[Friday On The Turntable] Ranking R.E.M. - from 'Murmur' to 'Collapse Into Now'

[@sydbarrett5]

Am I the only one who loved Monster when it came out? I still love that record.

[@sonicyouth29]

No you're not

[@thebopshop9689]

Monster would make it to my top 3 list. It is the one that gets better and better.

[@350125GOW]

Turn that sucker up.

[@djtimtim9979]

Monster is the tops!

[@glennwiltsee7405]

Monster, AFTP, and Murmur are my triumvirate

[@freebird3520]

I have ranked their albums many times and the list always ends up different. R.E.M. were masters at making each album unique but still just as good as the last. It sure was a fun ride watching this band evolve!

[@Megarobotsquadron]

the beautiful thing about this band is that every album felt like a "soft reboot" for the band

[@PhenomenalCat]

Great review, my number one favorite R.E.M. album is Fables of the Reconstruction closely followed by Automatic, Murmur, Document and New Adventures.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

You listed all great ones. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewdyke5561]

Reckoning is amazinggg

[@stevemiller3967]

Hello. Thank you for the nice, nice, nice words for 'Green'. It's my #1 R.E.M. record and it's nice to see it so high on someone's listing. Your listing and ranking is very, very, very professionally done. Nice job on 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' and 'Collapse into Now'. Good video ! :-)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate the kind words.

[@williamperez6251]

You have great taste in music my friend. I just got back into R.E.M. after giving up on them a while back. I forgot how good this band truly was. They have an awesome catalog that everyone should check out. Thank you for this video.

[@meropetied]

I know this was six years ago, but I just found it and, man, New Adventures in Hi-Fi is my favorite album by the band -- or, well, maybe second to Automatic for the People? -- depending on the day? -- and I love that you sensed its depth and raised it up a bit on the list. I mean, it doesn't scream out catchy singles, but hey -- it's the deepest, most interesting, most moving of their albums for me. It's a perfect collection of exploration and challenge. But yeah... can't argue with your elevation of the first two albums at all. They're magnificent.

[@kilgoretrout321]

New Adventures is so damn good. It's fun to put it on repeat and let it seep into your soul. I'm thinking of the beginning to "Leave" right now... Always gets me!

[@patricksnavely5850]

New Adventures is crazy awesome!!!💜💜💜

[@thebopshop9689]

VG comment!

[@iezzi80]

R.E.M. is the best. Amazing music.

[@KevinLarkinAngioli]

Glad to see you singling out "The Wrong Child" on G R E E N, which is a track I find so affecting, as well as demonstration of how Michael Stipe's voice can produce different emotional effects at different registers. Love the compassion and subject in the lyric, and of course there's the beginning of that R.E.M. mandolin magic. I also love that you singled out "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1;" I also deeply love that one and find it singular in the mood it conjures in me. I appreciate your preamble before Up and your ranking it higher than many would. I would argue that Up is strong front-to-back, and that R.E.M. had albums that weren't all that consistent before and after the Automatic barrier. I find G R E E N and Out of Time uneven, and I am continually baffled by how much love Reckoning receives. Almost nothing on side B connects with me on that record. But yes, clearly the later albums are quite uneven, too, though, as you said, all contain incredible tracks we would not want to be without. My personal top five for R.E.M., in chronological order, is Murmur, Fables of the Reconstruction, Lifes Rich Pageant [sic], Automatic for the People, and Up. The order in which they fall often changes. This is the case with me and Bowie, too. It's hard to have a fixed favorite with that many albums that are that amazing, and different. Finally, charmed by your comments on Out of Time's art. I'm wondering if you do the same thing I do, which is occasionally flip around the booklet or position a different page to be the cover art in your CD jewel cases.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hey Kevin! Lots to respond to here, but just wanted to take a moment to address your last statement. Haha! I totally have done that for certain albums where the flipside of the booklet makes a better cover. I mean, the pic of PM smoking in the Holy Smoke booklet is way better than what made it onto the cover. And definitely the mockup of the Out of Time cover.... I'll have to peruse the CDs to see what else has been rearranged. I dig the Valusia EP cover, but the pic of ZJ on the insert would've been a great cover as well.

[@thebopshop9689]

What a fantastic comment!!!

[@YoureStandinOnItDude]

I feel like every time i listen to Monster i find something new about it that i love. The album art was a stand-out cover at the music stores when i was younger.

