REM: The 80s Years | Pop Culture Graveyard Ep75

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This episode of Pop Culture Graveyard features a deep dive on '80s-Era R.E.M., the college-radio legends who would later take over the world in the '90s and beyond. Click SHOW MORE below for extra R.E.M. content.
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Please use these links to purchase R.E.M.'s '80s albums:
Chronic Town: amzn.to/2XTNVEq
Murmur: amzn.to/3nX8SZL
Reckoning: amzn.to/3zx6LhB
Fables of the Reconstruction: amzn.to/3zx8OSO
Life's Rich Pageant: amzn.to/39sSfNb
Dead Letter Office: amzn.to/3zy5CpV
Document: amzn.to/3EKNahB
Green: amzn.to/3kyHmQ8
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As promised, here are my personal favorite Top Ten REM Songs of the '80s (in order of release):
Gardening at Night: This is a top three REM song for me, and I think it's got something to do with Bill Berry being way up high in the mix. Michael's lead vocals and the drumming dominate, and give the song real power:
• REM Gardening At Night
Million: This song captures "early rock 'n' roll R.E.M." perfectly; and Michael Stipe's voice was never grittier. I used to begin DJ sets with this song sometimes, because it always got me amped up:
• 1,000,000
Radio Free Europe: The most important early single for the band, Radio Free Europe was recorded twice. The first "Hib-Tone label" version (available on Eponymous) is faster than the Murmur version, but in my estimation it sounds a bit skinny and staticky, lacking the power and the crispness of this re-recorded version from Murmur: • R.E.M. Radio Free Europe
Laughing: Michael turns Laocoön (an ancient Greek priest immortalized with his two sons in a statue ), into a single mom with two sons who is trying to find a place to settle down, where they can all safely enjoy the absurdities of life without fear of scorn or abuse from humorless people:
• Laughing
West of the Fields: For a song with dreamy production and references to Elysian Fields, this track packs a real wallop! I may be a verse guy, but the chorus to this track always gets me worked up:
• West Of The Fields
Harborcoat: This has been my favorite REM song for many years and it never gets old to me. I think the backing vocals are a big reason why:
• Harborcoat
Pretty Persuasion: From its opening Byrds-like guitar, this track grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's a gorgeous rocker, if there is such a thing:
• Pretty Persuasion
Maps and Legends: Pure poetry set to music, this track sets a definite mood somewhere between confusion and helplessness, which I think the song is going for: "Maybe he's caught in the legend... Maybe he's caught in the mood... Maybe these maps and legends... Have been misunderstood."
• Maps And Legends
These Days: This song, my favorite off Life's Rich Pageant, always lifts up my spirits. Oh, and it ROCKS! "Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever...":
• R.E.M. - These Days
Exhuming McCarthy: "By jingo!" From the driving rhythm to the anti-imperialism lyrics to the funky "sign of the times" breakdown, this is easily my favorite song off of Document:
• Exhuming McCarthy
I Remember California: It may not be as accessible as Stand or as fun as Pop Song 89, but this moody number is my favorite track off Green:
• I Remember California ...
Honorable Mention:
The One I Love: This track almost made my list, so I had to give it a shout out. It is a favorite, and lyrically it is succinct perfection, but I've probably been overexposed to it:
• The One I Love (Remast...
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Here's the band's video for It's the End of the World, with a young man sifting through the detritus of what I assume to be a post-apocalyptic world. It seems like it was a fun video to make, but if I were that kid, I'd get checked out for asbestos poisoning!: • R.E.M. - It's The End ...
Here's the band's fantastic video for Orange Crush. Whether you were exposed to agent orange or not, the sad story of wasted youth really hits home: • R.E.M. - Orange Crush ...
Here's the band's live TV appearance, performing S. Central Rain on Late Night with David Letterman, that made such a big impression on me: • So central rain| R.E.M...
And here's the other half of their National-TV-debut appearance, Radio Free Europe: • REM - Radio Free Europe
Superman by The Clique: This song is charming as hell! From the lead singer's odd accent "Yaaaa-yam-Syooper-myaan," to the sudden instrumental breaks to the kaleidoscopic keyboards to the layered backing vocals, there's a lot to love here: • The Clique - Superman
00:00 Intro
01:53 Chronic Town EP
04:11 Murmur
06:46 Reckoning
10:28 Fables of the Reconstruction
13:31 Lifes Rich Pageant
16:26 Dead Letter Office
18:40 Document
21:54 Green
24:41 Out of Time
25:15 Eponymous
26:00 Outro
#REM #JanglePop #80sMusic

