WAIM #046 - Matt Berenson Ranks R.E.M. With Matty C

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WAIM #046 - Matt Berenson Ranks R.E.M. With Matty C

I welcome back author, film producer, and fellow Substacker Matt Berenson for a full ranking of the entire REM discography. Get ready for us to get ninth circle nerd on an American institution.

Matty C

and

Matt Berenson

Jan 01, 2024

Transcript

When author and producer, Matt Berenson first published his list ranking all of the fifteen albums in the R.E.M. canon, I felt one more cosmic connection to him and his fandom for the most famous band from Athens, GA. I was thrilled to read Matt’s piece and see how the LPs stacked up in his estimation. Furthermore, I began to wonder where I would differ and where our ideals on the perfect R.E.M. record might converge. I accepted my own challenge, and I was off.

Throughout November and December, I published my own full list ranked 15 to 1 with detailed notes on each album as to why it finds itself in that particular spot. The project was truly challenging, but what a joy to work on. I was able to revisit albums in the catalog that I hadn’t spun in full for a few years. I was also given the chance to reassess the latter records of the band’s career which I had largely dismissed when they were released.

Matt and I got together to talk in the quiet days between Christmas and New Years to review our lists and see where we lined up or diverged. Largely, we’re in the same camp on what does and doesn’t make the best sort of R.E.M. record. Much of the subtle differences in our lists can be found in the timeframe at which we were first introduced to the band.

Somehow, while breaking down the R.E.M. catalog in detailed fashion Matt manages to tell me about the rare opportunity he had to see British band, The La’s at the Tower Records in Los Angeles on their lone tour back in the early 90s. There is also healthy section on an indie classic by The Wedding Present and a thorough assessment of Morrissey’s early solo career. Somehow, it all makes sense.

In talking about how supremely terrific R.E.M. were at covering the work of other artists, I challenged Matt to a collaborative playlist project. Each of us selected six songs featuring the band playing a tune written by another artist. We went at this draft pick style. The result is a twelve song playlist of the band’s best cover versions. I’ll be sharing those soon in a separate article.

How does your list compare to me and Matty B? We wanna know.

R.E.M.'s Albums Ranked: #15 - #11

Matty C

October 11, 2023

Author, producer, and regular WAIM pod guest Matt Berenson recently published his ranked list of the R.E.M. discography. Much like me, Matt is an R.E.M. fanatic, so I was fascinated by his list. Of course, it made me consider how my list would stack up. So what the hell? Let’s do it. Here we go.

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R.E.M.'s Albums Ranked: #10 - #6

Matty C

October 26, 2023

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An American Masterpiece Turns 40

Matty C

April 12, 2023

What Am I Making is a reader-supported publication. I cannot keep doing this work without your help. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Thank you. ‘Radio Free Europe’, the lead track from the R.E.M. debut LP, Murmur has all of the earmarks of a catchy underground hit. A simple, repeatable chorus line draped within a catchy, ascendant voca…

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5 Comments

What Am I Making Podcast

Hey there. I’m Matty C. For the formally inclined folks in the crowd, the official designation is Matt Carlson.

I am a 50 year old musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that's spent the Covid era pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature and art in the 21st century.

It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to.

What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at anytime in 100 years?

Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life and I am preparing to spend more of my time, and hopefully, generating a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying endeavor, but it’s also incredibly exciting.

I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart, and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while fighting an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities.

All of these journeys and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world, and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer and podcaster.

This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human andhow to find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression. Art is at the core of the relationship. Let’s explore it with that context, and that incalculable value, in mind.

If you enjoy what you hear on the show, please subscribe to my Substack where I also I post this podcast as well as a variety of essays, video and recordings regularly in my search to find out what art really matters to people right here and right now, and they are willing to do to invest in our culture.

Thank you so much for being here. It’s wonderful to have your support.

https://whatamimaking.substack.com

Hey there. I’m Matty C. For the formally inclined folks in the crowd, the official designation is Matt Carlson. I am a 50 year old musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that's spent the Covid era pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature and art in the 21st century. It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to. What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at anytime in 100 years? Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life and I am preparing to spend more of my time, and hopefully, generating a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying endeavor, but it’s also incredibly exciting. I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart, and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while fighting an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities. All of these journeys and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world, and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer and podcaster. This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human andhow to find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression. Art is at the core of the relationship. Let’s explore it with that context, and that incalculable value, in mind. If you enjoy what you hear on the show, please subscribe to my Substack where I also I post this podcast as well as a variety of essays, video and recordings regularly in my search to find out what art really matters to people right here and right now, and they are willing to do to invest in our culture. Thank you so much for being here. It’s wonderful to have your support. https://whatamimaking.substack.com

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