Recommended albums by R.E.M for newbie
May 19, 2006 3:02 AM Subscribe
After hearing "Imitation of Life", I'd like to listen and enjoy some more R.E.M. music. Where should I start? What albums are recommended for a newbie to R.E.M?
Their first two full-length albums, "Murmur" and "Reckoning," are mighty fine.
posted by enrevanche at 3:36 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by enrevanche at 3:36 AM on May 19, 2006
Go with the first two albums, but maybe preview them before you buy to make certain you like the sound. IRS-era REM sounded quite different from their later incarnations (and "Imitation of Life" is one of their more recent tracks). Automatic for the People is also great. And for some reason I've always liked Monster.
But really, there are REM newbies?
posted by scarylarry at 3:44 AM on May 19, 2006
But really, there are REM newbies?
posted by scarylarry at 3:44 AM on May 19, 2006
I'd go for the first greatest hits compilation, Eponymous. It's a very nice sampling of early stuff.
posted by Ljubljana at 3:52 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by Ljubljana at 3:52 AM on May 19, 2006
But really, there are REM newbies?
I remember Gene Simmons saying "Kiss will always be a new band to someone". I guess that's his excuse to keep touring that "one last time".
Back on topic, the earlier albums, as people have said, sound very different from their more recent stuff. I'd also recommend going with their first greatest hits compilation to hear what their earlier sound was. The massive-selling Warners albums are all pretty good, although Around The Sun (their latest) is appalling, IMHO, and best avoided.
posted by TheDonF at 4:17 AM on May 19, 2006
I remember Gene Simmons saying "Kiss will always be a new band to someone". I guess that's his excuse to keep touring that "one last time".
Back on topic, the earlier albums, as people have said, sound very different from their more recent stuff. I'd also recommend going with their first greatest hits compilation to hear what their earlier sound was. The massive-selling Warners albums are all pretty good, although Around The Sun (their latest) is appalling, IMHO, and best avoided.
posted by TheDonF at 4:17 AM on May 19, 2006
REM started very differently from where they are today. I think that Document was the first major shift (also one of my favorite albums ever by any band). This begins the sweet spot of my favorite REM albums up to Monster, which was their real response to the early 90s trends, and also an excellent album. For whatever reason, I think that Fables of the Reconstruction is one of their most unusal and interesting albums.
posted by BigBrownBear at 4:26 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by BigBrownBear at 4:26 AM on May 19, 2006
Chronic Town (EP) and Murmur (LP) ca. 1983-84 are their two earliest, I think. Think stripped-down, jacked-up Byrds' Rickenbacker jingle-jangle, with often indecipherable vocals done in an almost Psychedlic Furs like vocal technique.
Pure heaven.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:12 AM on May 19, 2006
Pure heaven.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:12 AM on May 19, 2006
If you're looking for the band at its (IMO) creative peak, then check out Out of Time and Automatic For The People, if you're looking to sample the "hits" then Eponymous covers their pre-Warner collection (ie everything up till 1988), while In Time covers the band's Warner years. IMHO, Life's Rich Pageant would be the place to start, but I say that primarily because that's where I started (albiet, in the mid-80s, sigh).
Generally, the biggest differential in the band sound comes after Up, as that's when Bill Berry (their drummer) left the group. You can't go wrong w/ an R.E.M. album recorded during the Bill Berry years; afterward it becomes a lot more subjective (I liked Up and Around The Sun, but didn't care for Reveal as a whole.)
posted by herc at 5:28 AM on May 19, 2006
Generally, the biggest differential in the band sound comes after Up, as that's when Bill Berry (their drummer) left the group. You can't go wrong w/ an R.E.M. album recorded during the Bill Berry years; afterward it becomes a lot more subjective (I liked Up and Around The Sun, but didn't care for Reveal as a whole.)
posted by herc at 5:28 AM on May 19, 2006
Eponymous is the first CD I ever owned. It's a great cross-section of their early career.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi, as far as I'm concerned, is their last great record (and my personal favorite). It's got loud, it's got soft, and it's got everything in-between.
posted by schustafa at 5:38 AM on May 19, 2006
New Adventures in Hi-Fi, as far as I'm concerned, is their last great record (and my personal favorite). It's got loud, it's got soft, and it's got everything in-between.
posted by schustafa at 5:38 AM on May 19, 2006
"Murmur" and "Reckoning" are considered (among the hard-core fans I know - and myself) to be their finest *albums*. There are some great *songs* on some other albums, such as ...