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14 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 75

@peterjonas4971 9 месяцев назад

IRS was a subsidiary of A & M records. The brother of Stewart Copeland (drummer for The Police, a band on the A & M label), Miles Copeland, ran IRS records. Bill Berry worked for IRS in the Atlanta office, and he gave Miles the REM demo cassette. My brother and I were lucky to see REM open for The Police on the latter's Synchronicity tour in Largo, Maryland. And we got hooked. "Laughing" is on side one of "Murmur," btw. Notice that on the spine of "Reckoning" is the note "File Under Water." "Green Grow The Rushes" is probably my favorite song by them. It's about US economic policy in Mexico and Latin America. Thanks for making this video.

@davehybner1113 22 дня назад

I was there in Lanham MD, and like you, I was hooked!

@davehybner1113 22 дня назад

Spell check goof..Largo MD

@tomhedrick2076 2 года назад

Hollis, I am so happy that I found your channel. R.E.M were my first taste of alternative music. Reckoning was my starting point, I was in the 8th grade when it came out. It is a toss up between Reckoning, and Fables, for my favorite. I loved Dead Letter Office as soon as it hit my tape deck... What a band, and what a time to be a teenager...thanks again!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Welcome to the channel, Tom! So glad you're enjoying the content. You're so right; it was a glorious time to be a teenager. So many unique and challenging bands jockeying for attention, and all bringing something real to the table. Reckoning is the perfect album to set the hook, for both REM and "new music" in general. As the years pass by, I realize just how lucky we were back then. Thanks again for the comment!

@rickg8015 2 года назад

So. Central Rain for me.. Basslines that hit you in the gut.. Mike Mills rocked!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Yes, Rick! Mikey Mills all day long! You're so right about that bassline. It reminds me in a strange way (bear with me) of George Harrison's guitar figure in And I Love Her that comes in right before each of Paul's lines. (That whole "do do do do do" I'm sorryyyyyyy "do do do do do" I'm sorryyyyyy.) It really makes the song, and I don't know that Michael's vocals have as much impact without it.

@nolagospeltracts8264 2 года назад

This is the one I've been waiting for.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

It's also one I've been putting off for a while. I really wanted to find the right angle for me.

@grahamed 2 года назад

Got to agree about Fall On Me (my personal fave REM song) -- the chorus with Michael and Mike and Bill's intertwining vocals is as good as music gets -- and is there a better lyric than "feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air"? It exactly walks the line you're talking about, precise enough and vague enough to put over an idea as a feeling.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Yes, those backing vocals! Amazing. And you're totally right, I can't believe I didn't call out that feathers line. In my defense, there was so much to cover, and they have so many amazing lyrics. Listening to all their stuff again (for the first time in a long time) for this episode was overwhelming. The band were creating at a high level.

@rjwusher 2 года назад

I love the Big Lebowski reference.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Haha! I really was on the fence about that one, and almost took it out. I'm so glad you got my back!

@burmajones803 2 года назад

Agree. It was a bonus, an easter egg, I think the kids call it.

@gregnewman2512 2 года назад

I hung in there thru Automatic, which may have been their best. But then again, who can name their favorite/best Bob Dylan song?? It's different everyday, if not every hour. But yeah, the IRS years were magic. "Perfect Circle" put me in a corner. Thanks, Hollis.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

I love Nightswimming off of Automatic. But from Out of Time onward I only connected with individual songs, not with full albums. You're so right about the changing nature of "favorites," especially with a band with a catalog this rich. Perfect Circle is a magical song. I honestly could just do a RU-vid show on a different REM song every week, and it would give me plenty to talk about. Jeez, someone should totally do that. Thanks for the comment, Greg!

@markf1840 2 года назад

Man Hollis you just keep hitting home runs. This is exactly where I would stop at R.E.M. as well. Your song selections below are also right on the money though I would probably include Catapult, the first R.E.M. song I ever heard on my turntable (I still think that Side 2 is side 1), and I was immediately caught in their grasp. Sitting Still also would make my top 10. I saw them back in the 80s and they had The Feelies open for them, still one of the best double bills I've ever seen. I can't tell you which album they were touring on but it was around the time of The Feelies album The Good Earth (or was it It's Only Life),which of course was produced by Peter Buck. Damn the music in those days was just so good and so important to me personally. Keep it up Hollis you make RU-vid a destination for alternative loving music nerds like me. (Now when can I expect that Feelies deep dive...or the Wire retrospective? For Wire you could do a 3 parter; part one the classic 70s, part 2; comeback No. 1, part 3; comeback No. 2)

@markf1840 2 года назад

Oh and I can't believe that I forgot to thank you for posting that link to The Clique. I have wanted to know who originally did Superman from the moment I find out it was a cover. So grateful to finally have a reference. I'm going to listen to the album tonight.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Thanks a lot, Mark! Appreciate the kind words. The rear-sleeve design of Murmur always fools me into thinking that Catapult is the first song on the album as well. They were always playful with stuff like that. I'll put the Feelies and Wire on the list. Glad you enjoyed the Clique!

