sosogroovy

>> It alarms me to realize that Corgan was a more formally interesting songwriter in that period than Stipe was.

"formally interesting". I'm a native English speaker and composer and don't understand your phrasing.

>> I'm on REM's side of the political spectrum, and have always found Stipe's activism to be performative;

I disagree, but it entirely rests on what one person's definition of "cringey" is. I think your awkward attempts at sounding intellectual are alarmingly cringey and less formally interesting.

In the modern sense. I'm a bit of a stickler. Kinda like how many feel about Morrisette's use of Irony.

>> cringe-y activism,

That subjectivity depends on what side of the political spectrum you fall.

>> starfucker galaxy

eyeroll

Love/Corgan are still trying to ride their 15-mintues TO THIS DAY. Love is like a venereal disease, she just keeps coming back. And Corgan groomed some teen-aged fan to be his bride and is currently performing 7 hour meditation synthloop pieces to select audiences.

Where's Stipe? Off being a normal human.

>> meeting [grunge] on its own turf"

Uh, when did REM say this?

That's a "Coincidence". "Serendipity" refers to learning new unexpected knowledge while searching for some other knowledge. pushes glasses back up nose, makes nerd snort

This is a really good synopsys, not too fawning, not too critical. REM was an early college band that was sincere and handled pop fame with tact and restraint (counterpoint: U2, of the same era). They sort of did exactly what a "normal" band should do: write music, find fans, expose people to a new style of music, become very popular, don't try to push it past the cultural shifts, and gracefully exit without any scandal are smarminess. Who does that anymore, or even gets the chance? I think the only bummer is that they influenced so many alt musicians that their style is in everything non-pop these days.

Of course, I'm pretty biased, though: I was a senior in highschool when the day after REM played my city half my graduating class was wearing the concert shirt.