[2001] R.E.M., "All The Way To Reno"

Why?: I honestly don't know. I wasn't really all that into R.E.M. until way after singles stopped being a thing. But here it is. It is from Reveal, which was my gateway drug into the R.E.M. world, and I suspect it probably has a multimedia element with the Imitation Of Life video, which I adore. Later I bought that video on DVD single (really, they were a thing once too, for about a year).

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"All The Way To Reno" isn't my favourite song by far from Reveal. Just a little too slow paced and lacking in any really interest changes. I like the way Michael sings in the verses though.

I really don't like the cover "Yellow River". I'm sure it is a throwback to the kinds of covers R.E.M. used to do back in the day, but it is way too happy and poppy for me. The surf instrumental "165 Hillcrest" is fun though.

"Imitation of Life" live, with all the production stripped away, loses a lot of its shine, but R.E.M. are excellent live, and manage to carry the song well enough. Again, not something I'd listen to again without vision.

4/10