RE: Reveal by James Gameboy

I am very recent convert to R.E.M., in fact perfectly coinciding with the release and progression of R U Talkin' R.E.M. Re: Me? As they worked their magic, I began to take interest in the music outside the context of the show, and Reveal was the first I listened to independent of their release schedule. It really worked its magic on me. A gloomy summer album, jumping from cotton candy and caramel apples to breakups and facing reality. It's the confident next evolution from a band that refused to get boring in their post-peak days.
When I decided officially in January 2019 to cover this entire album, I gave myself one guideline: no outside sources. I had to learn the songs by listening to them, and transcribe the lyrics as I heard them. So I probably got a lot of that stuff "wrong," but nonetheless true to what I hear. For stylistic approaches, I tried to trust my gut when I had a vision (Beat a Drum, Saturn Return), and otherwise I would turn to Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies, which I would recommend to anyone who is making albums on their own.
The last track on Reveal, Beachball (original version), is unfathomably beautiful. It was the one I was most terrified to tackle, and I decided to rewrite some of the lyrics in order to help me own it in some way first. I hope it's not too blasphemous.

Tracklist

1.	Chorus and the Ring	3:44

2.	I'll Take the Rain	1:49

3.	Imitation of Life	2:40

4.	Summer Turns to High	2:51

5.	Beat A Drum	4:39

6.	The Lifting	4:26

7.	I've Been High	3:29

8.	All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)	4:48

9.	Disappear	4:07

10.	She Just Wants To Be	4:20

11.	Saturn Return	4:45

12.	Beachball	4:56

Credits

released August 17, 2019

Mastered by Matthew Johnson.
Album art by Quinn. Find more of their stuff here: quinntown.wixsite.com/quinntown
Titles and sequencing by Nick Shaw.
Imitation of Life features Olivia Anderson on vocals.

Thanks to Matthew Johnson, Jonah Cates, Nick Shaw, Julia Townsend, Greg Troyan, T-Bone, Mr. Michael Rose, Iain, Jacob Taylor, Ben Cline, and Austin Huelsbeck for their feedback on various drafts. Especially Matt, who maybe even listened to it more than me.

Thanks to Michael, Mike, Peter, Pat, Scott, Ken, and Joey for making an album that means so much to me.

Thanks to Adam Scott Aukerman for making such a great podcast and making such a strong and consistent case for this band.

Special thanks to my Sacred, Solemn patrons:
Zachary Mauer
Tyler Norbury
Jonah Cates
Matthew Johnson
Emily Pickel
Nick Shaw
Julia
and all my other patrons who supported me in the creation of this album. You can check out my Patreon for drafts of new songs, B-Sides, album recs, and more!
www.patreon.com/JamesGameboy

License