@versioncity1 2 года назад

That's (sort of) odd - Fables is my favourite as well for exactly the same reason. Thats when I first saw them live, but in Liverpool England. Sometime in Autumn 85.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

That is odd! Yet also very cool. They put on such a great show. I'll have to see if I can track down the set lists. Very curious if we saw the same show, or if they changed the songs when you saw them a few months later.

@patrickwirbeleit4501 2 года назад

YES! Finally. I always told people that 'We didn't start the fire' is a lame rip-off of 'It'it's the end of the world'. But everybody went like: "I don't know... You really think? It does sound kind of familiar... In a way. Maybe." Anyway I must admit, I came across REM pretty late. Actually I just realised watching your video that they've had already a big back catalogue when they released Document. Well. I guess I make myself a playlist on Spotify with your recommendations before moving on to Eponymous and travel back in time for a bit! Thanks!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Haha, yeah, I had a lot of similar arguments back when that song was popular. They really do have a massive cache of sonic gold prior to (and including) Document. You've got a lot of great music ahead of you, my friend. Thanks for the comment!

@stereo999 2 года назад

Thank You. 80s REM is the best. I was a superfan back then and moat of my friends just didn't get it. P.S. I have the Hib Tone 45 and Sitting Still is the B side.

@stereo999 2 года назад

And hell yeah Laughing

@stereo999 2 года назад

On Voice of Harold, Stipe is reading liner notes of a gospel album. Was the b side of South Central Rain

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Yes, a good producer will do anything to get the right mic levels, and Don Dixon is a great producer.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

SUCH a great song!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

That's so cool! I really like the Hib-Tone single, and I should prefer it as it's a tad faster, but I really like the power of the LP version. I realize I'm in the minority, though. And you're right, REM was a dividing line between a lot of friends back then. Thanks for the comment!

@cbond1c113 2 года назад

Thanks for this. I remember so well the College rock years (yes its own section on the billboard) and cut my teeth on listening to mostly to REM. Although, I loved all the British bands etc, it was nice having homegrown rockers holding it down in the independent's, and REM were the absolute kings at the time. In a lot of ways "Document" was the last album of their's that I truly loved. I had a hard time warming-up entirely to "Green". Something about the lyrics, and Stipe's voice being too high in the mix. Maybe it was better when you only halfway knew what he was singing, because you could always fill in the parts that were not distinct, which made it more subjective. Although, they did get me back on board for "Out of Time" it was going to be a short-lived reunion for me. While always a great live band right-up to the end, to me REM's studio output for the majors is the red-headed step-child to their output on IRS Records.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

I obviously feel just as you do about their major-label output vs the IRS years, and it's a testament to how great a band they were that I still liked lots of songs on later albums. I totally remember the College Radio chart from Billboard. I remember thinking, "Things are finally changing!" Then it slowly morphed into the Modern Rock chart, then the Alternative chart, and finally Alternative Airplay--which features nothing but bands you hear on mainstream radio. So I'm not sure what's alternative about that. Thanks for the comment!

@nolagospeltracts8264 2 года назад

Mitch Easter had a cool little band too.

@mdduckman 2 года назад

Yes! Let's Active had some fine albums - my fave was Big Plans for Everybody. Some great stuff on that album. Mitch's voice can turn some off, but I really like it.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

True! I had a link and writeup about them in the description, but had to cut it out because I was a thousand words over!

@jonathanholmes6616 Год назад

Nice video. You say you ducked out after Monster (like so many). I say go and check out New Adventures in Hi Fi. To me it's the definitive R.E.M. album, as it blends the murk of their '80s records with the sheen of pretty much every other album from the 90s onwards. It contains no big hit singles (though the excellent E-Bow the Letter rightfully charted highly here in Britain) and can take some getting into, but for me (as a fan of them from beginning to end) it's the one album I would keep if I was only allowed to listen to one R.E.M. album for the rest of my life.

