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Article: R.E.M. Unleashes a Monster // The Grand Old Men of Alternative rock Pump Up the Volume for Their Latest Smash
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- October 30, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1994 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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LOS ANGELES Ask the members of R.E.M. about the title of their new
album, and you get two very different answers.
For the band's instrumentalists, the name "Monster" signifies a
return to raucous rock 'n' roll after two albums of quiet,
introspective chamber rock.
"It's a loud and obnoxious record," bassist Mike Mills says of
the new album, which debuted three weeks ago at No. 1 on the
Billboard albums chart.
"The name is in honor of the stupid, big guitar sound," says
guitarist Peter Buck. "As well as the fact that a lot of the
characters aren't so nice."
But singer Michael Stipe is slower to answer.
To him, "Monster" is an album about sex, and the title could be
a metaphor for a ...