New Adventures in Hi-Fi

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New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Studio album by R.E.M.
Released	September 9, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996 at various locations in the United States
Genre	Alternative rock, rock
Length	65:33
Language	English
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Scott Litt and R.E.M.
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Blender link Robert Christgau (A-) link Q Magazine [citation needed] Rolling Stone link Stylus Magazine (positive) link
R.E.M. chronology
Monster (1994) New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) Up (1998)
Singles from New Adventures in Hi-Fi
"E-Bow the Letter" Released: August 27, 1996 (1996-08-27) "Bittersweet Me" Released: November 5, 1996 (1996-11-05) "Electrolite" Released: December 1996 (1996-12) "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" Released: April 1997 (1997-04) "The Wake-Up Bomb (promo only)" Released: 1997 (1997) "New Test Leper (promo only)" Released: 1997 (1997)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Special edition of the album - a cardboard slipcase covers a 64-page hardback book

New Adventures in Hi-Fi is the tenth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was their fifth major label release for Warner Bros. Records, released on September 9, 1996 in Europe and Australia and the following day in the United States. New Adventures in Hi-Fi was the last album recorded with founding member, drummer Bill Berry—who left the band amicably the following year—original manager Jefferson Holt and long-time producer Scott Litt.

Contents 1 Composition and recording 2 Singles and b-sides 3 Critical reception 3.1 Awards 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 Chart performance 7 Certifications 8 Release history 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Composition and recording

The album was recorded during and after the tour in support of Monster in 1995. The material on the album mixed the acoustic, country rock, feel of much of Out of Time and Automatic for the People with the rock sound of Monster and Lifes Rich Pageant. The band have cited Neil Young's 1973 album Time Fades Away as a source of inspiration.^[1]

The band noted that they borrowed the recording process for the album from Radiohead, who recorded some of the basic tracks for The Bends while on tour and who were supporting the band in 1994 and 1995. R.E.M. brought along eight-track recorders to capture their live performances, and used the recordings as the base elements for the album. As such, the band's touring musicians Nathan December and Scott McCaughey are featured throughout the album with Andy Carlson contributing violin to "Electrolite." After the tour was over, the band went into the Bad Animals Studio and recorded four additional tracks, "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us," "E-Bow the Letter," "Be Mine," and "New Test Leper." Patti Smith came to the sessions and contributed vocals on "E-Bow the Letter." Audio mixing was finished at John Keane Studio in Athens and Louie's Clubhouse in Los Angeles with mastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine.

[edit] Singles and b-sides

New Adventures in Hi-Fi consisted of material written during some of the same sessions as Monster and its following promotional tour; consequently, there were few outtakes or left-over tracks for inclusion as b-sides. The first three tracks were international singles, with "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" being released only in Germany.

"E-Bow the Letter"

• "Tricycle" – 1:59 Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, United States on September 22, 1995.
• "Departure" (Rome soundcheck version) – 3:35 Recorded during soundcheck at the Paleur, Rome, Italy on February 22, 1995.
• "Wall of Death" (Richard Thompson) – 3:07 Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, Beat the Retreat.

"Bittersweet Me"

• "Undertow" (Live) – 5:05 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
• "Wichita Lineman" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:18 Recorded at The Woodlands, Houston, United States on September 15, 1995.
• "New Test Leper" (Live acoustic) – 5:29 Recorded at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, United States on April 19, 1996.

"Electrolite"

• "The Wake-Up Bomb" (Live) – 5:07 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
• "Binky the Doormat" (Live) – 5:01 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia on November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
• "King of Comedy" (808 State remix) – 5:36

"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"

• "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) – 3:04 Previously released on the 1996 soundtrack for I Shot Andy Warhol.
• "Sponge" (Vic Chesnutt) – 4:08 Previously released on the Chesnutt benefit album Sweet Relief II in 1996.
• "Be Mine" (Mike on the Bus Version) - 4:54

"Revolution" was also released from these sessions—initially on the Batman & Robin soundtrack and later on disc two of In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

Other singles

"New Test Leper" and "The Wake-Up Bomb" were released as promotional singles for the album; the former had a music video directed by Lance Bangs and Dominic DeJoseph. All five videos from the album would later be collected on In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

The R.E.M. fan club releases a single every Christmastime, with two singles recorded during these sessions: 1996's "Only in America" (originally by Jay & The Americans)/"I Will Survive" (a Gloria Gaynor cover) and 1997's R.E.M. original "Live for Today" was backed with Pearl Jam's "Happy When I'm Crying".

