Number 1: Losing My Religion
“That was just a dream
That's me in the corner”
The 9 seconds from 2.56 - 3.05 here raise the hairs on the back of my neck like virtually no other song.
Was always going to be number 1.
youtu.be/xwtdhWltSIg?...
Number 1: Losing My Religion
“That was just a dream
That's me in the corner”
The 9 seconds from 2.56 - 3.05 here raise the hairs on the back of my neck like virtually no other song.
Was always going to be number 1.
youtu.be/xwtdhWltSIg?...
Number 2: Find the River
“I have got to leave to find my way”
One of the great album closers, from one of the truly great albums.
youtu.be/KIJGlTu5sEI?...
Number 2: Find the River
“I have got to leave to find my way”
One of the great album closers, from one of the truly great albums.
youtu.be/KIJGlTu5sEI?...
Number 3: Country Feedback
“It's crazy what you could've had”
The people don’t think they need to watch a 9 minute version of this song featuring Neil Young. The people are wrong.
youtu.be/H47es-RsJKw?...
Number 3: Country Feedback
“It's crazy what you could've had”
The people don’t think they need to watch a 9 minute version of this song featuring Neil Young. The people are wrong.
youtu.be/H47es-RsJKw?...
Number 4: Nightswimming
“I'm not sure all these people understand”
I know everyone will share this, but what’s one more. Just beautiful.
youtu.be/KVT0S0j7F9Y?...
Number 4: Nightswimming
“I'm not sure all these people understand”
I know everyone will share this, but what’s one more. Just beautiful.
youtu.be/KVT0S0j7F9Y?...
Number 5: What’s the Frequency Kenneth?
“You said that irony was the shackles of youth”
Visceral first single from the criminally underrated Monster. Fantastic bass line from Mike too.
youtu.be/jWkMhCLkVOg?...
Number 5: What’s the Frequency Kenneth?
“You said that irony was the shackles of youth”
Visceral first single from the criminally underrated Monster. Fantastic bass line from Mike too.
youtu.be/jWkMhCLkVOg?...
Number 6: Don’t Go Back to Rockville
“At night I drink myself to sleep
Pretend I don't care if you're not here with me”
I nearly missed this today. Glorious and so very, very REM.
youtu.be/rvE1lkLfpnc?...
Number 6: Don’t Go Back to Rockville
“At night I drink myself to sleep
Pretend I don't care if you're not here with me”
I nearly missed this today. Glorious and so very, very REM.
youtu.be/rvE1lkLfpnc?...
Number 7: I Believe
“You're on your honor not to tell”
The best melody Michael Stipe ever wrote and R.E.M’s best pop song.
youtu.be/8ftacKGmn6Q?...
Number 7: I Believe
“You're on your honor not to tell”
The best melody Michael Stipe ever wrote and R.E.M’s best pop song.
youtu.be/8ftacKGmn6Q?...
8. It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)
“Leonard Bernstein”
One of the great concert closers of all time.
youtu.be/Z0GFRcFm-aY?...
8. It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)
“Leonard Bernstein”
One of the great concert closers of all time.
youtu.be/Z0GFRcFm-aY?...
9. Man on the Moon
“Then nothing is cool”
Automatic… has one of the strongest 3 track finishes to an album I’ve ever heard. The other 2 are still to come.
youtu.be/dLxpNiF0YKs?...
9. Man on the Moon
“Then nothing is cool”
Automatic… has one of the strongest 3 track finishes to an album I’ve ever heard. The other 2 are still to come.
youtu.be/dLxpNiF0YKs?...
11. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
“And little need to sleep but to dream”
Automatic…is one of the greatest albums of all time and 10 of its songs were in contention for my list
youtu.be/mgiCechWNCo?...
11. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
“And little need to sleep but to dream”
Automatic…is one of the greatest albums of all time and 10 of its songs were in contention for my list
youtu.be/mgiCechWNCo?...
12. Radio Free Europe
“Push that, push that, push that to the floor”
Going right back to the start with a song that sounds as vital now as it ever did.
open.spotify.com/track/0f0U6i...
12. Radio Free Europe
“Push that, push that, push that to the floor”
Going right back to the start with a song that sounds as vital now as it ever did.
open.spotify.com/track/0f0U6i...
Number 13: Orange Crush
“I've had my fun and now it's time to serve”
Another R.E.M that truly comes into its own when played Live.
open.spotify.com/track/1nzMRc...