- Fables of the Reconstruction
- Life's Rich Pageant
- Document
- Green
- Out of Time
- Automatic For the People
That's about it. Not a fan of albums >= "Monster" (other than a song or two on "New Adventures in Hi-Fi".
posted by tom_g at 5:38 AM on May 19, 2006
- Fables of the Reconstruction
- Life's Rich Pageant
- Document
- Green
- Out of Time
- Automatic For the People
That's about it. Not a fan of albums >= "Monster" (other than a song or two on "New Adventures in Hi-Fi".
posted by tom_g at 5:38 AM on May 19, 2006
vac2003, given that the REM sound *has* changed quite dramatically, maybe it would help if you describe what it is you find compelling in "Imitation." To me, its very clean, pop-heaven sound calls to mind Out of Time and Green more than any of their other albums. But these are two of my least favorite REM albums. If you're willing to experiment a little, I'd still go with their early work...but if you want something that sounds like "Imitation of Life," I'd go with one of those two albums.
PS You can probably find Out of Time for about $2.00 at any used record store. And it's not like Stipe is desperate for the money anymore.
posted by scarylarry at 6:04 AM on May 19, 2006
PS You can probably find Out of Time for about $2.00 at any used record store. And it's not like Stipe is desperate for the money anymore.
posted by scarylarry at 6:04 AM on May 19, 2006
My favorite is still their first EP. (And I still can't quite get used to the fact that they became a huge success.)
posted by languagehat at 6:13 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by languagehat at 6:13 AM on May 19, 2006
I love all REM albums up to "Monster" and a few songs on "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" but my two favorite albums are "Fables of the Reconstruction" and "Life's Rich Pageant". That may be because those were the two newest albums out and the ones that first turned me on to the band.
posted by EiderDuck at 6:17 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by EiderDuck at 6:17 AM on May 19, 2006
Re: Eponymous -- Among the funniest and most enjoyable liner notes ever.
(I wouldn't exactly call it a "greatest hits" album though as there's a decent amount of b-sides included, and besides, only college radio played REM until "The One I Love," so it's pushing things a bit to call any of the early tunes "hits.")
posted by desuetude at 6:19 AM on May 19, 2006
(I wouldn't exactly call it a "greatest hits" album though as there's a decent amount of b-sides included, and besides, only college radio played REM until "The One I Love," so it's pushing things a bit to call any of the early tunes "hits.")
posted by desuetude at 6:19 AM on May 19, 2006
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is not only R.E.M.'s best record, it is the best record of all time. I do not say this lightly or as a joke.
Monster, Automatic for the People and, against the norm, Up also get my vote (I'm a filthy pagan who doesn't really care for their postal service days, though I do own most of them).
The varied (music as well as quality) output is what keeps me going back to them.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:23 AM on May 19, 2006
Monster, Automatic for the People and, against the norm, Up also get my vote (I'm a filthy pagan who doesn't really care for their postal service days, though I do own most of them).
The varied (music as well as quality) output is what keeps me going back to them.
posted by slimepuppy at 6:23 AM on May 19, 2006
A lot of suggestions here for R.E.M.'s early work, but based on your question, if you want to branch out from Imitation of Life specifically, I would start with their later stuff.
You could very well get Reveal, the album that song is from and not be disappointed, or Up, their first album without Bill Berry and the first to really play with their new sound that came from losing their drummer that resulted in songs like Imitation of Life.
Beyond that, their two best albums from the Warner period remain Automatic for the People and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:27 AM on May 19, 2006
You could very well get Reveal, the album that song is from and not be disappointed, or Up, their first album without Bill Berry and the first to really play with their new sound that came from losing their drummer that resulted in songs like Imitation of Life.
Beyond that, their two best albums from the Warner period remain Automatic for the People and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:27 AM on May 19, 2006
Also, people have mentioned Eponymous, the "best of" the IRS years, but there's also a Best Of for the Warner Brothers years called In Time that might be a good sampler.
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:29 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:29 AM on May 19, 2006
I wouldn't call myself a fan, but for what it's worth, I have most of their albums and the only ones I still listen to are Murmur and Reckoning.
