ITEOTWAWKI: Reckoning and Olympia

The band put out their second reissue this week as a new treatment of “Reckoning” hit the stores on Tuesday. The new disc also includes a concert from the ensuing tour. Strangely, I have not gone out and bought the…

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ITEOTWAWKI: Back in Action

I have procrastinated posting this, but the boys of R.E.M. – well two of them at least – have started the process that will hopefully lead to the follow-up to Accelerate. Peter Buck and Mike Mills got together in Portland…

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Classic Song Cannibalized

Several years ago, I met some friends from across the country in Washington, D.C., to watch the U.S. National team play a World Cup qualifier. So I could fully enjoy the experience, I stayed at a downtown hotel. After the…

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ITEOTWAWKI: Disappointment

So R. E. M. has a little update on their web site. They apparently are not recording or touring in 09. I didn’t think they would tour, but thought from some stuff I read that recording was a possibility, at…

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Part of the Past Dies

Today marks the last day of a place very important in my life, even though I can’t remember the last time I paid it a visit. Record and Tape Traders will close its Catonsville location. If you read here regularly…

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ITEOTWAWKI: Tribute and Fun

I didn’t intend to go a whole week between posts. Really. I have lots of stuff to write about, but just never took the time. I finished a book this week and can opine on many other topics, but this…

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ITEOTWAWKI: Carnegie Tribute

Next week, a very special event will take place in New York as at least 20 artists gather to honor R.E.M. with a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall. This is why the baby Jesus invented things like Bit Torrent and…

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ITEOTWAWKI: Randy Bewley, R.I.P.

Even if the news crossed the wires where you live, you might not have noticed. Randy Bewley died this week after suffering a heart attack while driving in Athens, Ga. Bewley was the co-founder and lead guitarist in the band…

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ITEOTWAWKI: More Bonus Goods?

Peter Buck participated in a great Q&A recently with Mojo about the deluxe edition of Murmur released late last year. I always love these things with Peter because he always shares a few nuggets about the past and talks so…

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Pick Your Poison

This issue pretty much goes back to the Super Bowl in 1991 when Whitney Houston’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” blew everyone away. Patriotism was at a high because of the Gulf War and so many people fell in love…

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