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R.E.M. — E-Bow the Letter
Album: New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1478









Released: 1995
Length: 5:20
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Look up, what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Florescent and starry
Some of them, they surprise
The bus ride, I went to write this, 4:00 a.m.
This letter

Fields of poppies, little pearls
All the boys and all the girls, sweet-toothed
Each and every one a little scary
I said your name

I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
Hash bars, cherry mash and tinfoil tiaras
Dreaming of Maria Callas
Whoever she is

This fame thing, I don't get it
I wrap my hand in plastic to try to look through it
Maybelline eyes and girl-as-boy moves
It can take you far
This star thing, I don't get it

''(I'll take you over, there)
(I'll take you over, there)''
Aluminum, tastes like fear
Adrenaline, it pulls us near
''(I'll take you over)''
It tastes like fear, there
''(I'll take you over)''

Will you live to 83?
Will you ever welcome me?
Will you show me something that nobody else has seen?
Smoke it, drink
Here comes the flood
Anything to thin the blood
These corrosives do their magic slowly and sweet

Phone, eat it, drink
Just another chink
Cuts and dents, they catch the light
Aluminum, the weakest link

I don't want to disappoint you
I'm not here to anoint you
I would lick your feet
But is that the sickest move?
I wear my own crown and sadness and sorrow
And who'd have thought tomorrow could be so strange?
My loss and here we go again

''(I'll take you over, there)
(I'll take you over, there)''
Aluminum, tastes like fear
Adrenaline, it pulls us near
''(I'll take you over)''
It tastes like fear, there
''(I'll take you over)''

Look up, what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Florescent and starry
Some of them, they surprise

I can't look it in the eyes
Seconal, Spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene
Cherry-flavored neck and collar
I can smell the sorrow on your breath
The sweat, the victory and sorrow
The smell of fear, I got it

''(I'll take you over, there)''
Aluminum, tastes like fear
Adrenaline, it pulls us near
''(I'll take you over)''
Aluminum, tastes like fear
Adrenaline, it pulls us near
''(I'll take you over)''
It tastes like fear
Pulls us near
''(I'll take you over)''
It tastes like fear
Pulls us near

nearer, nearer
over, over, over, over
yeah, look over
I'll take you there, oh, yeah
I'll take you there
oh, over
I'll take you there
over, let me
I'll take you there...
there, there, baby, yeah
Comments (113)add comment
Is this Patti Smith?
Posted 1 year ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
 poetdancer wrote:

And I believe that's the great Patti Smith singing background vocals. 



That's right
Posted 1 year ago by grandemarch    [ Reply ]
An EBow is a pretty nifty accessory for an electric guitar. I believe one is quite clearly being used on this song. From the manufacturer: 

The EBow is a hand-held electronic bow for guitar. This small battery-powered unit replaces the pick in the right hand letting the guitarist mimic strings, horns, and woodwinds with unbelievable sensitivity. The EBow produces a powerful infinite sustain, rich in harmonics for incredible guitar sounds
Posted 1 year ago by alexandersmcmillan    [ Reply ]
With you fk14 completely. Feel EXACTLY the same way. Love this LP. Best REM
Posted 2 years ago by Montreal_Mort    [ Reply ]
REM's best album.  It probably should have been their last, since the subsequent albums were their worst.
Posted 3 years ago by fk14    [ Reply ]
I bought this cd on impulse at Fry's Electronics because I liked the cover and I liked REM in the 80's. It became my favorite album for a while and then I forgot about them again. It sounds even better now!
Posted 3 years ago by paulmcnett    [ Reply ]
I love the "pretty good" rating. It totally applies here.
Posted 3 years ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
Not everyone will agree, but Monster to New Adventures was my preferred phase of R.E.M. Third comes Document, and fourth Murmur with Radio Free Europe out of nostalgia.
Posted 3 years ago by palatin8    [ Reply ]
 poetdancer wrote:

And I believe that's the great Patti Smith singing background vocals. 