[@jamesburton8070]

1. Ranking 2. R.E.M. 3. Albums 4. Is 5. Pointless 6. Different 7. People 8. Like 9. Different 10. Things 11. They 12. Are 13. All 14. Good 15. Around the Sun

[@kilgoretrout321]

I know right? Unless your list is particularly interesting, what's the point? I will say that an unusual list is pretty poignant because you can get a sense of the listener's personality. But anyone who puts a post-Bill Berry album in th top 8 or so is crazy

[@williambreeden4805]

​@@kilgoretrout321 I think Around the Sun is underrated, but that may be because most REM fans like faster, harder alt rock. I also like prog rock, and I think Around the Sun fits well in my collection. Show this album some love.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Green massively great

[@ladystardust04]

Amazing video, I completely agree! I'm glad to hear someone else loves "The Wrong Child". Also, "Murmur" is my all time favorite album :)

[@endi_va]

Fully agree

[@jeffmaehre7150]

I've always been a bit surprised that the Wrong Child disappeared into obscurity so quickly. I think the one time they played it live was in 1989, at the end of the Green World Tour, when they played all of Murmur and all of Green in sequence. It's a beautiful song with an intricate look at alienation or perhaps disability. "I'm not supposed to be like this" is just heartbreaking.

[@citehman]

1. Life's Rich Pageant - them being them at their best. begin the begin, cuyahoga and i believe are perfect songs.2. Reckoning - stripped down, simple and stunning. so. central rain and pretty persuasion back to back is a sick range of ability.3. Fables of the Reconstruction - makes you love the south. gravity's pull, life and how to live it and auctioneer are guitar heaven.4. Murmur - a tribute to the importance of background vocals. as is true with most first albums, it is the core of what a band is all about. listening to pilgrimage is just that.5. Document - misunderstood because of its two radio friendly hits but this is an overtly political rocker of an album that was so contrary to what was expected of them after becoming an arena band. disturbance at the heron house and finest worksong are masterpieces.Honorable Mention. Monster - the decision to go full on electric was a total f.u. to all the emo bands claiming REM as their inspirational leaders while cashing in on limited talent. this album is a vibrating wave of science and emotion. " let me in " just might be the best song the band ever made.

[@Matthew-ym2bb]

Couldn't agree more. These are the definitive 5 best imo.

[@kevtruth]

Pavement wrote a song in the early 90s called Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence which is about REM's Reckoning album. One line in the song is "Time After Time is my least favorite song". Obviously Steven Malkmus loved that record

[@MrLovell1971]

Great video Bret Murmur is a great number 1 pick . I have to revisit their catalog. My number one is Out of Time which I lucked up on vinyl. Number 2. Automatic, Number 3 is Murmur. I think Up is very underrated. Love this ranking Bret. Rad my man

[@FARID1870]

Automatic for the People is not just my favourite REM album, but MY FAVE of all time. Drive itself bears repeated listening for me.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for your comment, Jon. Just went and picked up the deluxe CD version of Green a few minutes ago - really looking forward to hearing the bonus content. 'Green' is for sure a great record. Thanks. - Bret

[@fogpeople]

I'm firmly in the camp that if they took Out of Time and Automatic for the People, winnowed them down to one flawless album and called it a day after that they would've gone down in history as one of America's greatest bands.

[@fogpeople]

@@jeffmaehre7150 Very nice! Mine would be something like this: kzbin.info/aero/PLDdR5e8TXOfcA4zXaUg6sY11tlE9cKP_A

[@JohnGarish]

Come on man you can't ignore chronic town no no

[@claymccoy]

"Beat A Drum" is one of my favorite songs. Anyway, here's my ranking sans the last two albums as I never listened to them: 13. Around the Sun 12. Up 11. New Adventures in Hi-Fi 10. Reveal 9. Green 8. Out of Time 7. Fables of the Reconstruction 6. Monster 5. Document 4. Reckoning 3. Life's Rich Pageant 2. Automatic for the People 1. Murmur

[@TheTurkey79]

New Adventures is under-rated in my mind and my fave from the Warners era :) But yup you're right about Murmur :)

[@curly_wyn]

Nice list! Here’s mine! 15. Around the Sun 14. Reveal 13. Accelerate 12. Up 11. Collapse into Now 10. Monster 9. Document 8. Fables of the Reconstruction 7. Out of Time 6. Lifes Rich Pageant 5. Reckoning 4. New Adventures in Hi-Fi 3. Green 2. Automatic for the People 1. Murmur *chronic town would be number one along with murmur, it’s my favorite EP of all time! :)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Right on. Good to also see Murmur in the top spot.

[@gabix7488]

15 Around the Sun 14 Reckoning 13 Fable of the Reconstruction ( love the opening track) 12 Reveal ( Lifting is in my top 10 Rem songs) 11 Out of Time ( Low is a masterpiece) 10 Collapse into Now 9 Accelerate 8 Murmur 7 Up 6 Life's reach 5 Document 4 Green 3 Automatic for the People 2 Monster 1 Adventures in Hi Fi

[@razorbladebr]

If I make a list mine would look a lot like yours.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Up might be my favorite. Songs are so cool intense wonderfully produced

[@Robmcnees]

I think your picks are excellent. REM is my all time favorite band. My top albums are Murmur, Fables, and probably Green. My most overrated (most people would not agree) album is Automatic. The early albums mean the most to me. My most underrated songs would include Good Advices, I Believe (why is this song rarely played?), and Letter Never Sent.

