Spinsterblog

After listening to Accelerate twenty or thirty times once, since I illegally downloaded it because Peter said I could if I bought it later it just came out on iLike this morning, I thought I’d type up a little review that three of you will read.

For those of you who just want to cut to the bottom line without reading the blathering: I love it. Not in the requisite “I’m excited because it’s new REM music and I’ll love them till I die” way, but in a “I love this album to pieces even if it weren’t REM and I want to have Jacknife Lee’s babies” way. It rocks. It’s fast! It’s fun! It’s full of political commentary! So go buy it. It’s $10 on Amazon and probably the same price on iTunes. Or you can purchase it on 1 April (31 March if you’re outside the US) at your local record store. If my review doesn’t convince you, you can always go test it out at iLike and see if you want to pay for it. Read more…

I am very, very excited about the upcoming album by REM.

I am demonstrating this excitement and glee by listening to recordings of their Dublin working rehearsals over and over. And every day I go to Ninetynights.com.

Every day, mind you, in spite of the fact that I think that as advertising methods go, this one sucks. I love REM, I love their music, but even *I* am barely managing to keep visiting so that I can see yet another twenty second clip of a doorknob, while music plays very quietly in the background.

But, you know, I am a good and devoted fan–one who is going to travel all the way to Florida in fifty days, just to see them play (and to go to spring training games). So, I keep visiting the site and keep watching the stupid clips.

But, seriously, guys. Throw me a bone. I went to watch today’s clip, which I will include here:

Please note that we see everyone REM has ever met come tromping down those stairs, but WHERE IS PETER BUCK?? All I want is to see Peter Buck in one of this little mini-movies!! Is that too much to ask?

Very, VERY high up on the List of Things You Should NEVER Say to Mel is the following:

I would say that U2 was the best rock band of the 80s because I don’t think of REM as a ROCK band.
– Danielle, after I mentioned this Slate article on REM vs. U2

Needless to say, she was subjected to a ten minute rant on Why Having Losing My Religion as the Song That Is Representative of REM’s Sound Is an Injustice Not Unlike Derek Jeter Winning a Golden Glove.

I know what you’re thinking.  You’ve come to my blog and seen that it’s updated (finally) and are thinking that I’m going to discuss the moral victory ass-kicking that the Red Sox gave the Yankees this weekend.  But you’re wrong. Moreso, I didn’t watch more than an inning of baseball this entire weekend.

“But, why, Mel?  Has the world ended?  Did you give up on the season completely? Don’t you care that Kevin Youkilis is injured?”

Nope! I didn’t watch baseball because I was too busy hanging out with REM this weekend. Read more…