New Adventures in Hi-Fi
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| New Adventures in Hi-Fi | ||
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| Studio album by R.E.M. | ||
| Released | 9 September 1996 (UK) 10 September 1996 (U.S.) |
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| Recorded | 1995–1996 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock | |
| Length | 65:33 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Producer(s) | Scott Litt & R.E.M. | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| R.E.M. chronology | ||
| Monster (1994) |
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) |
Up (1998) |
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is R.E.M.'s tenth album, and their fifth major label release for Warner Bros., released in 1996. New Adventures in Hi-Fi was the last album recorded with founding member, drummer Bill Berry, who left the band amicably the following year. It was also their last record with long-time producer Scott Litt.
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[edit] Details
The album was recorded during and after the tour in support of Monster in 1995. The material on the album mixed the acoustic and country feel of much of Out of Time and Automatic for the People with the rock sound of Monster and Lifes Rich Pageant. Guitarist Peter Buck said that the band tried so hard to be a rock band again with Monster, but it just didn't quite work out. They stopped trying, and they ended up putting together their most rock and roll record to date. In the years following its release, the band called New Adventures in Hi-Fi one of its favorites.
The band noted that they borrowed the recording process for the album from Radiohead, who recorded some of the basic tracks for The Bends while on tour. The band brought along eight-track recorders to capture their shows, and used the recordings as the base elements for the album. As such, the band's touring musicians Nathan December and Scott McCaughey ended up appearing on the album with Andy Carlson only contributing violin to "Electrolite". After the tour was complete, the band entered their Seattle studio and recorded four additional tracks, "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us", "E-Bow the Letter", "Be Mine", and "New Test Leper". The last recorded track "How the West Was Won..." served as an opener of the album.
Critical reaction to the album was mostly positive. Several publications lauded the album for its rich diversity, including Rolling Stone, Q, and Mojo. At the same time, some publications, including Melody Maker, criticized the album's empty and flat sound caused by recording in arenas.
Although it reached #2 in the U.S. (whilst topping the UK charts), New Adventures in Hi-Fi began the band's sales decline in the United States. First single "E-Bow the Letter", which featured an appearance by Patti Smith, was cited as an unusual choice for radio. It subsequently received only modest radio airplay in the U.S. and peaked at #49 on the U.S. charts. In the UK, however, the single became the band's biggest hit, reaching #4. In ensuing years, the band's popularity in the U.S. would continue the same pattern - lackluster sales in the U.S., but continuing success in the UK and Europe.
In 2005, Warner Brothers Records issued an expanded two-disc edition of New Adventures in Hi-Fi which includes a CD, a DVD-Audio disc containing a 5.1-channel surround sound mix of the album done by Elliot Scheiner, and the original CD booklet with expanded liner notes. The CD (as with all in this series) was not remastered.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.
- "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" – 4:31 Seattle Studio
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion, Ennio Whistle
- Peter Buck - Bass, Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin
- Mike Mills - Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals, Synthesizer
- "The Wake-Up Bomb" – 5:08 Charleston
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mill - Bass, Organ, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Nathan December - Guitar
- "New Test Leper" – 5:26 Seattle Studio
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Organ
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- "Undertow" – 5:09 Boston
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - ARP Odyssey
- Nathan December - Guitar
- "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:23 Seattle Studio
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar, Electric Sitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Organ, Mellotron, Moog Synthesizer
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Patti Smith - Vocals
- "Leave" – 7:18 Atlanta Soundcheck
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Keyboard
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - ARP Odyssey
- Nathan December - Guitar
- "Departure" – 3:28 Detroit
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Fuzz Bass, Farfisa, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Nathan December - Guitar
- "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06 Memphis Soundcheck
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Organ, Mellotron
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - Piano
- "Be Mine" – 5:32 Seattle Studio
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Bass, Guitar
- Mike Mills - Guitar, Bass, Keyboard
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- "Binky the Doormat" – 5:01 Phoenix
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Fuzz Bass, Keyboard, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - Farfisa
- Nathan December - Guitar
- "Zither" – 2:33 Dressing Room Philadelphia
- Bill Berry - Bass
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Organ
- Scott McCaughey - Autoharp
- Nathan December - Tambourine
- "So Fast, So Numb" – 4:12 Orlando Soundcheck
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Organ, Vocals
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - Piano
- "Low Desert" – 3:30 Atlanta Soundcheck
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Guitar
- Mike Mills - Bass, Organ
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Scott McCaughey - Piano
- Nathan December - Slide Guitar
- "Electrolite" – 4:05 Phoenix Soundcheck
- Bill Berry - Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck - Bass, Guitar, Banjo
- Mike Mills - Piano
- Michael Stipe - Vocals
- Nathan December - Guiro
- Andy Carlson - Violin
[edit] Studio B-Sides
The following non-album studio tracks were issued as b-sides on New Adventures in Hifi's singles.
"Tricycle" – 1:59
"Departure" – 3:35
"Wall of Death" (Richard Thompson) – 3:07
"Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) – 3:04
"Sponge" (Vic Chesnutt) 4:08
[edit] Personnel
[edit] R.E.M.
- Bill Berry – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Synthesizer, Ennio Whistle, Drums, Percussion
- Peter Buck – Guitar, Banjo, Electric Sitar, Mandolin, Bouzouki, Bass
- Mike Mills – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Fuzz Bass, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Farfisa, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Moog Synthesizer
- Michael Stipe – Vocals, Synthesizer
[edit] Additional personnel
- Patti Smith – Vocals
- Scott McCaughey – Autoharp, Piano, Farfisa, ARP Odyssey
- Nathan December – Guitar, Slide Guitar, Tambourine, Guiro
- Andy Carlson – Violin
[edit] Technical personnel
- Adam Kasper – engineer, Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington
- Sam Hofstedt – assistant engineer, Seattle, Washington
- John Keane – engineer, John Keane Studio, Athens, Georgia
- William Field – assistant engineer, Athens, Georgia
- Pat McCarthy – engineer, Louie's Clubhouse, Los Angeles, California
- Victor Janacua – assistant engineer, Los Angeles, California
- Scott Litt – mixing
- R.E.M. – mixing
- John Keane – mixing
- Joe O'Herlihy – tour recording engineer
- Jo Ravitch – tour recording engineer
- Jeff Wooding – tour recording engineer
- Mark "Microwave" Mytrowitz – technical assistance
- Bill Thomson – drum technician
- Eric Stolz – digital editing
- Bob Ludwig/Gateway Mastering – mastering
[edit] Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Billboard 200 | 2 (22 weeks on chart) |
| 1996 | UK album chart | 1 (20 weeks on chart) |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "E-Bow the Letter" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1996 | "E-Bow the Letter" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |
| 1996 | "E-Bow the Letter" | Billboard Hot 100 | 49 |
| 1996 | "Bittersweet Me" | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 6 |
| 1996 | "Bittersweet Me" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 7 |
| 1996 | "Bittersweet Me" | Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 28 |
| 1996 | "Bittersweet Me" | Billboard Hot 100 | 46 |
| 1997 | "Electrolite" | Billboard Hot 100 | 96 |
| 1997 | "The Wake-Up Bomb" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 30 |
[edit] Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – U.S. | Gold | November 18, 1996 |
| RIAA – U.S. | Platinum | November 18, 1996 |
| BPI – U.K. | Platinum | September 1, 1996 |