[@alexborst8066]

apparently Michael said somewhere that it "I believe" was really challenging to sing 'cause there were no breaks to breathe for him LOL.. real pity because what an amazing song that is

[@thebopshop9689]

I can’t stand Green but otherwise I like your list a lot!!!

[@tricolore31]

Great Video. Here is my ranking : 1. Automatic For The People (10/10) 2. New Adventures in Hi-Fi (10/10) 3. Monster (10/10) 4. Murmur (10/10) 5. Out Of Time (9/10) 6. Reckoning (9/10) 7. Life's Rich Pageant (9/10) 8. Document (9/10) 9. Green (8/10) 10. Fables Of The Reconstruction (8/10) 11. Reveal (7/10) 12. Up (7/10) 13. Accelerate (6/10) 14. Collapse Into Now (5/10) 15. Around The Sun (4/10)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching and sharing your list!

[@bleachhouse1090]

My ranking changes all the time and for me all of their albums are good (Ok albums) 15.Around The Sun 14.Accelerate (Pretty good albums) 13.Collapse Into Now 12.Reveal (Very good albums) 11.Monster 10.Green 9.Out Of Time 8.New Adventures In Hi Fi 7.Up 6.Document (Excellent albums) 5.Life's Rich Pageant 4.Reckoning 3.Automatic For The People 2.Fables Of The Reconstruction 1.Murmur

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Simon, very cool that you made a list before watching the video - I hope other people do that as well, it's definitely fun to compare as you watch. It was a tough race for the #1 spot between Murmur & Reckoning for me. Thanks man. - Bret

[@wolflower]

Great video! I've had a go at a list myself. I'm going to call it my least favourite to my most favourite rather than worst to best. For one I don't feel qualified to objectively judge each one in terms of quality, being neither a musician or a professional music critic (and I'd be the first to admit I have some extraordinary lapses in taste which can't be helped). Secondly, as they're my favourite band of all time, there are a lot of memories, personal reasons and silly little things for loving one thing slightly more than another thing - things that I can't really explain and certainly wouldn't want to try in a KZbin comment. N.B. I don't hate any R.E.M. album, there are things to like or even love on each one. If I wrote this list on a different day it would probably be different. Having written it only 20 minutes ago, I already think I'm wrong in a couple of places. So I'll call it a snap shot rather than anything definitive. I've tried to select my three favourite songs from the albums as well, which was really hard to do as there were usually 4 or 5 or 6 vying for a slot in the top 3. Again, these would probably be different on a different day. 15. Accelerate (Man-Sized Wreath, Mr Richards, Sing for the Submarine) 14. Around the Sun (Boy in the Well, High Speed Train, The Ascent of Man) 13. Up (Suspicion, Hope, Sad Professor) 12. Collapse into Now (All the Best, Oh My Heart, It Happened Today) 11. Monster (Crush with Eyeliner, Strange Currencies, Let Me In) 10. Out of Time (Low, Half a World Away, Country Feedback) 9. Lifes Rich Pageant (Fall on Me, I Believe, Swan Swan H) 8. Document (Disturbance at the Heron House, Fireplace, King of Birds) 7. Reveal (I've Been High, Beat a Drum, I'll Take the Rain) 6. Green (World Leader Pretend, Turn You Inside-Out, Hairshirt) 5. Automatic for the People (Try Not to Breathe, Man on the Moon, Find the River) 4. Murmur (Pilgrimage, Talk About the Passion, Sitting Still) 3. Reckoning (So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry), Pretty Persuasion, Camera) 2. New Adventures in Hi-Fi (New Test Leper, Be Mine, Low Desert) 1. Fables of the Reconstruction (Life and How to Live It, Kohoutek, Wendell Gee)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hahaha - thanks for watching, Eric. 'Fables' is definitely a great album, and I can see why it would take the #1 spot for you. Cheers! - Bret

[@andrewhyde4708]

Thanks - your video prompted me to spend the last couple of weeks compiling an REM playlist, who were the first band I loved. I ended up with over five hours of music and it was a reminder how unusually offbeat, oblique and political they were for a band that achieved such a level of audience and success. I probably rank Monster a lot higher than most people, which got some criticism at the time for being a gratuitous 'rock' album - but I think has some interesting themes (fluidity of identity, disturbing nature of fame, weirdness and sexuality). New Adventures in Hifi is also underrated, in my opinion. I still can't get into their albums after Up. 1. Automatic For The People (Drive, Star Me Kitten, Nightswimming) 2. Murmur (Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Moral Kiosk) 3. Reckoning (Harborcoat, 7 Chinese Brothers, So. Central Rain) 4. Monster (I Don't Sleep, I Dream, Circus Envy, King of Comedy) 5. Out of Time (Me in Honey, Half a World Away, Belong) 6. New Adventures in Hifi (E-Bow the Letter, Binky the Doormat, Electrolite) 7. Lifes Rich Pageant (Cuyahoga, Hyena, Fall On Me) 8. Fables of the Reconstruction (Life and How to Live It, Can't Get There from Here, Driver 8) 9. Green (You Are the Everything, Hairshirt, Orange Crush) 10. Up (Daysleeper, Suspicion, Walk Unafraid) 11. Document (Disturbance at the Heron House, Finest Worksong, It's the End of the World As We Know It) 12. Collapse Into Now (Discoverer, Uberlin) 13. Accelerate (Living Well is the Best Revenge, Horse to Water) 14. Reveal (Beat a Drum) 15; Around the Sun