[edit] Critical reception

According to Peter Buck, when Warner Bros. heard the album that was to take them to the top—Out Of Time—they were dumbfounded: "You think the one with the lead mandolin should be the first single?!" On hearing New Adventures, he says, the same people proclaimed, "Hey, there's three Top 10 records on here!"^[2]

Critical reaction to the album was mostly positive. Several publications lauded the album for its rich diversity, including Rolling Stone, Q, and Mojo and Stephen Thomas Erlewine from All Music says "in its multifaceted sprawl,^[3] they wound up with one of their best records of the '90s." At the same time, however some publications including Melody Maker, criticized the album's empty and flat sound caused by recording in arenas and soundchecks.^[4]

[edit] Awards

New Adventures in Hi-Fi has since appeared on several lists compiling the best albums of the 1990s or all time:

• Magnet: Top 60 Albums 1993-2003 (#20)^[5]
• Mojo: The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime 1993-2006 (#20)

It was also features on several year-end best-of lists for 1996:

• Eye Weekly (#11)
• The Face (#28)
• Magnet (#26)
• Mojo (#4)
• New Musical Express (#16)
• Q (unranked)
• Rock Sound (French edition) (#2)
• Rolling Stone (#4)
• Spin (#11)
• Village Voice (#11)

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe:

1. "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" – 4:31
2. "The Wake-Up Bomb" – 5:08
3. "New Test Leper" – 5:26
4. "Undertow" – 5:09
5. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:23
6. "Leave" – 7:18
7. "Departure" – 3:28
8. "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
9. "Be Mine" – 5:32
10. "Binky the Doormat" – 5:01
11. "Zither" – 2:33
12. "So Fast, So Numb" – 4:12
13. "Low Desert" – 3:30
14. "Electrolite" – 4:05

Unlike most R.E.M. albums, this vinyl release did not have custom side names. This was released as a double album on vinyl. Record 1 has tracks 1-6 (3 songs per side) and Record 2 has tracks 7-14 (4 songs per side).

[edit] Personnel

"How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"

Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States

• Bill Berry – Drums, percussion, "ennio whistle"^[6]
• Peter Buck – Guitar, bass guitar, bouzouki, mandolin
• Mike Mills - Backing vocals, piano, synthesizer
• Michael Stipe – Vocals, synthesizer

"The Wake-Up Bomb"

Recorded live at the North Charleston Coliseum, in Charleston, United States on November 16, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Guitar
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, backing vocals, organ
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"New Test Leper"

Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, backing vocals, organ
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Undertow"

Recorded live at the Fleet Center in Boston, United States on October 3, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Guitar
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"E-Bow the Letter"

Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – E-Bow guitar, electric sitar
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, backing vocals, organ, Moog synthesizer, Mellotron
• Patti Smith – Vocals
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Leave"

Recorded at a soundcheck at the Omni Theater in Atlanta, United States on November 18, 19, or 21, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion, acoustic guitar, synthesizer
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Guitar
• Scott McCaughey – ARP Odyssey
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, keyboards
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Departure"

Recorded live at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, United States on June 6 or 7, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Guitar
• Mike Mills – Fuzz bass, backing vocals, Farfisa organ
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Bittersweet Me"

Recorded at a soundcheck at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, United States on November 7, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Scott McCaughey – Piano
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, organ, Mellotron
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Be Mine"

Recorded at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, United States

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Bass guitar
• Mike Mills – Guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Binky the Doormat"

