Smithology

I’ve been feeling really bored with my record collection lately and part of the problem is that I seem to have accumulated a lot of depressing introspective navel gazing music from the nineties: yeah I’m talking about you Counting Crows, Nirvana and Radiohead. As Ben Folds said “You all don’t know what it’s like being male, middle class and white” (Rocking the Suburbs, 2001)

So I was really happy today to rediscover R.E.M’s Lifes Rich Pageant in which Michael Stipe proves that it’s possible to rock out without the self hatred. In fact Lifes Rich Pageant has an activist feel to it: A hopeful, making a change for the better kind of vibe.

Here’s the track listing with my commentary. The lyrics to the songs don’t make all that much sense as Michael seems to have written from a stream of consciousness but they still tell a story.

Begin the Begin has the killer opening riff for the record which lets you know that you are in for a lot of rocking out. As the feedback dies down, Michael’s lyrics meander on a political theme to do with a need for political reform. He talks about politicians playing follow the leader. He mentions Miles Standish one of the first leaders in America.

Michaels lyrics are full of humour and sometimes self referential:

Answer me a question – I can’t itemise – I can’t think clearly – look to me for answers – it’s not there / I can’t even rhyme! (verse 3)

These Days continues the rocking pace with more opening guitar goodness followed by some weird lyrics about losing a hat. To me this song is about the gift of music, Michael talks about the enthusiasm of singing music and how it can energise us.

Fly to carry each his burden / We are young despite the years we are concern / We are hope despite the times / All of the sudden, these days / Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever you go (R.E.M. These Days via lyricsfreak)

Fall on Me backs off the pace a bit but still punches you in the ribs with the bassline. It is apparently about acid rain but can easily also be about climate change. It talks about the lack of political will to protect the environment.

Theres the progress we have found / A way to talk around the problem / Building towered foresight / Isn’t anything at all. / Buy the sky and sell the sky and bleed the sky and tell the sky / Don’t fall on me (verse 2 via lyricsfreak)

Cuyahoga is a pretty dark track about the Cuyahoga river which famously caught fire due to pollution however to me this song is about the indigenous people displaced by colonisation and the loss of their culture. It has a reconcilliation theme that works with the story of Australia’s Aboriginal people. (lyrics via lyricsfreak)

Lets put our heads together and start a new country up / Our fathers fathers father tried, erased the parts he didnt like (verse 1)

and

This is where we walked, this is where we swam / Take a picture here, take a souvenir (recurring bridge)

and

Rewrite the book and rule the pages, saving face, secured in faith / Bury, burn the waste behind you (variation bridge)

Hyena is just a fun rocking song to pick up the pace again. I think it’s based on African mythology. (lyrics)

Underneath the Bunker is mostly instrumental.

The Flowers of Guatemala seems like a sweet song about flowers with an uplifting guitar solo. Peter Buck’s guitar playing really features on this album. Actually, the flower mentioned is a beautiful but deadly mushroom which is probably a reference to Guatemala’s bloody history. The country had it’s first free election in 1986 when Lifes Rich Pageant was Released. (lyrics)

I Believe seems to be about idealism or a spiritual experience had during a feverish hallucination. He talks about having a mission in life but also how ideals contradict each other and can cause a kind of stalemate.

Trust in your calling, make sure your calling’s true /
Think of others, before the others think of you (lyrics)

What If We Give It Away? Seems to be about doubting what you’re doing and thinking about giving up on trying to change things. (lyrics)

Just a Touch is yet another rocking wild song and I have no idea what it’s about. I can’t even hear the lyrics except for the “Kevin heard it on the radio” line.

Swan Swan Hummingbird WTF? (lyrics)

Superman is an awesome album finisher (complete with a sound byte from a toy Godzilla). Even though I have bonus tracks on the CD I bought, I usually stop listening at this song. I like the way this song plays on Superman’s super powers.

You don’t really love that guy you make it with now do you / I know you don’t love that guy ‘cause I can see right through you (lyrics)

Anyway, I really love this album and I hope that you will give it a listen if you get the chance or if you already have it, tell me your thoughts on it in the comments.

Here’s a great live version of I Believe.

music, rem