Number 13: Orange Crush
“I've had my fun and now it's time to serve”
Another R.E.M that truly comes into its own when played Live.
open.spotify.com/track/1nzMRc...
Number 14: Fall On Me
“Feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air”
In the earlier days of online polls this would frequently win best R.E.M song. It’s easy to see why.
open.spotify.com/track/3xPKSM...
Number 14: Fall On Me
“Feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air”
In the earlier days of online polls this would frequently win best R.E.M song. It’s easy to see why.
open.spotify.com/track/3xPKSM...
15. Finest Worksong
“The time to rise has been engaged
You're better best to rearrange”
The first song they’d play on stage in the highly unlikely event that they returned and agreed to perform my fantasy Setlist.
open.spotify.com/track/0XJlM0...
15. Finest Worksong
“The time to rise has been engaged
You're better best to rearrange”
The first song they’d play on stage in the highly unlikely event that they returned and agreed to perform my fantasy Setlist.
open.spotify.com/track/0XJlM0...
Number 16: Begin the Begin
“Silence means security, silence means approval”
Let’s begin again…
open.spotify.com/track/3E5sxg...
Number 16: Begin the Begin
“Silence means security, silence means approval”
Let’s begin again…
open.spotify.com/track/3E5sxg...
Number 17: Lotus
“Wash away my ugly sins
Opposing thumb, dorsal fin”
The best song they released in the “post Bill” era from the best album of that period. It’s brilliant live as well.
open.spotify.com/track/4awrus...
Number 17: Lotus
“Wash away my ugly sins
Opposing thumb, dorsal fin”
The best song they released in the “post Bill” era from the best album of that period. It’s brilliant live as well.
open.spotify.com/track/4awrus...
Number 18: Gardening at Night
“The yard is nothing but a fence”
Right back to the early days with this gem from Chronic Town. Here is the blistering live version from Dublin in 2007.
open.spotify.com/track/4yLuKm...
Number 18: Gardening at Night
“The yard is nothing but a fence”
Right back to the early days with this gem from Chronic Town. Here is the blistering live version from Dublin in 2007.
open.spotify.com/track/4yLuKm...
Number 19: Leave
“I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I like it like that and I know it”
The best song on New Adventures… IMO. A superb lyric and vocal from Michael and that divisive “siren” guitar that had caused so much debate at the time.
open.spotify.com/track/3wrUeU...
Number 19: Leave
“I suffer the dreams of a world gone mad
I like it like that and I know it”
The best song on New Adventures… IMO. A superb lyric and vocal from Michael and that divisive “siren” guitar that had caused so much debate at the time.
open.spotify.com/track/3wrUeU...
Number 20: So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
“These rivers of suggestion are driving me away”
The first single from Reckoning really shows the sense of longing and regret that would become a staple of Michael’s lyrics
open.spotify.com/track/2nwkpj...
Number 20: So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
“These rivers of suggestion are driving me away”
The first single from Reckoning really shows the sense of longing and regret that would become a staple of Michael’s lyrics
open.spotify.com/track/2nwkpj...
Number 21: Near Wild Heaven
“And I don't know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart, break it”
I toiled with this one. Sometimes it’s a really syrupy arrangement, sometimes one of their best pop songs. Fuck it, it’s in.
open.spotify.com/track/378HOo...
Number 21: Near Wild Heaven
“And I don't know how much longer I can take it
House made of heart, break it”
I toiled with this one. Sometimes it’s a really syrupy arrangement, sometimes one of their best pop songs. Fuck it, it’s in.
open.spotify.com/track/378HOo...
Number 22: Half a World Away
“I didn't think
and I I didn't think of you”
Deceptively simple but brilliantly put together, with a fantastic understated vocal from Michael. R.E.M do these folksy numbers so, so well.
open.spotify.com/track/0mglqL...
Number 22: Half a World Away
“I didn't think
and I I didn't think of you”
Deceptively simple but brilliantly put together, with a fantastic understated vocal from Michael. R.E.M do these folksy numbers so, so well.
open.spotify.com/track/0mglqL...
Number 23: Can’t get there from here
“Throw your trolls out the door”
Back to the I.R.S years again. Some very cryptic lyrics but another devilishly catchy tune.
open.spotify.com/track/5dbP6E...
Number 23: Can’t get there from here
“Throw your trolls out the door”
Back to the I.R.S years again. Some very cryptic lyrics but another devilishly catchy tune.
open.spotify.com/track/5dbP6E...