Recorded live at the Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix, United States on November 4, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion, backing vocals
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Guitar
• Scott McCaughey – Farfisa organ
• Mike Mills – Fuzz bass, backing vocals, keyboards
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Zither"

Recorded in the dressing room of The Spectrum in Philadelphia, United States on October 12, 13, or 14, 1995

• Bill Berry – Bass guitar
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Tambourine
• Scott McCaughey – Autoharp
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, organ
• Michael Stipe – Count in

"So Fast, So Numb"

Recorded at a soundcheck at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, United States on November 15, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Scott McCaughey – Piano
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, backing vocals, organ
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Low Desert"

Recorded at a soundcheck at the Omni Theater in Atlanta, United States on November 18, 19, or 21, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drums and percussion
• Peter Buck – Guitar
• Nathan December – Slide guitar
• Scott McCaughey – Piano
• Mike Mills – Bass guitar, organ
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

"Electrolite"

Recorded at a soundcheck the Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix, United States on November 4, 1995

• Bill Berry – Drum kit, percussion
• Peter Buck – Banjo
• Andy Carlson – Violin
• Nathan December – Guiro
• Mike Mills – Piano
• Michael Stipe – Vocals

Technical crew

• William Field – assistant engineer, Athens
• Sam Hofstedt – assistant engineer, Seattle
• Victor Janacua – assistant engineer, Los Angeles
• Adam Kasper – recording engineer, Seattle
• John Keane – recording and mixing engineer
• Scott Litt – mixing engineer
• Bob Ludwig/Gateway Mastering – mastering
• Pat McCarthy – recording engineer, Los Angeles
• Mark "Microwave" Mytrowitz – technical assistance
• Joe O'Herlihy – tour recording engineer
• Jo Ravitch – tour recording engineer
• Eric Stolz – digital editing
• Jeff Wooding – tour recording engineer

[edit] Chart performance

Although it reached #2 in the U.S.^[7], spending 22 weeks on the charts,^[8] and topped the UK Album Charts ^[9] (20 weeks on chart) as well as #1 on the Australian Charts, New Adventures in Hi-Fi began the band's sales decline in the United States. The first single "E-Bow the Letter" received only modest radio airplay in the U.S. and peaked at #49 on the U.S. charts.^[10] In the UK, however, the single became the band's biggest hit at that point, reaching #4.^[9] As of March 2007, New Adventures in Hi-Fi has sold 994,000 units in the U.S.^[11]

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1996	Billboard 200	2[7]
1996	UK Albums Chart	1[9]
1996	ARIA Albums Chart	1[citation needed]

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1996	"E-Bow the Letter"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	2[citation needed]
1996	"E-Bow the Letter"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	15[citation needed]
1996	"E-Bow the Letter"	Billboard Hot 100	49[citation needed]
1996	"E-Bow the Letter"	ARIA Singles Chart	23[citation needed]
1996	"E-Bow the Letter"	UK Singles Chart	4[citation needed]
1996	"Bittersweet Me"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	6[citation needed]
1996	"Bittersweet Me"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	7[citation needed]
1996	"Bittersweet Me"	Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	28[citation needed]
1996	"Bittersweet Me"	Billboard Hot 100	46[citation needed]
1996	"Bittersweet Me"	UK Singles Chart	19[citation needed]
1996	"Electrolite"	UK Singles Chart	29[citation needed]
1997	"Electrolite"	Billboard Hot 100	96[citation needed]
1997	"The Wake-Up Bomb"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	30[citation needed]

[edit] Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – U.S.	Gold	November 18, 1996[citation needed]
RIAA – U.S.	Platinum	November 18, 1996[citation needed]
BPI – U.K.	Platinum	September 1, 1996[citation needed]

[edit] Release history

Like all R.E.M. albums since 1988's Green, New Adventures in Hi-Fi was released in a special edition packaging containing a 64-page hardcover book designed by Chris Bilheimer, featuring photos from the Monster tour. In 2005, Warner Brothers Records issued an expanded two-disc edition of the album which includes a CD, a DVD-Audio disc containing several new audio mixes of the album (5.1-channel surround sound, high resolution, AC3, Dolby Stereo, and DTS 5.1) done by Elliot Scheiner, and the original CD booklet with expanded liner notes. In addition, the DVD includes a video documentary, lyrics, and a photo gallery.