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Andrew! Glad the video was able to inspire an in-depth listen. Thanks also for sharing your list & song selections. I also have a post on the blog with my 20 Best R.E.M. songs: brethelm.blogspot.com/2011/03/20-best-songs-of-rem.html Cheers!

[@regularburns]

"Murmur" is my favorite R.E.M. LP, great video as usual.

[@ollieoleary]

Fables will always be my no. 1.

[@markseverson6516]

Great thoughts, Bret. As you said, "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" keeps creeping up my list and continues to be revisited as an upper half fave. Something did seem emptier after Berry left, although it was great to hear good energy and pop with their last two releases. Glad they went out with a bang!

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Mark Severson Thanks Mark!

[@kilgoretrout321]

My list: 1. Murmur 2. New Adventures in Hi-Fi 3. Automatic for the People 4. Document 5. Green 6. Reckoning 7. Life's Rich Pageant 8. Out of Time 9. Fables of the Reconstruction 10. Accelerate 11. Monster 12. Reveal 13. Collapse into Now 14. Up 15. Around the Sun

[@NinoMarincokus]

my ranking of the albums from worst to best: 15.around the sun 14.reveal 13.up 12.out of time 11.collapse into now 10.accelarate 9.green 8.new adventures in hi-fi 7.fables of the reconstruction 6.monster 5.lifes rich pageant 4.automatic for the people 3.reckoning 2.document 1.murmur what do you think of the list?

[@Ed-rb2wd]

Up is their most underrated album.

[@ptothej100]

I say Reveal, but Up has some gems on it. Actually, I think Up might be better than I thought. You’re In The Air is great. Why Not Smile to the end of Falls To Climb. All of those songs r good.

[@mattyarbrough3148]

Oh yeah man. Daysleeper and Hope alone puts this one high on my list. But so many gems!! Airportman, Sad Professor, The Apologist, Lotus!! All so good.

[@mattyarbrough3148]

Reveal and Up are very close for me. I kinda like to see them as a two volume set. Same sort of feel and flow throughout both of them

[@mmsiphonevinyls1027]

Ed id say Reveal is their most underrated. It was acclaimed when it came out and yet noone seems to like it anymore.

[@radiator-gb7pk]

Reveal is their only dated album. It is the only production that places it in it's time. A few great tunes on there though. Collapse into Now is the most underrated album of their career.

[@CPSJSMSUUMUGA]

I think one measure, and an important one, of any artist's work is what happens when they change. You don't want to hear the same album again and again. That's certainly one of reasons the Beatles were so great. As they changed, their music improved. Rubber Soul (1965) and Revolver (1966) were similar, but both so great, it didn't matter. Afterwards, as time passed, their detractors, the music establishment, the same people who had dismissed not just the Beatles, but rock & roll, as fluff, kid's music - "be gone in a year" - begrudgingly acknowledged, "OK, those albums are pretty good, but they've peaked. They lasted a little longer than we expected, but we were right, they're gone." About 18 months after Revolver, the burned out Beatles released, "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), which, Rolling Stone, in their ranking of the top 500 albums of all time, ranked Number 1. The White album (1968), followed, I think by Magical Mystery tour, Abbey Road (1969) and Let it Be (1970). [It'll be a hundred years before the magic-in-a-bottle that was the Beatles will happen again, if ever.] My point is obviously not that REM are the Beatles, but rather, that like the Beatles, they didn't make the same record again and again, and as as they changed they got better. And when they made some of the biggest changes, their art not only didn't suffer, it reached new levels of brilliance. Of course opinions vary. I think part of the reason those early albums are ranked so highly is that the songs have a fresh, raw, even mysterious edge. "What do those lyrics say, anyway?" Those who heard early REM were in on a secret. This was a very good new band that they knew about, but the record industry, those who bought records, or even their friends, didn't. Of course every record wasn't better than the previous one, but if you take a step back, I think the trend was towards creating better music. I was an REM fan early on, but I thought their albums were uneven - some great songs, but too many that were just OK. This changed in 1992. "Automatic For the People" is, for me, one of the greatest albums of my lifetime. When it came out I listened to it, and nothing else, for a month. As I type on May 1, 2020, I've been holed up in my house in Athens, GA, for two months, and am almost finished listening to Automatic. As the last song, "Find the River," is playing, I feel lucky to be alive, and able to appreciate the stunningly powerful, beautiful music of REM. If that's not the purpose of art, I don't know what is.

