Adrenaline, it pulls us near

September 7th, 2010

Though I am likely to change my mind whenever ‘Nightswimming’ comes on, this is probably my favourite R.E.M. song. A song that continues to astound me every time I hear it. The first time I heard it, I remember thinking that I couldn’t believe they’d released a single that managed to sound so uncommercial and yet so utterly, utterly wonderful. Michael Stipe’s semi-spoken stream of conscious style delivery is so effortlessly cool. Intriguing, haunting and beguiling. Full of abstract imagery poetically brought to life evoking the late night atmosphere of the song’s creation and the bleak questioning of the lifestyle that surrounds the band. The ominous, wailing guitar providing an unsettling yet beautiful backing.

And just when you think it can’t get any better, they pull this version out of the bag. Recorded live with Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke taking the place of Patti Smith and doing a pretty damn good job of it too.

R.E.M. & Thom Yorke – e-bow the letter (live) original version available on New Adventures In Hi-Fi

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