I like REM, although my exposure is mostly from back-listening, and I haven't even scratched the surface of everything they have. But I quite enjoy Automatic for the People (which has one of the best three-song closing stretches out there), Lifes Rich Pageant, and Fables of the Reconstruction.
Automatic and Lifes Rich Pageant are my favorite two REM albums (and two of the best ever). New Adventures in Hi-Fi is really, really good as well. Monster's bad. Out of Time is overrated. I like the first 2 albums awfully well too, especially Murmur, but I can see why they don't have mass appeal.
I followed them religiously from Chronic Town to Automatic. They peaked for me after their unplugged episode on MTV in 91.
They are one the unique bands that paid their dues to the top. It was all word of mouth then. It was great time to follow music in Athens in the 80s.
Even after they went downhill the songwriting talent was still there (Mills is the musical genius of the band, IMO, with Buck adding an occasional solid song.). There were always solid melodies and a jewel or two on each album post-Automatic. Lyrics on the last 3 albums or so were absolutely embarrassing though. (Stipe's fault)
This. I used to go see 'em I. The early 80's at places like the 40 watt before they blew up. Actually met Pete Buck at Wuxtry record shop once. He recommended a Big Star CD that turned out to be really good. I was already familiar with Alex Chilton but chatting with Buck about it was pretty cool.
REM is reuniting to make a country album. Finding my religion on a dirt road will be released early 2016.
Those were good days. I saw Pylon at the Cats Cradle in Chapel Hill in 1990. Their most well known song, Crazy, was covered by REM on their Dead Letter Office Album.
Big Star and Flamin' Groovies were an absolute fixture in my disc changer for a while in the early 90's... Alex Chilton is extremely under appreciated, imo. A true genius and very much missed.