[@inaminute1826]

ITS THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT AND I FEEL FINE (definitely my favorite. Perfection)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for tuning in, Graeme. 'Me In Honey' - excellent. Very cool that Green was the first CD that you owned - those are great memories. Yes, that's a 2X4 Expedit - I'm pretty sure that each 'cube' holds approximately 70 records - don't quote me on that. I like having the 2X4s, because then I can use the top shelf to set things on and access at an easy level.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

'Gardening At Night' is my immediate favorite... followed by '1,000,000' and then... well, all 5 tracks are excellent. :)

[@8145cc]

What about hairshirt of green

[@robcristofoli6330]

Thanks for another great review Bret! It's been a while since I listened to some of these albums so I'd find it virtually impossible to compile a complete rankings list but I agree with Murmur as number 1, Laughing,Talk About the Passion, Catapult, Shaking Through are great great songs that bring back a lot of great memories for me not forgetting the stunningly beautiful Perfect Circle. Another top one for me is Document which is the first one I purchased, heard The One I Love on a radio station and was instantly hooked. Out Of Time is another, such a strong consistent album which like you mentioned has some great tracks hidden away on Side Two, Country Feedback being one of my favourite all time R.E.M. songs. And finally a mention for New Adventures in HiFi which I think is an underrated classic and probably their last great album, I agree that it's a little too long but it contains some brilliant tracks like New Test Leper, Leave, Bittersweet Me and the gorgeous Electrolite :)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Rob Cristofoli - Have you seen all of the bonus content that R.E.M. put up digitally this week? All of the Unplugged sessions - and a bunch of other material - also on Spotify.. Totally agree with you on Side 2 of Out of Time - listened to it the other day - brought back great memories of driving across the country back in 1991. Country Feedback, Me In Honey - so many gems. Thanks for watching and commenting! - Bret

[@robcristofoli6330]

Bret Helm's Life On This Planet Blog Yes I have, looking forward to exploring the rarities sets, it looks like the I.R.S. set includes all of Dead Letter Office plus a load more but what about the Warner Bros set - 131 tracks wow! Also good to see the previously unbroadcasted material from the Unplugged sessions :)

[@williambreeden4805]

Very enjoyable video. I think Around the Sun is underrated, but that may be because most REM fans like faster, harder alt rock. I also like prog rock, and I think Around the Sun fits well in my collection. Show this album some love.

[@ThePhantomBeatlemaniac]

Totally agree. I find much of this album very catchy, and it's one that rewards repeat playing. Listen without prejudice.

[@mattyarbrough3148]

My ranking would be..... 15. Around the Sun 14. Monster 13. Collapse into Now 12. Green 11. Accelerate 10. Lifes Rich Pageant 9. Automatic for the People 8. Out of Time 7. New Adventures In Hi Fi 6. Document 5. Murmur 4. Reckoning 3. Reveal 2. Up 1. Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables!!! This album is so insanely good, that murky production feels 80s horror movie-ish, or really rustic, or both. It’s just a captivating album, so rich with thought and detail. In my own opinion, it’s their best work!! :) ...I also really love the Up/Reveal era too as you can see. Man oh man, songs like The Lifting/Daysleeper suite, All the Way to Reno, Beachball, Hope, At My Most Beautiful, Imitation of Life, Airportman... I could go on and on. It’s good to see everyone’s different lists. They may hit us all differently but at least they hit us all!

[@absolving]

Nice to see Reveal and Up so high up.. nice list. And yes, Up and Reveal have so many beautiful songs

[@Picnicl]

You don't like rock much, putting Monster and Lifes Rich Pageant so low.

[@thebopshop9689]

Super good comment but Monster is so extraordinarily good. I think you should go back and listen to it. It’s like the band was primed to peak but instead of going into the studio to peak (after all those years) they went in with the attitude that they were going to burn the f’ing two headed cow to the ground. (clipped and distant) To me Monster is that good! Everything else you said is spot on!!!! MONSTER That is a bad boy there!!!

[@razorbladebr]

The R.E.M. It's my favorite band. From their list the band started better and then got worse over time. I think the band was growing until the 1990s. And then there were ups and downs after Berry left, but without losing excellence.

[@williamperez6251]

Great collection. Thank you for sharing.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching!

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Lovell. Very cool that you have Out Of Time on vinyl - hope to come across a copy one day. Yeah man, I agree about Up - that track 'Walk Unafraid' is so good. Thanks for watching.

[@SANDRILLA1979]

TODA LA MUSICA DE R.E.M. OCUPA EL LUGAR #1 EN MI CORAZON.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

:)

[@SANDRILLA1979]

:) saludos desde Colombia.

