R.E.M.’s iconic ninth album Monster, is getting a large 25th anniversary box set filled with unreleased demos, live recordings, extended liner notes, along with a remix by producer Scott Litt. In addition, an expanded edition of Monster, featuring the original album and the 2019 remixed version, will also be available on two 180-gram vinyl LPs or two CDs, both featuring reimagined cover art by longtime R.E.M. designer Chris Bilheimer.
A remix for “What’s The Frequency Kevin,” has also been released. In addition,m several different merch options are available for this box set.
This set features 5 CD’s and a Blu-Ray disc, with the CD’s containing the album, demos, remix album, and a complete live 1995 performance captured in Chicago. The Blu-Ray will offer Monster in both hi-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound, in addition to the 90-minute film Road Movie, which documents R.E.M.’s 1995 tour, and all six music videos from Monster.
Journalist Matthew Perpetua contributed to the liner notes of the album, and also added some fresh perspectives from the band members themselves, who reflect on this iconic album. “We were trying to feel like a different band … We wanted to get away from who we were,” the band’s guitarist Peter Buck explained in a press release.
“There’s no question that the characters on Monster are all dealing with obsession in some form or another, whether it’s the infatuated narrator of ‘Crush With Eyeliner,’ the lovelorn protagonist of ‘Strange Currencies,’ or the cackling supervillain in ‘I Took Your Name.,” Perpetua explains in the liner notes.
Earlier this year the band’s frontman Michael Stipe performed his first solo song ever entitled “Future, If Future,” at a performance during the March For Our Lives Rally.
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)
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