Yes! Was driving me nuts. I knew it but couldn't place it.
Posted 3 years ago by sunybuny    [ Reply ]
I am a big fan of REM and this is my favorite album :)
Posted 4 years ago by capooti    [ Reply ]
great track [glad the lyrics are posted!]. Patti’s voice is the perfect compliment
Posted 4 years ago by pixiep    [ Reply ]
And I believe that's the great Patti Smith singing background vocals. 
Posted 5 years ago by poetdancer    [ Reply ]
My favorite R.E.M. song
Posted 6 years ago by dboseman    [ Reply ]
 Imkirok wrote:
All I am hearing is "tastes like beer, tastes like beer". 

Wishful thinking!

Posted 6 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
 ODAD wrote:
Everyone in my alien churches is elevated to E-bow LA-gged dancin.
 

 
Glad Peter Buck got over that E-bow infatuation.  It was like when Dave Grohl had that Heil talk box phase.

Eventually they get sick of it.
Posted 6 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
 juanos wrote:
Great R.E.M. song... but "Maria Callas whoever she is"?{#Question}

 
 HomeTuner wrote:

Maria Callas was one of the most influential opera singers of the last century. Died way too young—in her early 50s. Look her up. She had an amazing range.

 
Juanos was quoting lyrics from this song ("Dreaming of Maria Callas/Whoever she is..."); I'm pretty sure he knows who Maria Callas was and it's probably why he brought up those lyrics.  Maybe not.
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Everyone in my alien churches is elevated to E-bow LA-gged dancin.
 
Posted 7 years ago by ODAD    [ Reply ]
Patti adds style to this already nice song
Posted 7 years ago by vanillagorilla    [ Reply ]
 ccjemmett wrote:
Patti Smith showing up there was awesome!
That bumped the song from 7 to 8. 
 
Is that what that is? She really closes it well, and I love how it builds up to that closing.
Posted 8 years ago by onelittlemoose    [ Reply ]
“Aluminum, tastes like fear”

Stipe is on a strange diet… 
Posted 8 years ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]
 kebensusan wrote:
One of the least raved about REM album I think. I encourage anyone to listen to it several times and then a little more. It really grows to the point of brilliance. Thank you Radio Paradise for all the hours of great music. Come to think of it it's time for me to make another payment.

 
Bump, and ditto on all of it!!
Posted 8 years ago by subgyro    [ Reply ]
 Dave_Mack wrote:
I think I hear the inspiration for Joseph Arthur's career. Not fond of this one.

 


Posted 8 years ago by rev_cletus    [ Reply ]
When Berry left, or when they moved from IRS, they should've stopped.
Posted 8 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
All I am hearing is "tastes like beer, tastes like beer".
Posted 8 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
Moving up. 3 > 5.  Progress of sorts. 
Posted 8 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Zzzzzzzz. R.E.M through "Automatic" is (mostly) excellent. This, not so much.
Posted 8 years ago by nutrod42    [ Reply ]
bet this would have sounded excellent if it was Leonard Cohen doing Stipe's part, same terrific instruments with down and deep sound of Cohen's voice with Patti, that would appeal to me
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
So Bowie....or is it E-Bow...lol
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
Lazarus wrote:
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song...  we be dancing cross-eyed buck ass naked and jiggling organs like Willy Shakes... 

 

Enough already. Alien space craft?  I be dancing on earth.
Posted 9 years ago by Robinperusse    [ Reply ]
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song...  we be dancing cross-eyed buck ass naked and jiggling organs like Willy Shakes... 
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 juanos wrote:
Great R.E.M. song... but "Maria Callas whoever she is"?{#Question}

 
Maria Callas was one of the most influential opera singers of the last century. Died way too young--in her early 50s. Look her up. She had an amazing range.
Posted 10 years ago by HomeTuner    [ Reply ]
Great R.E.M. song... but "Maria Callas whoever she is"?{#Question}
Posted 10 years ago by juanos    [ Reply ]
 ccjemmett wrote:
Patti Smith showing up there was awesome!
That bumped the song from 7 to 8. 
 
