New Adventures in Hi-Fi

New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Studio album by R.E.M.
Released September 9, 1996 (1996-09-09)
Recorded 1995–1996 at various locations in the United States
Genre Alternative rock
Length 65:33
Language English
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Scott Litt and R.E.M.
R.E.M. chronology
Parallel
(1995)		 New Adventures in Hi-Fi
(1996)		 Road Movie
(1996)
Singles from New Adventures in Hi-Fi
  1. "E-Bow the Letter"
    Released: August 27, 1996 (1996-08-27)
  2. "Bittersweet Me"
    Released: November 5, 1996 (1996-11-05)
  3. "Electrolite"
    Released: December 1996 (1996-12)
  4. "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"
    Released: April 1997 (1997-04)
  5. "The Wake-Up Bomb"
    Released: 1997 (1997) (promo only)
  6. "New Test Leper"
    Released: 1997 (1997) (promo only)
Special Edition
Special edition of the album—a cardboard slipcase covers a 64-page hardback book

New Adventures in Hi-Fi is the tenth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was their fifth major label release for Warner Bros. Records, released on September 9, 1996, in Europe and Australia and the following day in the United States. New Adventures in Hi-Fi was the last album recorded with founding member Bill Berry (who left the band amicably the following year), original manager Jefferson Holt, and long-time producer Scott Litt.

Contents

Composition and recording

The album was recorded during and after the tour in support of Monster in 1995. The material on the album mixed the acoustic, country rock feel of much of Out of Time and Automatic for the People with the rock sound of Monster and Lifes Rich Pageant. The band have cited Neil Young's 1973 album Time Fades Away as a source of inspiration.[1]

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 and who were supporting the band in 1994 and 1995. R.E.M. brought along eight-track recorders to capture their live performances, and used the recordings as the base elements for the album. As such, the band's touring musicians Nathan December and Scott McCaughey are featured throughout the album with Andy Carlson contributing violin to "Electrolite." After the tour was over, the band went into the Bad Animals 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." Patti Smith came to the sessions and contributed vocals on "E-Bow the Letter." Audio mixing was finished at John Keane Studio in Athens and Louie's Clubhouse in Los Angeles with mastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine.

In part due to the nature of the recording process, several of the songs are about travel and motion—including "Departure", "Leave", and "Low Desert". The album's liner notes contain pictures from the road and the deluxe edition of the album is a hardcover book in a slipcase featuring more photographs of R.E.M.'s tour.

Singles and B-sides

New Adventures in Hi-Fi consisted of material written during some of the same sessions as Monster and its following promotional tour; consequently, there were few outtakes or left-over tracks for inclusion as b-sides. The first three tracks were international singles, with "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" being released only in Germany.

"E-Bow the Letter"
"Bittersweet Me"
"Electrolite"
"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"

"Revolution" was also released from these sessions—initially on the Batman & Robin soundtrack and later on disc two of In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

Other singles

"New Test Leper" and "The Wake-Up Bomb" were released as promotional singles for the album; the former had a music video directed by Lance Bangs and Dominic DeJoseph. All five videos from the album would later be collected on In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

The R.E.M. fan club releases a single every Christmastime, with two singles recorded during these sessions: 1996's "Only in America" (originally by Jay & The Americans)/"I Will Survive" (a Gloria Gaynor cover) and 1997's R.E.M. original "Live for Today" was backed with Pearl Jam's "Happy When I'm Crying".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Blender [3]
Los Angeles Times [4]
The New York Times Positive [5]
Q Magazine
Robert Christgau A- [6]
Rolling Stone [7]
Stylus Magazine Positive [8]

Critical reaction to the album was mostly positive. Several publications lauded the album for its rich diversity, including Rolling Stone, Q, and Mojo and Stephen Thomas Erlewine from All Music says "in its multifaceted sprawl, they wound up with one of their best records of the '90s."[2] At the same time, however some publications including Melody Maker, criticized the album's empty and flat sound caused by recording in arenas and soundchecks.[9]

Awards

New Adventures in Hi-Fi has since appeared on several lists compiling the best albums of the 1990s or all time:

