No, that would be Shiny Happy People. All kidding aside, I have a friend that's said something very similar. He only listens to Everybody Hurts when he's depressed, then it only makes him more depressed. Not that it's a blues song but a funny thing about the blues is that for a style of music so drenched in sadness, it really helps to lift your spirits.

More news on the recording of R.E.M.'s next record from the German edition of Rolling Stone. I'm awaiting a translation of the article but apparently they don't go into what it actually sounds like. They're staying true to their word (at least so far) in regards to staying mum on this one.

I guess it can be taken as being a little heavy handed but the song definitely gets the point across. If it's stopped even one person from committing suicide then it's worth it. That said, it's far from my favorite R.E.M. song but it has certainly had a strong impact.

Tired Pony's debut album has been out in the UK for a while but it was just released in the US this week. Click on the image below to link to their performance on Letterman last night:

As cheesy as Everybody Hurts may seem to some, it really is a very uplifting song if you're feeling depressed. It's not a song of theirs I listen to often but on those occasions when I am sad, it has a way of lifting my spirits.

Yes. Since I actually grew up in that time period I found a lot to relate to in that movie but there were some things I couldn't relate to at all such as the bullying and violence. I guess some folks had that going on in their high schools to some degree (Seniors vs. Juniors and vice-versa) but it was nothing like that at mine.

Cool to see Nantucket mentioned here. They still play the occasional gig in North Carolina.

I thought of posting it but figured it was too obvious of a choice. The song itself aside, I think the video is among the most compelling ever made. ...and, speaking of Everybody Hurts and Tears In Heaven, has anyone else seen this article? R.E.M.'s 'Everybody Hurts' has topped a poll of the songs most likely to make a grown man cry, whereas the Simon Cowell-organised celebrity cover version of the same song leads a poll of the tracks most likely to make a grown man bang his head against a brick wall until it bleeds. It's PRS For Music which has compiled this list having surveyed 1700 wussy men, because obviously no song would make a real man cry. Well, except maybe 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in the right context. Anyway, coming up the ten biggest tear jerkers, but first a quote from PRS chief Ellis Rich. Ellis: "From this chart, it is clear that a well-written tear-jerker is one that people can relate to and empathise with. It is this lyrical connection that can reach deep down emotionally and move even the strongest of men". 1. R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts 2. Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven 3. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah 4. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U 5. U2 - With Or Without You 6. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work 7. Elton John - Candle In The Wind 8. Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Philadelphia 9. Todd Duncan - Unchained Melody 10. Robbie Williams - Angels

Yes, I have but I haven't heard any of his music until now. Have you heard Lucinda Williams' song about him, Drunken Angel?

I'm not discounting your opinion, I just don't buy into this nonsense that Plant bringing up Zeppelin is going to help him move records. As I mentioned, it's not even Plant bringing up Zeppelin, it's the interviewers so that shoots a huge hole in that theory right there. Not to even mention the fact that the guy's had a fairly successful solo career since Zeppelin called it quits in 1980. Zeppelin will forever be a part of his past so the prospect of Zeppelin reuniting (or Zeppelin in general) is always going to come up in interviews.

If you're referring to the upcoming installment of In the Studio, those are not current interviews with Page & Plant (as recently pointed out by Sam [the webmaster of this site] in another thread).

Not sure that this'll bring up a tear but it's certainly touching.

You're in for a real treat, especially since I believe he's still doing his Theatre of Death tour or is this with Rob Zombie? Tonight:

I don't buy into this business that Plant brings up Led Zeppelin in interviews just to sell records. In fact, the interviewer brought it up, not Plant. I would guess, 9 times out of 10 (if not 10 out of 10), that is usually the case.

Well, it was at a flea market so that's why I got such a good deal. The vinyl itself was pretty beat up but doesn't skip so that was worth it to me. One of my older brothers had this on cassette back in the early 70s. He belonged to the Columbia House Record and Tape club so they were always sending him all kinds of new music. When our family took a trip to Europe in 1972, this is one of the albums he took with him. One of the others was Led Zeppelin IV which came on an orange cassette. I've also seen yellow and plain copies of that record so I'm not sure if was a Columbia House thing or not.

I agree but I do believe there needs to be a cut-off somewhere. The early R & B performers I understand (as well as country artists such as Cash) but Donna Summer, Madonna, Chic, LL Cool J, etc., I don't understand. I think it's Jann Wenner's way of being controversial. They tried to be controversial with the induction of the Sex Pistols and their refusal to attend but that came off as staged to me (because it most likely was). The beauty of rock n' roll is that it blurs the lines between other types of music so it's certainly not an easy task to decide where that line needs to be drawn.

What good would a new Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame do? If that were to actually happen you'd run into the same thing, you're never going to make everyone happy. Where it comes from is the blues, R & B, country, jazz, bluegrass, etc. so there would be no way to have a Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame without recognizing all of the influences that brought rock n' roll together in the first place. One of my favorite quotes comes from Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers who once sang, "Rock n' Roll means well but it can't help telling young boys lies". If you want to believe rock n' roll has become homogenized and has lost it's edge then it will be true. Personally, I don't find that to be the case. If you want to go by what's popular on mainstream radio and TV then I can see where you might arrive at that conclusion but there is still good rock n' roll with a dangerous edge to it out there, you just have to look for it. No one's going to hand it to you on a silver platter.

I first heard it on Dr. Demento's radio show back in the 70s. It was such a rarity that I really didn't know that much about it until the advent of the innerwebz.

While thumbing through a stack of bargain priced books at Borders recently I stumbled upon this one called Revolutions In Sound: Warner Bros. Records The First 50 Years. It should be of interest to most everyone here, especially for their entry on Black Sabbath. It was well worth the $5.99 price tag (it normally sells for $40). I didn't realize until checking out their website that it also comes in two other configurations: The Ultimate Boxset and a Booklet with a 10 CD Bundle. They are much more pricey but I'm sure they're also well worth the investment. Used copies of the book itself and the other versions can found for very reasonable prices at Amazon.com.

Remember in Almost Famous when the Lester Bangs character says to the William Miller character, "You got here just in time for the death rattle. Last gasp. Last grope?" Fast forward to when the Kinks were inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1990; as Ray Davies (dressed in a tuxedo, along with the rest of the Kinks) is accepting their award, he asks, "when did Rock n' Roll become respectable?" Rock n' Roll still maintains an edge but as each generation has come along, they've found another type of music to piss their parents off. If your parents grew up on rock n' roll it's kind of hard to rebel against them with rock n' roll. So, when rap became popular, it became the music that pissed parents off. No telling what type of music will come along next that embodies that same rebellious spirit.

Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

I'm glad they kept the artwork true to the original (thank you Rhino). I found my copy on vinyl at a flea market in Denver for around 75¢ back in 1979. Of course, in the years since they've released nearly every performance from Woodstock so it kind of makes this one (and the second release) obsolete but it would still be worth having just for old times sake.

On the Zeppelin tip, apologies in advance if this one has already been posted.