R.E.M.: New Adventures In Hi-Fi Dlx. (2xCD+Blu-Ray)

25th-anniversary edition of R.E.M.’s tenth studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi. First released in 1996, the album was R.E.M.’s last studio recording with founding member Bill Berry who left amicably the following year. As the band’s fifth collaboration with long-time producer Scott Litt (Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People and Monster), the album experiments with new sonic textures, filled with cinematic imagery, dissonant notes and haunting effects. The platinum-selling title includes the singles “Electrolite,” “E-Bow the Letter” (featuring Patti Smith) and “Bittersweet Me,” and represents R.E.M.’s longest studio release with a total run time of 65 minutes. New Adventures in Hi-Fi grew to cult status years after its release, with several press retrospectives—and band members themselves—ranking it among the top albums in R.E.M.’s recorded catalogue.


The deluxe reissue is comprised of two CDs and a blu-ray. The album is of course remastered and the second CD offers 13 B-sides and rarities. The blu-ray offers hi-res stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. The latter is the same Elliot Scheiner mix found on the DVD-A issued in 2005). The blu-ray is also home to 64 mins of previously unreleased outdoor projection films (shown on buildings across five cities in 1996 to promote the album’s original release), a previously unreleased EPK (Electronic Press Kit) and five ‘HD-restored’ videos. The deluxe edition comes in a 52-page hardcover book with photos and new sleeve notes from Mark Blackwell and reflections from all four original band members, as well as from Patti Smith and producer Scott Litt.


Tracklist

CD 1
How the West Was Won & Where It Got Us
The Wake-up Bomb
New Test Leper
Undertow
E-bow the Letter
Leave
Depature
Bittersweet Me
Be Mine
Binky the Doormat
Zither
So Fast, So Numb
Low Desert
Electrolite

CD 2
Tricycle (Instrumental)
Departure (Live Rome Soundcheck / Rome, Italy / 2/22/1995)
Wall of Death
Undertow (Live / Atlanta, GA / 11/18/1995)
Wichita Lineman (Live / Houston, TX / 9/15/1995)
New Test Leper (Live Acoustic / Seattle, WA / 4/19/1996)
The Wake-Up Bomb (Live / Atlanta, GA / 10/4/1995)
Binky the Doormat (Live / Atlanta, GA / 11/18/1995)
King of Comedy (808 State Remix)
Be Mine (Mike on Bus version)
Love Is All Around
Sponge
Leave (Alternate Version)

Blu-Ray
R.E.M. Outdoor Projections – Saturday Sept 7, 1996 – 5 cities (64:56)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi EPK – previously unreleased 30 min version (29:13)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi 5.1 Audio
New Adventures in Hi-Fi – Hi-Resolution Audio
E-Bow the Letter (Music Video)
Bittersweet Me (Music Video)
Electrolite (Music Video)
How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us (Music Video)
New Test Leper (Music Video)