R.E.M.: Monster (2LP, expanded 25th anniversary edition) [CRAFT]

Why you'll love it

This 25th anniversary 2LP set pairs the remastered album with Scott Litt's 2019 remix of every song. Monster debuted at No. 1 in the US and in at least seven other countries, led by "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"

This edition

• 2LP set
• 25th anniversary edition
• Remastered
• 2019 remix of the full album

About the album

After two hushed, mostly acoustic masterpieces, Bill Berry wanted R.E.M. to rock, and he wanted to tour. Michael Stipe called Monster an attempt to reinvent the band as something loud, brash and punk rock, and Peter Buck obliged with tremolo, fuzz and the kind of guitar tone that rattles a jacket sleeve. Basic tracks were cut live at Crossover Soundstage in Atlanta, as if the band were onstage.

"What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" is the swaggering opener, "Crush With Eyeliner" struts, and "Star 69" and "Circus Envy" crank the distortion up. "Strange Currencies" is the tender ballad at its heart, "Tongue" sends Stipe into a falsetto over organ, and "Bang And Blame" features backing vocals from Rain Phoenix. "Let Me In" was written and recorded for Stipe's friend Kurt Cobain, and the album is dedicated to River Phoenix.

"Bang And Blame," "Strange Currencies" and "Tongue" all went top 20 in the UK, and the band took it out on their first tour since 1989. Co-producer Scott Litt had been with them since Document, so the remix comes from the man who knew where every knob was in the first place; he probably still has the coffee rings to prove it.

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Tracklist

Listen

On Warner Bros. / Craft Recordings (cat# CR00239), a reissue of the 1994 album.