I tried to spread out my picks over albums otherwise they were all going to be from Murmur, Reckoning etc. But those were the albums and songs that meant the most to me. Actually, going over the later albums I realized that I never gave these albums much of a chance due to the post release dissapointment but that they seem to have aged pretty well and I should go back and give them a listen.
― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 6 April 2003 16:23 (twenty-one years ago) link
― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 6 April 2003 16:27 (twenty-one years ago) link
― MerkinMuffley (MerkinMuffley), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:28 (twenty-one years ago) link
Wolves, LowerVoice of HaroldThese DaysPerfect CircleAuctioneerLife and How to Live ItYouBegin the BeginDisturbance at the Heron HouseAt My Most Beautiful
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
Wendall Gee Perfect Circle Country Feedback Find the River Daysleeper Try Not To Breathe Hairshirt New Test Leper Nightswimming Half A World Away
― Peter Dee, Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gazuga (gazuga), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:27 (twenty-one years ago) link
Near Wild HeavenPretty PersuasionSitting StillImitation Of LifeHarborcoatRadio Free EuropeWolves, LowerPerfect CircleBegin The BeginHalf A World Away
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:31 (twenty-one years ago) link
1) They're not in order.2) You know as well as I do what an awful lyricist Stipe was capable of being even in his "heyday."3) But he's a great singer!4) "Emotional Rescue" was on my Stones POX and I'm sure I own more Stones than you, you little pipsqueak.
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:36 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
1. Perfect Circle2.3.4. Shaking Through5. Leave6.7.
(this.is.pure.torture)phleeez, may i do cover versions and instrumentals first!?!
― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:52 (twenty-one years ago) link
Honorable Mention: Catapult, 9-9, Pretty Persuation, Shaking Through.
― Burr (Burr), Sunday, 6 April 2003 22:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 6 April 2003 22:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
gardening at nightlaughingharborcoatmaps and legendskahoutekgood advicesfall on methe one i lovelosing my religionuntitled from Green
later notables:near wild heavencountry feedbacktongue
― Aaron A., Sunday, 6 April 2003 23:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
― angelo (angelo), Monday, 7 April 2003 05:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Chris P (Chris P), Monday, 7 April 2003 05:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
11) "Slip Inside This House," the song they SHOULD have covered for Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye but didn't, and therefore doesn't exist as far as I know, goddammit.
― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 7 April 2003 06:01 (twenty-one years ago) link
― rex jr., Monday, 7 April 2003 06:24 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 7 April 2003 11:39 (twenty-one years ago) link
― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 7 April 2003 15:49 (twenty-one years ago) link
― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 7 April 2003 15:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
The annoyingly repetitive, monotone and "underproduced on the verge of unfinished" "Nightswimming", you mean?
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 7 April 2003 17:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
― christoff (christoff), Monday, 7 April 2003 19:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Burr (Burr), Monday, 7 April 2003 23:16 (twenty-one years ago) link
― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 7 April 2003 23:48 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 02:45 (twenty-one years ago) link
― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Thursday, 24 February 2005 11:09 (nineteen years ago) link
― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 24 February 2005 13:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― incrementally telephone lines came down for traitor nooses, Thursday, 24 February 2005 13:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:19 (nineteen years ago) link
This is really hard for me.
― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:47 (nineteen years ago) link
― Greig (treefell), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:53 (nineteen years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― baxter, Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:29 (nineteen years ago) link
― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:11 (nineteen years ago) link
warner years (new adventures songs first, cuz that album fucking rules):1. new test leper2. electrolite3. leave4. country feedback5. sweetness follows6. the sidewinder sleeps tonite7. me in honey 8. turn you inside-out9. sad professor10. world leader pretend
― john'n'chicago, Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:30 (nineteen years ago) link
Untitled Final Song On Green - I'd completely forgotten about that one. I have to say that I haven't played Green in 5 years or more - is that the song where they swop instruments? I have no idea how it goes, except for a vague recollection of a clumsy drum intro (Buck?)