Also, since the best thing Michael Stipe ever did for me was funding the film that introduced me to Smoke, I'll recommend you check him/them out. For my money, Benjamin Smoke beats anything REM ever did, but languished in obscurity in Atlanta, possibly because the world still isn't quite ready for queer chamber music meets Tom Waitsy blues that is equal parts hauntingly beautiful and ridiculously daft. As in their song about Luke Perry's feet, which is remarkably moving considering the subject matter!
posted by jack_mo at 6:31 AM on May 19, 2006
Also, since the best thing Michael Stipe ever did for me was funding the film that introduced me to Smoke, I'll recommend you check him/them out. For my money, Benjamin Smoke beats anything REM ever did, but languished in obscurity in Atlanta, possibly because the world still isn't quite ready for queer chamber music meets Tom Waitsy blues that is equal parts hauntingly beautiful and ridiculously daft. As in their song about Luke Perry's feet, which is remarkably moving considering the subject matter!
posted by jack_mo at 6:31 AM on May 19, 2006
I can't really add any more to the other postings on R.E.M. tracks to try.
However I can tell you that once you've listened to as much R.E.M. as you can possibly manage then last.fm has some recommendations on other artists to explore.
posted by mr_silver at 6:32 AM on May 19, 2006
However I can tell you that once you've listened to as much R.E.M. as you can possibly manage then last.fm has some recommendations on other artists to explore.
posted by mr_silver at 6:32 AM on May 19, 2006
Your favourite REM album sucks...
I think because vac2003 likes "imitation of life", recommendations of really early albums is a bad idea. It's kinda like someone saying - 'I love Bone Machine by Tom Waits' and someone then recommending Closing Time.
Go backwards from the song you like best. That way at least there is a logical regression back to their earlier and more indie stuff.
posted by twistedonion at 7:09 AM on May 19, 2006
I think because vac2003 likes "imitation of life", recommendations of really early albums is a bad idea. It's kinda like someone saying - 'I love Bone Machine by Tom Waits' and someone then recommending Closing Time.
Go backwards from the song you like best. That way at least there is a logical regression back to their earlier and more indie stuff.
posted by twistedonion at 7:09 AM on May 19, 2006
I had this email exchange recently in reference to a pitchfork article about R.E.M. (linked below)...
mcstayinskool's friend wrote:
> A guy I work with whose musical tastes I respect said this article
> captured exactly how he feels about REM (presumably in a good way cuz
> he's a REM fan). I haven't read it yet, but thought I'd pass it on to
> another REM junkie in case you haven't read it yet.
>here's the article
interesting article...I was grumbling to myself while reading it that the best R.E.M. albums were when they were on IRS (which is true), but then his discussion of the early Warner Bros albums made me remember how many good songs were on Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People. Not sure what the article's author is saying about Nightswimming, but it sort of sounds like he didn't like it. Personally I think it's one of the best songs they ever wrote.
From Monster on R.E.M. did some good things, but never to the freak out level of previous albums. I saw them at Xcel a couple years ago and felt they still were making some vital new music, but not vital enough to make me devote any further thought to it...
off the top of my head, 5 favorite weird REM songs, in no particular order
Country Feedback
Swan Swan H
I Remember California
Old Man Kensey
Underneath the Bunker
3 songs I wish they'd never ever ever written
Shiny Happy People
The One I Love
Sidewinder Sleeps
Everybody Hurts (easily the low point of their entire discography. so incredibly insipid it hurts; does that prove the premise of their song?)
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:45 AM on May 19, 2006
mcstayinskool's friend wrote:
> A guy I work with whose musical tastes I respect said this article
> captured exactly how he feels about REM (presumably in a good way cuz
> he's a REM fan). I haven't read it yet, but thought I'd pass it on to
> another REM junkie in case you haven't read it yet.
>here's the article
interesting article...I was grumbling to myself while reading it that the best R.E.M. albums were when they were on IRS (which is true), but then his discussion of the early Warner Bros albums made me remember how many good songs were on Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People. Not sure what the article's author is saying about Nightswimming, but it sort of sounds like he didn't like it. Personally I think it's one of the best songs they ever wrote.
From Monster on R.E.M. did some good things, but never to the freak out level of previous albums. I saw them at Xcel a couple years ago and felt they still were making some vital new music, but not vital enough to make me devote any further thought to it...
off the top of my head, 5 favorite weird REM songs, in no particular order
Country Feedback
Swan Swan H
I Remember California
Old Man Kensey
Underneath the Bunker
3 songs I wish they'd never ever ever written
Shiny Happy People
The One I Love
Sidewinder Sleeps
Everybody Hurts (easily the low point of their entire discography. so incredibly insipid it hurts; does that prove the premise of their song?)
