More Info on New Adventures in Hi-FiSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox album| Name = New Adventures in Hi-Fi| Type = studio| Artist = R.E.M. | Cover = R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi.jpg| Alt = A black and white photograph of a hot desert| Released = Start date|1996|9|9| Recorded = 19951996 at various locations in the United States| Genre = Alternative rock | Length = Duration|m=65|s=33| Language = English language|English | Label = Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. | Producer = Scott Litt and R.E.M.| Last album = Parallel (video)|Parallel (1995)| This album = New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)| Next album = Road Movie (video)|Road Movie (1996)| Misc = Singles| Name = New Adventures in Hi-Fi| Type = studio| Single 1 = E-Bow the Letter | Single 1 date = start date|1996|8|27| Single 2 = Bittersweet Me | Single 2 date = start date|1996|11|5| Single 3 = Electrolite | Single 3 date = start date|1996|12| Single 4 = How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us | Single 4 date = start date|1997|4| Single 5 = The Wake-Up Bomb| Single 5 date = start date|1997 (promo only)| Single 6 = New Test Leper | Single 6 date = start date|1997 (promo only)Extra album cover| Upper caption = Special Edition| Type = studio| Cover = R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi Special Edition.jpg| Lower caption = Special edition of the albuma 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 .
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 (album)|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.Cite journal |last=McDonough |first=Jimmy |title=Shakey& nbsp; Neil Young Biography |page=399 |postscript=
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 recording|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 (recorded music)|Audio mixing was finished at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia|Athens and Louie's Clubhouse in Los Angeles with Audio mastering|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 motionincluding "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.
Critical reception
Album ratings| rev1= Allmusic | rev1Score=rating|3.5|5cite web |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r240302|pure_url=yes |title=allmusic (((New Adventures in Hi-Fi > Overview))) |author= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=2009-03-17 | rev2= Blender (magazine)|Blender | rev2Score=rating|3|5cite web|url= http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx? id=4940|title= New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M. | rev3 = Los Angeles Times | rev3score = Rating|4|4cite web|title=**** R.E.M. "New Adventures in Hi-Fi," Warner Bros.|author= Robert Hilburn|Hilburn, Robert |work=articles.latimes.com|publisher= The Los Angeles Times |url= http://articles.latimes.com/1996-09-08/entertainment/ca-41634_1_new-adventures|date=1996-09-28|accessdate=2011-09-24 | rev4= The New York Times | rev4Score= Positive cite news|url= http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/11/arts/for-rem-adventures-on-the-run.html? src=pm|author= Neil Strauss|Strauss, Neil |work=nytimes.com|publisher= The New York Times |title=For R.E.M., Adventures On the Run|date=1996-09-11|accessdate=2011-09-24 | rev5= Q Magazine | rev5Score=rating|5|5Citation needed|date=November 2009| rev6= Robert Christgau | rev6Score=A- cite web|url= http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php? id=1140& name=R.E.M.|title=Consumer Guide Reviews: New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.|accessdate=2011-09-24 | rev7= Rolling Stone | rev7Score=rating|4.5|5cite web|url= http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/92047/review/5943994/newadventuresinhifi|title= New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M. | rev8= Stylus Magazine | rev8Score= Positive cite web|url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/rem-new-adventures-in-hi-fi.htm|title= New Adventures in Hi-Fi - On Second Thought& nbsp; Stylus Magazine|author = Cooper, Colin|date=2004-06-01|accessdate=2011-09-24 Critical reaction to the album was mostly positive. Several publications lauded the album for its rich diversity, including Rolling Stone , Q (magazine)|Q , and Mojo (magazine)|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."cite web |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r240302|pure_url=yes |title=allmusic (((New Adventures in Hi-Fi > Overview))) |author= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=2009-03-17 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.Melody Maker , September 30, 1996
Awards
New Adventures in Hi-Fi has since appeared on several lists compiling the best albums of the 1990s or all time:
Magnet (magazine)|Magnet : Top 60 Albums 19932003 (#20)Magnet Tenth Anniversary issue, January 2003
Mojo (magazine)|Mojo : The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime 19932006 (#20)
It was also featured on several year-end best-of lists for 1996:
All songs written by Bill Berry , Peter Buck , Mike Mills and Michael Stipe :
;The Hi Side #" How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us "& nbsp; 4:31 #"The Wake-Up Bomb"& nbsp; 5:08 #" New Test Leper "& nbsp; 5:26 #"Undertow"& nbsp; 5:09 #" E-Bow the Letter "& nbsp; 5:23 #"Leave"& nbsp; 7:18
Unlike most R.E.M. albums, this vinyl release did not have custom side names and was instead released as a double album. Record one has tracks 16 (3 songs per side) and record two has tracks 714 (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."
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"
"Tricycle"& nbsp; 1:59 Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater , St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis , United States on September 22, 1995.
"Departure" (Rome soundcheck version)& nbsp; 3:35 Recorded during soundcheck at the Palaeur , Rome , Italy on February 22, 1995.
"Wall of Death" ( Richard Thompson (musician)|Richard Thompson )& nbsp; 3:07 Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, Beat the Retreat .