[@bostonianreggie]

Oh how i love Murmur. I'm off to spin Fables now. Fantastic ranking.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Excellent. Thanks for watching!

[@bavideomaker29]

As a diehard R.E.M. fan, this is a pretty good list. I would swap Reckoning with Pagent and maybe move Automatic up somehow.

[@petecarrmusic]

howdy Brett. Gotta say...reveal is right up there for me!!! Some of my favourite songs. funny how we all can think so differently hey..

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hey Peter. Thanks for watching. Yeah, it's quite interesting to see how certain albums affect each person in a different way. Cheers!

[@petecarrmusic]

Absolutely! Gotta get on board and listen to some early early REM tunes!! Havent really discovered their really early stuff. You obviously love their first album...good place for me to start?

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

peter carr Sorry, must have missed your question here. I'd start with Murmur & Reckoning - cannot go wrong there. :)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Hi Rob, sorry for the long delay in my response - finally feeling back to myself. 'Automatic' is a beautiful record - 'Nightswimming' is an amazing track - one of R.E.M.'s best... and the lyrics to 'Sweetness Follows' always chokes me up a bit. So great that you saw their first Boston show - I bet that was an outstanding time to catch them in their youth. I appreciate your comments and always watching. Hope all is well. - Bret

[@CTChipmunk]

Monster is definitely #15 for me, but I love all 15 studio albums. Front to back complete perfect "10" out of 10 albums (in no order): Murmur, Reckoning, Fables, Pageant, Out Of Time, Green, Sun, & Collapse. Front to back almost a "10" (in no order): Reveal, Document, Automatic, Up, & Hi-Fi. Honorable Mentions: Accelerate & Monster. 😆

[@THECRAZYNINJA23]

My favorite songs are Radio Free Europe, Orange Crush, Stand, Pop Song 89, and Shiny Happy People.

[@paulelliott3220]

Hi Bret You nailed 1 and 2 with Murmur and Reckoning in my view Totally valid comments about post '92 - always much yo enjoy and many highlights but not quite the same consistency of excellence. 3- Green; every song is tight, sounds great and much variety. The 'mandolin' songs all very thoughtful and supremely lovely, the rockier songs all greatly realised and more 'warm' than on a Document. 4- Life's Rich Pageant; as with Green much to love but more exuberance and pace, and perhaps rocks more but not quite the same depth. 5- Automatic or Out Of Time; the last one I've listened to normally wins this spot. much to enjoy on both and definitely expanding their sound. 7- Monster; played this a few times lately and been very pleasantly surprised how the feedback enhanced material sounding better than I remember. 8- Fables; don't entirely share your adoration for this; the band troubled with the production but I just don't think all of the songs are as collectively strong as other releases. Driver8, Gravity's Pull, etc - there is quality in here to be sure. 9- Document; I like all the songs but only love a couple. The polemic and darkness draws me in but hasn't got the engaging quality of other work. 10- HiFi; listened to this a lot when it came out but, again, the material not as consistently good although the highlights are pretty damn awesome. 11- Up 11- Collapse Thereafter, the ratio of great songs and others gets weighted the wrong way. Awesome band, much missed and the last two showed hints of a revival. However, with such a body of work it's tough to reach the same heights artistically late in a career. All albums worth having though and playing regularly - there are gems aplenty on all releases. Gardening at Night and a couple of others on Chronic Town are great too as others gave commented. Great stuff as always, keep them coming

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

paul elliott Thanks for the detailed list, Paul. Nice to see 'Green' at #3 for you. Cheers!

[@joycehall4866]

Fables is my #1

[@ncf1]

1. Automatic 2. Fables 3. Green / Murmur

[@user-ok5ti3ib3g]

My favorite is Monster for What's the frequency Kenneth?, Crush with Eyeliner, and Star 69

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

hatehimhecka215 Right on. Thanks for watching!

[@johnnyonepair638]

I'm seriously thinking about what my ranks and top 3 songs per album would be. I can be biased to the early I.R.S. years as well. I am very happy I stumbled upon this video. We both agree on least and most favorite which is nice.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

:) Thanks for watching, Dale. - Bret

[@BurnThis2]

Love your comment, that you'd love to know if "Around the Sun" was anyone's favorite. That's such a tactful way of saying that it was the most WTF collection of songs from what is otherwise such an amazing catalogue of music. Too bad you had to leave off the EP (which has two of my favorite songs -Carnival of Sorts and Gardening) and the B-sdes (which has the Pylon cover Crazy).

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Yeah, Chronic Town is so great - 'Gardening At Night' is one of my favorite R.E.M. songs. Thanks for tuning in! - Bret

[@jothoma]

I agree with all except I would switch Document and Green. I have never been able to warm to Green for some reason but it has been a long time since I have listened to it so you have inspired me to give it another chance. I have always said that Fables is the best REM album but I realize that is a very personal choice and I love how you have Out of Time ranked so high. That is their most underrated album I think.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for your comments, John. Happy to have inspired you to pull out Green for a spin - some really beautiful songs on there. - Bret

[@darrenbradly2702]

Love them all

[@garyrobinson8665]

Love rem. My favourite is currently fables but that could change. My number two is automatic purely for nostalgia reasons. Up is a very underrated album. I agree they got a bit bloated after automatic and maybe a bit too polished I think. I like the raw sound of the mid 80s.

