The only two songs on Murmur that aren't amazing are We Walk and West of the Fields. The first 10 tracks are sustained glory.
I wouldn't include 9-9 under "sustained glory".
Personally I find the second half of Reckoning, Fables and Pageant rather mediocre though.
Agree on the first two, but no side that has I Believe, Flowers Of Guatemala, and Swan Swan H deserves to be called mediocre.
Up is great but too long, Adventures in Hifi is excellent but way too long.
Around the Sun is vastly underrated, Collapse into now an excellent farewell.
Automatic is a classic, Green is lots of fun and Out of Time is still my favourite R.E.M. album.
You appear to have forgotten Reveal. I sure wish I could.
I like We Walk. It's a silly little ditty. But the first half in general trumps the second one pretty easily. Which can be said for all of their IRS records really, with the possible exception of Document.
I've never been a fan of Lightnin' Hopkins. Stipe's delivery is pretty grating on that one. And Fireplace, which I enjoy, doesn't hold a candle to any of the classics on Side One, which would be 5 out of the 6 songs on it. And Strange, while arguably an unnecessary cover, is fun enough.
So I think your general assessment it correct: the IRS albums are top-heavy.
Man, Side One of Reckoning is amazing, but Murmur is one of the most consistent albums ever, and kicks off R.E.M.'s status as the band on the slowest, best downward slide ever.
It's the second side of Reckoning I have a problem with. Second Guessing is upbeat but generic, Camera has its fans but I find it almost interminable. Letter Never Sent is fine, Rockville is fun but as I pointed out earlier a virtual remake of Shaking Through, and Little America is as weak a closer as West Of The Fields. This trend would continue with Wendell Gee, which I can't remember no matter how many times I listen to Fables. At least they redeem themselves on Lifes Rich Pageant. I consider Superman a bit of a bonus track after the phenomenal Swan Swan H, but that cover is a lot of fun anyway.
Murmur's second half is just fine. A little weaker, sure, but at least Sitting Still is in the mix.
Don't forget Catapult, one of the catchier songs on the album. And the aforementioned Shaking Through.