R.E.M. — Live

Live

Warner

Aaron Brophy (CHARTattack)

10/16/2007 10:07am

This double-disc and DVD live set's seemingly random rake through R.E.M.'s back catalogue yields equal measures of surprises and skips. Things start strongly when "I Took Your Name" from the unfairly maligned Monster album segues into an effective "Boy In The Well." Unfortunately, and perhaps influenced by the fact they were recording in Dublin, Ireland, from their the set descends into balladry with "Everybody Hurts," "The Ascent Of Man," "Leaving New York" and "I Wanted To Be Wrong." Once the effects of these slow numbers take hold, not even vital renditions of hits "The One I Love" and "Losing My Religion" can shake the fog on disc one. Disc two is a less-than-fulfilling five-song stop-gap that covers the end of the concert. "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" is still irritating some 13 years after its initial release, though "Drive" has aged wonderfully into a slow clapper. A Mike Mills-Daniel Ryan (The Thrills) take on "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" lacks spice, but at least "Man On The Moon" retains great warmth as the singalong set closer.