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R.E.M. Going Old School

08/05/2010
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(Gibson) Former R.E.M. touring member Ken Stringfellow recently told NME.com that the alt-rock band's new album (due next year) features a sound closer to the early days of the band. The multi-instrumentalist (who fronts The Posies and was a latter-day member of Big Star, among other bands) got a chance to hear rough versions of the new songs when he met with R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills.

"It's sounding really great, very old-school," he said. "The first track had vocals which were mixed super low which I couldn't understand and I was like, 'Yes, a return to form.' Mike was on about pushing the vocals up and I was like, 'No, don't do it.'"

Mills, Michael Stipe and Peter Buck have finished recording their as-yet-untitled 15th studio album with producer Jacknife Lee earlier this year. Lee also worked with the band for 2008's acclaimed Accelerate. "What's cool about classic R.E.M. is that you have an electric and acoustic guitar coming along like The Byrds," Stringfellow said. "There's a lot of that in there, there's some piano songs too, but I didn't hear a lot of crazy, freaky keyboards and vintage drum machines in there like the period when I was with them." - more on this story

- Bryan Wawzenek of Gibson.com

Gibson.com is an official news provider for the Day in Rock.



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