With "Supernatural Superserious," R.E.M. does what they do best: upbeat pop with a strong hook and angsty lyrics — in this case, about how we all still feel like the awkward teenagers we once were. I think Michael Stipe & Co. sound as refreshingly restless as ever, which bodes well for their upcoming album Accelerate (due April 1). Check out the grainy-good, as-basic-as-it-gets video:
However, in a classic case of too much of a good thing, "Supernaturally Superserious" has its own website, where 12 low-tech mini-movies essentially deconstruct the final cut into the separate shoots. (Tip: avoid opening all the video windows at the same time, or the site may get all ganked up, technically speaking.) There’s an implied "what is an outtake?" notion to the whole concept, but — all due respect to director Vincent Moon — after clicking around for a while, I just kept wondering, Why do this? Watching the dozen different (yet similar) visual manifestations of the same tune was, for me, merely tedious in the end. That said, I enjoyed seeing the band’s spontaneity as they traipsed around NYC’s Lower East Side (including a stop at the sex shop Babeland) on a seemingly shoestring budget. I’m superseriously curious to find out: What are your reactions to both the site and the song, PopWatch music lovers?
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It is too much, but somehow I don’t care. R.E.M. sounds like R.E.M. again and all is good and perfect in my world.
in a word… great. All Around. I do like the song better than the video. I am glad they are rockin a new cd.
the whole idea is you download those different cuts and actually make your own video from all the rough footage they shot.
so it might be a bit too much– but it’s for a very clever, cool reason.
yes, it’s to make your own video, which is awesome for us REM fans! Any time we get lots of videos of the guys is wonderful. Why would any REM fan get bored watching the videos?
You are incorrect. This is the future of music and video. Upload cuts here:
http://www.youtube.com/remsuperserious
where on the supernaturalsuperserious site does it tell us how to make a video? maybe the instructions page wasn’t ready yet? there’s a note from the director, but it didn’t make much sense. awesome song though! REM is back!
This is the first time they’ve had a pulse since they lost Bill Berry (oh, when will he ever return? You don’t have to tour, Bill! Just record!) — and the first time I’ve been excited about a new R.E.M. album in probably a decade. I so, so hope that this single bodes well for the rest of the album.
After the abomination that was Around the Sun this seems like a promising start to the new album. It’s great to hear some Mills/Stipe harmonies again.
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