Reveal (R.E.M. Album)
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''Reveal'' is the twelfth studio album by American rock band
R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the fir ...
It was released on May 14, 2001, through
Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...
and was the second of three albums by the band to be produced with Pat McCarthy. It was also R.E.M.'s second album as a three-piece following the departure of drummer
Bill Berry William Thomas Berry (born July 31, 1958) is an American musician who was the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. Although best known for his economical drumming style, Berry also played other instruments, including guitar, bass guita ...
, and includes contributions from the band's touring members
Joey Waronker Jon Joseph Waronker (born May 20, 1969) is an American drummer and music producer. He has performed with acts including Beck, R.E.M., Oasis and Roger Waters, and is a member of the experimental rock bands Atoms for Peace and Ultraísta. Back ...
,
Scott McCaughey Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 199 ...
and
Ken Stringfellow Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography include ...
. The band recorded the album in various locations, including in
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
,
Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
,
Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
, and their hometown of
Athens, Georgia Athens is a consolidated city-county in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Downtown Athens lies about northeast of downtown Atlanta. The University of Georgia, the state's flagship public university and an Research I university, ...
. The album saw R.E.M. continue to experiment with
electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...
as they had on their previous album '' Up'' (1998), utilizing keyboards and drum machines, while also retaining elements of their earlier sound. ''Reveal'' was a critical and commercial success. The album reached the top 10 in the US while topping the charts in the UK and throughout mainland Europe. Three singles were released—" Imitation of Life", "
All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on July 23, 2001 as the second single from the band's twelfth studio album, '' Reveal'' (2001). The single did not chart on the US ''Billbo ...
", and " I'll Take the Rain"—with the former reaching the top 10 throughout Europe. Reviews were positive, with many highlighting the album's melodic nature and combination of R.E.M.'s classic sound with electronic elements. The band did not tour in support of the album, with its promotion instead consisting mainly of television appearances, music videos, and a number of free concerts within major cities.


Background

In 1998, R.E.M. released '' Up'', their eleventh studio album and first without drummer
Bill Berry William Thomas Berry (born July 31, 1958) is an American musician who was the drummer for the alternative rock band R.E.M. Although best known for his economical drumming style, Berry also played other instruments, including guitar, bass guita ...
. While not as commercially successful as previous albums, it still sold well and spawned the hit singles " Daysleeper" and " At My Most Beautiful". The recording of ''Up'' was a troubled process, due in no small part to Berry's absence, and the band almost disbanded as a result. Stipe has said of the album's mixing process: "when we were mixing ''Up'', we decided that it was all over. That record broke up the group."Black 2004, chap. 18 After mixing for ''Up'' had completed, manager Bertis Downs organized a week-long meeting in Idaho in an effort to keep the band intact. Described as a "self-administered group therapy session" in ''Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.'' by Johnny Black, the band recognized the changes and struggles caused by Berry's absence and their reaction to his departure, while also deciding they wanted to continue as a band. Stipe has stated that at the time, he had, "for the first time, eenforced to imagine life without R.E.M. and it was terrifying. As we talked, I think each of us realized just how much the band meant to us."Black 2004, chap. 19 Upon release, ''Up'' divided critics, attracting both praise and criticism for its change in sound and experimental material. At the time of its release, the band's popularity had been shifting; ''Up'' sold faster and in comparatively better numbers in many European nations compared to the US. The band originally intended not to tour in promotion of the album, instead focusing on promoting through television performances. These included appearances on '' Later... with Jools Holland'', ''
VH1 Storytellers ''Storytellers'' is a television music series produced by the VH1 network. In each episode, artists perform in front of a (mostly small and intimate) live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat ...
'', and ''
Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...
'', while the band also performed a live set for the sitcom ''
Party of Five ''Party of Five'' is an American teen and family drama television series created by Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman that originally aired on Fox from September 12, 1994, to May 3, 2000, with a total of six seasons consisting of 142 epis ...
''.Buckley 2002, chap. 11 However, they changed their minds and in February 1999 announced 45-show-long-tour of Europe and America. In April and May 1999, R.E.M. composed the soundtrack for '' Man on the Moon'', which included the single " The Great Beyond", which would become their biggest UK hit, peaking at number three.
Ken Stringfellow Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography include ...
and
Joey Waronker Jon Joseph Waronker (born May 20, 1969) is an American drummer and music producer. He has performed with acts including Beck, R.E.M., Oasis and Roger Waters, and is a member of the experimental rock bands Atoms for Peace and Ultraísta. Back ...
joined as permanent touring members at the time of the ''Up'' tour, alongside
Scott McCaughey Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 199 ...
who had performed live with the band since the ''
Monster A monster is a type of imaginary or fictional creature found in literature, folklore, mythology, fiction and religion. They are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive, with a strange or grotesque appearance that causes Anxiety, terror ...
'' tour. Touring commenced from June through September 1999, which included a performance at the
Glastonbury Festival The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (commonly referred to as simply Glastonbury Festival, known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts held near Pilton, Somerset, England, in most su ...
. The band found the tour to be much less stressful than their previous trek supporting ''
Monster A monster is a type of imaginary or fictional creature found in literature, folklore, mythology, fiction and religion. They are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive, with a strange or grotesque appearance that causes Anxiety, terror ...
'' (1994), while Stipe later credited the performances with "affirm ngour he band'sconfidence in wanting to work with each other and wanting to keep on doing this."


