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R.E.M - Where to start?

silvosilvo Posts: 293
in Other Music
As a casual fan who has the greatest hits and always liked what they did but never delved any deeper I think I am probably missing out some great songs/albums within their extensive back catalogue. I was therefore hoping that some of you guys could recommend good places to start so that I can explore and enjoy them a bit more. Thanks
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Comments

  • Who PrincessWho Princess Posts: 7,305
    I could suggest several albums but I think if you want to hear many of their non-greatest hits, try Live at the Olympia. It features songs from throughout their catalogue that hadn't been performed in years. You can hear lots of great stuff and that will probably help you choose some albums to listen to.

    My favorite is Life's Rich Pageant but they have so many good ones it's really hard to pick just one.
    "The stars are all connected to the brain."
  • EchoesOnMarsEchoesOnMars Posts: 422
    Listen to Superman
    Philadelphia 2013 (Night 1)
    Philadelphia 2016 (Night 2)
    Upper Darby 2016 (Night 2) (Temple of the Dog)

  • AT302834AT302834 Posts: 39
    Document is one of my favorites.
  • EchoesOnMarsEchoesOnMars Posts: 422
    Document is one of my favorite albums, "King of Birds" is one their most underrated tunes.
    Philadelphia 2013 (Night 1)
    Philadelphia 2016 (Night 2)
    Upper Darby 2016 (Night 2) (Temple of the Dog)

  • Thirty Bills UnpaidThirty Bills Unpaid Posts: 16,881
    Lol

    I was going to say don't start. My roommates at university played the crap out of REM and I tired of them very easily. The nightclubs did too. There was no escape.

    I respect them- just don't care for them.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • tweedyfanjentweedyfanjen Posts: 881
    Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

    Lol

    I was going to say don't start. My roommates at university played the crap out of REM and I tired of them very easily. The nightclubs did too. There was no escape.

    I respect them- just don't care for them.

    I remember a friend who lived across the hall from us played Shiny Happy People every morning. Didn't keep me from liking REM but it was pretty annoying.

    And Green is my fave REM album. You may want to start with their live album or either greatest hits (Eponymous).
    I'm through with screaming
  • derbydavederbydave Posts: 11,254
    Reckoning!!!!

    '96: Seattle: Key Arena
    '98: Seattle: Memorial Stadium 1 & 2
    '00: Columbus: Polaris
    '03: Columbus: Germain
    '10: Columbus: Nationwide Arena
    '11: East Troy: Alpine Valley - PJ20 1 & 2 + EV Detroit
    '12: Missoula + EV Jacksonville 1 & 2
    '13: Chicago / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / Seattle
    '14: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Memphis / Detroit / Moline
    '15: New York City - Global Citizen Festival
    '16: Greenville / Hampton / Raleigh / Columbia / Lexington / Ottawa / Toronto 1 & 2 / Wrigley 1 & 2
    '17: Brooklyn - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
    '18: London 1 & 2 / Seattle 1 & 2 / Missoula / Wrigley 1
    '22: Nashville / St. Louis


    http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=170

  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance Posts: 23,308
    Begin with the Begin (haha)
    www.cluthelee.com
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    edited February 2017
    Reckoning
    Murmur
    Automatic for the People
    Life's Rich Pageant
    New Adventures in Hi Fi


    Start with those 5. I'd say avoid the live albums. They are fine, but I think the studio better represents the material.
    Post edited by Tim Simmons on
  • silvosilvo Posts: 293
    Thanks for all the input, will start checking out the recommendations
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    edited February 2017
    Automatic for the people
    Monster
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

    Lol

    I was going to say don't start. My roommates at university played the crap out of REM and I tired of them very easily. The nightclubs did too. There was no escape.

    I respect them- just don't care for them.

    This is so funny, I had the exact same experience but with opposite results. I did NOT get their music at all, and was miserable at first when college housemates played them endlessly. Then I went to see them live on Life's Rich Pageant tour, then the albums grew on me... Now easily one of top 5 of my favorite ever bands.
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    Who Princess said:

    I could suggest several albums but I think if you want to hear many of their non-greatest hits, try Live at the Olympia. It features songs from throughout their catalogue that hadn't been performed in years. You can hear lots of great stuff and that will probably help you choose some albums to listen to.

    My favorite is Life's Rich Pageant but they have so many good ones it's really hard to pick just one.

    I like this suggestion because you still get away from their "greatest hits" and yet you are hearing prime REM. And while their studio work is extraordinary, this was one of the best live bands ever, so you can't go wrong, live or studio albums.

    I haven't even heard this one, but L'Olympia is a magical place, my fave Jeff Buckley album ever was recorded there, so I say it must be good!
  • Thirty Bills UnpaidThirty Bills Unpaid Posts: 16,881
    JH6056 said:

    Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

    Lol

    I was going to say don't start. My roommates at university played the crap out of REM and I tired of them very easily. The nightclubs did too. There was no escape.

    I respect them- just don't care for them.