It was also featured on several year-end best-of lists for 1996:

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe:

The Hi Side
  1. "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" – 4:31
  2. "The Wake-Up Bomb" – 5:08
  3. "New Test Leper" – 5:26
  4. "Undertow" – 5:09
  5. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:23
  6. "Leave" – 7:18
The Fi Side
  1. "Departure" – 3:28
  2. "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
  3. "Be Mine" – 5:32
  4. "Binky the Doormat" – 5:01
  5. "Zither" – 2:33
  6. "So Fast, So Numb" – 4:12
  7. "Low Desert" – 3:30
  8. "Electrolite" – 4:05

Unlike most R.E.M. albums, this vinyl release did not have custom side names. This was released as a double album on vinyl. Record one has tracks 1–6 (3 songs per side) and record two has tracks 7–14 (4 songs per side). However, the tape release had custom side names. The first side was called the "Hi-side" and the second side was called the "Fi-side".

Personnel

"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"
Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States
"The Wake-Up Bomb"
Recorded live at the North Charleston Coliseum, in Charleston, United States on November 16, 1995
"New Test Leper"
Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States
"Undertow"
Recorded live at the Fleet Center in Boston, United States on October 3, 1995
"E-Bow the Letter"
Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States
"Leave"
Recorded at a soundcheck at the Omni Theater in Atlanta, United States on November 18, 19, or 21, 1995
"Departure"
Recorded live at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, United States on June 6 or 7, 1995
"Bittersweet Me"
Recorded at a soundcheck at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, United States on November 7, 1995
"Be Mine"
Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States
"Binky the Doormat"
Recorded live at the Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, United States on November 4, 1995
"Zither"
Recorded in the dressing room of The Spectrum in Philadelphia, United States on October 12, 13, or 14, 1995
"So Fast, So Numb"
Recorded at a soundcheck at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, United States on November 15, 1995
"Low Desert"
Recorded at a soundcheck at the Omni Theater in Atlanta, United States on November 18, 19, or 21, 1995
"Electrolite"
Recorded at a soundcheck the Desert Sky Pavillion in Phoenix, United States on November 4, 1995
Technical crew

Chart performance

Although it reached #2 in the U.S.,[12] spending 22 weeks on the charts,[13] and topped the charts in over 10 countries, New Adventures in Hi-Fi began the band's sales decline in the United States. The first single "E-Bow the Letter" received only modest radio airplay in the U.S. and peaked at #49 on the U.S. charts.[14] In the UK, however, the single became the band's biggest hit at that point, reaching #4. As of March 2007, New Adventures in Hi-Fi has sold 994,000 units in the U.S.[15]

Chart positions

Chart (1996) Position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[16] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[17] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) [18] 1
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[19] 3
Dutch Mega Albums Chart[20] 1
Finnish Albums Chart[21] 1
French SNEP Albums Chart [22] 6
German Media Control Albums Chart [23] 1
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[24] 26
New Zealand Albums Chart [25] 1
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[26] 1
Swedish Albums Chart[27] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[28] 1
UK Albums Chart [29] 1
United States Billboard 200[12] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1996) Position
Austrian Albums Chart[30] 16
Swiss Albums Chart[31] 50
UK Albums Chart[32] 34

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Austria (IFPI Austria)[33] Platinum 50,000x
Canada (Music Canada)[34] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Germany (BVMI)[35] Gold 250,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[36] Gold 25,000*
Sweden (GLF)[37] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[38] Gold 25,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Platinum 350,000[40]
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 994,000[15]

^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Like all R.E.M. albums since 1988's Green, New Adventures in Hi-Fi was released in a special edition packaging containing a 64-page hardcover book designed by Chris Bilheimer, featuring photos from the Monster tour. In 2005, Warner Brothers Records issued an expanded two-disc edition of the album which includes a CD, a DVD-Audio disc containing several new audio mixes of the album (5.1-channel surround sound, high resolution, AC3, Dolby Stereo, and DTS 5.1) done by Elliot Scheiner, and the original CD booklet with expanded liner notes. In addition, the DVD includes a video documentary, lyrics, and a photo gallery.