Writing and recording

In February 2000, R.E.M. began rehearsals at West Clayton Street in Athens in preparation for a new album, with further rehearsals occurring in March at Royaltone Studios in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...
. The band began recording the basic tracks for the record in May, choosing Vancouver for the location due to its proximity to Seattle, where both guitarist
Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.; he played the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his caree ...
and McCaughey lived.Fletcher 2013, chap. 23 Additionally, for the recording process, Stipe wanted to work outside the U.S., both because he felt the album would be "more at home away from home", and to avoid
writer's block Writer's block is a non-medical condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Writer's block has various degrees of severity, from difficulty in coming ...
, which had previously plagued him during the writing of ''Up''. While in Vancouver, the band laid down tracks for more than 20 songs, with some being described by the band as "embryonic" and others being "fully-realized." At this point in recording, Stipe described the album as "kind of pick ngup where ''Up'' left off" and stating "some of it is pretty strange." In June, Buck left for Seattle, leaving Stipe to complete lyrics. While writing, Stipe would travel to prevent writer's block from reoccurring, which he has credited with helping him complete "All the Way to Reno" and "Disappear". The band reformed in July at West Clayton Street to continue work. The bulk of the album was recorded between August and October at Dalkey Lodge in
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
with Pat McCarthy returning as producer. String parts, arranged by Johnny Tate, were recorded on October 3–4, 2000 at
Windmill Lane Studios Windmill Lane Recording Studios (earlier Windmill Lane Studios) is a recording studio in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1978 by Brian Masterson and James Morris on Windmill Lane, and it subsequently relocated in ...
in Dublin, while the final recording sessions were done at John Keane Studios in Athens. Mixing was then done on October 31 at
The Hit Factory The Hit Factory is a recording studio in New York City owned and operated by Troy Germano. History In 1969, songwriter Jerry Ragavoy opened a recording studio in New York City and named it ''The Hit Factory.'' On March 6, 1975, Edward Germano, ...
in Miami. Mills has stated that while recording ''Reveal'', the band made an effort to use synthesizers to create sounds which possibly "hadn't been heard before" and which were not made with the natural patches built into the synthesizers. While Stipe's intention during the sessions was "to be really melodic", Stringfellow would be asked to create a more dissonant, experimental counterpoint. The members of R.E.M. were particularly enthusiastic about Stringfellow's contributions: "The more off into my own personal vision of the deep end, the more they liked it," Stringfellow stated in ''Perfect Circle: The Story of R.E.M.'' by Tony Fletcher. "All sorts of messed up crazy distorted things run through pedals, they were loving that." Waronker noted that Buck's demos would frequently already feature fully-fledged drum parts programmed with drum machines, causing him to focus on "what not to play" or how to add to these programmed parts which stood on their own. After tracks were recorded, Buck would frequently bring tapes to his Seattle home and record overdubs by night. Waronker noted that as opposed to ''Up'', in which material tended to be pieced-together, Stipe created lyrics and melodies as the material for ''Reveal'' was being developed. The first track to be recorded for the album was "She Just Wants to Be", during the May 2000 sessions in Vancouver. "Imitation of Life" was developed from a 1999 demo variously referred to as "Fake Trumpet Chorus" or simply "Trumpet Chorus".Buckley 2002, chap. 12 The "fake trumpets" originally featured on the track were later replaced by a string section, which is heard on the final version. While working on the song, the band moved through a variety of tempos and instrumental palettes before settling on the acoustic guitar-centric arrangement of the final version. "Saturn Return" was written by Buck on piano. Parts of the recording were taken from a demo dating back to February 2000, which was combined with effects which were looped and played backwards. The band recorded "The Lifting" as a live take with Mills, McCaughey, Stringfellow, and Jamie Candiloro all on keyboards.Black 2004, chap. 20 The final version of "I've Been High" includes synth parts which were originally intended for "Imitation of Life"; these were replaced on the latter song by a keyboard solo by Stringfellow. "Chorus and the Ring" was recorded in a single take and developed from an improptu jam. Mills had not yet heard the song at the time of recording, and so Buck led him through the chords as it was being recorded and his bassline was improvised. "Disappear" evolved from a demo entitled "Underwater Acoustic", while other working titles included "32-Chord Song" (later "Summer Turns to High") and "
Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...
on Mars" (later "All the Way to Reno"). During the recording sessions, the band recorded a track entitled "Fascinating", which was removed from the record at the last moment. While Mills described the track as "very beautiful", the band felt its inclusion made the album "too long" as well as "too slow in the middle." Buck also felt the song would have "worked perfectly" on the record, but the band made a conscious choice to not release another album with a length of 64–65 minutes, leading to the song's exclusion. "Fascinating" was later covered by the duo
Fischerspooner Fischerspooner was an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in New York City after meeting in school. The name is a combination of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner. Career Originally a duo formed by ...
in 2009, while the R.E.M. version has also been leaked through the Internet. Another song, entitled "Free Form Jazz Jam", also appeared on early potential tracklists but did not make the final album. Once recording had completed, Stipe compared the process favorably to that of ''Up'', calling it "remarkably happy" and stating the band had "become acclimated to new conditions and potentials." McCaughey echoed this, speaking fondly of the experience recording in Vancouver for its relaxed environment and the atmosphere in the studio. McCaughey noted that since Stipe already had some of the lyrics while songs were being recorded, the band would track with his vocals, which he credited with causing the ''Reveal'' sessions to feel more like a "real band" working in the studio as opposed to those for the previous album.


