The opening song on R.E.M.'s first release has everything that made them great: Hooky guitar riffs, counter-melodic bass, mysterious lyrics and lead vocal, pretty harmonies, cacophonous bridge, driving off-beat hi hat and musical drum fills. It also makes great use of Bill Berry's voice to fill out the chorus harmonies. His singing was their most under-rated asset in my opinion.There was something about this song that sounded so familiar the first time I heard it. Its certainly "weird" and a little unsettling, but in true form, its layered with a sweetness that brings it back to earth.
The fact that they would put a comma in a two word song title is just hilarious to me. They had a way of riffing on the English language that's pure fun.
Wolves, Lower is upbeat, charming, part brooding and part optimistic . An appropriate first song in their career's catalog.
here's an early fast version of the song:
2 comments:
Totally agree - what a great "first" song. I picture these guys at about 20 years old listening to the newly finished version in the studio with big dumb grins on their faces. They were probably thinking, "We'll be able to get a gig in Atlanta for sure now!"
Wonderful post, and well stated (and well written!). "Wolves, Lower," for me, epitomizes REM's early style: mysterious lyrics, bold guitar rhythm, and a strange familiarity the first time I heard it. (And the comma, by the way, evokes the sense the song title is commenting, rather than communicating.)
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