Chronic Town is the debut extended play by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on August 24, 1982, on I.R.S. Records. Containing five tracks, the EP was recorded at the Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in October 1981, eighteen months after the formation of the band.
I had a rare attempt last night to find something to enjoy in Watford town centre and thought I’d try Johnny’s Bar which is a cool little cellar venue in Queen’s Street. It was advertised as “Punk” night but maybe I’m just old as I couldn’t get into the pop-punk band they had on. I wanted something more angry as there are enough reasons to be angry. Still, there was an audience so I had my one beer and left. Where be my freak tribe?
Johnny’s has quite a good little second hand record shop tucked at the side of the bar and I picked up an old Cultureshock e.p. there before but last night I spotted a copy of “Chronic Town” on vinyl which you never see in the wild so I had to get it. Punk in as much as they were low budget and did their own thing an Athens Georgia as contemporaries of the B52s and Pilot on a tiny little scene of Southern state freaks.
Early R.E.M and the IRS years stuff in particular I learnt guitar to as a teenager in quiet St. Mary’s Bay and I’d play it on the sixth form area stereo. Very much a cult jangly guitar band and the antithesis to guitar solo posturing from those times. “Murmur” I think I found in Hastings or Folkestone - can’t quite remember but it was harder to find and get this stuff then - this e.p. would have been mythical pre-internet really so it’s great to finally find it.
REM went on to huge things by about album 5 or 6 which is a slow-burner trajectory but these earlier records had a more distinctive style. I don’t think they were ever the same after Bill Berry (drummer) had to leave after an aneurysm as there was something unique about those four guys making this jangly/mumbley stuff. It’s great that they have recently met up and played together and they stayed friends - unusual for bands that ran this long. I think they lasted so long as the song credits were split 4 ways from the off so none of the usual bickering about money or who did what.
I walked back from town as it was a warmish night but couldn’t find a pub or scene for me. The closest I got was listening to a young Rasta playing some roots reggae on a speaker by the fountain. Where are the freaks hiding?