Composition

''Reveal'' features a meld of electronic and live instrumentation, with the material being more melodic and accessible than on ''Up''. The album has generally been regarded as a more optimistic and upbeat album compared to its predecessor.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
's
Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...
has compared the album to U2's successful 2000 release ''
All That You Can't Leave Behind ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is the tenth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and was released on 30October 2000 through Island Records worldwide and through Interscope Records in the Unit ...
'', calling it a "conscious return to .E.M.'sclassic sound". Fletcher describes the album as consisting mainly of "mid-paced songs that could easily pass as ballads, full of ethereal sound effects", while Ryan Leas of ''
Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
'' sums it up as an album of "sad beach songs" which "play with electronic and synth textures... all glowing, sunburt, flickering." Buck has described the sound of ''Reveal'' as "warm and layered and analogue" while also having "a distance and breath to it that's modern and complete and liberating... like a beautiful vacuum." Stipe intended for ''Reveal'' to be a "summer record", which Fletcher notes is displayed in song titles such as "I'll Take the Rain", "Beachball", and "Summer Turns to High". Additionally, Stipe utilizes a more relaxed singing style throughout, while Stringfellow has noted a lyrical theme of "personal transformation", as well as "rising, not just from adversity, but your own boundaries and limitations, the little pitfalls and weaknesses that hold you back." Many publications have noted multiple tracks on the album as being heavily influenced by
the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
, particularly "Beat a Drum", "Summer Turns to High", and "Beachball". Leas considers ''Reveal'' to be a "deeply Californian" work including elements of
psychedelia Psychedelia usually refers to a Aesthetics, style or aesthetic that is resembled in the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s and the psychedelic experience produced by certain psychoactive substances. This includes psychedelic art, psychedelic ...
, while its "big Stipe melodies" are intertwined with a "gorgeous, lush, aqueous sound unlike anything they he banddid before or since." Stipe worked to make a cohesive record, avoiding songs which "stood out or made you want to change the record." Mills has stated that "some of 'Reveal''ssongs are actually very sparse, but they have some beautiful sounds within the sparseness."Fletcher 2013, chap. 23


