6 Comments

Great write-up, Matt. I was also in college when "Up" came out, and for me, "At My Most Beautiful" is the album's centerpiece track. That's partly because the song is so sonically lovely and partly because the lyrics are so charming and specific. Counting eyelashes? Reading bad poetry? These feel like accurate details of new love.

When I'm in the right mood, I'll pair this with "Electrolite" for a one-two punch of breezy, wistful pleasure.

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Awesome piece Matt! I was always partial to "Walk Unafraid" because it was an homage to Patti Smith and advice she had given Stipe early in his career.

Also, college radio DJs were out there doing the Lord's work helping free people from Top 40 radio. Good for you Mad Hatter.

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Great celebration of ‘Up’. Or would have been way for REM to continue after Berry left, as a sort of REM tribute act. Part of the strength of ‘Up’ is the way they embraced the challenge of change.

Balancing a cup of coffee as I write this. No spillage incidents so far.

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That. Song. Is. So. Bad. "I ate the lotus?" more like "I shat the lotus" ;). Great write-up, Matt!

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Side note, I'm Mike. :)

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I'm gonna have to agree. I love the whole vibe of Up, but Lotus right there in the 2 spot right after the dare I say avant garde Airportman, just really sticks out like a sore thumb(and bad Monster outake). In an alternate universe Airportman segues into At My Most Beutiful and we're talking about REM's Kid A...Thom knew better than to put a Pablo Honey outake on the 2nd track of Kid A.

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