[@chrismartin1231]

Would anything change, after all these years. Just curious.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Most likely. I will endeavor to do an updated re-ranking sometime in the future!

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Right on, Chez! Thanks for your kind words. :)

[@lenabinieda5074]

Where is Dead Letter Office with bonus Chronic Town EP?

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Lena Binięda Hi Lena. I decided to just focus on the regular studio albums.

[@stephenmallett2681]

Good coverage and good topics covered of my favorite band, I thought windle gee should of had a mention

[@fogpeople]

Interesting list. I think the first half makes sense but I would order the top 7 or so very differently. Thanks for putting this together! 🙂

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching, Michael!

[@gg41r]

BTW....while i remember....is that IKEA expedit unit behind you? If so...is it the 4x2? Im planning investing in some unit or other, but unsure whether to get 4x2 unit or the 4x4 (which will probably keep me going for the rest of my life). The reason i ask...i just was trying to gauge how many records fit in each compartment :)

[@8145cc]

Reconstruction of the fables is my favorite

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Right on, man. Swan Swan H - great track for sure. Thanks for always watching. - Bret

[@mohammedganai9636]

REM put out an album a year throughout the 80s. Their superlong Green tour broke the trend. I would have swapped positions between Document and Green, and Automatic for the People and Out of Time. Great list.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

As the years go by, I love the Green album more and more.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Vance! Definitely check out their final album - Collapse Into Now - definitely a great end to an amazing career. As always, thanks for watching. Cheers. - Bret

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching, Travis. Cheers.

[@vinylpatrol101]

Nice job as always Bret, your ranking videos are the best. For me REM is kinda strange because I think they mostly go in order up to "Automatic for the People" after that they are a toss up.

[@subwaygoddess1]

#1. Chronic Town

[@WeeklyRations]

Bret, Id be interested to know what was the 1st REM album you ever heard? I find this affects ranking of a bands catalog heavily. Almost as much as 1st release. So many bands never top it. For me, i only came to REM during their massive success period, Automatic etc. But i managed to pick up some earlier albums on Vinyl when i lived in the states and now rank Murmour as my favourite as I've played it so much. Funnily enough I've never heard Reckoning! Better stream it right now!

[@adamv600]

my list....15. Reveal 14.Collapse Into Now 13. Around The Sun 12. Accelerate 11.Green 10. Fables 9. New Adventures 8. Document 7. Monster 6. Murmur 5. Up 4. Out of Time 3. Reckoning 2. Lifes Rich Pageant 1. Automatic

[@teddyrandallspencer2768]

Thanks Man !! I love countdowns anyway !! whether i agree or not .. love it because ... i am reminded of all the great work of such epic Pop Bands ... I agree with #1 MURMUR

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Right on. Thanks Teddy

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Reveal top two for me. So funny the differences of opinion but the love of one band

[@garethcumming667]

Reveal is my favourite. And apparently Stipe’s second favourite. I am dismayed that more fans don’t rate this higher.

[@jeffmarkus]

Pretty cool that your top 3 selections are also in my top 3. The order is slightly different though. You have: 3. Fables 2. Reckoning 1. Murmur. Mine are: 3. Reckoning 2. Murmur 1. Fables

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Very cool! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@gmaher17]

Just found this after listening to "Are you Talking REM Re: Me" podcast for several months now. Great discussion about my favorite band. My list is 15. Monster, 14. Around the Sun, 13. Up, 12. Collapse into Now, 11. Out of Time, 10. Accelerate, 9. Document, 8. Hi-Fi, 7. Reveal, 6. Automatic for the People, 5. Green, 4. Life's Rich Pageant, 3. Murmur, 2. Reckoning, 1. Fables of the Reconstruction

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching and sharing your list, Geoffrey!

[@ptothej100]

Around The Sun Accelerate Monster Up Out of Time New Adventures Reveal Document Murmur Reckoning Green Life’s Rich Pageant Fables Of the Reconstruction That’s my list in descending order. Became a fan in late ‘86 w/ Life’s Rich Pageant. Been a huge fan since then. Somewhat disappointed w/ their post New Adventures albums, but absolutely loved Reveal and most of a Collapse Into Now

[@SaltyStU2]

Top 3 R.E.M. Albums: 1. Green 2. Out Of Time 3. Automatic For The People

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Excellent. 'Automatic' is an outstanding record - can totally see why it's your favorite. Thanks for watching and for making a list. Cheers. - Bret

[@thevinylvagabond]

Hey Bret, long-time watcher, first time commenter here :) Great band & great vid. My order would be similar to yours, although Reckoning is my #1, Murmur #2 followed by Fables, Pageant & Document. Oddly, Out of Time is my 2nd least (I like Belong tho) with Sun being my personal lowest. Keep the vids coming! - Bobby

[@JohnMacRae23]

My ranking: 1.Murmer 2.Reckoning 3.Fables of the Reconstruction 4.Lifes Rich Pagent 5.Document 6.Automatic For the People 7.Out of Time 8.New Adventures In Hi-Fi 9.Green 10.Collapse Into Now 11.Reveal 12.Up 13.Accelerate 14.Monster 15.Around the Sun

[@dereckvon]

You're very good at this.