Chorus side

The album's opener, "The Lifting", was written as a prequel to "Daysleeper" and features the same character. David Buckley, author of ''R.E.M'' ''Fiction: An Alternative Biography'', states that the song references psychic and spiritual healing programs while relating to themes of self-improvement and self-help. The song includes a guitar solo in which Buck uses an
e-bow The EBow is an electronic device used for playing string instruments, most often the electric guitar. It was invented by the American guitarist Greg Heet in 1969 and introduced in 1976. The EBow uses a pickup and a magnetic feedback circuit to ...
, while Buckley compares its "mantric" drum figure to that of
The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
' "
Tomorrow Never Knows "Tomorrow Never Knows" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was released in August 1966 as the final track on their album ''Revolver'', although it was the firs ...
". The final version of "The Lifting" is a "funkier" arrangement devised by the band after its earlier arrangement was deemed too similar to "All the Way to Reno". Johnny Black lists "I've Been High" among the album's "gorgeously atmospheric ballads", while Buckley considers it to be "solemn, stately and emotional", with "subtle dance textures and beats" beneath Stipe's vocal. Stringfellow considered the song to be the "masterwork" of the record, as he felt it "push dthe boundary of what defines .E.M.musically." For "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)", Stipe wrote lyrics from the point of view of, according to Buckley, "an aspirant female on the road to fame." Buck has noted an "ironic" element to the lyrics. Black considers the song one of R.E.M.'s "most lush and blatantly commercial pieces of work", while Buckley has noted its "echoes of old-style R.E.M. rootsiness." Buck has cited the song as an example of a track whose creation was spurred by his purchase of a new instrument, in this case a glockenspiel. In the liner notes to the band's compilation album '' In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003'', Buck stated the song was intended as a "sick tribute" to songwriter
Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...
, citing the use of six-string bass guitar and the song's "semi-rococo chord changes" as examples of Webb's influence. Mills has named the song's bassline as one of his favorites and has stated it consists of the first lines he played once he heard Buck's guitar parts. "She Just Wants to Be" starts with "organic" instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, and ends with "computer-driven synth strings" intertwined with traditional orchestration. In ''R.E.M'' ''Fiction'', Mills praises Tate's arrangements on the song, as he felt the mix of real and synthesized strings helped to alleviate their "saccharine nature." Of the subject matter, Buck has simply stated the song was written about "a person – someone I think we've met." "Disappear" begins with an acoustic intro which has been compared to the band's earlier song "Swan Swan H" (1986), while its verses contain a "
Nick Cave Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...
-style tension". The song was inspired by Stipe's trip to Israel, while Buck has called it a song about "self-effacement." During the trip, Stipe attended a rave in
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...
, in which a fan asked what he was doing there; his response was "I came to disappear."
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
's then-recent album ''
Kid A ''Kid A'' is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 2 October 2000 by Parlophone. It was recorded with their producer, Nigel Godrich, in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Departing from their ...
'' (2000), contained a song entitled " How to Disappear Completely", which made Stipe nervous about having possibly taken the idea. After calling
Thom Yorke Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his falsetto. ''Rolling Stone'' desc ...
, lead vocalist of Radiohead and friend of Stipe's, to explain, Yorke assured Stipe that "Disappear" was his own song and that lines from "How to Disappear Completely" were inspired by Stipe: "I stole some lines from something you told me, so if you take anything from me, it's OK." Buckley considers "Saturn Return" to be the "oddest" track on ''Reveal'', as well as "the creepiest track R.E.M. ever cut." During the demo session which spawned the song, Buck encouraged the other musicians to find "the weirdest sound on
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
instrument that hey couldpossibly imagine." Stringfellow contributed a guitar part which he compared to
Sonic Youth Sonic Youth were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1981. Founding members Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar), Thurston Moore (lead guitar, vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (rhythm guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of ...
and also considered a ''homage'' to Buck's own "primitivist" style. Austin Saalman of '' Under the Radar'' calls the song a "bleak piano ballad", while Lindsay Zoladz of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' has described the lyrical content as a "character study of a late-shift convenience store employee, who climbs to the building’s roof and has an awakening while staring at the night sky."