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― john'n'chicago, Thursday, 24 February 2005 17:14 (nineteen years ago) link
― mr. drew (mr. drew), Thursday, 24 February 2005 17:47 (nineteen years ago) link
though Nightswimming has kind of ruined the actual act of night swimming.
― dan. (dan.), Thursday, 24 February 2005 17:52 (nineteen years ago) link
clumsy drum intro (Buck?)Yup.
― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 24 February 2005 17:56 (nineteen years ago) link
IRS
PilgrimageSo. Central RainHarbourcoatFeeling Gravity's PullLife and How To Live ItBegin The BeginJust A TouchFinest WorksongDisturbance at the Heron HouseExhuming McCarthy
Warners
You Are The EverythingUntitledFind The RiverSweetness FollowsYouTongue Circus EnvyCrush With EyelinerBinky The DoormatElectrolite
post-Berry
HopeSad ProfessorWalk UnafraidThe Great BeyondI've Been HighThe LiftingAnimalElectron BlueI Wanted To Be WrongAround The Sun
― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:51 (nineteen years ago) link
― john'n'chicago, Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― Si Carter (Si Carter), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― Aaron A., Thursday, 24 February 2005 22:09 (nineteen years ago) link
Yeah sorry that’s what I call it
― L'assie (Euler), Thursday, 7 November 2019 18:35 (four years ago) link
so. central rainthe one i lovegardening at nighttalk about the passionfinest work song7 chinese brothersnear wild heaventhe sidewinder sleeps tonight (feel like this is not a partic popular choice, but as a kid - i was 8 when automatic was released - this was the first REM song i remember really liking a lot)nightswimmingwhat's the frequency kenneth
― ت (jim in vancouver), Thursday, 7 November 2019 19:31 (four years ago) link
the sidewinder sleeps tonite (i hear you jim in vancouver; this song is pure joy)shaking throughcuyahogae-bow the letterbang and blamenear wild heavenwendell geeworld leader pretendtime after time (annelise)it's the end of the world as we know it (and i feel fine)
― J. Sam, Thursday, 7 November 2019 20:45 (four years ago) link
i feel like a jerk for not putting losing my religion in there. it's not honest without that. losing my religion may be the song that i still like the most that i've listened to the most times, if you know what i mean
― at home in the alternate future, (Karl Malone), Thursday, 7 November 2019 20:48 (four years ago) link
Gardening at NightSitting StillDon't Go Back to RockvilleDriver 8Fall On MeCountry FeedbackNightswimmingFind the RiverStrange CurrenciesE-Bow the Letter
Since my picks are pretty basic, here's 10 deeper cuts I also love:
9-9CatapultKohoutekSwan Swan HKing of BirdsYou Are the EverythingHairshirtBelongNew Test LeperAirportman
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Thursday, 7 November 2019 21:01 (four years ago) link
this is pretty much the same list I would have had at age 19. sadboi REM will always be my favorite REM
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Thursday, 7 November 2019 21:03 (four years ago) link
The Wrong ChildFireplaceI Remember CaliforniaNightswimmingNear Wild HeavenHopeGardening At NightRadio Free EuropeLeaveCrush With Eyeliner
― nate woolls, Thursday, 7 November 2019 21:28 (four years ago) link
good list
― L'assie (Euler), Thursday, 7 November 2019 22:18 (four years ago) link
Oh fiddlestix I need 7 chinese brothers on there. Gah.
