Comments | rockmarooned: I'm outta here

rockmarooned

I'm outta here

Sep 22, 2011 18:52

The rock and roll band R.E.M. broke up this week. I feel like an odd in-betweener fan of R.E.M. in that I wasn't, obviously, paying attention to music during the indiest eighties heyday, nor was I even particularly attuned to them when Out of Time and Automatic for the People and Monster were selling mad copies (and, in the latter's case, re- ( Read more... )

retro, rem, my years in lists

Comments 10

wmetoile September 23 2011, 03:39:02 UTC

I love "It's the End of the World..." mostly for its inclusion in Tommy Boy. And for the moment when everyone stops mumbling and yells "LEONARD BERNSTEIN!"

mountains sit in a line rockmarooned September 23 2011, 14:38:05 UTC

Some of my high school people learned the whole thing... although I never quite made it that far. I'd say I'm in the sixtieth percentile in terms of knowing all of the words to that song.

slightlyoffaxis September 23 2011, 14:26:19 UTC

Ugh, I really wanted to argue with you, but you didn't give me a good reason to! I love, love, love "Strange Currencies." That's probably my No. 1, and yes, it's better than "Everybody Hurts," and yes, it's better than "Nightswimming" (which is also really good). I didn't expect you to include "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" because you usually kind of laugh at me when I tell you how much I like that song, but you included it! (That song is also one of my favorite Beavis and Butthead moments, but sadly not on Youtube.)

I guess the only thing I'd argue is that "Imitation of Life" is seriously boring, and its spot on your list should be filed with actual "Man on the Moon", less-boring imitator "The Great Beyond," or one of the other good songs from Accelerate.

Also, I heard "Mine Smells Like Honey" again the other day, and it took me a minute to realize but that song is actually awful. (The chorus is Stipe at his whiniest.) It's not just a clever name.

rockmarooned September 23 2011, 14:37:07 UTC

You know, it's possible that when I called "Imitation of Life" an imitation "Man on the Moon," I was thinking of "The Great Beyond." But that I confused them at all should probably indicate that it also kinda sounds like those songs even though it has no Andy Kaufman connection.

I actually like "Mine Smell Like Honey" as a song. But it does have a terrible title.

slightlyoffaxis September 23 2011, 16:13:31 UTC

Yes, the title is terrible, but the part where he actually sings "mine smells like honey" sounds like crying.

slightlyoffaxis September 23 2011, 16:16:01 UTC

PS: Inspired by this post, I'm listening to REM on Spotify, and I can't really listen to "At My Most Beautiful" because it makes me feel like I'm sad and in England. That experience doesn't weigh heavily on my mind, but when I hear that song it's like it was the most miserable thing that happened to me.

Ahoy okjaysun September 23 2011, 22:45:36 UTC

I ain't gonna argue with you however I am going to list my 10 favorite REM songs. In all honesty though most of them come from a relatively short period in their history. Going in reverse from 10 to 1. Let's do this.

10. It's The End of the World As We Know It And I Feel Fine (I know all the words)
9. Fall On Me
8. You Are The Everything
7. E-Bow The Letter
6. What's The Frequency Kenneth
5. Finest Worksong
4. Belong
3. Leave
2. Half A World Away
1. Night Swimming

Honorary Mention Radio Song- just because it features KRS-One. It's kind of a terrible song.

Re: Ahoy rockmarooned September 25 2011, 21:44:43 UTC

Awesome. I was pretty psyched to read your list. Marisa made a Spotify playlist of my top 20 and added the ones you included that weren't on mine, so I've actually been listening to your faves over the weekend. You really like Out of Time, huh? "You Are the Everything" is particularly great but I'm not a huge fan of "Belong" and in general the signature R.E.M. mandolin sound from that period is not my favorite attribute of theirs. "E-Bow the Letter" is a respectable choice, too. Don't love Patti Smith's vocals but I must admit, she got back with them for a track off of Collapse Into Now and "E-Bow" is way better.

Re: Ahoy okjaysun September 26 2011, 16:08:20 UTC

Yea I guess I really do like out of time. When I go back over and look at it I GUESS Out of Time is my favorite album, but had you asked me what my favorite REM album is I'm not sure I would have said out of time, if that makes any sense.

Re: Ahoy rockmarooned September 26 2011, 16:26:57 UTC

Although: when I first made that observation, I think I was thinking that "You Are the Everything" is on Out of Time, but it's on Green. But you do like "Radio Song" more than most people I know. I get what you mean: sometimes statistics point to one favorite and your gut points to another.