Ring side

"Beat a Drum" is one of multiple songs from ''Reveal'' to earn comparisons to the Beach Boys. Buckley considers the track to be the only other likely single choice on the album after from "Imitation of Life" (though the former did not receive a single release), crediting its "beautiful" melody by Mills. Annie Jo Baker of ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' compares the guitar work on the verses to
the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in London in 1963 by brothers Ray Davies, Ray and Dave Davies, and Pete Quaife. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British ...
, while Saalman has declared the track to be "the band's warmest song to date." Buckley considers the lines "Beat a drum for me, like a butterfly wing / Tropical storm across the ocean" to be a reference to
chaos theory Chaos theory is an interdisciplinary area of Scientific method, scientific study and branch of mathematics. It focuses on underlying patterns and Deterministic system, deterministic Scientific law, laws of dynamical systems that are highly sens ...
and the
butterfly effect In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state. The term is closely associated w ...
. Mills used the track as an example of the benefits of using a producer; McCarthy instructed Mills to write a bridge for the song, but upon hearing the bridge, encouraged Mills to switch the positions of it and the chorus. "Imitation of Life" takes its title from the 1959
Douglas Sirk Douglas Sirk (born Hans Detlef Sierck; 26 April 1897 – 14 January 1987) was a German film director best known for his work in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. However, he also directed comedies, westerns, and war f ...
film of the same name, as the band found it to be a "perfect metaphor for adolescence." Buckley feels the song ""would not have been out of place on he band's 1991 release'' Out of Time''" and "may be the most recognizably R.E.M.-sounding track on the album." He also compares its "aggressive wall of acoustic guitar" to
George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Culture ...
's "
My Sweet Lord "My Sweet Lord" is a song by the English musician George Harrison, released in November 1970 on his triple album ''All Things Must Pass''. It was also released as a single, Harrison's first as a solo artist, and topped charts worldwide; it was ...
" (1970) and R.E.M.'s own "
Talk About the Passion "Talk About the Passion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single released from its debut album '' Murmur'' in 1983. It was released in Europe only, on 12" vinyl. This song failed to follow up on the ...
" (1984). Buck has noted that the chord progression in the verses shares similarities with the band's earlier song "
Driver 8 "Driver 8" is the second single from American musical group R.E.M.'s third album, ''Fables of the Reconstruction'', released in September 1985. The song peaked at number 22 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song refers ...
" (1985). Mills has stated the song was almost removed from ''Reveal'' for being "too R.E.M.", but the band were discouraged from removing it. Its lyrics contain a "cameo of teenage discomfort, that state of being desperate to impress, yet self-conscious and clumsy." "Summer Turns to High" is another Beach Boys-influenced track. After being shown the original version of the song, which had an "Irish feel" utilizing acoustic guitars and accordions, Stipe liked it but found it to be too busy, and so it was re-arranged to consist of just drums, bass, and a single keyboard with Stipe's vocal melody, which "pushed it completely out to left field." According to Baker, the song "combines '60s and '80s sounds and recondenses them as turn-of-the-millennium indie." "Chorus and the Ring" was written as a tribute to
Kurt Cobain Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana (band), Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establis ...
and
William S. Burroughs William Seward Burroughs II (; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist. He is widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major Postmodern literature, postmodern author who influen ...
. John Everhart of ''Under the Radar'' notes the contrast between the dark lyrics and the song's "Celtic folk stomp." Jordan Potter of '' Far Out'' describes "I'll Take the Rain" as "humble offering with an acoustic structure deftly adorned with orchestral strings and Ken Stringfellow’s keys." Baker states the song "pairs self-empowering but melancholic lyrics with optimistic instrumentation and vocals." Stipe says this song is the "odd one out" on the album, being the only "winter song" on an otherwise summer-themed record. His intention was to "write a lyric that matched the tone of the music", while also creating a song which "balance all hesunniness" of the rest of ''Reveal''. "Beachball", the closing track, contains live strings in the verses and synth strings in chorus. ''Far Out'' says the song "borrow from the surf rockers’ trademark sound of bright chords and sentimental vocal harmonies." Saalman notes its "jingling bells, the weeping strings, ndchorus of horns" and compares the track to the Beach Boys' "
Caroline, No "Caroline, No" is a song by the American musician Brian Wilson that was released as his first solo record on March 7, 1966 and, two months later, reissued as the closing track on the Beach Boys' album ''Pet Sounds''. Written with Tony Asher, the ...
" and "
I'm Waiting for the Day "I'm Waiting for the Day" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album ''Pet Sounds''. Written primarily by Brian Wilson, the lyrics describe a man who is "waiting for the day" when the woman he loves will be ready t ...
" Its original lyric was about drug dealing on the streets of Vancouver, but it was changed to be, according to Buck, about "people having fun at the beach."