Did you see her at Massey Hall a couple of weeks back?  WOW!!!!!! She was amazing live and in that venue.....
Posted 11 years ago by juul    [ Reply ]
Patti Smith showing up there was awesome!
That bumped the song from 7 to 8. 
Posted 11 years ago by ccjemmett    [ Reply ]
One of the least raved about REM album I think. I encourage anyone to listen to it several times and then a little more. It really grows to the point of brilliance. Thank you Radio Paradise for all the hours of great music. Come to think of it it's time for me to make another payment.
Posted 11 years ago by kebensusan    [ Reply ]
I think I hear the inspiration for Joseph Arthur's career. Not fond of this one.
Posted 11 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
what a MOST EXCELLENT song.
Posted 11 years ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
what a DREADFUL song.
Posted 11 years ago by trissi    [ Reply ]
"Love Patti in there" <- +1
Posted 11 years ago by wbeaver    [ Reply ]
Saw Patti Smith in Toronto last week.  Amazingly powerful voice live.  More than I was expecting.
Posted 11 years ago by The_Enemy    [ Reply ]
BLUE AEROPLANES somebody...?
Posted 11 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
goood
Posted 12 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
I was never a big R.E.M. fan, but I'm sure enjoying this piece!
Posted 12 years ago by ri_shelton    [ Reply ]
New Adventures was a real creeper of an album.  Didn't feel too strongly about it until well after its release but it really is yet another very cool REM album.
Posted 12 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
 Foot wrote:
Sounds remarkably like a New Zealand band from the 1980's, The Chills, and their great album Submarine Bells.  Almost a complete rip I'd say.
 
That's great except the Chills first album, "Kaleidoscope World" isn't released until 1986, 3 years after "Murmur."

Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
 bokey wrote:
Can't we have an REM free day?{#Rolleyes}
 
no
 
Posted 12 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Can't we have an REM free day?{#Rolleyes}
Posted 13 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
If they kept creating stuff like this they would not have needed to break up...

Hopefully they will get their melody spark back and regroup... 
Posted 13 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
Liking the R.E.M. Good choice.
Posted 13 years ago by RawFishtails    [ Reply ]
R.I.P. R.E.M., you shall be missed.


Posted 13 years ago by bigB_3    [ Reply ]
 Razz wrote:

They still are. Many of their songs are playable to this day. A true sign of quality imo.

 
Yea the 20+ year old ones, thanks for making my point.

Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Sounds remarkably like a New Zealand band from the 1980's, The Chills, and their great album Submarine Bells.  Almost a complete rip I'd say.
Posted 13 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
Right on the top for me!
Posted 13 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Great song, love Patti in there. 8.

Posted 14 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
Man what happened to these guys? They were a beacon of light back in the darkness of the eighties.

Posted 14 years ago by aurora1957    [ Reply ]

Patti Smith and Michael Stipe by Sounds and Fury
https://www.flickr.com/photos/soundsandfury/

Copyright All rights reserved


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
One of the best, by far !

Posted 14 years ago by walter_sintenie    [ Reply ]
 californiatwin wrote:
WOW, REM after Radiohead - a real barf party

 

hahhahahahah, that's hilarious!
Posted 14 years ago by nicolewe    [ Reply ]

please take no pictures by ~michalisk

...anything but that actually is the case for Micheal Stipe, who was not in a Bad Day on MTV.GR Day :D



Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
It will sound like jumping the bandwagon but, really, R.E.M. hasn't since released a single as good as this! *snif* (...but then again they set the bar extremely high here!!!)

Ironically (actually, it makes logical sense, quality doesn't equal sales), it didn't do as well as expected and Warners has since had the choice for R.E.M.'s singles material (while the band had picked them until this one).

Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
Impeccable.
Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
REM was great about 20 years ago!{#Rolleyes}
 
They still are. Many of their songs are playable to this day. A true sign of quality imo.

Posted 14 years ago by Razz    [ Reply ]
 joanie wrote:
Patti Smith and Michael Stipe....can it get any better?
 

Much, much better.
Posted 14 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Patti Smith and Michael Stipe....can it get any better?
Posted 15 years ago by joanie    [ Reply ]
So Bill - how about a little Maria Callas?
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Always good to hear Patty Smith, could listen to her all day!
Posted 15 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
I like REM a lot, but this really sucks.
Posted 15 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
...one of their better post-green songs, i think...
Posted 15 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
a very very weak REM effort.............
Posted 15 years ago by VicEdee    [ Reply ]


One album cover.
Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
REM was great about 20 years ago!{#Rolleyes}
Posted 15 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 scott4261 wrote:
Sounds even better now than it did in the '90s...Love the Patti Smith vocals!
 
