R.E.M. or U2?

capybaralet

REM. I don't care much for U2's music, although I don't see why Bono's a prick...

I think he is doing the world a hgell of a lot of good (although if I were him, I wouldn't be spending money on fancy glasses, &c.)

Pearls&Stones

messmergrad00 wrote:

U2 is no longer relevant in rock music, REM is always expanding their musical horizons...

REM by a universe, and HiFi is a CLASSIC

In what way exactly is U2 no longer relevant? Hell, they are still a big influence on REM. Michael Stipe has said so. There goes your argument right there.

As for me, I love so much of REM's music. I just love every song on "Document," "Green," "Out of Time," "Automatic for the People," and "Reveal" Plus, "New Adventures" and "Around the Sun" each have a few good songs as well as the early stuff. But, "Monster," and "Up" are giant stink bombs! I still own "Up" because I love At My Most Beautiful and Parakeet. But every other song on it royally sucks.

As much as I love REM overall, this one is no contest for me. U2 simply wrote modern book on rock n' roll. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is one of the flat out greatest records I have ever heard, rivaled only by a few other U2 records (..and a few PJ as well)

I can't even see this as a contest

Pearls&Stones

i have to chime in again.

REM is always expanding their horizons? The REM "expanding" equation looks like this....

Bittersweet Me = Daysleeper = Leaving New York = Bad Day = The Great Beyond

Again, I do like REM. But I'm constantly getting the bulk of the singles they've done in the last 10 years confused. Because THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME. I can't tell you how many times I'll be signing the body of one of them with the chorus of another. They are practically interchangable

JOHNNY VS.

If you give this cd four or five spins in the right frame of mind, it's a lovely and very melodic album. I've loved REM since 84. Loved U2 since 80. love 'em both on equal footing. Much to digest in their rich catalogues. Incidentally I put PJ in the same league of World Class Classic Inspiring and Motivating Reason-To-Live bands.

tremorsinmytree

REM for sure, constantly listening to many rem albums as oppossed to u2 which I only like listening to Rattle and Hum.

I am very surprised by the overwhelming choice of rem over u2.

morepeopleshouldsing

Up until "zooropa" (excuse the poor attempt at spelling) I would have said U2. Although until around that time I also loved REM. But since I havn't heard much of anything from REM lately and I'm not particularily fond of the new U2 I'll say a tie!

pearljam_addiction

U2!!!!!!!! all the way

gvn2fly12

U2 for me never relly got into REM so...

wolfbear

REM for me. Never really got into U2. Liked some of their songs and appreciate what Bono does, but their music doesn't move me like REM's does. I've never seen them live though, so that could make a difference.

Pery

U2 first...

PearlJamminJason

REM hands down by a looooong shot im talkin here to neptune..i fucking hate u2

fuck

U2 murders REM.

Any day.

prljam85

Rem

markymark550

R.E.M. by a landslide.

I can't stand U2.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst

Edge34

Is neither an option???

rhinomagic

Well, they've both made unique contributions to rock music and to making the world a better place.

But, muscially, I think REM has made much more INTERESTING music than U2. I get the feeling that U2 invests in crazy lights, video, and stage antics because they feel their music needs something else to help sell it.

REM has hardly resorted to such tricks and even managed to carry on well after the departure of a founding member.

.

CServant

U2 in a BIG way for me! Now if the thread was DMB or U2, I'd have to think more about it... But U2 in a landslide over R.E.M.

Pearl Jam and toast

capybaralet wrote:

REM. I don't care much for U2's music, although I don't see why Bono's a prick...

I think he is doing the world a hgell of a lot of good (although if I were him, I wouldn't be spending money on fancy glasses, &c.)

and he saved Bob Dylan (along with the travelling wilburries).

bono isn't a prick, he just comes off as a little pretentious.

OfTheGirl

i like both but REM definitely if i had to choose one over the other. REM was my first "favorite band".

quasi

During the late 80's, I had REM and U2 neck and neck...I bought everything by both bands. Then, in the mid-nineties, REM started to bore me. Stopped buying albums after "UP". I saw them on the 1999 "Up" tour and wanted to leave early. On the other hand, U2's Elevation Tour totally amped me up and I started to sway towards U2. True, their newer albums aren't nearly as rich as their earlier albums (Boy and October are still my favorites), but I it's their live show that keeps me interested. I hardly ever listen to studio albums anymore. REM is a snorefest live these days and it's kind of sad for me to see how they've sort of withered away. I think Bill Berry had the right idea when he quit in 1995 as that was when they were last relevant to me. I will say that "Murmur" is one of the best albums of all time.