Release

At the time of its release, the members of R.E.M. emphasized the happier atmosphere when writing and recording ''Reveal'' in contrast with their previous few releases. Stipe declared the album to be his favorite at this time; he has continued to name it and ''New Adventures in Hi-Fi'' among his favorite R.E.M. albums. Mills declared that it was "more focused than the last album" because they "didn't have an ongoing crisis to contend with as we made it. We were free to concentrate on having fun." The title of the album was suggested by Bertis Downs and comes from the lyric "have I missed the big reveal?" in "I've Been High".


Commercial performance

"Imitation of Life" was delivered to radio stations in March 2001, and was commercially released as the album's first single in April.Fletcher 2013, chap. 24 The song reached number six in the UK, becoming their second consecutive top 10 hit there. However, the single stalled at number 83 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and sold only 15,000 copies in the US. It fared better on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, where it had a three-week stay at the top. The song was supported by a Garth Jennings-directed video consisting of a 20-second loop of film capturing an elaborate pool party, played forwards and backwards and zoomed in and out; it was filmed over two weeks in February 2001 and included a cast of 76 people. "All the Way to Reno" was chosen as the album's second single and released on July 23. The song was moderately successful, peaking at number 24 in the UK and number 8 on the ''Billboard'' Adult Alternative Songs chart. Its video, directed by
Michael Moore Michael Francis Moore is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Moore's work frequently addresses various Social issue, social, political, and economic topics. He first became publicly known for his award-winning debut ...
was filmed at Bishop Ford High School in
Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, with a camera crew consisting of students. The album's third single, "I'll Take the Rain", was released on November 19. It missed the top 40 in the UK, peaking at number 44. The album itself was released on May 14, 2001, in the UK and the following day in the US. It entered the UK charts at number one, selling 33,000 copies in the first day of release and 110,000 in its first week. The album also debuted at number one in Italy (where it sold 130,000 copies in its first week, already reaching Platinum status), Austria, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland, while it also rose to the top in Germany. In Brazil and Belgium, the album peaked at number two, while it reached the top 10 in Japan, Australia, France, Thailand, and Canada. By the end of the month, sales of ''Reveal'' had exceeded a million copies in Europe; in many countries its sales surpassed those of ''Up'' before the release of a second single. In the US, the album reached number six, the band's lowest peak since the introduction of
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in 1991. The album was certified Gold by the
RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
on June 20, 2001, for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the US. Worldwide sales have since exceeded four million copies.


Promotion

Inspired by their experience performing at the open-air South African Freedom Day concert in
Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...
,
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
on April 27, R.E.M. considered performing free shows within city squares to promote ''Reveal'' in lieu of a traditional tour. However, city authorities were unenthusiastic about the idea, and so the band performed only two further concerts in this vein, one in
Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
and one in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. In the US, a promotional CD entitled ''Not Bad for No Tour'' was released, displaying international chart positions and sales figures in its packaging. In June, the band traveled to Los Angeles to record voiceovers for ''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'', while later in August, they appeared on ''
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...
'' performing "All the Way to Reno". American promotion for ''Reveal'' was mainly limited to television performances, including appearances on ''
The Late Show with David Letterman ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production comp ...
'' and ''
MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic instrument, acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. F ...
''. Additionally, the band played one show each at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York and Los Angeles.


