New Adventures in Hi-Fi

OR, as it should be titled, what we did on tour!

A large bulk of these songs were written, conceived and performed on the accursed Monster tour. The rest were recorded at various studios, but producer Scott Litt has edited them together so seamlessly, it's hard to tell which is which.

Throughout the album, REM amaze and astonish with a range of moods, styles and tempos. New Adventures features the gently acoustic and quite beautiful How The West Was Won, the rock crunch of New Wake Up Bomb and Undertow, the weird siren effect on Leave and first single E Bow The Letter featuring Patti Smith on vocals and Stipe's stream of consciousness lyrics. New Adventures In Hi-Fi is a total vindication after the relative disappointment of Monster.

Far from being on the verge of disintegration, the album reveals a band at the height of their powers. Where they go from here is anyone's guess, but at this point, REM's scope is limitless.
- BRYAN