#58 R.E.M.

R.E.M. was the moment alternative music appeared. Alternative rose from the ashes of punk and created an independent, less commercial sound. R.E.M. toured and recorded day after day for years. Eventually, they hit it big in 1987 with a dark and often misinterpreted “The One I Love.” They signed to Warner and in 1991, they became superstars with the folk song, “Losing My Religion.” This was the second nail in the hair metal coffin (the first being Welcome to the Jungle and the final nail being Smells Like Teen Spirit). It was also the opening volley in the 90s rock revolution.

They followed “In Time” up with an album about mortality. “Automatic For The People“ produced “Everybody Hurts” which has been named song of the year for 1993. This was followed by “Monster” and “New Adventures in Hi-Fi” and a slew of hits.

R.E.M. remained one of the biggest bands in the world for the rest of the decade. Drummer Bill Berry left the band after 1996’s “New Adventures in Hi-Fi” and the band changed their sound. Their popularity waned and they returned to their old sound with 2008’s “Accelerate.” In 2007, they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Rock n Roll Moment: The now infamous Peter Buck air rage incident.

Essential REM:
Murmur (1983)
Reckoning (1984)
Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
Document (1987)
Green (1988)
Automatic for the People (1992)
Monster (1994)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
Accelerate (2008)

REM’s Top 10:

Radio Free Europe
The One I Love
It’s The End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)
Orange Crush
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
Man on the Moon
Losing My Religion
Drive
Everybody Hurts
Driver 8