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:45 AM on May 19, 2006
Long-time R.E.M. fan here.
I'd start with New Adventures in Hi-Fi, their last (IMO) really good album. It bridges their early alt-country/folk/rock sound with their newer art-rock sound nicely.
FWIW, their two best albums are Automatic and Life's Rich Pageant.
posted by mkultra at 7:50 AM on May 19, 2006
I'd start with New Adventures in Hi-Fi, their last (IMO) really good album. It bridges their early alt-country/folk/rock sound with their newer art-rock sound nicely.
FWIW, their two best albums are Automatic and Life's Rich Pageant.
posted by mkultra at 7:50 AM on May 19, 2006
also, shunning twistedonion's sage suggestion of not recommending old albums to someone that like's a band's new music (but c'mon, how can you not recommend Closing Time)...
the best R.E.M. album of all time is easily, EASILY, Life's Rich Pageant. They still open their concerts with "Begin the Begin", and the album is just rock solid from beginning to end.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:55 AM on May 19, 2006
the best R.E.M. album of all time is easily, EASILY, Life's Rich Pageant. They still open their concerts with "Begin the Begin", and the album is just rock solid from beginning to end.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:55 AM on May 19, 2006
Ok. Reading the rest of these comments has done 2 things. First, I'm really in the mood to dig up my REM cds again. Second, it reminds me of how I got interested in REM. It was when "Document" came out. I liked some of the songs, got into "Life's Rich Pageant", then immediately found "Murmur" and "Reckoning" to be amazing. I eventually came to love "Fables...", but it took longer.
When "Green" was released, I was a bit disappointed, but most of the songs grew on me. "Out of Time" and "Automatic..." I almost consider to be a double-cd. They are great, but I had to get over what I initially felt was excessive melodrama. I now embrace the melodrama and feel that those albums are great.
It doesn't matter how you approach REM, just make sure you give each album (and Chronic Town EP) a chance. There's so much to like (<= "Automatic...").
posted by tom_g at 8:24 AM on May 19, 2006
When "Green" was released, I was a bit disappointed, but most of the songs grew on me. "Out of Time" and "Automatic..." I almost consider to be a double-cd. They are great, but I had to get over what I initially felt was excessive melodrama. I now embrace the melodrama and feel that those albums are great.
It doesn't matter how you approach REM, just make sure you give each album (and Chronic Town EP) a chance. There's so much to like (<= "Automatic...").
posted by tom_g at 8:24 AM on May 19, 2006
Dead Letter Office (mainly for Chronic Town), Eponymous, In Time. All you really need. All of the albums are very cheap used, btw.
posted by donth at 8:28 AM on May 19, 2006
posted by donth at 8:28 AM on May 19, 2006
Re: Eponymous -- Among the funniest and most enjoyable liner notes ever.
(I wouldn't exactly call it a "greatest hits" album though as there's a decent amount of b-sides included, and besides, only college radio played REM until "The One I Love," so it's pushing things a bit to call any of the early tunes "hits.")
I meant Dead Letter Office. Duh.
posted by desuetude at 8:33 AM on May 19, 2006
(I wouldn't exactly call it a "greatest hits" album though as there's a decent amount of b-sides included, and besides, only college radio played REM until "The One I Love," so it's pushing things a bit to call any of the early tunes "hits.")
I meant Dead Letter Office. Duh.
posted by desuetude at 8:33 AM on May 19, 2006
Just to pile on, start with In Time since "Imitation of Life" is on there along with the rest of their really good Warner Bros. songs. If you like the rest of the stuff on there, check out Automatic for the People, Out of Time, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi. I would also add Eponymous to that list. If you like the stuff on Eponymous, get Document and Life's Rich Pageant.
FWIW, my personal favorite REM albums are Automatic for the People and Life's Rich Pageant. I used to love Document, but as I've listened to them over the years L'sRP has passed it up.
posted by sbrollins at 8:57 AM on May 19, 2006
FWIW, my personal favorite REM albums are Automatic for the People and Life's Rich Pageant. I used to love Document, but as I've listened to them over the years L'sRP has passed it up.
posted by sbrollins at 8:57 AM on May 19, 2006
donth is right. Dead Letter Office and Eponymous are where you should start. Thanks vac2003, for making me feel so damn old.
