine Smells Like Honey

[Adam (UTR)]

First official single from Collapse Into Now. The buzz single, "Discoverer", is still top 30 on AAA. This one goes for adds on 1/24.

mms://wm.allaccess.com/allaccess/remmines.wma

[The Party Captain]

I don't understand why bands send out tracks as buzz singles. It just kills their momentum.

[Devin]

Jan 15, 2011 13:18:43 GMT -5 The Party Captain said:

I don't understand why bands send out tracks as buzz singles. It just kills their momentum.

Promo for the album and lead single I guess. And so the record labels can squeeze more money from them.

[singingsparrow]

For a lead single from R.E.M., this has moved rather poorly so far.

I can recall every single lead release as far back as "Daysleeper" exploding out of the gate and peaking Top Two on the Triple A format. "Imitation of Life" did so, "Bad Day" did so, "Leaving New York" did so and "Supernatural Superserious" wasted no time rocketing straight to #1 barely after debuting.

This is struggling to even hold in the Top Ten after about a month on the chart. Granted it isn't over 'til it's over, but by their discography standards, this is a huge disappointment...........given R.E.M. have no room to grow outside this format and whatever room they still maintain on Alternative radio (which isn't a lot).

I think, in part, this is underperforming because this just sounds like a throwaway release. It offers nothing new to the table, whereas releasing "It Happened Today" would have struck more of a chord with longtime followers who have pined for a return to the "Out Of Time" and "Green" era sound, or releasing "Discoverer" as a proper release rather than just a buzz release would have more likely rallied fans of their mid-nineties straight-up rock sound during the "Monster" and "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" eras.

"Mine Smell Like Honey" doesn't really appeal to any particular camp squarely, and has gotten a generally lukewarm response as it is whereas "Discoverer" elicited a decidedly positive response overall. Really, it is a replica of the themes espoused in "Supernatural Serious" presented in a positive-mental attitude light this time around..............only it's less appealing than that track in that it lacks its urgency, plus Stipe's vocals lack that emotional appeal.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[The Party Captain]

I happen to like this song. I think this is more of radio trends shifting than any flaw with the song. R.E.M.'s comeback was a bit exaggerated. Sure, the album did better, but the success was largely riding on buzz in magazines and such. None of the other singles off the album did well.

[sunnyskies99]

They really should have just gone with "Discoverer" as the lead single. It's a better song, imo. This one sounds more like "classic" R.E.M. but "Discoverer" is a bit more exciting, I think.

[lockebox]

This is in danger of missing the top 50 on Alternative, too. They look done there, at least.

[singingsparrow]

I just streamed the entirety of "Collapse Into Now" on National Public Radio's web-site............and at least by the first several listens, I have to say that while I prefer "Accelerate" over this...........thus it's impossible for me to use the whole "best album since..." pep rally speak..............that this is nonetheless a generally decent record.

While I just don't see it working as an effective single due to the lyrics and Monster-esque aggressive sound, "Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter" nonetheless sounded the most catchy and addictive to my ears. Contrary to many critiquing the thought of Peaches effectively adding to a song, I think she livens the track with her spunk and interjections. Regardless of your opinion on her artistry in the general sense, Peaches' vocal style fit this tune quite well for the same reason Kate Pierson fit a pair of songs on their "Out of Time" record.

I honestly didn't care for "Uberlin", as it just sounds too drowsy and leans too heavily on uninspiring platitudes like making it through the night.............but there is a standout ballad on this album and that is "Walk It Back". Musically it's rather simple with the keyboard piano tracking and light added instrumentation, but it really stands out in that Stipe, vocally, has rarely ever sounded so gentle and vulnerable as he does here. Definitely their best ballad since "At My Most Beautiful" which, in my view, is their best career ballad as it is. Even more impressive is that this recording was a first-take rehearsal cut.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[singingsparrow]

Mar 1, 2011 2:19:45 GMT -5 The Party Captain said:

I happen to like this song. I think this is more of radio trends shifting than any flaw with the song. R.E.M.'s comeback was a bit exaggerated. Sure, the album did better, but the success was largely riding on buzz in magazines and such. None of the other singles off the album did well.

I don't think anyone was necessarily expecting the other singles to do well, given the lead single performed poorly all across Western Europe in a way no primary R.E.M. single since "Document" ever had. Heck, every single from "Around The Sun" charted better than "Supernatural Superstitious" in Western Europe overall in spite of the unenthusiastic reception the accompanying album got.

"Accelerate" did better, above all else, because the band sounded, to their fans, like they were actually enjoying the music (in the studio, as they have been known for delivering strongly-reviewed concerts even during the post-Berry experimental era) they were making for the first time in over a decade...........and the energy and joy to it just rubbed off and reinvigorated a sizable part of their fanbase that kept sentimentally tracking them through the experimental eras but nonetheless had lowered their expectations of them sharply.

They also toured "Accelerate", so that helped get the word out about the release. The fact they're not touring "Collapse Into Now" suggests they're likely going to sell comparatively to "Around The Sun" this time around. Possibly slightly less.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[atlantaboy]

Honestly, it feels like it's been years since anything they've released has done anything significant outside of AAA - they've been charting for 23 years though, so IMO it's a great thing that they're still putting out music

[The Party Captain]

Well if you disregard SS, they haven't had much other airplay since "Imitation of Life"

[singingsparrow]

Mar 6, 2011 9:03:47 GMT -5 atlantaboy said:

Honestly, it feels like it's been years since anything they've released has done anything significant outside of AAA - they've been charting for 23 years though, so IMO it's a great thing that they're still putting out music

Which is why it's painful to see a lead single from R.E.M. struggling to hold itself in the Top Ten there, of all places..............and even fail to muster half of what the present top three singles there have in terms of total audience and net spins.

If they don't have a home on Triple A anymore, then they are essentially homeless, as far as radio is concerned. Alternative seems disinclined to take them back, despite gravitating heavily to indie-leaning, college-friendly music as of late to which they helped pioneer.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[singingsparrow]

Mar 6, 2011 15:57:42 GMT -5 The Party Captain said:

Well if you disregard SS, they haven't had much other airplay since "Imitation of Life"

In North America that's certainly true. Across Europe, though, they rivaled U2 in singles success even through their post-Berry phase. Even "Leaving New York" was a Top Five hit for them in numerous Western European countries including the United Kingdom.

Now their radio muscle has all but evaporated entirely across the pond. "Supernatural Serious" couldn't even make the Top Fifty in the United Kingdom despite being far more listenable than "Leaving New York" and being buoyed by critical acclaim.

It's certainly true that in North America, though, their radio decline began even before Bill Berry departed the group. I'd say "Monster" was their last sure successful singles era, though "E-Bow the Letter" held its own as a lead release from the following album.

Namaste,
Lisping Hibiscus

[shanas]

really like the album, doesnt hit you in the first few listens but grows quickly on you

more I listen to Discoverer the more I like it, songs like Oh My Heart and It Happened Today could easily fit on Automatic for the People

overall it's a step into their mid to late 90's sound more-so than Accelerate which in my opinion was a lot rockier than this album

hope they continue to produce quality music like this for many more years to come