;"Bittersweet Me"
"Undertow" (Live)& nbsp; 5:05 Recorded at the Omni Theater , Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie (video)|Road Movie .
"Wichita Lineman" ( Jimmy Webb )& nbsp; 3:18 Recorded at The Woodlands , Houston, Texas|Houston , United States on September 15, 1995.
"New Test Leper" (Live acoustic)& nbsp; 5:29 Recorded at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, United States on April 19, 1996.
;"Electrolite"
"The Wake-Up Bomb" (Live)& nbsp; 5:07 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
"Binky the Doormat" (Live)& nbsp; 5:01 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
"King of Comedy" ( 808 State remix)& nbsp; 5:36
;"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"
"Love Is All Around" ( Reg Presley )& nbsp; 3:04 Previously released on the 1996 soundtrack for I Shot Andy Warhol .
"Sponge" ( Vic Chesnutt )& nbsp; 4:08 Previously released on the Chesnutt benefit album Sweet Relief II in 1996.
"Be Mine" (Mike on the Bus Version) - 4:54
"Revolution" was also released from these sessionsinitially on the Batman & Robin (film)|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".
Personnel
;"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" :Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle , United States
Bill Berry & nbsp; drum kit|drums , percussion , " Ennio Morricone|ennio whistle "The "Ennio Whistle" is the two-note The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (song)|main theme melody of Ennio Morricone 's score for Sergio Leone 's 1966 spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Mike Mills& nbsp; bass guitar, Keyboard instrument|keyboards
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Departure" :Recorded live at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan|Auburn Hills , United States on June 6 or 7, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Nathan December& nbsp; guitar
Mike Mills& nbsp; fuzz bass , backing vocals, Farfisa organ
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Bittersweet Me" :Recorded at a soundcheck at the PyramidArena in Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis , United States on November 7, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Scott McCaughey& nbsp; piano
Mike Mills& nbsp; bass guitar, organ, Mellotron
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Be Mine" :Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; bass guitar
Mike Mills& nbsp; guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Binky the Doormat" :Recorded live at the Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix , United States on November 4, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums, backing vocals
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Nathan December& nbsp; guitar
Scott McCaughey& nbsp; Farfisa organ
Mike Mills& nbsp; fuzz bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Zither" :Recorded in the dressing room of Wachovia Spectrum|The Spectrum in Philadelphia , United States on October 12, 13, or 14, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; bass guitar
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Nathan December& nbsp; tambourine
Scott McCaughey& nbsp; autoharp
Mike Mills& nbsp; organ
Michael Stipe& nbsp; count in
;"So Fast, So Numb" :Recorded at a soundcheck at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida|Orlando , United States on November 15, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Scott McCaughey& nbsp; piano
Mike Mills& nbsp; bass guitar, backing vocals, organ
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Low Desert" :Recorded at a soundcheck at the Omni Theater in Atlanta, United States on November 18, 19, or 21, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; guitar
Nathan December& nbsp; slide guitar
Scott McCaughey& nbsp; piano
Mike Mills& nbsp; bass guitar, organ
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;"Electrolite" :Recorded at a soundcheck the Desert Sky Pavillion in Phoenix, United States on November 4, 1995
Bill Berry& nbsp; drums
Peter Buck& nbsp; banjo
Andy Carlson & nbsp; violin
Nathan December& nbsp; guiro
Mike Mills& nbsp; piano
Michael Stipe& nbsp; vocals
;Technical crew
William Field& nbsp; Audio engineering|assistant engineering , Athens
Sam Hofstedt& nbsp; assistant engineering, Seattle
Victor Janacua& nbsp; assistant engineering, Los Angeles
Adam Kasper & nbsp; recording engineering, Seattle
John Keane (record producer)|John Keane & nbsp; recording and Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing
Scott Litt & nbsp; mixing
Bob Ludwig /Gateway Mastering& nbsp; Audio mastering|mastering
Patrick McCarthy (record producer)|Pat McCarthy & nbsp; recording, Los Angeles
Mark "Microwave" Mytrowitz& nbsp; technical assistance
Joe O'Herlihy& nbsp; tour recording engineer
Jo Ravitch& nbsp; tour recording engineer
Eric Stolz& nbsp; digital editing
Jeff Wooding& nbsp; tour recording engineer
Chart performance
Although it reached #2 in the United States|U.S. ,cite web |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r240302|pure_url=yes |title=allmusic (((New Adventures in Hi-Fi > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums))) |accessdate=2005-08-07 spending 22 weeks on the charts,cite web |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp? cfi=305& cfgn=Albums& cfn=The+Billboard+200& ci=3026134& cdi=7159427& cid=02%2F22%2F1997 |title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi on Billboard.com |publisher= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |accessdate=2009-03-13Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot 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.cite web |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r240302|pure_url=yes |title=allmusic (((New Adventures in Hi-Fi > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles))) |accessdate=2005-08-07 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.cite web |url= http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-03-07-REM-rock-hall_N.htm |title=R.E.M.: A 25-year rockin' role. |last=Gunderson |first=Edna |accessdate=2007-03-10 |work=USA Today |date=2007-03-07 col-begincol-2
Chart positions
Chart (1996)
Position
ARIA Charts
1
Austrian Albums Chartcite web
1
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) cite web
1
Ultratop
3
MegaCharts
1
Finnish Albums Chartcite web
accessdate=2 February 2010 ref>
1
SNEP
6
Germany
title = Album Search: R.E.M.
