R.E.M.: Succumbs (1987 Video) User Reviews

REM Succumbs(A collection of videos by the band REM)

[souther02 · 9/10 · 23 June 2010]

I hope I don't attempt this again, or at least not until I get better at writing reviews. I saw this REM video collection did not have a review so I'm picking on it.

The first part of the video collection is just far out, and I know that's a phrase right out of the 60's. The songs are from the first three REM albums and they all center visually around the band constructing windmills and/or mobiles out in a field. At times we see a man possibly in his late 50's in overalls. Besides the wind-driven wooden structures the band put up crosses. The very first song on the tape is "Radio Free Europe" and it's apparent that the "wind garden" has been finished already.

The first videos are not beautiful, optically speaking, but the effect is nice, for some odd reason. Next up after the primitives is "Can't Get There From Here", a sterling video that meets up to today's digital standards.

On this collection is the rave new wave "Feeling Gravity's Pull". This video is "dirty" or visually dissonant. I think that it's intentional. Seems to work well. Last song on "Succumbs" is "Don't Fall On Me". Before the weight can leave the air.

addition to above review

[Ponjac-988-777347 · 7/10 · 11 November 2016]

the old guy in the film is Howard Finster I believe. he painted the album cover on reckoning. the place with the windmills is paradise gardens also created by Howard. Just thought you'd want to know. :) the film is pretty cool for hardcore REM fans. the left of reckoning part is pretty hard to sit through. I have a VHS copy. haven't watched it in years, but its kind of a fun thing to have. all of the low-fi cheesy music videos are OK. fall on me is a great video to end on. if you're a fan I think you can find a copy for pretty cheap. finding a VHS player might be a little more tough. :) there is also a laserdisc version out there.