    This is so funny, I had the exact same experience but with opposite results. I did NOT get their music at all, and was miserable at first when college housemates played them endlessly. Then I went to see them live on Life's Rich Pageant tour, then the albums grew on me... Now easily one of top 5 of my favorite ever bands.
    I'd likely think differently of them if I saw them. Bands seem to make much more sense after you check them out.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • scurtisscurtis Posts: 2,460
    I actually loved R.E.M. as a kid as much as I loved PJ and Nirvana, Murmur still one of the best.

    I remember being 16 and listening to it over and over.
    "Born on third, thinks he got a triple."
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    I'd go on chronological order....it is cool to hear how their sound progressed from minimal indie rock to more complicated sounds with many more layers.
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance Posts: 23,308
    JOEJOEJOE said:

    I'd go on chronological order....it is cool to hear how their sound progressed from minimal indie rock to more complicated sounds with many more layers.

    Your best post ever!
    www.cluthelee.com
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,513
    2-feign-reluctance said:

    JOEJOEJOE said:

    I'd go on chronological order....it is cool to hear how their sound progressed from minimal indie rock to more complicated sounds with many more layers.

    Your best post ever!
    Hmmmm......I will take that as a huge compliment!
  • pj8pj8 Posts: 408
    I'd say Automatic, Document, and Lifes Rich Pageant are good starting points.
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Posts: 36,987
    I never got into them in their heyday. I checked out their greatest hits when it came out, but Shiny Happy People and Losing My Religion didn't exactly drag me towards being interested.

    it was, oddly, when I found out how much The Watchmen (one of my favourite bands) liked them, is what got me intrigued. And I found out a lot of the covers the WM play live are actually REM. I had no idea.

    I checked them out, and it was incredibly hard to actually delve into a band with such a deep catalogue. And then there's the b-sides and rarities. And it seems every REM fan has a different favourite, so recommendations are across the entire scope.

    I got REM fatigue very quickly. I plan on delving back into them when I'm in Mexico for a week this month.
    new album "Cigarettes" out Spring 2025!

    www.headstonesband.com




  • thispureamericanriotthispureamericanriot Posts: 514
    Eponymous (Collection 1981-87)
    Document
    Green
    Out Of Time
    Automatic For The People
    Monster (has a some vital tracks, but the dip in quality starts here IMO)
    ZF0 on SoundCloud

  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,042
    edited March 2017
    Their first record is the EP, "Chronic Town" and it's fine but I remember when first hearing "Murmur" when it came out thinking right away- this is groundbreaking. It's still an amazing record that holds up well. R.E.M. went on to make several great records and had a fantastic career and were a lot of fun to see live but I would say since "Murmur" is such a classic, that's where I would recommend starting.

    Other than maybe holding off on Chronic Town, I agree with JOEJOEJOE's idea of moving through chronologically. The evolution of this band is fascinating. For me, the latter decade definitely hit some bumps but they never made a really bad record and so much of their catalog is fantastic stuff.

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • ledveddermanledvedderman Posts: 7,761
    thispureamericanriot said:

    Eponymous (Collection 1981-87)
    Document
    Green
    Out Of Time
    Automatic For The People
    Monster (has a some vital tracks, but the dip in quality starts here IMO)

    I honestly see Monster as a terrible album. It feels forced and sounds flat. Give me Around the Sun or Accelerate any day over Monster.
    E8toX.gif

    http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
  • JH6056JH6056 Posts: 2,427
    ledvedderman said:

    thispureamericanriot said:

    Eponymous (Collection 1981-87)
    Document
    Green
    Out Of Time
    Automatic For The People
    Monster (has a some vital tracks, but the dip in quality starts here IMO)

    I honestly see Monster as a terrible album. It feels forced and sounds flat. Give me Around the Sun or Accelerate any day over Monster.
    I gotta ditto that about Monster. Other than What's the Frequency Kenneth and Crush with Eyeliner, I don't remember liking any other songs on that album. There are no other REM releases where I only like 2 songs! And that was the only live tour where, after seeing 3 shows on it, I was like "Eh.... those shows were not the best." I saw them a few times after Monster and they were back to being incredible, so I dunno what was up with that period.
  • thispureamericanriotthispureamericanriot Posts: 514
    ledvedderman said:

    thispureamericanriot said:

    Eponymous (Collection 1981-87)
    Document
    Green
    Out Of Time
    Automatic For The People
    Monster (has a some vital tracks, but the dip in quality starts here IMO)

    I honestly see Monster as a terrible album. It feels forced and sounds flat. Give me Around the Sun or Accelerate any day over Monster.
    OK, upon further reflection Monster is not that good, but it has some faves: What's the Frequency Kenneth, Crush With Eyeliner, Star 69, Bang and Blame.

    New Adventures in Hi-Fi is a better album...it's also the last R.E.M. album I ever bought. :|
    ZF0 on SoundCloud

  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,042
    edited March 2017
    thispureamericanriot said:

    ledvedderman said:

    thispureamericanriot said:

    Eponymous (Collection 1981-87)
    Document
    Green
    Out Of Time
    Automatic For The People
    Monster (has a some vital tracks, but the dip in quality starts here IMO)

    I honestly see Monster as a terrible album. It feels forced and sounds flat. Give me Around the Sun or Accelerate any day over Monster.
    OK, upon further reflection Monster is not that good, but it has some faves: What's the Frequency Kenneth, Crush With Eyeliner, Star 69, Bang and Blame.