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Worldwide	September 9, 1996 (1996-09-09)	Warner Bros.	Compact Disc, cassette tape, double LP	46320
United States	September 10, 1996 (1996-09-10)	Warner Bros.	Compact Disc	46321
Worldwide	March 1, 2005 (2005-03-01)	Warner Bros.	Compact Disc and DVD-Audio	73950

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• New Adventures in Hi-Fi from REMHQ.com
• New Adventures in Hi-Fi press release
• New Adventures in Hi-Fi at MusicBrainz

• Disc one from the LP release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi at MusicBrainz
• Disc two from the LP release of New Adventures in Hi-Fi at MusicBrainz

Preceded by Coming Up by Suede	UK number one album September 21–27, 1996	Succeeded by K by Kula Shaker
Preceded by No Code by Pearl Jam	Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album September 22–28, 1996	Succeeded by The Very Best of Toni Childs by Toni Childs

v • d • e R.E.M. Peter Buck · Mike Mills · Michael Stipe Bill Berry Accompaniment Nathan December · Buren Fowler · Peter Holsapple · Barrett Martin · Scott McCaughey · Bill Rieflin · Ken Stringfellow · Joey Waronker Managers Bertis Downs, IV · Jefferson Holt Studio albums Murmur · Reckoning · Fables of the Reconstruction · Lifes Rich Pageant · Document · Green · Out of Time · Automatic for the People · Monster · New Adventures in Hi-Fi · Up · Reveal · Around the Sun · Accelerate Compilations Dead Letter Office · Eponymous · The Best of R.E.M. · The Automatic Box · Singles Collected · In the Attic · In Time · iTunes Originals · And I Feel Fine EPs Chronic Town · Not Bad for No Tour · Vancouver Rehearsal Tapes · Live from London · Reckoning Songs from The Olympia Other albums Man on the Moon · r.e.m.IX · R.E.M. Live · Live at The Olympia Singles "Radio Free Europe" · "Talk About the Passion" · "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" · "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" · "Cant Get There from Here" · "Driver 8" · "Wendell Gee" · "Fall on Me" · "Superman" · "The One I Love" · "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" · "Finest Worksong" · "Orange Crush" · "Stand" · "Pop Song 89" · "Get Up" · "Losing My Religion" · "Shiny Happy People" · "Near Wild Heaven" · "Radio Song" · "Drive" · "Man on the Moon" · "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" · "Everybody Hurts" · "Nightswimming" · "Find the River" · "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" · "Bang and Blame" · "Strange Currencies" · "Crush with Eyeliner" · "Tongue" · "E-Bow the Letter" · "Bittersweet Me" · "Electrolite" · "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" · "Daysleeper" · "Lotus" · "At My Most Beautiful" · "Suspicion" · "The Great Beyond" · "Imitation of Life" · "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" · "I'll Take the Rain" · "Bad Day" · "Animal" · "Leaving New York" · "Aftermath" · "Electron Blue" · "Wanderlust" · "Supernatural Superserious" · "Hollow Man" · "Man-Sized Wreath" • Videos Succumbs · Tourfilm · Pop Screen · This Film Is On · Parallel · Road Movie · In View · Perfect Square · When the Light Is Mine · R.E.M. Live · Live at The Olympia Related articles Discography · Tours · Athens, Georgia · Automatic Baby · College radio · The Baseball Project · Hindu Love Gods · Athens Andover · "I Belong to You" · I.R.S. Records · Warner Bros. Records · Hib-Tone · Surprise Your Pig: A Tribute to R.E.M. · Drive XV: a tribute to "Automatic for the People" · "Homer the Moe"