R.E.M. Records Ranked (#5 to 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2023
- R.E.M. were my favorite band, and probably still are, depending on the day. They changed the way I looked at rock and roll, but also the world. They turned me on to countless bands and new ways of thinking. Their catalog is vast and ever changing, so I decided to count down all 15 of their studio records, from least favorite to favorite. This is where I get into the top 5 and even have some hesitation about which one is actually my #1.
• R.E.M. Records Ranked ...
• R.E.M. Records Ranked ...
• Why R E M ?
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![R.E.M. 1989-05-15 - Pinkpop Festival 89, Landgraaf, The Netherlands [TV Source]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jaPKKYezMX8/mqdefault.jpg)
I will defend "Shiny Happy People" until death.
I think everyone's fave REM record is Life's Rich Pageant. Those first three songs blow you away.
Drive, Try Not To Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Nightswimming. Incredible record
To me, at the dawn of the 1980s it felt like pop culture was being deflated. The life and vitality of popular music on the radio (AM and FM) that I'd grown up with, from the British invasion to punk, had drained away, squeezed out by soulless synth pop and drum machines -- and soulless, cynical politicians like Jerry Falwell and Ronald Reagan. In 1980, just a couple years after everyone had "gone disco," Bob Dylan put out the vapid, sanctimoniously slick "Saved" and that seemed like the final nail in the coffin for smart, engaging, challenging pop music. Fortunately, R.E.M. released "Murmur" in 1983 and became the first of a new generation of bands (along with the Replacements) to issue their debut LPs in the 1980s and feel like they might have an actual career worth following. I bought every R.E.M. album as a matter of course for the rest of the 20th Century. Thank goodness for them. (FWIW: The indecipherability of early R.E.M. lyrics was a big part of the band's appeal, but I took "The One I Love" as a twist on the teen-sentimental "Dedicated to the One I Love" (a hit for the 5 Royales, the Shirelles and the Mamas and the Papas) -- maybe about a musician's relationship with all those unknown, faceless concert audiences and radio listeners -- the "props.")
Can't get there from here had horns. I got into R.E.M. when Reckoning came out. You are right about how one ranks their LP's is largely affected by the time and place in life when you discovered them. Love "Worksong" and "End of the World" but never loved Document. Fables was my favorite for more years than Reckoning was...but I'll never forget sitting on my front steps with a Sony Walkman listening to the just released "Life's Rich Pageant." Those first 3 songs blew me away. Still my number one R.E.M. album. Oh, I saw the "Fables" tour at a small beautiful theater in Santa Barbara, CA...The Arlington. Made a big impact on me...for a few years there they were the only band I listened to. (more or less...) The thing that I loved about "Stand" was the wah-wah guitar solo. Different sound than we'd heard from Buck...and I agree with you about the bonus song on Green.
Cuyahoga baby!! ❤❤❤
Michael Stipe is also a genius and prophet. I think of REM as friends of mine since the 8O’s and I’m always glad to reconnect every time I hear their songs or play an album. I’ve even made pilgrimages to Athens to pay my respects and visit sacred REM places. I love this band.
Late to the party. I'm partial to the IRS years, but really dug REM for the most part 1981-94. I attended Indiana University in the late 80s and felt so proud that 'my band' shot the Fall On Me video outside of Bloomington at a rock quarry
REM is prob in the top 3 bands for me, all time. And that's almost completely based on the strenght of their first 5 albums. Their output after Document is spotty, IMO. Life's Rich Pageant is also my favorite. Document is my No. 5, coincidentally. Murmur and Reckoning are interchangeable and always contending for my second favorite. Fables at number 4. Dead Letter Office is in the mix too if B Side comps would be counted.
Great videos of one of my favorite bands of all time. My number one is Life's Rich Pageant as well.
I like REM and have seen them live also. Automatic For the People got me through college.
Hi Todd- great REM series, my favorite band since 1985. Hard to rank their albums so I applaud your effort. I’m definitely partial to the IRS years and most days Reckoning would be my number 1 but on others it’s Murmur, Fables or Pageant…love Chronic Town too. Cheers! Matt
This has been such a fun series. Thanks for making it!
Yessir! Life`s Rich Pageant is fantastic! My favorite too...I`m not surprised...
" Departure, Godspeed, Bless his heart.Good Lord !
Again, an amazing job with this countdown and how you talk about your personal connection to the band and these albums. We have the same Top 2, although, I’m on record as having them reversed. That said, I could flip them on any given day. LRP is their best IRS record. Automatic is their best WB album. That might be all that needs to be said. I will do a response in 2024. Just for fun. Happy New Year, Todd ✌🏻
Thanks for making this series. Always been a big REM fan. It is never easy to make a list like this but really appreciate your time in the discussion of each album. As you mentioned, everyone's will often be different based on the time of being introduced to REM. I came in around Document in high school and then college friend introduced me to the earlier albums. Through college and post grad my love for REM grew. Automatic for the People definitely got the most play. I always ended any test studying with "Nightswimming". Later, when blessed with daughters, I would often relax with them on my chest listening to the same track. Your video series comes as a great time as just recently I have been going back and giving more time to the earlier and later albums and like your recommendations of the lesser known tracks. I know just my time to commit to REM music decreased over the years and I never gave New Adventures in Hi-Fi the time it deserved and I know many rank that much higher than I likely would have in the past. Thanks again!
Hi Todd, this has been a great series to follow and I think I agree with 99% of your choices. I've previously spoken about how Green changed a lot for me musically and as a result many life choices and so I just want to say it was so great to see your passion for REM, your reasoning and ultimately the joy of seeing what this band means to other people and not just me. Look forward to so much more from your channel. Have a happy and peaceful 2024!!
Great series and a great channel. Thanks for doing this series on R.E.M.
R.E.M. was always aware of its place in pop culture history. A few suggested resonant pairings (some more obvious than others):