― tempted by the fruit of your mother (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 7 November 2019 22:37 (four years ago) link
KohoutekGardening at NightHarborcoatDriver 8World Leader PretendCountry FeedbackI BelieveLaughingFind the RiverDaysleeperLots of overlap with evol j. I too probably would have chosen very similarly perhaps, um, two-thirds of a lifetime ago.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 7 November 2019 23:11 (four years ago) link
Try Not To BreatheSitting StillE Bow The LetterHarborcoatI BelieveNightswimmingFind The RiverElectroliteSweetness FollowsWolves Lower
― Poor.Old.Tired.Horse. (Stew), Friday, 8 November 2019 17:27 (four years ago) link
^^^oooooh yeah
― at home in the alternate future, (Karl Malone), Friday, 8 November 2019 17:50 (four years ago) link
Wolves, LowerGardening At NightSitting StillSo. Central RainDriver 8Fall On MeI BelieveNear Wild HeavenNightswimmingFind The River
― SA, Friday, 8 November 2019 18:32 (four years ago) link
I should have found room for Electrolite.
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Friday, 8 November 2019 19:10 (four years ago) link
Me too but I have no idea what I would dislodge to make room for it.
― tempted by the fruit of your mother (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 8 November 2019 19:11 (four years ago) link
sitting stillthe wrong childbelongfall on meshaking throughkohoutekcircus envywolves, lowerwendell geelittle america
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 8 November 2019 19:11 (four years ago) link
there are too many positive feelings on this thread. so let me say it: i think electrolite (which i like!), is possibly the most overrated REM song.
― at home in the alternate future, (Karl Malone), Friday, 8 November 2019 19:54 (four years ago) link
damn sonto me it’s like nightswimming except it’s good
― brimstead, Friday, 8 November 2019 20:35 (four years ago) link
sorry for the ‘lops
I have a mental thing where I think up additional lyrics: I'm Steve McQueen, I'm Jimmy Dean, I'm Martin Sheen, I'm Aqua Teen, I'm Vaseline, I'm Paula Deen, I'm Mister Bean, I'm Billie Jean, I'm David Lean, I'm margarine, etc.
― tempted by the fruit of your mother (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, 8 November 2019 21:54 (four years ago) link
Nightswimming>>>>>Electrolyte
― quinn morgendorffer stan account (morrisp), Friday, 8 November 2019 22:07 (four years ago) link
nuh uh
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Friday, 8 November 2019 22:26 (four years ago) link
YMP, i do the same with "catapult": "can of pork!, cat afloat!, gallow's pole!" lyrical madlibs was one of the minor joys of early mumbly michael singalongs. "electrolite" is maybe a final callback to those early days, on their last great (bill involved) album
― reggie (qualmsley), Friday, 8 November 2019 22:30 (four years ago) link
Ranking their openers.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 11 October 2020 02:38 (three years ago) link
I don’t love “Radio Song,” but I think it works well as an opener for that particular album.
― Guitar Dick (morrisp), Sunday, 11 October 2020 03:47 (three years ago) link
aw c'mon "How the West was Won" is one of the all-time great openers, REM or other
― assert (MatthewK), Sunday, 11 October 2020 08:47 (three years ago) link
Find The RiverTime After Time (Annelise)7 Chinese BrothersDisturbance At The Heron HouseLife & How To Live ItSweetness FollowsI BelievePerfect CircleDaySleeperPilgrimage
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 25 July 2023 15:22 (eight months ago) link
Great choices, more ballad-y than mine would be I think.
― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 25 July 2023 21:21 (eight months ago) link
wolvescarnivalpilgrimagelaughingharborcoatdiminishedbe minethe one i lovelosing my religionsidewinder
― brimstead, Wednesday, 26 July 2023 00:11 (eight months ago) link
Hmmm how about
Near Wild HeavenFind the RiverLet Me InNightswimmingSweetness FollowsI Remember CaliforniaWhy Not SmileThe Wrong ChildLeaveFireplace
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Wednesday, 26 July 2023 01:55 (eight months ago) link
nice lists. don't think I've attempted one since college.
Green Grow the RushesNear Wild HeavenSweetness FollowsHopeHarborcoatWorld Leader PretendSidewinder Sleeps ToniteRockvilleElectroliteAftermath
― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 01:59 (eight months ago) link
Near Wild HeavenCatapultSweetness FollowsNew Test LeperDisturbance at the Heron HouseFeeling Gravitys PullNightswimming Moral KioskLowTry Not to Breathe
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 02:07 (eight months ago) link
glad Sweetness Follows gets so much love, might be my favorite song of theirs.
