![]() Buck has said that he believes the song should have been on “Out of Time,” and the track finally gets its due here.Ī lot had changed by 2001 (image via YouTube). Of the previously unaired songs on the 1991 collection, “Fretless,” an “Out of Time” b-side that also appeared on the soundtrack to Wim Wenders’s “Until the End of the World,” is the real gem. ![]() Meanwhile, “Pop Song ’89” goes from being a cynical, satirical cut on “Green” to a fun, playful song. “Fall of Me” has an ethereal quality that isn’t present on the original studio version. However, it’s a necessary sacrifice, given the tone and sound of “Out of Time.” The “Unplugged” stage was the ideal venue to unveil songs like “Losing My Religion,” “Radio Song,” “Low,” “Belong,” “Endgame,” and “Half a World Away.” Meanwhile, the band’s folk roots meant that they had plenty of songs from their back catalog that work well in an acoustic setting. He does a great job, but we don’t get to see what he’s really capable of. ![]() The versatile bassist and keyboard player had only sung lead on one song prior to “Out of Time,” (he sang lead on two “Out of Time” songs that were not performed on the “Unplugged” set) but he seemed like a seasoned pro when he took the reins on the aforementioned “Love is All Around.” Bill Berry is arguably the one most affected by the “Unplugged” format, as he’s basically relegated to playing bongos the entire evening (he does play bass on some songs for Mills when the latter is playing piano). He seems to relish playing the mandolin and his sound dominates the “Out of Time” selections, as well as the band’s cover of “Love is All Around.” The program also served as a coming-out party of sorts for Mike Mills. The acoustic stage is also ideal for Peter Buck, who has never been the kind of guitar player who needed or wanted to perform long, finger-churning solos. Indeed, it’s a far cry from the days when he was a shy, reclusive presence on stage who hardly ever made eye contact with fans nor enunciated his vocals. He laughs off a mistake on “Radio Song” and openly uses a crib sheet during “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” proving that the lyrics stump even him. His looseness shows in his performance, as he seems to be genuinely having fun. His expressiveness and tonality really shine in a stripped-down setting, and he seems utterly at home on the MTV stage. songs mixed in with some of his own songs). The “Unplugged” stage was perfect for the band, and nowhere was that more evident than when Michael Stipe opened the set with the haunting “Half a World Away,” one of the best songs off “Out of Time.” Stipe’s voice was made for this type of show (indeed, I’m surprised he’s never undertaken a solo acoustic tour where he just performs old R.E.M. opted for a bare-bones acoustic show in a small studio. The logical next step would be to do what U2 had done and moved onto large stadiums. was coming off the mammoth “Green” world tour where they had proven that they could rock large arenas. It was an odd choice for a such a momentous occasion. Instead, the “Unplugged” show became one of only a few concerts the band performed to promote “Out of Time.” Despite riding the wave of their biggest hit ever and their most successful album to date, R.E.M. “Out of Time” was one month old, and “Losing My Religion” was beginning its steady climb up the charts. Recorded at Chelsea Studios in New York City, the band was just about to hit it big. chose the MTV “Unplugged” stage for its coming out party.
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