Each year my New Year Resolution is to listen to a new artist / band and collect their music, read bio's etc.. throughout the year.

Past "chosen ones" have included:

Stevie Wonder
David Bowie
Elvis
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell
Miles Davis
Bruce Sprongsteen
The Beatles

This year I have chosen R.E.M who I have always admired yet never really listened to.

As a result of a sale in my local music store I now own:

Reconstruction of the Fables
Life Rich Pageants
Green
Out of Time
Automatic for the People
Monster
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Up
Reveal
Around My Sun

I'm still working my through them, but so far my fave has got to be Green followed by Automatic, with a credible shout to Around my Sun.

What are your views on R.E.M?

Am I missing any must-haves? I think Murmur will be next purchase.

the older the better, really. the last two or three albums haven't been so great. maybe if you hear the old stuff, you'll have at least some kind of appreciation for the new stuff, and you might be able to salvage a tune or two from each of the newer offerings.

be in touch when you start diving into bowie's ouvre.

I'm not sure I'd categorize R.E.M. in the same league as Stevie and Joni, etc . . but I sure was fond of them back in their early days (the IRS albums), back when 'Alternative' was still referred to as 'College Music.'

Yes, of course you should definitely get the legendary 'Murmur' . . .but I also must recommend the tastefully lo-fi follow-up, 'Reckoning,' there are some really good songs on there.

And for a tasty sample of how R.E.M. sounded at the very beginning, track down the sweet 'Gardening at Night' from the EP Chronic Town.

New Adventures in Hi-Fi is in my opinion their 90's masterpiece!

BeatsPerMinute said:

this is indeed a pretty good REM album.

Anxiety said:

Maybe their last good album...

The latest miss something...(U know what i mean!)

From a pretty big REM fan, I'd definitely say that you still need Reckoning; I think it's better than Murmur. Document is another great IRS-era CD.

My favorites are probably Automatic for the People and New Advenutres in HiFi; both albums have this sense of sadness that only REM can pull off.

Also, even if an album as a whole isn't up to their standards (Reveal, Up), it doesn't mean that there aren't excellent songs on the CDs. From Out of Time, take a listen to 'Country Feedback'; from Monster, check out 'Let Me In'; from Reveal, try 'She Just Wants to Be'.

Also, if you can get the two-CD greatest hits taht came out in 2003, it's worth picking up.

I was never a huge, huge fan, but as time passes my appreciation for them just deepens. REM is like vintage wine -- it ages well and just gets better as the years pass.

I agree in that the older stuff is better but you'll always find something beautiful in each of their albums. I wasnt crazy about UP (1998) but 'At My Most Beautiful' is one of my favorite songs from them.

You have to get RECKONING and the fact that you bought MURMUR means you started on the right track. You're in for a great music experience. No one does sad music like REM does. 'Ebow the Letter' on ADVENTURES IN HI-FI featuring Patti Snith is so damn good I cant believe it!

Warner is reissuing each of these titles with bonus material and DVD!!!

GREEN, OUT OF TIME, AUTOMATIC, ADVENTURES, UP, REVEAL, AROUND THE SUN

Have fun!

BeatsPerMinute said:

AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE!

I am a big R.E.M. fan. Ive been sold out ever since I saw the Losing My Religion video back in 1991. Michael Stipe's songwriting is awesome. R.E.M. always reminds me that music should be ART. By the way, I love Reveal. Alot of my friends hated it.

Who doesnt love "Daysleeper" from Up? That stuff is golden!
[Edited 2/4/05 18:25pm]

dreamfactory313 said:

Sorry to be pedantic (), but Daysleeper is from Up.

REALLY love all their 80s albums. Thought Out of Time was ok...Automatic for the People...brilliant!

I lost interest after Monster.

I love their early stuff. I'm a sucker for jangly guitars, post-punk beats and off-kilter lyrics.

By the way, I've had Fables of the Reconstruction in heavy rotation.

FUCKING CHRONIC TOWN!!!!!




"Suspicion yourself, wishin' yourself wouldn't get caught....."

Axchi696 said:

Thanks for the correction!

NWF said:

That's their best album by some margin, I'd say - a tragically over-looked record.

Personally, I'd recommend starting with the first album and moving on from there. It's true that they became more accomplished musically through the years (they've never been a band renowned for their hot chops), but I don't think they ever made better records than Murmer or Fables...
[Edited 2/4/05 21:04pm]

Let's not forget Dead Letter Office, which has some real gems.





* CRAZY (Pylon)
* THERE SHE GOES AGAIN (The Velvet Underground)
* BURNING DOWN
* VOICE OF HAROLD
* BURNING HELL
* TOYS IN THE ATTIC (Aerosmith)
* WINDOUT
* AGES OF YOU
* PALE BLUE EYES (The Velvet Underground)
* BANDWAGON
* FEMME FATALE (The Velvet Underground)
* WALTER'S THEME
* KING OF THE ROAD (by Roger Miller)

Anxiety said:

Thanks for your thoughts.

I "did" Bowie a couple of years ago and it really changed the way I listen and view music. "Low" and "Hunky Dory" are in my all time top 10 albums!

Stax said:

This is a fun CD. And, I believe it is still pressed WITH Chronic Town. So, you get two CDs for the price of one

i love REM. Automatic for the People is my favorite, with UP a close second. I also dig Document a great deal (Welcome to the Occupation is such a great track), and Reveal and Around the Sun.

The next tier would be Green, Out of Time, New Adventures in Hi Fi, and the older stuff. Monster is my least favorite.

Great band.
Life's Rich Pageant has always been my personal favorite R.E.M. album.

'I Believe', 'These Days', 'Fall On Me', 'Cuyahoga', 'Begin The Begin'
and a very good version of 'Superman'.

JonSnow said:

My bf agrees with you. I don't get it at all. I LOVED Monster. 'What's the Frequency Kenneth' , 'Crush With Eyeliner' , 'Tongue', etc. I thought it had a lot of energy and was a good change of pace from the slowness of the previous albums.

NWF said:

endorphin74 said:

monster is a very east village NYC album - or at least, that's the connection i'll always make when i hear it. it just reminds me of all the scrungy dirty boys on avenue A with their dirty faux fur coats and their smudgy star-shaped sunglasses. sometimes it makes me wanna roll my eyes, but sometimes it brings back really good memories.