― all this time I thought you were British (Deflatormouse), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 02:14 (eight months ago) link
pilgrimagemoral kioskso. central raingreen grow the rushesmaps and legendsi believelowsweetness followsfind the riverelectrolite
― z_tbd, Wednesday, 26 July 2023 02:27 (eight months ago) link
hi!
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 02:28 (eight months ago) link
wolves, lowerlaughingsitting still(don't go back to) rockvillelife and how to live itdriver 8nightswimmingsweetness followsstrange currencieselectrolite
― Clay, Wednesday, 26 July 2023 02:32 (eight months ago) link
my high school had coffeehouse nights, and my two best friends and i were the organizers our senior year. our last week of school, the three of us holed up in a room for two hours and arranged a string bass/cello/acoustic guitar version of “Sweetness Follows” that i sang. brought down the house, deeply happy memory for me.
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 11:11 (eight months ago) link
It really is a staggeringly beautiful song. Must have felt so powerful to sing it.
― assert (matttkkkk), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 13:21 (eight months ago) link
crush with eyelinerworld leader pretendpilgrimagee-bow the letterkohoutekcountry feedbackbeat a drumsuspicion exhuming mccarthyharborcoat
― ivy., Wednesday, 26 July 2023 13:30 (eight months ago) link
Thought the thread revive was related to the band members' own POX:
MICHAEL STIPEWorld Leader PretendCountry FeedbackStrange Currencies (Remix/The Bear Edit)The LiftingElectron BlueSupernatural SuperseriousOh My HeartWe All Go Back To Where We Belong, Kirsten,…The Flowers of GuatemalaHalf A World AwayPETER BUCKFeeling Gravity’s PullSo. Central RainWalk UnafraidYou’re In The AirDiscovererAll The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star)Try Not To BreatheUndertowElectroliteFinest WorksongMIKE MILLSWolves, LowerPilgrimageI BelieveIt’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)You Are The EverythingOrange CrushWhat’s The Frequency, Kenneth?How The West Was Won And Where It Got UsLiving Well Is The Best RevengeEvery Day Is Yours To WinBILL BERRYBeachballDaysleeperLeaving New YorkThese DaysWe WalkI Remember CaliforniaI Don’t Sleep, I DreamRotary TenVoice Of HaroldFind The River
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Wednesday, 26 July 2023 13:36 (eight months ago) link
Glad to see ilxors love near wild heaven. Best song on that album easy
― realistic pillow (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 27 July 2023 03:16 (eight months ago) link
…their worst video, though (MTV Classic plays it a lot)
― Empty Tushy Fills (morrisp), Thursday, 27 July 2023 03:45 (eight months ago) link
Eazy, it probably was indirectly but the discussion of the band's top 40 has been on the other thread:REM: Classic or dud?
― Alba, Thursday, 27 July 2023 06:51 (eight months ago) link
I think the best I can do is narrow their catalog down to a core 20 songs… beyond this, it’d just be throwing darts to prune it further (which isn’t really fun for me):Wolves, LowerGardening at NightLaughingPerfect CircleCatapult Sitting StillShaking ThroughHarborcoat7 Chinese BrothersCameraGood AdvicesLife and How to Live ItPop Song 89Get UpYou Are The EverythingHairshirt DriveWhat’s the Frequency, Kenneth?Crush With EyelinerE-Bow the Letter
― Nonhuman biologics enthusiast (morrisp), Sunday, 13 August 2023 20:34 (eight months ago) link
…oh shit, I forgot “Letter Never Sent” (listening to Reckoning now). POXXI(?)
― Nonhuman biologics enthusiast (morrisp), Sunday, 13 August 2023 20:59 (eight months ago) link