@davidkennedy3297 Год назад

Great overview. There is some great REM material post Green but I have to agree the real treasure is to found in those first 5 albums 6 if you stretch it to Green

@MusicFun-gd1cm 2 года назад

Nothing beats the IRS years. Reckoning and Life’s Rich Pageant are among my favorite albums ever. And yeah I agree Harborcoat is the best

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Those albums are so rich, I keep returning again and again. IRS had such a high batting average too; so many great wonderful on that label. Thanks for the comment!

@nolagospeltracts8264 2 года назад

@@PopCultureGraveyard Wall of Voodoo and the Go Go's off the top of my head.

@Urlocallordandsavior 2 года назад

Can't believe how much we both almost share the same favorite songs on Document (definitely rate the album higher than it's score on music rating sites), from "Exhuming McCarthy" being R.E.M's answer to "Going Underground" by the Jam, to "It's the End of the World", even "Strange" too. I'm more into melodies and rhythms over lyrics overall, but if it's got a catchy, easy-to-imitate word in the chorus, I'll understand enough about a song's lyrical meaning, all those three songs included.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

You, my friend, have wonderful taste in music! I hear ya, I get hung up on great lyrics--but a killer melody and rhythm is really what it's all about. And I don't think Document will ever get the love it deserves, because early REM in general will never get the love they deserve. Document was such a magical time for the band. But it was also, in another sense, the start of the end.

@Urlocallordandsavior 2 года назад

@@PopCultureGraveyard Thanks, I'm also beginning to realize how crap album review sites can be.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

@@Urlocallordandsavior Yeah; they're a must to avoid.

@Urlocallordandsavior 2 года назад

@@PopCultureGraveyard They certainly ruin your favorite albums, or make you go down a certain listening path.

@Urlocallordandsavior 2 года назад

@@PopCultureGraveyard Would you also recommend me to look into vinyl stuff, particularly in regards to the Jam? Don't really have money at the moment but owning vinyls has been a bit of a novelty dream for me.

@burmajones803 2 года назад

I am often mystified by younger people whose knowledge of R.E.M. started with Automatic...or Monster...or even later and thus don't understand what a treat discovering this band was in their better 80s era. I stuck with the band through Monster, but my heart belongs to those records up through Document. I like your top ten songs list. At least two songs in common with a list I posted on another channel several months ago: 10. Second Guessing 9. These Days 8. Finest Worksong. 7. Driver 8 6. Harborcoat 5. Losing My Religion 4. Bang and Blame 3. Just a Touch 2. Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) 1. Fall On Me

@burmajones803 2 года назад

Gotta add that I loved Dead Letter Office for its covers (I was young and didn't know you could play King of the Road any old slopoy way you wanted!), but mostly that Pylon cover. What a song!

@mdduckman 2 года назад

@@burmajones803 The Pylon cover is stellar!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Great list, Eric! And a nice mix of moods you've got going on there. As I mentioned earlier, I bought their next three albums, but from that point on I only connected with individual songs, rather than whole albums as i did during the IRS years. I also think there's something about the music you make before you become a millionaire that can't help but connect more than music you make after you're a millionaire. I mean that in every way from the artist's changed worldview to the amount of time they're allowed in the studio. Different band in many ways. Thanks for the comment!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

YES! Post-punk REM is fun!

@JordanGill2002 2 года назад

Although Nightswimming is my favourite REM song, the one that I love the most from the 80s would have to be You are the Everything. The lyrics on that song speak to me on a different level. Catapult would be my second favourite probably (this band has so many songs that I could pick from). Not only is the “we were little boys” verse part amazingly melodic, but the chorus with that acousticy guitar hook is easily one of the catchiest things I’ve heard.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Good picks! (Nightswimming is a rare one that I love from that LP) And you're so right about their catalog being jam packed with brilliant choices. Catapult is great. Have you heard the demo by Stephen Hague? It's a fascinating glimpse into the song (echoed vocals and synth!), but they were right to go with the album version. Though I happen to like both of them: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GUv4tn3zGj0.html

@JordanGill2002 2 года назад

@@PopCultureGraveyard hey man thanks for replying! From listening to the demo for the first time there it is clear why they went with the one on the album. Still interesting though, especially with those vocal effects. I actually love AFTP a lot. Along with Nightswimming, I adore Find the River and Sweetness Follows. I could understand disliking Man on the Moon though. Its one of those ones that if I hear a couple of times a year I’m ok with but anymore than that and I just get sick of it.