Critical reception

Upon release, ''Reveal'' was received positively by critics. On
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, ''Reveal'' has received an average score of 76, indicating "generally positive reviews." Multiple reviewers have compared the album to ''
All That You Can't Leave Behind ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is the tenth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and was released on 30October 2000 through Island Records worldwide and through Interscope Records in the Unit ...
'' (2000) by U2, noting it as a "return to form" and a "conscious return to their classic sound."
Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...
himself has praised the album: "''Reveal'' is extraordinary. I know it's extraordinary because I felt ill when I heard it. It's a very beautiful, awe-inspiring record." The album also earned comparisons to the band's own '' Automatic for the People'' (1992), and was praised for showing the band begin to fully recover from Berry's departure. Adam Sweeting of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' feels that with the album, the band "settles into a convincing identity as a trio." He laments what he feels to be a lack of new territory for the band, with the exception of "Saturn Return", which "gently evoke the spirit of
Brian Eno Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...
." However, he also notes the band could "knock together a heartrending anthem out of next to nothing"; Sweeting uses "I've Been High" as an example, calling it "possibly he album'sfinest moment" and praising its simplicity. In a review for ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'', Keith Phipps states that 21 years into their career, R.E.M. still "continue to surprise." He cites many of the album's electronic experiments as continuations of ''Up'', while its songs rely "less on single moods" in comparison to that album. Will Hermes of ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' is among those who consider the album a "return to form". He names "Imitation of Life" and "I'll Take the Rain" as highlights. However, he also notes Mills' lowered presence on backing vocals, as well as opining that the album is "haunted by an ennui that's curious for a band that made their name by talking about the passion." Dave Heaton of ''
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' summed up ''Reveal'' as "a lush, dreamy pop mood-piece that hovers in the realm of rumination and introspection." Heaton argues that the album has more in common with the band's earlier ''
Fables of the Reconstruction ''Fables of the Reconstruction'' (or ''Reconstruction of the Fables'') is the third studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released on June 10, 1985, through I.R.S. Records. It was the band's first album recorded outside ...
'' (1985) rather than ''Up'', due to a focus on "melancholy, midtempo pop" and a return to more enigmatic and "artsy" themes. ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
''s April Long summed up the album as "R.E.M. remembering who they are, and reaffirming why they do what they do." Long praises its simplicity, saying it prioritizes "minutiae and subtlety" in lieu of "grand gestures." She also states that while she found it to initially be an "underwhelming" listen, it eventually becomes "gracefully rewarding." Some reviews were more mixed. Matt LeMay of ''
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'' gave the album a rating of 5.0 out of 10, stating he found the album's electronic elements to be "superficial" and felt they created an overly busy sound. He also found many of its songs to be repetitive, without stronger melodies or more variation to improve the tracks. LeMay does state that despite some "terrible lyrics", "Imitation of Life" possesses "a catchy hook, and a sufficient degree of sonic variety", while "The Lifting" contains "an undeniably great melody."
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...
scored the album at a B− and named it his "dud of the month", feeling it was "not as bad as it first sounds, but also not as good as they thought when they released it, or they wouldn't have, I hope." Retrospectively, the album has continued to receive positive reviews. In an article commemorating the 20th anniversary of the album's release, Ryan Leas of ''
Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
'' declares ''Reveal'' as possibly "the most underrated album in .E.M.'shallowed catalogue." He notes that in comparison to the anxiety expressed on ''Up'', ''Reveal'' is "warm" and "vibrant", while also harboring a "wistfulness and melancholia." In Annie Jo Baker's ''PopMatters'' retrospective, she highlights the album's ability to maintain a consistent sound without lacking "classic R.E.M. eccentricity." She also notes the mix of optimism and sadness throughout the record, stating it "invok sthe kind of melancholic cheer shown by a parent watching their child grow up."