Yes, I love this version. The album itself is underrated IMHO. This is the last one before Bill Berry left, then things went downhill until Accelerate.
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
 dionysius wrote:
R.E.M. + Patti Smith = not much, sadly. Sum does not equal its parts, alas. Both have done much better. Must have looked good on paper.
 
I agree. Well said.
Posted 15 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
R.E.M. + Patti Smith = not much, sadly. Sum does not equal its parts, alas. Both have done much better. Must have looked good on paper.

Posted 15 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
 redeyespy wrote:
One of the most neglected albums of the 90s, sadly. Worthy of re-evaluation, naysayers. Unless, of course, you can't get over your "R.E.M. starting sucking after they switched from the I.R.S. label" malady.
 
As I told Keith lately, they never got better than they were on that demo tape they send to a couple of friends and some really cool guys they wanted to impress. I thought that was really promising, but they did not hold up.

Posted 15 years ago by TanteJensen    [ Reply ]
 gandalfbmg wrote:
I love REM, but this is one of my least favorites. There are MUCH better selections from this album. (Still can't bring myself to give it lower than a 5 though)
 

My thoughts exactly.
Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:

If this is the worst song on this album, it must be an alltime great!

 

It's a pretty strong album. Not as good as Automatic or Out of Time, but good nevertheless.

Posted 15 years ago by lathyris    [ Reply ]
 gandalfbmg wrote:
I love REM, but this is one of my least favorites. There are MUCH better selections from this album. (Still can't bring myself to give it lower than a 5 though)
 
If this is the worst song on this album, it must be an alltime great!

Posted 15 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Patti rocks!

Posted 16 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
mig7 wrote:
Underrated album. Great song.
One of the most neglected albums of the 90s, sadly. Worthy of re-evaluation, naysayers. Unless, of course, you can't get over your "R.E.M. starting sucking after they switched from the I.R.S. label" malady.
Posted 16 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
WOW, REM after Radiohead - a real barf party
Posted 16 years ago by californiatwin    [ Reply ]
Wow, you can really hear the Patti Smith influence on Stipe in the lyrics, the melody, the song structure, the phrasing.…
Posted 16 years ago by cherylg4    [ Reply ]
oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh!!!! my dear patti
Posted 16 years ago by xviti    [ Reply ]
The best REM. 9
Posted 17 years ago by Alpine    [ Reply ]
Wow.
Posted 17 years ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
ghostly song...
Posted 17 years ago by sugarbaby    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
A brilliant song off of a brilliant album.
Ditto
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
I look at the dates and agree that this tune is played as often as it should be.
Posted 17 years ago by redtex    [ Reply ]
Patti :)
Posted 17 years ago by xxxersz    [ Reply ]
I love this song; Patti Smith rules
Posted 17 years ago by out_to_lunch    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite REM tunes
Posted 17 years ago by stet    [ Reply ]
A brilliant song off of a brilliant album.
Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
Sounds even better now than it did in the '90s...Love the Patti Smith vocals!
Posted 17 years ago by scott4261    [ Reply ]
play this, pls....
Posted 18 years ago by easton1    [ Reply ]
ANYTHING with Patti Smith is tops
Posted 20 years ago by Norge1    [ Reply ]
gotta agree with the lovable kite-man.


perhaps my favourite post-IRS number

Sorry lily ;)
Posted 20 years ago by pilgrim    [ Reply ]
god that was painful!! yech!!
Posted 20 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Oh wow! This song is great! And even greater, it was played right after Don't Follow, another very fine, very calm grunge song. Did you hear Patty Smith's voice? Yea, can't not hear her. Wow. Thanks, rp.
Posted 20 years ago by Konrad    [ Reply ]
mig7 wrote:
Underrated album. Great song.
I'm too old for these things now, but once in my dark past I would take just about "anything to thin the blood". Anyway, I remember this one substance that left a metallic taste in my mouth, made me slighty paranoid and intensified colors greatly.
Posted 20 years ago by 999_99_999    [ Reply ]
This is absolutely one of my favourite REM tracks in recent years :-)
Posted 20 years ago by MrKite    [ Reply ]
Underrated album. Great song.
Posted 20 years ago by mig7    [ Reply ]
I love REM, but this is one of my least favorites. There are MUCH better selections from this album. (Still can't bring myself to give it lower than a 5 though)
Posted 20 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]