@mdduckman 2 года назад

So much to break down here - first of all thank you so much for covering one of my favorite bands. And glad you did the 80's years - I do love Out of Time and Automatic for the People, but it's hard to argue against the 80's being home to their best recordings. A few random notes here if you don't mind. Moral Kiosk has always been my favorite from Murmur - I remember when I first heard that album, it was the one that stuck out to me on a nearly perfect album. From Reckoning, I got the same feeling from Pretty Persuasion. I've also always loved Don't Go Back to Rockville (which 10,000 Maniacs do a very nice cover of) because it mentions a town from the state I live in and grew up in, Maryland. Slight correction to your segment here - the albums you mentioned as coming out in 1984 actually came out in 1985 (Tim, Meat is Murder, New Day Rising). I think you meant to say Let It Be, The Smiths debut and Zen Arcade?? Fables will always hold a special place in my heart as it is the album that got me into alternative music in 1985. Agree completely on Auctioneer! Just a great album. Life's Rich Pageant is in my mind one of the great lead off tracks to any REM album. The only time I saw them in concert (2008) they kicked off with this song and rocked it. Fall on Me is in my top 10 REM songs. Dead Letter Office was a lot of fun - I especially loved Crazy, Femme Fatale, Pale Blue Eyes and King of the Road. All covers, all great. And Ages of You belongs on one of their studio albums, no doubt. One of their best and underrated songs. Side note: I thought I was the only one who didn't like Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire? I cringe when it comes on the radio. And I generally love most of Billy Joel's songs, but not that one. Exhuming McCarthy is one of my favorites on Document as well. To me, it's certainly a standout track within a ton of great songs on that album. Was never a huge fan of Green - I can't stand "Stand" (yeah I know what I did there). Only worse song to me is "Shiny Happy People" - considering those are the only two songs that make me feel that way about REM, that shows you how great this band is. I also love You Are The Everything, Orange Crush and the untitled song after the final track (that's probably my favorite song on that album). And lastly, I SO agree with you about Country Feedback. Also in my top 10 REM songs. Texarkana is another great one on that album. Anyway, if you're still reading this, thanks again - you really did a fantastic job as always, breaking it down with humor, intelligence and wit. You rock sir! Can't wait to see what you have in store for next week. Keep up the great work!

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

MORT! Thank you for this comment as epic and varied as REM's catalog itself. You actually saved me, and I just went in to edit that erroneous segment. For some reason, I had that note about Fables of the Reconstruction (from '85) and I don't know how it wound up in the Reckoning chunk. But in my defense, this was a massive episode, and it was hard to think straight after a while--you can even see it go from daytime to nighttime in the course of the video! Haha! So thank you for the correction. Nice to know we're in such full agreement on so many songs. Don't get me wrong, I bought REM's next three albums, and gave them their due, but from that point on I only connected with individual songs (Country Feedback, Texarkana, Nightswimming, Crush With Eyeliner, Strange Currencies), rather than entire albums. I agree with you on Moral Kiosk; it's a very special song, and I absolutely love the guitar sound on it. I have always loved that 10,000 Maniacs of Rockville, and given Natalie's unique voice I'd be hard pressed to think of another band that could do it. And I think there's probably more of us "We Didn't Start The Fire" haters than we realize. I also agree about Stand and Shiny Happy People--they are the exception that proves the rule that REM rocks. Thanks, as always, for the support. I'm very grateful to have viewers like you!

@mathewmcdonald3657 2 года назад

What a fantastic informed comment. I respect people that know their shit.

@curly_wyn Год назад

That’s it! I’m tired of all this Shiny Happy People-hate! You think that makes you cool? With the cool kids in school? In all seriousness, I love R.E.M. too! Great video, Hollis! 🤗🖤

@rjwusher 2 года назад

God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

God save Little America!

@bri1042 2 года назад

Thanks for this - exactly what I needed this morning. I'm not sure that I have quite as hard of a dividing line in my REM enjoyment as you do, but the line is certainly right at Green however hard or soft of a line it is. I couldn't live without "Country Feedback", though. Whatever missteps exist in the last two thirds of REM's career, that song hits me right in the soul.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Oh, I bought the next few albums, and gave them their due, but from that point on I would only find songs I liked: Country Feedback, Texarkana, Nightswimming, Crush with Eyeliner, Strange Currencies, and others. I still respect their later work (mostly), but it seemed my days of connecting with their full albums were over.