[@MeTheDroidor]

My list, although it is changing, today would be the following, from best (1) to worse (15): 1.- Murmur 2.- Automatic for the people 3.- Green 4.- Document 5.- Lifes Rich Pageant 6.- Reckoning 7.- Up 8.- Monster 9.- New Adventures in Hi-Fi 10.- Out of Time 11.- Collapse into now 11.- Accelerate 13.- Fables of the Reconstruction 14.- Reveal 15.- Around the sun And for me, "UP" is one of the best things that R.E.M has done: nocturnal, sensual, evocative ... it allows infinite listening and in each one something new is discovered, it is unagotable. And it's not electronic, they're Peter Buck's analog rhythm boxes. Song by song seems like a weirdo, but as a whole it has the essence R.E.M., a lot of magic and incredible songs like "Hope", "Suspicion" or "At my most beautiful".

[@EricCRash]

WHAT?!? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? WHAT THE @$&% ARE YOU THINKING?!? Kidding, of course, Bret. Believe it or not, though the order would be different, I think my Top 5 would be the same as yours (with 'Fables' taking the top spot). The only glaring differences between us would be that you've always been much higher on 'Up' than me, while 'Monster' would be much higher for me. Great job,as usual! :-)

[@antonioeisadora]

Nice list. I agree with almost everything...

[@chrisdelisle3954]

REM used to be one of my favorite bands. I just didn't care as much anymore after Bill Berry left. I think "Monster" broke me as a fan, and my interest waned after that. Everything after "Up" is pretty much a blur, though I seem to recall "Accelerate" being pretty good. Of the 11 albums I am aware of: 11) Monster (and it's not even close...I like "Star 69" and little else on this record); 10) New Adventures In Hi-Fi (I think it's too long, with about half of the album being great and the other half not so much; "Be Mine" is one of their most stellar songs); 9) Up (I really like what they tried to do here and "At My Most Beautiful" is another one of their all-time greats); 8) Fables Of The Reconstruction (every album from here on in is excellent and I'm splitting hairs as to which of their albums is better than the others; love "Good Advices" and "Green Grow The Rushes," among others); 7) Out of Time (again, I really love this album, but not as much as others; my favorites include "Me In Honey," "Belong" and "Near Wild Heaven"); 6) Green (though I think this is what I listened to the most in high school; my favorite is "Pop Song '89," and "Get Up" and "You Are The Everything" starring in a front-heavy album; 5) (it's really getting hard now) Document (maybe because they have No. 5 on the album, I don't know; I love "Exhuming McCarthy," "Disturbance At The Heron House," "King of Birds;" 4) Murmur - I think because I didn't get into them until later that this ISN'T my favorite - so many classics, including "Shaking Through," "Sitting Still," "Talk About the Passion," "Perfect Circle;" 3) Lifes Rich Pageant - at their rocking-est, with "These Days," Begin The Begin," "I Believe" and "Superman" standing out; 2) Reckoning - but only because it's not a perfect album. I love "Harborcoat," "So. Central Rain," "Time After Time," "Camera," "Don't Go Back To Rockville" and "Letter Never Sent;" 1) Automatic For The People - because this album is perfect, with "Nightswimming," "Sweetness Follows" and "Find The River" being 3 of their absolute greatest songs.

[@gg41r]

Nice video Bret. I enjoyed that. I myself....only own about 6 REM albums. Im not familliar at all with your top 3. Id rate my top 3 REM albums as 1) Green 2)New Adventures in Hi Fi and 3) Monster. My fave song is Me In Honey. REM actually hold a very special place in my musical history, as Green was the very first CD i ever played on my first ever CD player :)

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks for watching, Bobby! Really appreciate it. - Bret

[@dennischary1197]

I thoroughly enjoyed this review.Let me make just two observations.I think "Parakeet" from the fine but overly long LP "Up" is a vastly underrated song."Perfect Circle" from the LP"Murmur"is such a beautifully emotionally wrenching song-perfect-pun intended,perfection.

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Thanks Dennis. I appreciate you stopping by. - Bret

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Michael, 'Automatic For The People' is definitely a great record - can totally see it being lots of R.E.M fans' favorite in their catalog. Thanks for tuning in. - Bret