rem-monster

R.E.M. prep 'Monster' 25th anniversary box set w/ demos, new mix of LP, more

R.E.M. will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1994 album, Monster, with a deluxe box set on November 1, including rare outtakes, demos, a brand new mix of the album, live recordings and more. Monster came after the massive success of Out of Time and Automatic for the People and found the band radically playing with their sound, image, and the idea of celebrity. Featuring hit singles “What’s the Frequency Kenneth” and “Bang and Blame,” plus “Crush with Eyeliner” (which featured Thurston Moore) and more, Monster is arguably R.E.M.’s loudest record ever.

The new mix of the album was done by Monster producer Scott Litt who says, “I had told the band through the years that if there was ever a chance to take another shot at mixing the album, I wanted to do it.” The new mix features entirely different vocal takes and “instrumental parts that were either buried or excised from the original album mix.” Says bassist Mike Mills, “I think as he listened to it over the years, he began to hear a different way to realize those songs.” You can watch the video for the new mix of “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” (and compare to the original) below.

There are “expanded” CD & LP versions that contain the original mix remastered and the new mix, and there’s a deluxe six-CD/Blu-Ray box set with demos, the documentary Road Movie, new hi-res audio and 5.1 Surround Sound versions of Monster, all six music videos from the album, and more. There’s also a deluxe digital version as well. Liner notes are written by Fluxblog’s Matthew Perpetua.

Pre-orders of the many versions of Monster 25th Anniversary Edition are up now and you can check out the tracklists, and listen to the original album, below.


monster-deluxe

MONSTER 25th ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED REISSUE TRACK LISTINGS

DELUXE BOX SET

Disc 1 (CD) – Monster (Remastered)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Crush With Eyeliner
King Of Comedy
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream
Star 69
Strange Currencies
Tongue
Bang And Blame
I Took Your Name
Let Me In
Circus Envy
You

Disc 2 (CD) – Monster (Demos)
Pete’s Hit
Uptempo Mo Distortion
Uptempo Ricky
Harlan County with Whistling
Lost Song
AM Boo
Mike’s Gtr
Sputnik 1 Remix
Black Sky 4-14
Revolution 4-21
Rocker with vocal
Time Is On Mike’s Side
1Experiment 4-28 no vocal
Highland Fling 4-29
Cranky 4-29

Disc 3 (CD) – Monster (Remixed)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (Remix)
Crush With Eyeliner (Remix)
King Of Comedy (Remix)
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (Remix)
Star 69 (Remix)
Strange Currencies (Remix)
Tongue (Remix)
Bang And Blame (Remix)
I Took Your Name (Remix)
Let Me In (Remix)
Circus Envy (Remix)
You (Remix)

Disc 4 (CD) – Live in Chicago 6/3/95 – Monster 1995 Tour (Part One)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Circus Envy
Crush With Eyeliner
Near Wild Heaven
Welcome To The Occupation
Undertow
I Took Your Name
Strange Currencies
Me In Honey
Revolution
Tongue
Man On The Moon
Country Feedback
Monty Got A Raw Deal

Disc 5 (CD) – Live in Chicago 6/3/95 – Monster 1995 Tour (Part Two)
Losing My Religion
You
Departure
Orange Crush
Get Up
Star 69
Let Me In
Everybody Hurts
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
Pop Song 89
Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Disc 6 (Blu-ray)
Monster – 5.1 Surround Sound
Monster – Hi-Resolution Audio
Road Movie (concert film)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (music video)
Crush With Eyeliner (music video)
Star 69 (music video)
Strange Currencies (music video)
Tongue (music video)
Bang And Blame (music video)

EXPANDED 2-CD

Disc 1 – Monster (Remastered)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Crush With Eyeliner
King Of Comedy
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream
Star 69
Strange Currencies
Tongue
Bang And Blame
I Took Your Name
Let Me In
Circus Envy
You

Disc 2 – Monster (Remixed)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (Remix)
Crush With Eyeliner (Remix)
King Of Comedy (Remix)
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (Remix)
Star 69 (Remix)
Strange Currencies (Remix)
Tongue (Remix)
Bang And Blame (Remix)
I Took Your Name (Remix)
Let Me In (Remix)
Circus Envy (Remix)
You (Remix)
EXPANDED 2-LP

Side A – Monster (Remastered)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Crush With Eyeliner
King Of Comedy
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream
Star 69
Strange Currencies

Side B – Monster (Remastered)
Tongue
Bang And Blame
I Took Your Name
Let Me In
Circus Envy
You

Side C – Monster (Remixed)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (Remix)
Crush With Eyeliner (Remix)
King Of Comedy (Remix)
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (Remix)
Star 69 (Remix)
Strange Currencies (Remix)

Side D – Monster (Remixed)
Tongue (Remix)
Bang And Blame (Remix)
I Took Your Name (Remix)
Let Me In (Remix)
Circus Envy (Remix)
You (Remix)

STANDARD 1-LP

Side A – Monster (Remastered)
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Crush With Eyeliner
King Of Comedy
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream
Star 69
Strange Currencies

Side B – Monster (Remastered)
Tongue
Bang And Blame
I Took Your Name
Let Me In
Circus Envy
You

DELUXE DIGITAL ALBUM

“Disc 1” – Monster (Remastered)*
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Crush With Eyeliner
King Of Comedy
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream
Star 69
Strange Currencies
Tongue
Bang And Blame
I Took Your Name
Let Me In
Circus Envy
You

“Disc 2” – Monster (Demos)
Pete’s Hit
Uptempo Mo Distortion
Uptempo Ricky
Harlan County with Whistling
Lost Song
AM Boo
Mike’s Gtr
Sputnik 1 Remix
Black Sky 4-14
Revolution 4-21
Rocker with vocal
Time Is On Mike’s Side
Experiment 4-28 no vocal
Highland Fling 4-29
Cranky 4-29

“Disc 3”– Monster (Remixed) *
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (Remix)
Crush With Eyeliner (Remix)
King Of Comedy (Remix)
I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (Remix)
Star 69 (Remix)
Strange Currencies (Remix)
Tongue (Remix)
Bang And Blame (Remix)
I Took Your Name (Remix)
Let Me In (Remix)
Circus Envy (Remix)
You (Remix)

“Disc 4” – Live in Chicago 6/3/95 – Monster 1995 Tour
What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
Circus Envy
Crush With Eyeliner
Near Wild Heaven
Welcome To The Occupation
Undertow
I Took Your Name
Strange Currencies
Me In Honey
Revolution
Tongue
Man On The Moon
Country Feedback
Monty Got A Raw Deal
Losing My Religion
You
Departure
Orange Crush
Get Up
Star 69
Let Me In
Everybody Hurts
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
Pop Song 89
Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)