    New Adventures in Hi-Fi is a better album...it's also the last R.E.M. album I ever bought. :|
    I can see why some would like Monster a lot-- it has some great songs. Overall, not nearly my favorite. But if you can get a hold of this 12" EP with "What's the Frequency Kenneth", and three excellent live cuts of "Monty Got a Raw Deal", "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon", it great- one of my very favorite R.E.M. platters.



    (CD pictured but look for the 12"!)
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • lolobugglolobugg Posts: 8,192
    derbydave said:

    Reckoning!!!!

    MY Fave......
    like Pavement said....Time After Time is my least favorite song........ and it still kicks ASS

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • derbydavederbydave Posts: 11,254
    lolobugg said:

    derbydave said:

    Reckoning!!!!

    MY Fave......
    like Pavement said....Time After Time is my least favorite song........ and it still kicks ASS
    I hear you...
    Murmur is a great album,
    but I knew REM was something special the first time I heard Reckoning!!
    I mean...come on...
    South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
    Harborcoat
    Pretty Persuasion
    Camera
    (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
    7 Chinese Brothers
    are all INCREDIBLE songs that I still love to listen to today!! :rock_on:
    '96: Seattle: Key Arena
    '98: Seattle: Memorial Stadium 1 & 2
    '00: Columbus: Polaris
    '03: Columbus: Germain
    '10: Columbus: Nationwide Arena
    '11: East Troy: Alpine Valley - PJ20 1 & 2 + EV Detroit
    '12: Missoula + EV Jacksonville 1 & 2
    '13: Chicago / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / Seattle
    '14: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Memphis / Detroit / Moline
    '15: New York City - Global Citizen Festival
    '16: Greenville / Hampton / Raleigh / Columbia / Lexington / Ottawa / Toronto 1 & 2 / Wrigley 1 & 2
    '17: Brooklyn - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
    '18: London 1 & 2 / Seattle 1 & 2 / Missoula / Wrigley 1
    '22: Nashville / St. Louis


    http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=170

  • lolobugglolobugg Posts: 8,192
    derbydave said:

    lolobugg said:

    derbydave said:

    Reckoning!!!!

    MY Fave......
    like Pavement said....Time After Time is my least favorite song........ and it still kicks ASS
    I hear you...
    Murmur is a great album,
    but I knew REM was something special the first time I heard Reckoning!!
    I mean...come on...
    South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
    Harborcoat
    Pretty Persuasion
    Camera
    (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
    7 Chinese Brothers
    are all INCREDIBLE songs that I still love to listen to today!! :rock_on:
    Dave,
    Crazy thing is I have heard all of those live except Pretty Persuasion.
    Love this album!!!

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • derbydavederbydave Posts: 11,254
    lolobugg said:

    derbydave said:

    lolobugg said:

    derbydave said:

    Reckoning!!!!

    MY Fave......
    like Pavement said....Time After Time is my least favorite song........ and it still kicks ASS
    I hear you...
    Murmur is a great album,
    but I knew REM was something special the first time I heard Reckoning!!
    I mean...come on...
    South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
    Harborcoat
    Pretty Persuasion
    Camera
    (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
    7 Chinese Brothers
    are all INCREDIBLE songs that I still love to listen to today!! :rock_on:
    Dave,
    Crazy thing is I have heard all of those live except Pretty Persuasion.
    Love this album!!!
    The one that has escaped me is 7 Chinese Brothers...
    never got that one!!

    I got Pretty Persuasion twice...
    The first time was at my 3rd REM show back in '86 in Bloomington, IN:

    http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/rem/1986/indiana-university-auditorium-bloomington-in-7bd6fe80.html

    Closing with South Central Rain is still burned into my memory.

    Got it again in Richmond on the Green Tour as well:

    http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/rem/1989/richmond-coliseum-richmond-va-53d68ff9.html

    They did 3 encores that night...what a GREAT show!!
    '96: Seattle: Key Arena
    '98: Seattle: Memorial Stadium 1 & 2
    '00: Columbus: Polaris
    '03: Columbus: Germain
    '10: Columbus: Nationwide Arena
    '11: East Troy: Alpine Valley - PJ20 1 & 2 + EV Detroit
    '12: Missoula + EV Jacksonville 1 & 2
    '13: Chicago / Pittsburgh / Buffalo / Seattle
    '14: Cincinnati / St. Louis / Tulsa / Lincoln / Memphis / Detroit / Moline
    '15: New York City - Global Citizen Festival
    '16: Greenville / Hampton / Raleigh / Columbia / Lexington / Ottawa / Toronto 1 & 2 / Wrigley 1 & 2
    '17: Brooklyn - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
    '18: London 1 & 2 / Seattle 1 & 2 / Missoula / Wrigley 1
    '22: Nashville / St. Louis


    http://www.livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=170

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