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Worldwide September 9, 1996 (1996-09-09) Warner Bros. Compact Disc, cassette tape, double LP 46320
United States September 10, 1996 (1996-09-10) Warner Bros. Compact Disc 46321
Worldwide March 1, 2005 (2005-03-01) Warner Bros. Compact Disc and DVD-Audio 73950

References

  1. ^ McDonough, Jimmy. Shakey — Neil Young Biography. p. 399 
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  3. ^ "New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.". http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4940. 
  4. ^ Hilburn, Robert (1996-09-28). "**** R.E.M. "New Adventures in Hi-Fi," Warner Bros.". articles.latimes.com. The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1996-09-08/entertainment/ca-41634_1_new-adventures. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  5. ^ Strauss, Neil (1996-09-11). "For R.E.M., Adventures On the Run". nytimes.com (The New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/arts/for-rem-adventures-on-the-run.html?src=pm. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  6. ^ "Consumer Guide Reviews: New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1140&name=R.E.M.. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  7. ^ "New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.". http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/92047/review/5943994/newadventuresinhifi. 
  8. ^ Cooper, Colin (2004-06-01). "New Adventures in Hi-Fi - On Second Thought — Stylus Magazine". http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/rem-new-adventures-in-hi-fi.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  9. ^ Melody Maker, September 30, 1996
  10. ^ Magnet Tenth Anniversary issue, January 2003
  11. ^ The "Ennio Whistle" is the two-note main theme melody of Ennio Morricone's score for Sergio Leone's 1966 spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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  14. ^ "allmusic (((New Adventures in Hi-Fi > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles)))". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r240302. Retrieved 2005-08-07. 
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  20. ^ "dutchcharts.nl R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=R.E.M.&titel=New+Adventures+In+Hi-Fi&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-08. 
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  29. ^ "Chart Stats — REM — New Adventures in Hi-Fi". UK Albums Chart. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=45638. Retrieved 2011-08-07. 
  30. ^ "Austriancharts.at — Jahreshitparade 1993". Hung Medien. http://austriancharts.at/1996_album.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
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  33. ^ "Austrian album certifications – R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi" (in German). IFPI Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin.  Enter R.E.M. in the field Interpret. Enter New Adventures in Hi-Fi in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  34. ^ "Canadian album certifications – R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=New+Adventures+in+Hi-Fi&sa=R.E.M.&smt=0. 
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  36. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/lst_trofeer_sok.asp?type=artist. 
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  39. ^ "British album certifications – R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter New Adventures in Hi-Fi in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  40. ^ "UK best albums 1996". http://uktop40.republika.pl/najlep%20sprzalbumy%20uk%201996.html. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
  41. ^ "American album certifications – R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22New+Adventures+in+Hi-Fi%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

R.E.M.
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Studio albums
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Singles
"Radio Free Europe" • "Talk About the Passion" • "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" • "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" • "Cant Get There from Here" • "Driver 8" • "Wendell Gee" • "Fall on Me" • "Superman" • "The One I Love" • "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" • "Finest Worksong" • "Orange Crush" • "Stand" • "Pop Song 89" • "Get Up" • "Losing My Religion" • "Shiny Happy People" • "Near Wild Heaven" • "Radio Song" • "Drive" • "Man on the Moon" • "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" • "Everybody Hurts" • "Nightswimming" • "Find the River" • "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" • "Bang and Blame" • "Strange Currencies" • "Crush with Eyeliner" • "Tongue" • "E-Bow the Letter" • "Bittersweet Me" • "Electrolite" • "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" • "Daysleeper" • "Lotus" • "At My Most Beautiful" • "Suspicion" • "The Great Beyond" • "Imitation of Life" • "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" • "I'll Take the Rain" • "Bad Day" • "Animal" • "Leaving New York" • "Aftermath" • "Electron Blue" • "Wanderlust" • "#9 Dream" • "Supernatural Superserious" • "Hollow Man" • "Man-Sized Wreath" • "Until the Day Is Done" • "Mine Smell Like Honey" • "Überlin" • "Oh My Heart" • "We All Go Back to Where We Belong"
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