104. R.E.M.’s New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) - Is it too long?

Regarded by many R.E.M. fans as their greatest album, ‘New Adventures in Hi-Fi’ (1996) is a unique entry in the band’s canon. Recorded predominately at sound-checks on their mammoth ‘Monster’ tour, the album was a worldwide number one (although not in the US) & was the band’s first release after signing a then record-breaking album deal with Warner Bros. However, it was the band’s last release to feature original drummer Bill Berry & marked the start of a perceived artistic and commercial decline. Oh, it’s also the band’s longest studio album (65 minutes). Should it have been this long? Would some careful pruning have helped make it more palatable for a wider audience? What tracks would have been selected if the band had to have released it to fit on a single vinyl record (under 50 minutes)? That’s the task podcast hosts Stephen, Paul & their guest Davie Melon have set themselves. After critiquing the record & creating their own cut, will they agree that the original release was too long? Listen now to find out. Also, look out for R.E.M. facts, archive interview clips, jokes and much more! Come back soon for another R.E.M. pod looking at underrated tracks from each of their studio albums. Next week’s release is dedicated to Bruce Springsteen’s classic 1975 album ‘Born To Run’. Like the podcast? Why not show your appreciation by buying Paul & Stephen a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/trimmingthh / Listen to our GYBR Supercut - https://spotify.link/ObU3qPdSXyb / Podcast website - trimmingthemusicalfat.com / Email us - [email protected] / Tweet us - https://www.twitter.com/MusicalTrimming?s=20 / Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/274805337346926 / Check out our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_P5WlRZ0i3tR3jEavD_5A / TikTok - @trimmingthemusica