After 31 years and 15 albums, R.E.M are calling it a day

Early REM songs (especially from Out Of Time and Automatic) associate with some special memories and people I've known, but I never really connected with their stuff after Reveal. I'm sad to see them go.

Early R.E.M. is early 80s, and arguably their best work. They only achieved commercial success when they signed for Warner in 1988.

While OoT and Automatic are great albums, and hugely successful, I think most fans prefer the rawer, rockier R.E.M. of the 80s - more a akin to what they were like live.
 
Some of their stuff was amazing, some of it was totally lame. But then that's true of many.

I loved them but haven't listened to much recently. The fact is they are a legendary rock band and I'll miss them.
 
And Bon Jovi


Well that's a given.

What I will say, and I have listened to every REM album at least twice, is whoever picked the singles did a good job because (IMO) they are the best tracks from the albums and REM's Best Of album would be a corker.
This totally contravenes any other 'Best Of' album by any other band because I would be picking from album tracks mostly.

So I have just admitted I like at least 80 minutes by REM.
I've even played at least 6 of their songs on stage.
 
The albums became a bit uninspiring in the later years but they were a fanatstic band and great live performers.
 
I still rate Automatic for the People as one of my favourite if not favourite albums of all time.
I felt the album released earlier this year was a return to form - I still play that album now.

I've seen them live 3 times and really enjoyed it everytime I've been.
Stipe may well be a "shy" person, but he can work a crowd.

Will be interesting to see if anything "solo" comes from them now.
 
Can't really say i'm sad to see them go, should have happened years ago imho. Last interesting thing they did was the Green album back in 89'. Out of Time was ok-ish, Automatic for me was turgid, Monster was well, mmm:rolleyes:! To me they just became stale and tedious, they should have layed it to rest maybe 15 years ago, but hey, that's just me. Glad I got to see them some in the 80's though, excellent stuff. Just need U2 to fcukoff now and all will be good in the world:D
 
I must be one of the few people that actually enjoyed Around the Sun. Shame to see them split, few bands nowadays still release material to such a consistently high standard. But it will be interesting to see what they do solo - another Tired Pony album maybe?
 
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