Maps of Music

Reveal (2001)

Where the lyrics of Reveal take you, and where it was really made.

The song 'Fascinating' was cut from the album at the last moment, and the R.E.M. version of it was not released until 2019.

Key places

String parts recorded in Dublin (2000)

Recording site Windmill Lane Studios — String parts arranged by Johnny Tate were recorded on October 3-4, 2000 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. The strings were added to the album after the Vancouver and Irish sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Basic tracks begun in Vancouver (2001)

Recording site Warehouse Studios — The band laid down basic tracks for the album in Vancouver starting in May 2000, choosing the city for its proximity to Seattle. More than 20 songs were recorded there, and the first track recorded was She Just Wants to Be. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Final sessions in Athens (2001)

Recording site John Keane Studios — The final recording sessions for the album were done at John Keane Studios in Athens. The point is placed at the city center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Reveal is the 12th studio album by R.E.M., an American rock band
• Released May 14, 2001 through Warner Bros. Records (UK on May 14, US the following day)
• Second of three albums the band made with producer Pat McCarthy
• Second album as a three-piece after drummer Bill Berry's departure
• Touring members Joey Waronker, Scott McCaughey and Ken Stringfellow contributed
• Recorded in Dublin, Miami, Vancouver and Athens, Georgia
• Continues the electronic experiments of Up (1998), using keyboards and drum machines while keeping elements of the earlier sound

Background

• Up (1998) was a troubled record, and the band nearly disbanded during its making
• Manager Bertis Downs organized a week-long meeting in Idaho to keep the band intact
• Stringfellow and Waronker joined as permanent touring members during the Up tour
• Up sold faster and in better numbers in many European nations than in the US

Recording

• February 2000 rehearsals at West Clayton Street in Athens; March rehearsals at Royaltone Studios in Hollywood
• Basic tracks recorded in Vancouver from May, chosen for its proximity to Seattle, where Peter Buck and McCaughey lived
• Stipe wanted to work outside the United States to avoid writer's block
• The band laid down tracks for more than 20 songs in Vancouver
• Most of the album recorded between August and October at Dalkey Lodge in Ireland
• String parts recorded October 3-4, 2000 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, arranged by Johnny Tate
• Final recording sessions done at John Keane Studios in Athens
• Mixing finished October 31 at The Hit Factory in Miami

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, all University of Georgia students
• Released the single "Radio Free Europe" in 1981 on the independent label Hib-Tone
• Signed with I.R.S. Records in 1982

Members

• Michael Stipe (lead vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass, vocals), Bill Berry (drums) until 1997
• Bill Rieflin served as touring drummer from 2003 until his death in 2020

Career

• Breakthrough hit "The One I Love" in 1987 from Document; signed with Warner Bros. in 1988
• Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992) made them leaders of alternative rock
• Continued as a trio after Berry left in 1997
• Broke up in 2011 after selling more than 90 million albums worldwide
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Reviews were generally positive, with many highlighting the melodic nature of the album
• Critics praised the blend of the classic R.E.M. sound with electronic elements
• Adam Sweeting of The Guardian said the band settles into a convincing identity as a trio and called 'I've Been High' possibly the album's finest moment
• Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club said that 21 years into their career, R.E.M. still continue to surprise
• Will Hermes of Entertainment Weekly counted the album among its returns to form and named 'Imitation of Life' and 'I'll Take the Rain' as highlights
• Dave Heaton of PopMatters described the album as a lush, dreamy pop mood-piece
• April Long of NME said the album was initially underwhelming but eventually gracefully rewarding
• Bono of U2 praised the album after its release

Reappraisal

• Ryan Leas of Stereogum, in a 20th anniversary article, called it possibly the most underrated album in the band's catalogue
• Annie Jo Baker of PopMatters retrospective noted a consistent sound that keeps classic R.E.M. eccentricity
• Matt LeMay of Pitchfork gave the album 5.0 out of 10, calling its electronic elements superficial and the sound overly busy
• Robert Christgau gave the album a B- and named it his dud of the month

Records

• Metacritic average score of 76, indicating generally positive reviews
• UK Albums Chart: number one, selling 33,000 copies on the first day and 110,000 in the first week
• Italy: number one, 130,000 copies in the first week, already Platinum
• Number one in Austria, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and Germany
• United States: number six on the Billboard 200, the band's lowest peak since SoundScan began in 1991
• RIAA Gold certification on June 20, 2001 for over 500,000 US copies
• Worldwide sales have exceeded four million copies

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album title was suggested by Bertis Downs and comes from a lyric in 'I've Been High'
• 'Fascinating' was removed at the last moment because the band felt the album was too long and too slow in the middle
• 'Imitation of Life' takes its title from the 1959 Douglas Sirk film, which the band found a perfect metaphor for adolescence
• The band did not tour for the album; promotion was mainly TV appearances, music videos and free concerts in major cities
• 'Disappear' was inspired by Stipe's trip to Israel, where he said he came to disappear at a rave in Tel Aviv

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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