Craft Recordings has announced a Monster of a celebration for the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s ninth album. November 1 will see the arrival of Monster in various physical and digital formats, all newly remastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound.

Monster found the band branching out to explore new sonic avenues, with bolder, louder guitars, minimal overdubs, and spare arrangements supporting lyrics frequently sung from the POV of different characters. Bolstered by the success of the lead single "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?," Monster entered the U.S. chart at No. 1, and the band promoted it with their first tour since 1989. "Bang and Blame" also became a U.S. top 20 chart entry, the band's final such single to date.

A 5-CD/1-BD box will include the original album, a new 2019 remix from original Monster producer Scott Litt, a CD of previously unreleased demos from the album, and a complete live 1995 performance recorded in Chicago. The Blu-ray will present Monster in both high-resolution stereo and 5.1 surround sound alongside additional video content: the 90-minute film Road Movie, which documents R.E.M.'s 1995 tour, and all six music videos from Monster. This collection - the latest in Craft's series of R.E.M. deluxe reissues - will be packaged in a five-and-a-half-inch portfolio book, featuring liner notes by journalist Matthew Perpetua (incorporating new commentary from the band members) and rare photos.

For those interested in a less expansive option, an expanded edition of Monster offering the original album and the 2019 remix will also be available on two 180-gram vinyl LPs or two CDs, both featuring reimagined cover art by longtime R.E.M. designer Chris Bilheimer. The remastered album will also be available as a standalone 180-gram vinyl LP, with Bilheimer's original Monster art. Digital iterations of the album will mirror the complete deluxe audio content--remastered, remixed and live--across all streaming and download platforms.

In his liner notes, Perpetua offers that Monster "had no precedent in the band's catalogue," adding that R.E.M had "never been this distorted and dirty, or this glam or this flirty." Peter Buck adds, "We were trying to feel like a different band...We wanted to get away from who we were." Perpetua observes that "there's no question that the characters on Monster are all dealing with obsession in some form or another, whether it's the infatuated narrator of 'Crush with Eyeliner,' the lovelorn protagonist of 'Strange Currencies,' or the cackling supervillain in 'I Took Your Name.'" As dark as some of the subject matter is, though, R.E.M. still infuses the songs with a dash of absurdity, irony and a humorous wink."

Despite the enormous success of the 4x platinum album, producer Scott Litt was never fully happy with his finished mix. He states in the press release, "I had told the band through the years that if there was ever a chance to take another shot at mixing the album, I wanted to do it." This anniversary edition has given him that opportunity, and he's incorporated entirely different vocal takes and instrumental parts either buried in the original mix or completely absent from it.

The reimagined and expanded Monster arrives from Craft Recordings on November 1. You can peruse pre-order links and the track listings below!

R.E.M., Monster: 25th Anniversary Edition (Craft Recordings, 2019)

5CD/1BD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP (contains contents of CD 1 & 3): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD (contains contents of CD 1 & 3): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

5CD/1BD Box Set:

Disc 1 (CD) - Monster (Remastered) (originally issued on Warner Bros. 9 45740-2, 1994)

1. 'What's The Frequency, Kenneth?'
2. 'Crush With Eyeliner'
3. 'King Of Comedy'
4. 'I Don't Sleep, I Dream'
5. 'Star 69'
6. 'Strange Currencies'
7. 'Tongue'
8. 'Bang And Blame'
9. 'I Took Your Name'
10. 'Let Me In'
11. 'Circus Envy'
12. 'You'

Disc 2 (CD) - Monster (Demos)

1. 'Pete's Hit'
2. 'Uptempo Mo Distortion'
3. 'Uptempo Ricky'
4. 'Harlan County with Whistling'
5. 'Lost Song'
6. 'AM Boo'
7. 'Mike's Gtr'
8. 'Sputnik 1 Remix'
9. 'Black Sky 4-14'
10. 'Revolution 4-21'
11. 'Rocker with vocal'
12. 'Time Is On Mike's Side'
13. '1Experiment 4-28 no vocal'
14. 'Highland Fling 4-29'
15. 'Cranky 4-29'

Disc 3 (CD) - Monster (Remixed)

1. 'What's The Frequency, Kenneth?' (Remix)
2. 'Crush With Eyeliner' (Remix)
3. 'King Of Comedy' (Remix)
4. 'I Don't Sleep, I Dream' (Remix)
5. 'Star 69' (Remix)
6. 'Strange Currencies' (Remix)
7. 'Tongue' (Remix)
8. 'Bang And Blame' (Remix)
9. 'I Took Your Name' (Remix)
10. 'Let Me In' (Remix)
11. 'Circus Envy' (Remix)
12. 'You' (Remix)

Disc 4 (CD) - Live in Chicago 6/3/95 - Monster 1995 Tour (Part One)

1. 'What's The Frequency, Kenneth?'
2. 'Circus Envy'
3. 'Crush With Eyeliner'
4. 'Near Wild Heaven'
5. 'Welcome To The Occupation'
6. 'Undertow'
7. 'I Took Your Name'
8. 'Strange Currencies'
9. 'Me In Honey'
10. 'Revolution'
11. 'Tongue'
12. 'Man On The Moon'
13. 'Country Feedback'
14. 'Monty Got A Raw Deal'

Disc 5 (CD) - Live in Chicago 6/3/95 - Monster 1995 Tour (Part Two)

1. 'Losing My Religion'
2. 'You'
3. 'Departure'
4. 'Orange Crush'
5. 'Get Up'
6. 'Star 69'
7. 'Let Me In'
8. 'Everybody Hurts'
9. 'So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)'
10. 'Pop Song 89'
11. 'Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)'

Disc 6 (Blu-ray)

1. 'Monster' - 5.1 Surround Sound
2. 'Monster' - Hi-Resolution Audio
3. 'Road Movie' (concert film)
4. 'What's The Frequency, Kenneth?' (music video)
5. 'Crush With Eyeliner' (music video)
6. 'Star 69' (music video)
7. 'Strange Currencies' (music video)
8. 'Tongue' (music video)
9. 'Bang And Blame' (music video)