Customer Reviews

Strange Currencies / Drive / Funtime

5 star:		(5)
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Hands down, this is the best single from "Monster". The lead track is my favorite, and the B-Sides offer a lot more than the other Monster singles, which are generally pretty straight-forward live tracks.

"Strange Currencies" is a beautiful down love song with a great hard edge. Instead of sounding just loud, like some "rock/love songs" do, it sounds deeply earnest and passionate. The lyrics are fun, and Stipe has a great time with them. The arrangment is also excellent and dynamic and is very much worth paying attention to.

The live version of "Drive" here is totally different, and signifcantly superior if you ask me, to the version found on "Autmotic for the People". It is rocked out, energetic, and powerful. I feel it suits the song much better than the slow and plodding album version. They do this song so well live, and this recording captures that perfectly.

"Funtime" is a genuinely fun Iggy Pop cover. Also much better than a studio version the band also released, if only because Stipe's vocals have more energy, and the band has the kind of energy you can only find with a live concert recording. Its messy, feverish, and a great listen.

From here, the band plays around for a few seconds while transitioning into "Radio Free Europe", the bands first single. This may be the best verion I have heard of it. Stipe usually seems disinterested in doing the song, but not here. Yeah, he screws up the lyrics badly, but he has made a big deal out of giving the lyrics of R.E.M. songs too much weight. Besides, it sounds like they are having fun, and I'm sure the audience was loving it, too. I'm sure you will, as well.

A lot of people dislike R.E.M. because of Michael's voice, but, to me, it (along with the laid-back southern-style instruments) is the band's heartbeat. Its soothing, honest beauty is unique and charmi--... okay, I think I made the point well enough. I love R.E.M.

1) Strange Currencies. To me, the lyrics are that of a direct relationship song... and mixed with the soft playing, it's soul nourishment. "I need a chance, a 2nd chance, a 3rd chance, a 4th chance, a word, a signal, a nod, a little breath, just to fool myself, just to catch myself, to make it real". The humanity of those words is beautiful.

2, 3) Drive (Live) and Funtime (Live). Both seem more light-hearted than usual R.E.M., overall... they're somewhat catchy, and the live atmosphere kicks it up a notch (bam!). Throw in everything else we love the band for, and they're art.

4) Radio Free Europe (Live). Ah... youth. Not exactly the most complex song, but it's fun to listen to... R.E.M.'s social fascination is always a good thing. Fine way to end the single... with a blast from the past.

Michael's vocals, the southern instruments, the live atmosphere, the never-dying integrity... a great band, and a great single. I can't believe that I got it for [so little money]

The "Strange Currencies" single, originally off the "Monster" album, is one of my favorite songs. There is a bootleg of this that says (roughly) "You're young, pimply, and left-out, this is your song." It's sweet, slow, and desparate, making it, in my mind, a true hit.

This is easily my favorite single from Monster. Every track has a quality to it to make it stand out from the other singles' live songs. First, the live version of Drive is totally amazing. The music is completely different from that of the studio song, and is fantastic. You need to listen to it if you like the song Drive. Second comes Funtime which is a cheesy Iggy Pop cover (I think thats who it is by anyhow) which is just a fun little song. Theres nothing too special about it except that it is unreleased in the US except for here (a studio version is also on the import Automatic Box) so it is worth hearing. Third comes a live version of Radio Free Europe, which is just great. Stipe has some great "forgets" and one time when he tries to fit some improv lyrics in and ends up with a funny result ("have yourself a very good evening and next day..."). Overall this is the most fun and diverse Monster single and any R.E.M. fan should have it. A great place to start with your single collecting.

"Strange Currencies" is the quietest song on the sonic blast that is Monster. The song add a moment of respite to the guitar frenzy. The three live songs perfectly compliment the track. "Drive" has a quiet power, "Funhouse" is great unreleased track and "Radio Free Europe" is always powerful.