A Beginner's Guide to R.E.M.
Left to right: Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Bill Berry, Peter Buck
The massively successful, critically acclaimed four piece known as R.E.M. was formed in 1980 in the alternative music breeding ground of Athens, Georgia. They are currently comprised of lead vocalist Michael Stipe, lead guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist/keyboardist Mike Mills. Drummer Bill Berry retired in 1997, but has played with the rest of the band on one occasion during the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. They have released fourteen critically acclaimed studio albums, and have won several Grammy awards for their work.
They established their classic jangly guitar sound with their 1982 debut EP "Chronic Town. This sound would be utilized until 1988's "Green", when, with a major label deal, R.E.M. could afford to experiment with different instruments; cellos, violins, synthesizers, and most importantly mandolins, one of which would be used for what would become R.E.M.'s biggest hit, 1991's "Losing My Religion" from the album "Out of Time".
With 1992's "Automatic for the People", R.E.M. established a new trademark sound; best shown by the hit singles "Everybody Hurts" and "Nightswimming". R.E.M. changed their sound yet again in 1995 with "Monster", arguably their first real rock record since 1986's upbeat "Lifes Rich Pageant" [sic] and further developed it for 1996's "New Adventures in Hi-Fi". And yet, they returned to their melancholic ballad style for Up, Reveal, and Around the Sun after their drummer Bill Berry had an aneurysm onstage and retired from the band amicably.
Their most recent record, entitled "Accelerate" is actually a return to their guitar oriented sound of the 1980s.
Tracklist: (Semi-Chronological, song - album)
1. Gardening at Night - Chronic Town (EP) (1982)
2. Radio Free Europe - Murmur (1983)
3. So. Central Rain - Reckoning (1984)
4. Dream (All I Have to do is)(Everly Brothers Cover) - Athens G.A. Inside Out Soundtrack (1987)
5. Crazy (B Side) - Dead Letter Office (1987 - Pre-recorded)
6. Pilgrimage - Murmur (1983)
7. Time After Time (AnnElise) - Reckoning (1984)
8. Feeling Gravity's Pull - Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
9. Old Man Kensey - Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
10. Fall on Me - Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
11. These Days - Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
12. The One I Love - Document (1987)
13. Welcome to the Occupation - Document (1987)
14. Living Well Is the Best Revenge - Accelerate (2008)
15. Orange Crush - Green (1988)
16. Pop Song 89 - Green (1988)
17. Losing My Religion - Out of Time (1991)
18. What's the Frequency, Kenneth? - Monster (1995)
19. World Leader Pretend - Green (1988)
20. Imitation of Life - Reveal (2003)
21. Daysleeper - Up (1998)
22. Country Feedback - Out of Time (1991)
23. One (Live, U2 Cover) - Unplugged (2001)
24. Perfect Circle (Live) - Unplugged (1991)
25. Everybody Hurts - Automatic for the People (1992)
26. Man on the Moon - Automatic for the People (1992)
27. The Outsiders (Live) - R.E.M. Live (2004)
28. Drive - Automatic for the People (1992)
29. Leave - New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
30. E-Bow the Letter - New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
31. Leaving New York - Around the Sun (2004)
32. Nightswimming - Automatic for the People (1992)
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