1
Oricon
26
RIANZ
1
VG-lista
1
Sverigetopplistan
1
Swiss Music Charts
1
UK Albums Chart cite web
1
United States Billboard 200
2
Year-end charts
Chart (1996)
Position
Austrian Albums Chartcite web
16
Swiss Albums Chartcite web
50
UK Albums Chartcite web http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index2.php? option=com_content& do_pdf=1& id=1273|title= UNITED KINGDOM (CIN) BEST ALBUMS OF 1996|accessdate=2011-09-24
34
col-2
Certifications and sales
Certification Table TopCertification Table Entry|region=Austria|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=Sweden|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1996|certmonth=10|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|salesamount=350,000|salesref=cite web|url= http://uktop40.republika.pl/najlep%20sprzalbumy%20uk%201996.html|title= UK best albums 1996|accessdate=2011-09-24|autocat=yesCertification Table Entry|region=United States|title=New Adventures in Hi-Fi|artist=R.E.M.|type=album|award=Platinum|salesamount=994,000|salesref=|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|autocat=yesCertification Table Bottom|nosales=yescol-end
Release history
Like all R.E.M. albums since 1988's Green (R.E.M. album)|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
start date>1996
Warner Bros.
double LP
46320
United States
start date>1996
Warner Bros.
Compact Disc
46321
Worldwide
Start date>2005
Warner Bros.
Compact Disc and DVD-Audio
73950
References
Reflist|2
External links
Wikiquote
http://remhq.com/albums.php New Adventures in Hi-Fi from REMHQ.com
http://www.retroweb.com/rem/publicity/rem27.html New Adventures in Hi-Fi press release
MusicBrainz album|id=a86a8e82-f730-435d-9497-aee39f595d2c|name=New Adventures in Hi-Fi
:*MusicBrainz album|id=c035899b-5449-4acb-8a45-cb8a0785a31d|name=Disc one from the LP release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi:*MusicBrainz album|id=272da244-c91c-4035-8068-a2a52605c137|name=Disc two from the LP release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi R.E.M.Template group|title = Chart procession and succession |list = start boxsuccession box| before = Coming Up (album)|Coming Up by Suede (band)|Suede | title = Swedish Chart number-one album | years = September 2027, 1996 | after = Djupa andetag by Frida Lyngstad|Frida Succession box| before = Coming Up by Suede | title = List of number-one albums (UK)|UK number one album | years = September 2127, 1996 | after = K (album)|K by Kula Shaker Succession box| before = No Code by Pearl Jam | title = Australian ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart Number-one albums of 1996 (Australia)|number-one album | years = September 2228, 1996 | after = The Very Best of Toni Childs by Toni Childs succession box| before = The Score (album)|The Score by Fugees | title = Austrian Chart number-one album | years = September 22& nbsp; October 20, 1996 |after= Greatest Hits (Simply Red album)|Greatest Hits by Simply Red succession box| before = No Code by Pearl Jam | title = New Zealand Chart number-one album | years = September 22& nbsp; October 13, 1996 |after= Garbage (album)|Garbage by Garbage (band)|Garbage succession box| before = The Score by Fugees | title = Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Music Chart number-one album | years = September 2229, 1996 |after= Le cose che vivi by Laura Pausini succession box| before = Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrissette | title = Belgium UltraTop (Flanders) number-one album | years = September 28, 1996 | after = Adrenaline by Clouseau (band)|Clouseau succession box| before = Voor jou by Frans Bauer | title = Dutch MegaCharts number-one album | years = September 28, 1996 | after = Bocelli (album)|Bocelli by AndreaBocelli succession box| before = Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morrissette | title = Finnish Chart number-one album | years = 3739/1996 |after = Repullinen hittejδ by Eppu Normaali succession box| before = Smurfehits 1 by Smurfene | title = Norwegian VG-lista number-one album | years = 3741/1996 |after= Silent Violence by Hanne Boel succession box| before = Live: Die Zweite by Pur (band)|Pur | title = German Media Control Chart number-one album | years = 4142/1996 | after = Alles by Wolfgang Petry endUse mdy dates|date=August 2010DEFAULTSORT:New Adventures In Hi-Fi Category:1996 albums Category:1996 live albums Category:Albums produced by Bill Berry Category:Albums produced by Michael Stipe Category:Albums produced by Mike Mills Category:Albums produced by Peter Buck Category:Albums produced by Scott Litt Category:Albums released on DVD-Audio Category:Double albums Category:English-language albums Category:English-language live albums Category:R.E.M. albums Category:R.E.M. live albums Category:Warner Bros. Records albums Category:Warner Bros. Records live albums