A comprehensive archive of R.E.M. articles from newspapers, magazines and online.

Archive for May, 1999

‘Austin Powers’ Soundtrack Just Doesn’t Swing

Sunday, May 30th, 1999

By James Sullivan
05.30.99
San Francisco Chronicle
2 stars
Shag-atrocious, baby! Terribly sorry to report that the new “Austin Powers” soundtrack is to the original what “Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp” was to Sean Connery’s James Bond — nothing more than monkey business. The Bond movies tell us “You Only Live Twice,” but this album (in stores Tuesday) doesn’t bode [...]

Interview with Michael Stipe

Friday, May 28th, 1999

By Chris Willman
05.28.99
Entertainment Weekly
A lot of people now talk about the days when you had to search music out more and it felt like more of a discovery. Is that something to be nostalgic for, or are there benefits to having rock around us all the time?
No, I don’t think that’s something to be nostalgic [...]

Review of “The Spy Who Shagged Me” soundtrack

Thursday, May 27th, 1999

By Gilbert Garcia
05.27.99
Phoenix New Times
The world inhabited by Austin Powers is more an evocation of the way the ’60s were documented than of the time period itself. Its absurd devotion to swinging at all costs echoes films like Casino Royale and the Matt Helm series, not to mention Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, all the brain [...]

R.E.M.’s Stipe Takes Off In New Direction For Photo Book

Wednesday, May 19th, 1999

By Gil Kaufman
05.19.99
Sonicnet
R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe wanted his second book of photographs to be a chronicle of life in airports. Through his lens, the frequent traveller said, he saw a “fascinating emerging community in the world.”
Unfortunately for Stipe, a group of British photographers saw the same thing and beat him to the punch.
Stipe discovered that [...]