1998… oh, what a year in music. While bubblegum pop ramps up for the teeny-boppers, alt rock is at an all-time high on the airwaves, dominating the Top 40 for the most part. Among the heavy-hitters of the genre, really titans of the entire rock industry, was R.E.M. — a band that need no introduction. They were already on their 11th studio album, one that turned out to be their bestselling, with a whopping 13 GRAMMYs under the belts since their inception in 1980.
Modern rock wouldn’t exist without the influence of R.E.M.
Period.
Sure, everyone remembers the band’s “Shiny Happy People” phase of the early 90s, but what about other milestones for the band? One that hardly gets the recognition it deserves is in the 14-track album Up — now in its 25th year. To commemorate its success, Craft Recordings is reissuing the timeless LP as a deluxe edition, complete with previously unreleased audio of the band’s 1999 guest appearance on Party of Five in its entirety (plus a spoken word introduction) on November 10th, 2023.
Available in compact disc or vinyl format, the re-release will further include a 32-page hardcover book with new interviews from the band members and liner notes from renowned journalist Josh Modell. A bonus if you opt for the two-disc CD set is a Blueray disc showcasing album music videos, the album’s original EPK, as well as a six-song performance from 1998 entitled ‘Uptake’, recorded in a London studio. More of a vinyl junkie? The two-disc LP will be pressed on a limited edition 180-gram green marble vinyl, exclusively available for purchase at the R.E.M. official store.
But let’s talk about the vinyl…
If you were spinning this album in 1998, chances are you purchased a CD, with records being nearly obsolete by then and streaming in its wee infancy (if at all). That means, beyond the radio, you were able to experience Up in cutting-edge clarity (at least, for the time). Well, with the advancement of technology over the past 25 years, the album is in even better quality than its debut, newly remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering. But what’s interesting here is that this may be the first time you hear this album on vinyl — a wholly different listening experience. Take the first song, for instance: the lo-fi, grungy intro of “Airportman”, mixed with John Michael Stipe’s murmurs, is sonic via streaming yet BOOMING on a record player. Distorted, humming, hypnotic… the song takes on a heightened persona like never before. The “Airportman” is standing by, ready for takeoff. Plus, who can forget the energy of “Lotus”? Fun to listen to before, every lyric, guitar strum, and key chord is accentuated when played in vinyl format. We highly recommend it.
Another anniversary goodie is the remaster of “Daysleeper” off the album, currently available for streaming ahead of the album drop Friday. Considering R.E.M. paved the way for the likes of grunge rock, progressive rock, and the very definition of ‘modern alternative’, make sure to grab your copy of Up — in whatever format that suits you — this November 10th. For more information or to order your copy now, visit here.
‘Up’ 25TH ANNIVERSARY TRACKLISTS:
Deluxe Edition (2-CD/1-Blu-Ray):
Disc 1 – Up (remastered audio)
1. Airportman
2. Lotus
3. Suspicion
4. Hope
5. At My Most Beautiful
6. The Apologist
7. Sad Professor
8. You’re In The Air
9. Walk Unafraid
10. Why Not Smile
11. Daysleeper
12. Diminished
13. Parakeet
14. Falls To Climb
Disc 2 – Party of Five Recording
1. Introduction
2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
3. Lotus
4. Daysleeper
5. Country Feedback
6. Walk Unafraid
7. Losing My Religion
8. Parakeet
9. The Apologist
10. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
11. I’m Not Over You
12. Man On The Moon
Disc 3 – Blu-ray
1. Up – 5.1 Surround Sound
2. Up – Hi-Resolution Audio
3. This Way Up (press kit)
4. Uptake (six-song performance)
5. Daysleeper (music video)
6. Lotus (music video)
7. At My Most Beautiful (music video)
Expanded Edition (2-CD/Digital):
Disc 1 – Up (remastered audio)
1. Airportman
2. Lotus
3. Suspicion
4. Hope
5. At My Most Beautiful
6. The Apologist
7. Sad Professor
8. You’re In The Air
9. Walk Unafraid
10. Why Not Smile
11. Daysleeper
12. Diminished
13. Parakeet
14. Falls To Climb
Disc 2 – Party of Five Recording
1. Introduction
2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
3. Lotus
4. Daysleeper
5. Country Feedback
6. Walk Unafraid
7. Losing My Religion
8. Parakeet
9. The Apologist
10. It’s The End Of The World (And I Feel Fine)
11. I’m Not Over You
12. Man On The Moon
Up (2-LP Remastered Vinyl):
Side A
1. Airportman
2. Lotus
3. Suspicion
Side B
1. Hope
2. At My Most Beautiful
3. The Apologist
4. Sad Professor
Side C
1. You’re In The Air
2. Walk Unafraid
3. Why Not Smile
4. Daysleeper
Side D
1. Diminished
2. Parakeet
3. Falls To Climb
Cover photo by Patrik Andersson
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