@joenunz 2 года назад

Fantastic review of those great albums, Hollis. I too, am a Mikey Mills fan boy! In an alternate universe I could pull off wearing some of his jackets and not look ridiculous.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Thanks, Joe! Mikey Mills for president! It was a treat revisiting that catalog. PS: I don't know that Mikey pulls off wearing those jackets without looking ridiculous!

@richiek1131 2 года назад

Hitting the nail on the head again Hollis…old REM….more like “The Only REM!!” Losing my Religion , REM’s Love Shack….(excuse me while I vomit) …I did have a soft spot for What’s the Frequency Kenneth and Crush with Eyeliner but that’s about it…great job as always bringing us back …

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Haha, thanks Rich! I'm not exactly IRS-or-bust, but close! That Love Shack analogy is too funny--and oddly accurate. I have some later favorites: Country Feedback, Texarkana, Nightswimming, Crush With Eyeliner, Strange Currencies; but on those LP's I only connected with individual songs, rather than the whole album, like I did in the early days. Thanks for the comment, Rich!

@jimmurphy1166 2 года назад

Fantastic as always. Couple o’thoughts: I agree that Mike Mills is the band’s secret weapon. Catapult is probably my fave song from Murmur, because of that slinky bass line. Maps And Legends is great, I love that offbeat foreboding tempo. Exhuming McCarthy is a top five REM song. World Leader Pretend is on pretty much mix tape I made for anyone from the time it came out. I was trying to share it far and wide. I agree about Losing My Religion losing its impact after the six millionth airing. And I think they were pretty ambivalent about how the video blew things up for them. And yes my favorite songs from Out Of Time being towards the end, Texarkana and Country Feedback. I also do love Half A World Away and the organs and harpsichords and strings and whatnot.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Thanks, Jim! You're not along on Catapult; lots of other fans have been telling me that. Underrated track for sure. I'm not surprised we're in agreement on most points. Do you remember the cassettes you made for me of a few REM albums? One album each side, I believe. I forget which, but probably the first four before I ended up buying them. So thanks for that! You were instrumental in me really getting deeper into them. I also remember that I played my Eponymous cassette on the bus during that skiing trip we took with all those rowdy off-duty firemen. A little REM chilled those muthas out...

@LividImp 2 года назад

I'm so with you, I never tire of those early albums. All you favorites are mine too.....except....the Radio Free Europe version on Murmur. The Hib Tone version is the superior version. Even on Out of Time, Texarkana is the only song on that album I still listen to (Shiny Happy People needs to be erased from our collective memory, a la "1984"). I know I'm being an obnoxious music snob, but I absolutely judge people that say Out of Time is their favorite REM album. 99% of the time that means they've never heard another REM album before it (which I would be ok with if they just admitted that). Even if you like your REM more poppy, Green is a _far_ superior album.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Lots of people feel the way you do about the Hib Tone version. I'm usually a faster-is-better guy when it comes to rock, but not in this case. Anyway, I like having both versions readily available, so I don't have to choose. I hear ya. I think people who are casual REM fans are destined to say things that will always get a rise out of us IRS-pedigreed fans. In general these days it's hard to imagine a time when music meant as much as it did to us back then. For many reasons, there will never be another REM.

@songstofuckto 2 года назад

This will be great watching after I get my kid to bed tonight. Nice choice Hollis. If you are interested, check out a New Zealand band called Straitjacket Fits their stuff from the same era has an REM vibe to it.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Nice! Hope you enjoy it! And I totally remember Straightjacket Fits. I'll have to look them up again for a refresher, though. It's been ages since I heard their name.

@soyoungsuede 2 года назад

You saw them live in 1985!? How old are you???

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

Haha, I was 14 at the time. I got to see lots of great bands.

@utoobia 2 года назад

Life’s Rich Pageant is where they began to lose me. This is where they begin to lose their uniqueness, and where Stipe (to me) begins to become annoying. There are songs here and there through the rest of their career that I like but that was the beginning of the end for me. No offense to to the MILLIONS who hitched up to the train after that, but Chronic Town, Reckoning, Murmur and Fables contain some of the most interesting, unique music ever made.

@PopCultureGraveyard 2 года назад

I certainly can't fault you for that opinion. All I can think is that the band got bored with that wonderful sound they'd honed since their first EP, and wanted to branch out in different directions. Much like you, I'm definitely one who found those new directions less interesting. There's a magic to the early albums, which, to be fair, is tied to my own memories of youth when I heard and cherished them. Such a unique band back then.