R.E.M. Latest

In R.E.M. news the band has just completed recording their next record in Berlin and according to manager Bertis Downs, “To my ears it all sounds like quite a wonderful set of songs.”

R.E.M. spent most of June at Hansa Studio in Berlin with Jacknife Lee putting the finishing touches on songs that evolved over the course of two previous recording sessions, the first in Portland in 2009 and the second in New Orleans earlier this year.

The next step will be to mix the record this American Fall. Although we don’t have a specific date for the record to be released just yet, all signs are pointing towards American Spring 2011.

In other R.E.M. related news The Place We Ran From, the debut album by Tired Pony– the group featuring Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Garret Lee, Iain Archer, Richard Colburn, and Troy Stewart–has been released this week in Australia by Shock.

Finally R.E.M.’s original Hib-Tone version of Radio Free Europe (1981) has been selected as one of the 25 songs included in the 2009 National Recording Registry which is housed at the Library of Congress.

The Registry entry for Radio Free Europe reads: “The original Hib-Tone single of this song set the pattern for later indie rock releases by breaking through on college radio. Although a more elaborately produced version of the song appeared on the band’s first album Murmur, the original maintains a raw immediacy which undoubtedly contributed to its overwhelmingly favorable critical reception. Singer Michael Stipe’s elliptical lyrics and guitarist Peter Buck’s arpeggiated open chords
would not only become signatures of the band’s future output, but added greatly to the song’s enigmatic appeal.”

The National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 established “the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress to maintain and preserve sound recordings and collections of sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and for other purposes”.

Steve Wynn Tours with Three Bands At Once

Steve Wynn gets a regular mention on this website because a/ he is good and b/ he sends good emails.

The latest Steve Wynn news sees him touring with a band that makes your mouth water. Steve is joined by Linda Pitmon and REM’s Peter Buck and virtual REM member  Scott McCaughey and will be hitting the US highways in various musical disguises as the Minus 5, The Baseball Project and the brand new Steve
Wynn IV.

Confused? Well all three bands will be comprised of the same players with a possible costume  change or two.  According to Steve, “I’m fairly certain it won’t a typical 3-band  bill with separate sets and repertoires-I have a feeling we’ll be mixing it up and changing from night to night.”

The tour is going to all the fun American towns and playing at venues that give live music a good name. It sounds like a good excuse for a vacation.