Many of the best songs on Reckoning follow the formula set forth on this debut track: a methodical verse followed by a sly turnaround into a cathartic chorus. Bill Berry's drum parts are at times virtually indistinguishable from song to song, and Michael Stipe tends to sing verses and choruses in the same respective registers.
But Reckoning is far from formulaic-- instead, it is host to a kind of determined minimalism, each song building via subtle variations in performance and instrumentation. Case in point: As with countless songs written before and after it, "So. Central Rain" takes up the simple phrase "I'm sorry" as its chorus. But the combination of Stipe's strong-yet-unmistakably-fragile voice, Berry's nervous drumming, and the melodic interplay of Mills' bass and Peter Buck's guitar imbue these well-worn words with remarkable force and meaning.
As with its predecessor, Reckoning finds R. The latter half veers a bit towards Americana, without sacrificing any of the momentum built over the album's stunning opening tracks.
Slight embellishments go a long way towards highlighting the band's versatility-- a propulsive piano line in " Don't Go Back to Rockville" elevates the homespun whimsy of Stipe's voice, and hand percussion on "Time After Time Annelise " hints at the more understated turn the band would take with Fables of the Reconstruction.
The live disc included in this reissue a performance at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom demonstrates how well these songs work without any such production flourishes. While the raw energy of the live show included in the Murmur reissue is toned down a bit, it is fascinating to hear the band grow more sure-footed in both performance and arrangements.
It is also interesting to hear how the band's live approach seems to have been absorbed back into their studio recordings; Stipe's trademark live vocal tics are present throughout Reckoning. Declaring Reckoning to be R. But, more so than any other R. It is this paradoxical engine of transparency and mystery that has made the band so unique, regardless of the particular approach they choose to take for a given record.
Sexy Trippy All Moods. Drinking Hanging Out In Love. Introspection Late Night Partying. Rainy Day Relaxation Road Trip. Romantic Evening Sex All Themes. Articles Features Interviews Lists. Streams Videos All Posts. My Profile. Advanced Search.
Main Album Reckoning Release Info Studio Recording. Track Listing - Disc 1. Central Rain I'm Sorry. Pretty Persuasion. Time After Time Annelise. Second Guessing. Letter Never Sent. Don't Go Back To Rockville. Little America. Track Listing - Disc 2.
0コメント