I don’t love green and some songs on reckoning are mid, but I adore every other 80s record! and I agree re: out of time and automatic, even if both records are a bit patchy (for me). bigger fan of new adventures…
Yeah, I listened to that. It seemed like Wesley Morris was ready to launch into a tirade about why they didn’t make it and then got distracted. More time was allotted to talking about why Beyoncé didn’t make it.
Automatic is my favorite and one of my all-time favorites, but I do think that Out of Time is actually underrated at this point. I think it got a bad rap with "real ones" because it's more poppy and accessible and was incredibly popular but it really is an excellent album, easily in my top 5 if not 3.
Another crazy fact: I don't think I ever heard "Shiny Happy People" until this week. Also, was it intentional to have two choruses on Document be "fire fire" and "firehouse firehouse"?
Very much agree with this. I've listened to them since the release period of Up back in 98 but I was never a big fan of Green, nor Document for that matter although both have a classic or two. They are one of my all time favourite bands, top 5. But conversely I don't think I'd have any of their albums in top all timers. Automatic I love the first and final 3 songs but the in-between sags a little in comparison. Adventures is probably my favourite all round and has them firing on all cylinders.
the middle run of automatic is incredible to me, the sweetness follows / monty got a raw deal combo is pretty crucial to why its one of my favorite albums of all time
i do really love ignoreland too lmao very singular song. the closest thing to a track i dont vibe on is everyone hurts but i do like that song a lot, its just a little too vague to bring me genuine emotional comfort myself but i understand the trade off is it being able to provide the populace that
The best thing about Automatic is that even the weakest songs are still incredible songs. Is Sweetness Follows one of my favorites? No. But it’s still amazing.
Automatic also has two of the greatest three-track runs. The first three tracks and the last three tracks
it really is truly one of my favorites though, like yeah i agree in regards to that album as a whole, but that has always been one of my favorite favorite r.e.m. songs
I think Murmur got so highly rated that now it's underrated. Any given day my top REM album changes between Murmur, Automatic and New Adventures. I think for today I would say: Best - Automatic Favourite - New Adventures Would most like to listen to - Murmur Out of Time is probably next for me. I am not one to knock an album because the main single is overplayed. Losing My Religion is absolutely phenomenal. And Country Feedback alone bumps the album up a spot. Fables and Green are my two least favourites of that incredible run from Murmur to New Adventures. Both are good but the rest are all great. What a band.
My REM take for the day is that their latter era albums (i.e. the last three) are all MUCH BETTER than anyone gives them credit for.
Accelerate I think can stand with the best of them but Reveal, Around the Sun and Collapse into Now are probably in my bottom tier of rankings
Accelerate fucking rips, and I have a huge soft spot for Around the Sun. Collapse into Now isn't quite as good, but feels like a worthy swan song.
Ok here's my fav songs so far: Finest Worksong Exhuming McCarthy The One I Love Pop Song 89 World Leader Pretend Orange Crush Low Near Wild Heaven Belong The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Just working my way backwards and forwards in the discography whenever the mood strikes me.