Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Green (25th Anniversary)
Green: The album that forever changed the trajectory of R.E.M. The band's sixth long-player, and first for Warner Bros., was recorded in the late summer of 1988 and released that November. Once again in the studio with producer Scott Litt, who produced the group's previous record, Document, Green upped the former's ante, doubling down on both the overt pop moments and socio-political commentary. The results, coupled with Warner's international promotional muscle, heavy MTV/radio exposure and an eleven month tour, introduced the band to an entirely new audience. The mainstream.
The 25th anniversary deluxe reissue of Green pairs the album with Live In Greensboro 1989, a 26 song live snapshot of the band in the midst of the aforementioned behemoth tour. Like Tourfilm, the 1990 documentary that chronicled the Green tour, Live In Greensboro captures the band bashing out both new and vintage material with a renewed, if frenetic, purpose. Essential listening for completists, yet one can only hope that the early Athens demos of the Green material one day come to light. Perhaps the 30th anniversary set?
ABOUT AQUARIUM DRUNKARD
Based in Los Angeles, Justin Gage is the founder of the long-running, eclectic music blog Aquarium Drunkard. In addition to the blog you can catch his weekly radio show, Fridays, on SIRIUS XMU satellite radio -- noon-2pm EST.
Gage is also the founder of Autumn Tone Records and works as a music consultant and supervisor.
