I've been listening to R.E.M. for over a quarter of a century now, but I've played most of their albums so many times that I can't remember the last time I sat down and listened to one from beginning to end (though I rarely skip them whenever a song comes up on shuffle play). Accelerate is an album I haven't spent…

Well, the Beastie Boys did back in 1985 but were forced to promptly withdraw the single, having not obtained permission to use the sample. Same thing in 1999; when Mike D spoke directly to Malcolm Young asking permission to release the song as part of a compilation and explaining that the band would be entitled to…

Pretty good article overall, but time to clear my throat, push my glasses up my nose and point out that regarding #4, "Ego Trippin'" was first released in 1986, not 1988 (it was originally released as a single, and later appeared on the Ultramagnetic MCs' debut album Critical Beatdown, which was released in October…

Take 'em to the bridge!

Probably taking it to the bridge.

I'd give the edge to the version from Surfer Rosa (the first one on the CD), as it's slightly faster and has a manic energy that is missing from the slightly more subdued Come On Pilgrim version.

When I Was Cruel is one of my favorite Elvis Costello albums, period. It's rare for an artist to release one of their best works twenty-five years into their career, and to successfully dabble in different genres and styles at that (Ethiopian pop, hip hop production, etc.) yet be so unmistakably themselves.

"Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio" is easily the best track on the album (and arguably one of their best period) but I think it spite of its reputation, End Of The Century is pretty solid. I have the reissue with the demo versions of "Danny Says", "I'm Affected", "All The Way" and "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll…

Upvoted for the Dylan song, downvoted because I had a rough day and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!

Speaking of Bob Ezrin and distinctly different versions of the same song, "Caroline Says I" and "Caroline Says II" from Berlin by Lou Reed (though the latter is technically a rewrite of "Stephanie Says", which wasn't officially released until 1985).

I discovered this version last year and haven't looked back:

Thing is, what songs would you cut from Blonde on Blonde? Not a bad song on the album, and even the less memorable ones fit well into the album sequence. Furthermore, the production work is solid and the band is tight - arguably the best group of backing musicians ever assembled for a Dylan album.

Avatar/comment synergy duly noted.

"Real tomato ketchup, Eddie?" (my sister and I still use that one whenever there's a bottle of ketchup on the table)

Good choices. "Walking on a Wire" gets me every time, and that ever-so-brief guitar solo at the end is one of my favorites - it's as if all the pain that has been building up throughout the song has been concentrated into a 30-second burst, articulating an anguish that cannot be truly expressed with words. Goosebumps…

"What is your damage, Heather?"

I do like this version of "Kyrie Eleison":

I'd also like to add Fables of the Reconstruction (aka Reconstruction of the Fables) by R.E.M., Rain Dogs by Tom Waits, Psychocandy by the Jesus and Mary Chain, I Don't Want To Grow Up by the Descendents and This Nation's Saving Grace by The Fall.

Last weekend I took the kids to the circus, and on the way there we listened to the entirety of the Love soundtrack remix album by The Beatles. My oldest in particular has been a Beatles fan for several years now so it was fun listening with them and I couldn't help but feel twinges of music geek pride as they…

According to Andy Gill in My Back Pages: Classic Bob Dylan 1962-69, "Clothes Line Saga" was originally recorded as "Answer To Ode".