Now I think I'm goin' down to Walters n'get me some barbeecue.
posted by mds35 at 9:12 AM on May 19, 2006
Now I think I'm goin' down to Walters n'get me some barbeecue.
posted by mds35 at 9:12 AM on May 19, 2006
i think the fact that "imitation of life" is the song that got vac2003 into REM is important. i'd check out some of their later sutff, like up and new adventures in hi-fi, and then try eponymous. post-monster REM is a very different beast than pre. document is the beginning of a change, but i think out of time cements it, but even that is vastly different than new adventures... i know lost of people who love newer REM but hate murmur and reckoning and vice versa.
crap, i just outed myself as an REM fan.
posted by kendrak at 10:55 AM on May 19, 2006
crap, i just outed myself as an REM fan.
posted by kendrak at 10:55 AM on May 19, 2006
Everybody Hurts (easily the low point of their entire discography. so incredibly insipid it hurts; does that prove the premise of their song?)
Absolutely agreed, and I think it mars what would otherwise be one of the greatest albums of all time, by any artist, ever (with the possible additional exception of "Ignoreland" which, while a decent song, is also specifically about the first Bush administration, thus preventing it from achieving the timelessness the rest of the songs have).
Back on point, because "Imitation" is an upbeat, poppy number, I don't share the recommendation that you should stick with Up, Reveal, etc. Try the following: "Pop Song 89," "Stand," and "Orange Crush" (from Green), "Losing My Religion" (from Out of Time), almost anything from Automatic, "Bittersweet Me," "So Fast, So Numb," and "Electrolite" from New Adventures, and "Walk Unafraid" and "Daysleeper" from Up. If you can find it, you might also like the song "Photograph" which features Natalie Merchant. Beautiful song.
posted by pardonyou? at 11:58 AM on May 19, 2006
Absolutely agreed, and I think it mars what would otherwise be one of the greatest albums of all time, by any artist, ever (with the possible additional exception of "Ignoreland" which, while a decent song, is also specifically about the first Bush administration, thus preventing it from achieving the timelessness the rest of the songs have).
Back on point, because "Imitation" is an upbeat, poppy number, I don't share the recommendation that you should stick with Up, Reveal, etc. Try the following: "Pop Song 89," "Stand," and "Orange Crush" (from Green), "Losing My Religion" (from Out of Time), almost anything from Automatic, "Bittersweet Me," "So Fast, So Numb," and "Electrolite" from New Adventures, and "Walk Unafraid" and "Daysleeper" from Up. If you can find it, you might also like the song "Photograph" which features Natalie Merchant. Beautiful song.
posted by pardonyou? at 11:58 AM on May 19, 2006
Response by poster: Thanks for all your great suggestions. I'm tempted to start with some of their later stuff but at least if and when I go further back to pre-Monster days, I'll have some context.
As to why I liked "Imitation", it struck me as a catchy tune with intellectually interesting lyrics. As to being a newbie to REM, I'm on the wrong side of 50, grew up listening to Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, got married, had kids and so missed out on a lot of good music along the way. REM seems to be one of of the more interesting bands of the 80s/90s, so I thought, hey, why not branch out a bit :-)
posted by vac2003 at 2:24 PM on May 19, 2006
As to why I liked "Imitation", it struck me as a catchy tune with intellectually interesting lyrics. As to being a newbie to REM, I'm on the wrong side of 50, grew up listening to Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, got married, had kids and so missed out on a lot of good music along the way. REM seems to be one of of the more interesting bands of the 80s/90s, so I thought, hey, why not branch out a bit :-)
posted by vac2003 at 2:24 PM on May 19, 2006
I started with Dead Letter Office...and when I realized I like the crap they tossed away, I new I would like there actual albums. My all-time favourite would have to be Automatic For The People (so, if you start there it might be all downhill!) and Fables of the Reconstruction took the longest to appreciate (all uphill from there!).
posted by boost ventilator at 7:41 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by boost ventilator at 7:41 PM on May 19, 2006
I stopped listening to REM at Green. I wouldn't start with Fables of the Reconstruction, although it is my favorite REM album. It's brilliant, dense, impenetrable, and murky. REM doesn't even like it, according to interviews, but it was everything I liked about them: jangly, simple, obscure, and very Southern. Everything up to Lifes Rich Pageant is essential 80s college rock.
posted by AArtaud at 2:04 AM on May 21, 2006
posted by AArtaud at 2:04 AM on May 21, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
My favourite would have to be Document - Finest Worksong is just Brill!
posted by twistedonion at 3:28 AM on May 19, 2006