"The review that I read said that the CD contained R.E.M. songs covered by other bands like The Cure, God Lives Underwater etc... When I got the CD, I found that to be FALSE! This R.E.M. tribute CD is done by a R.E.M. cover band called "The Shiny Happy People" from California. They're not very good. Not very good at all. It's watered down texture and fuzzy Michael Stipe wannabe singer made me want to throw the CD in the trash immediately. Instead, I'm going to try and return it. the music itself sounds like cheap karaoke at a sports bar. Cover bands are cool....but only when you're half drunk at a bar in Key West or on spring break somewhere. If I wanted to hear "authentic" R.E.M. songs, I'd put in their actual CDs. I would NOT recomend this CD to any one. Especially R.E.M. fans. Don't listen to the other reviews that are on Amazon for this CD. They're false."
VERY VERY VERY BAD ALBUM
Noah Watters | Brooklyn, NY United States | 12/09/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"If you like R.E.M.'s music then you should avoid this recording at all costs. The musicians try to emulate R.E.M.'s sound but fall WAY short of the mark. You'll end up hearing the songs you've grown to love being slaughtered and shamed right in front of your ears. This CD sounds like a kareoke party where everyone drank too much, put on some R.E.M. and all tried to sing exactly like Michael Stipe. This is anything but a tribute."
This album is nothing but a bunch of blah!!!!
Mike | Flint, Michigan | 12/19/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This is anything but a tribute album. When I think of a tribute album, I think of the Depeche Mode, Music For The Masses. It has bands like The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, God lives Under Water, and so on doing Depeche Mode covers. But the songs that the bands cover are in their own music's style. The Cure with their moody pop, Smashing Pumpkis with alternative rock, god lives underwater with industrial. The tribute bands preserved the original songs sound, while adding their own flavor.BUT, this "tribute" album for R.E.M. is complete garbgage!!! The band played the original R.E.M. music, with out any originality and they sound like a highschool garage band, while the singers tries way too hard to sound like Mike Stipes. In other words, this album misses the point of what a tribute album is (see the first paragraph to know what a tribute album is)"
What This Album Is (And Isn't) And Who Performed On It
MotorBruce | Austin, Texas United States | 05/27/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Despite what an earlier reviewer said, I don't believe that this ablum is performed by a wanna-be band from Southern Cal. In addition, you will note that this album is listed as being performed by "Various Artists." According to a European site selling this identical album, with identical cover graphics, these are the songs and the artists who performed them:Losing My Religion: The Woodbines
Shiny Happy People: Smalltown
Man On The Moon: Swamp Fever
Everybody Hurts: Red Line
What's The Frequency Kenneth?: Country Living
Imitation Of Life: Big Train
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine): The Munro Era
Great Beyond: Whitetrash
At My Most Beautiful: Grand Riviera
Crush With Eyeliner: The Iguanas
Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite: Ungrateful Youth
Nightswimming: PlazaI am frustrated that the U.S. release mereley says, "All Songs Performed By The Shiny Happy People." That is it. Not even an indication as to who these "Shiny Happy People" are. Why the omission? I haven't a clue. Despite an extensive internet search, I haven't found another reference to any other bands calling themselves "Shiny Happy People." The fact that Amazon lists this album as being performed by "Various Artists" just reinforces my stnad that this is not a buncy of R.E.M. wannabes.I think that this album is about showing what the artists involved can do with thier talents. It takes them out of their most comfortable genres and stretches them to venture into new, untested waters. True, while many of the songs sound very similar (sometimes a bit too similar) to their R.E.M. originals, each has its own unique twist. Most notably, the lyrics are much clearer on all of these songs.Among my favorite songs on this ablum are "Everybody Hurts", "At My Most Beautiful", "Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight", and "Nightswimming." I would have included "Man On The Moon", but I think that is because I am a huge Andy Kaufman fan more than anything else. Let's take "Everybody Hurts." The selection of tempo and the clarity of the lyrics really set this apart from the R.E.M. original. I risk being branded a blasphemer, but I think I prefer this version to the R.E.M. original. The sheer emotion of both the vocals and the instruments is genuine. No one familiar with the original will confuse this with R.E.M."At My Most Beautiful" likewise carries much clearer lyrics. The voice, however, is quite distinct from that of Michael Stipe. And that is the beauty of it - he isn't trying to be Michael Stipe. A discerning ear will appreciate this. A really beautiful, feeling song with a twist. On "Nightswimming" the obeo is absolutely beautiful. Paired with the strong piano I can fault nothing in this performance. Period. The vocals flow without interruption. This song has feeling. No,it is not R.E.M. So what? The music is great!My review of this album is not limited to praise. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is pretty horrible. I don't know what the vocalist was trying to do, but if his intention was to make me stop my work so I can skip to the next song, well, he certainly succeeded.A true tribute won't be a copy, and this album isn't a copy. It is a celebration of some of R.E.M.'s best songs. A tribute celebrates the original while, at the same time, adds its own flair. I wish that some of the orchestration had been a bit different; the electric and vocal performances are a celebration of R.E.M. I would recommend this album for two different groups of people. First, the R.E.M. novice. I once had a friend tell me she never got into R.E.M. because their body of work was so large and intimidating. This album is a good sampler of songs from various albums. Newbies just might be brought into the R.E.M. fold by this album.The second group I would recommend this album to are the hardcore R.E.M. fans that have a discerning ear. It is sort of like wine tasting versus swilling beer from a keg. In wine tasting you work to distinguish the tannins, the woodiness, the fruitiness. Compare the songs on this album with their original R.E.M. counterparts. In some cases I prefer the versions of songs on this album to the originals by R.E.M. Does this make me a bad person? No. Does it make me disloyal to R.E.M.? No. It simply means that I am able to appreciate fine differences between similar "products." If you just want to swill R.E.M. product, stick to albums by R.E.M. You won't appreciate this one.Take a risk. Live on the edge. If you can appreciate shades of gray, you will appreciate this album."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1