Band opinions

The members of R.E.M. have spoken highly of ''Reveal'' since its release. At the time, Stipe felt the album had "proven to ourselves that as a trio we can be a successful creative unit." He continues to rank ''Reveal'', alongside ''
New Adventures in Hi-Fi ''New Adventures in Hi-Fi'' is the tenth studio album by the United States, 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 fol ...
'' (1996), among his favorite R.E.M. albums. Some time after release, Buck stated he found ''Reveal'' to be "equal to ''Automatic'' 'for the People''. In a 2023 interview with ''
Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
'', Mills selected it as the R.E.M. album most deserving of a reapprasial, calling it a "hidden gem" and describing it as "not a rock record per se, but it's a beautiful-music record."


Track listing

All songs written by
Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.; he played the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his caree ...
,
Mike Mills Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., hi ...
and
Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Stipe was born in Metro Atlanta in January 1960. Due to his father's militar ...
. ;Chorus side: # "The Lifting" – 4:39 # "I've Been High" – 3:25 # "
All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on July 23, 2001 as the second single from the band's twelfth studio album, '' Reveal'' (2001). The single did not chart on the US ''Billbo ...
" – 4:43 # "She Just Wants to Be" – 5:22 # "Disappear" – 4:11 # "Saturn Return" – 4:55 ;Ring side #
  • "Beat a Drum" – 4:21 # " Imitation of Life" – 3:57 # "Summer Turns to High" – 3:31 # "Chorus and the Ring" – 4:31 # " I'll Take the Rain" – 5:51 # "Beachball" – 4:14


    Personnel

    Personnel taken from liner notes.


    R.E.M.

    *
    Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.; he played the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his caree ...
    *
    Mike Mills Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., hi ...
    *
    Michael Stipe John Michael Stipe (; born January 4, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Stipe was born in Metro Atlanta in January 1960. Due to his father's militar ...


    Additional musicians

    *
    Scott McCaughey Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 199 ...
    *
    Ken Stringfellow Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography include ...
    *
    Joey Waronker Jon Joseph Waronker (born May 20, 1969) is an American drummer and music producer. He has performed with acts including Beck, R.E.M., Oasis and Roger Waters, and is a member of the experimental rock bands Atoms for Peace and Ultraísta. Back ...
    *Jamie Candiloro * John Keane *Glen Brady *String arrangements – Johnny Tate,
    R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the fir ...
    *Strings – Michael Healy, Pamela Forde, Sunniva Fitzpatrick, Eileen Murphy, Ruth Murphy, Sebastian Petiet, Elizabeth Leonard, Paul O'Hanlon, Jennifer Cassidy, Carol Quigley, Debbie Ellis, Nicola Cleary, Ruth Mann, Michelle Lalor, Elizabeth Dean, Cliona O'Driscoll, Marcus Miller, Peter Crooks, David James, Hillary O'Donovan, Annette Cleary *Horns – David Martin, Shaun Hooke, Eoin Daly, Fergal O' Ceallachain, David Carmody *Woodwind – David Agnew *Horns on "Beachball" – Get the Horn Section


    Technical

    *Production – Pat McCarthy, R.E.M. *Recording and mixing – Pat McCarthy, Jamie Candiloro, John Keane (at John Keane Studios) *Assistant/2nd engineers – Dean Maher, Zach Blackstone, Alex Aligizakis (at The Warehouse), Mark Fitzgerald, Marguerite Ryan, Mary Boylan, Bee Mangan (at Dalkey Lodge), Kieran Lynch, Dave Hughes (at Windmill Lane), Christine Tramontano (at The Hit Factory) *Mastering –
    Bob Ludwig Robert Carl Ludwig (born December 11, 1944), is a retired American mastering engineer. He mastered recordings on all the major recording formats for all the major record labels, and on projects by more than 1,300 artists, including Led Zeppeli ...
    (at Gateway Mastering) *Editing – Adam Ayan


    Charts and certifications


    Weekly charts


    Year-end charts


    Certifications


    References


    Sources

    * * *


    Citations


    External links

    * * * {{Authority control 2001 albums Albums produced by Peter Buck Albums produced by Mike Mills Albums produced by Michael Stipe Albums produced by Pat McCarthy (record producer) Albums recorded at The Warehouse Studio R.E.M. albums Warner Records albums Electronic albums by American artists