Leaving New York
August 27th, 2004It’s a shame I find R.E.M.’s new stuff boring. Up until 1994’s Monster, they were probably my favorite band. I don’t think they sold out. I don’t blame them for anything. I just think they’re boring. (Don’t even get me started on U2.)
So I was very disappointed when I heard their new single, “Leaving New York.” I wanted to like it very much, not in the least because I have left New York myself, and I thought it would be neat to have a “leaving New York” anthem that I could listen to when I wanted to pretend there was some drama in my life. Which there’s not. So maybe it’s a good thing that I don’t like the song, even though, for now, whenever I want to play a song that reminds me of leaving New York, I am forced to listen to the Ataris’ “So Long, Astoria,” since I used to live in Astoria, Queens, even though the song is about Astoria, Oregon. Oh well.