Which REM album should I get next?

[Zoots]

Okay B&C-ers, I need your help. These are the REM albums I'm missing...

Reckoning
Fables Of The Reconstruction
Reveal
Around The Sun
Chronic Town EP

I'm not sure whether to go for an early one like Reckoning or a new one like Around The Sun.

Btw, my favorite albums are Automatic, Out Of Time, Monster, New Adventures, Lifes Rich Pageant, Document and Up in pretty much that order.

Side note: Why is Chronic Town not available officially? Does anyone know?

 

[Lancemc]

Go with Fables of the Reconstruction. Definitely. Trust me.

 

[Aygo]

Well, the IRS albums are very well represented in the 1982-1987 compilation. If you got this compilation, buy "Around The Sun" (that is not the weak album that many claim it is), since there are two "Reveal" songs in the 1988-2003 Best Of. "Reveal" you can buy it later, but it's very interesting, a very good album.

 

[phanan]

You don't list Murmur in your favorites, so was just curious if you really had that one.

If you do, then go with Fables.

 

[Salome]

Fables of the Reconstruction is my favoute R.E.M. IRS album

 

[Lancemc]

You didn't list Green either. If you don't have that one yet I suggest that be your next purchase.

 

[corianderstem]

I'd go with Fables.

Reckoning is also very good. Fables is a bit more interesting, very moody. Reckoning is full of great, catchy tunes with that great, jangly Rickenbacker sound.

 

[Zoots]

I didn't list Murmur and Green cos I don't like them as much as my "favorite albums". Both have some amazing standout songs esp. Green but I can't get into them too much. That's why I wonder how much I will like Reckoning and Fables since I'm not a huge fan of Murmur.

 

[Lancemc]

If you like Life's Rich Pageant, you'll most likely also like Fables. Fables has more in common with LRP than Murmur.

 

[Zoots]

If you like Life's Rich Pageant, you'll most likely also like Fables. Fables has more in common with LRP than Murmur.

Sweet! Maybe I WILL get Fables then, since it's getting a lot of endorsement here. Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[Lancemc]

Excellent choice. You can't go wrong.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I'd wait to get Around the Sun. I wasn't all that impressed with it, although I love Leaving New York.

 

[Zoots]

Side note: Why is Chronic Town not available officially? Does anyone know?

What about this?

I've listened to Chronic Town before on a friend's cassette and I loved it. Wanna get it on CD.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

I'd wait to get Around the Sun. I wasn't all that impressed with it, although I love Leaving New York.

Electron Blue and I Wanted To Be Wrong were pretty good as well...

 

[Lancemc]

Around the Sun is actually my least favorite R.E.M. album. Which is kind of a shame since the Around the Sun Tour was my first concert ever. That show still remains the second best show I've ever seen though. They really surprised the hell out of us by playing Maps and Legends and a siezure-inducingly amazing "I've Been High". :combust"

 

[Zoots]

Around the Sun Tour was my first concert ever.

Me too! My first REM show. I think they played Maps And Legends in our show too. Wait, we might have gone to the same show seeing we both are from Jersey!

 

[Lancemc]

Both have some amazing standout songs esp. Green but I can't get into them too much.

Green is one of my favorite R.E.M. albums. The only song I skip on it is Stand. That's an annoying song. But the rest is gorgeous and fierce. "Get Up" is a killer rocker, and Orange Crush is a lyrical masterpiece. But it's the slower tracks that really do it for me. "You Are The Everything" is one of the most beautiful ballads ive ever heard. "World Leader Pretend" is awe-inspiring. And "The Wrong Child" is heart-breaking. Micheal's vocals on that song send shivers down my spine.

Yeah. I love Green.

 

[Lancemc]

Me too! My first REM show. I think they played Maps And Legends in our show too. Wait, we might have gone to the same show seeing we both are from Jersey!

Haha. No shit? Did you see the Atlantic City show? Micheal told us how an older couple was celebrating their anniversary and had met the band in the casino and requested Maps and Legends. That was cool as hell. "I've Been High" was definitely the highlight of the show for me though. Which is on Reveal by the way. You should buy that album too.

 

[Zoots]

"World Leader Pretend" is awe-inspiring.

World Leader Pretend is not only my favorite song from Green, it's probably like Top 10 or 15.

AC, huh? I went to the MSG show, the day after Bush was re-elected. It was a thursday evening I remember and there was just this air of disappointment lurking over the city and the venue that day, I'm not kidding! Michael started the show by saying "I'm not gonna talk much, we're just gonna play the songs!"

 

[phanan]

Re: Re: Which REM album should I get next?

What about this?

I've listened to Chronic Town before on a friend's cassette and I loved it. Wanna get it on CD.

It's not available on its own anymore, but the songs from it are all on the Dead Letter Office compilation.

 

[Zoots]

Re: Re: Re: Which REM album should I get next?

It's not available on its own anymore, but the songs from it are all on the Dead Letter Office compilation.

You're right. Ooh, except I just noticed that the original EP might be available from Amazon.com Market sellers in Used or Like New condition.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Around the Sun is actually my least favorite R.E.M. album. Which is kind of a shame since the Around the Sun Tour was my first concert ever. That show still remains the second best show I've ever seen though. They really surprised the hell out of us by playing Maps and Legends and a siezure-inducingly amazing "I've Been High". :combust"

I need to see a full REM show.

I saw them with Bruce Springsteen on the Vote For Change tour a few years ago. Nothing like seeing Bruce and Mike sing Man on the Moon together.

Definitely one of the highlights of my concert going experiences.

 

[phanan]

I wish I'd seen that.

 

[Zoots]

I saw them with Bruce Springsteen on the Vote For Change tour a few years ago. Nothing like seeing Bruce and Mike sing Man on the Moon together.

Definitely one of the highlights of my concert going experiences.

Oh man! I sooo wanted to check out that Vote For Change tour, but didn't get around to buying tix. Mike and Bruce singing Man On The Moon must've been something else!

 

[U2Man]

around the sun.

because its good, regardless of what some people want you to think.

you'll love aftermath.

 

[No spoken words]

I saw Bono sing with REM at a Valentine's Day tribute to Bono at the Kodak theater a few years ago. That was fucking amazing. No Doubt did a song, so did Lauryn Hill, and a few other artists.

Seen REM in full a few times, but not recently, sadly.

Get Fables.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Oh man! I sooo wanted to check out that Vote For Change tour, but didn't get around to buying tix. Mike and Bruce singing Man On The Moon must've been something else!

It was Bruce. Staying at home wasn't an option, lol.

 

[Zoots]

Btw, as you guys can see from my sig, I listened to samples of Chronic Town from Dead Letter Office on allmusic.com. Don't know why last.fm scrobbles even 30 second samples!

 

[LMP]

Reveal:

"Imitation of Life"
"Disappear" (inspired by Radiohead's "How to Disappear Completely, so it's Michael Stipe acting like Thom Yorke acting like Michael Stipe)
"All the Way to Reno"
"The Lifting"
"Summer Turns to High" (which could be their most beautiful track since "Why Not Smile")

 

[No spoken words]

The Lifting is a great song, I do not really like the rest. I'm, admittedly, more old school REM.