16 replies to this topic

[robertandrews]

Lotus
Low Desert
Bittersweet Me
So Fast, So Numb
Summer Turns To High

others?

[dirk-jan]

I'll take the rain
Leaving New York (in a way and even the title)

They're both good songs, no doubt, but they're a bit "mainstreamy".

[Clouseau]

it's a very interesting matter : what is or is not REM.

in a certain extend, the band main feature is its variety. they sound always different (unlike U2 :D ) whereas the canvas is quite the same (folk songs)

in a word : Outsiders is unexpected just because it works in its own way. It is so much powerful but the groove (thx Mike Mills) is very astonishing.

IMO what make them sound reckognizable is how Michael put his voice in the rythm.

opinion, someone?

[dotdotdot]

Here are some songs right off the top of my head:

Lotus, Circus Envy, King Of Comedy...

[Stubbsy]

Most of Monster, particualy Circus Envy.

Lightin' Hopkins to an extent.

[Matthew Wood]

Most post-Pageant, Stipe-vocal songs.

[miracle]

Matthew Wood said:

Most post-Pageant, Stipe-vocal songs.

I have to reply on this guy, the least R.E.M. like songs are from up, reveal and around the sun. I like them, but they are not R.E.M.ish. So i would say The Airport man and the outsiders :)
Greetz miracle

[Matthew Wood]

miracle said:

I have to reply on this guy, the least R.E.M. like songs are from up, reveal and around the sun. I like them, but they are not R.E.M.ish. So i would say The Airport man and the outsiders :)
Greetz miracle

I agree with you, but I think Document was the first domino in an unfinished series of evolving albums.

[Locomotive8]

robertandrews said:

others?

Most of UP.
In fact there's a song there that sounds like Leonard Cohen... :D

[Light]

What the heck is an "R.E.M. Song" anyway? They've progressed so far since the jangling guitars and muted mumbles of Murmur. With Pageant, they got clearer production and much more direct vocals and such. Out of Time and Automatic were ventures into pop. Up was admittedly the greatest change in style, what with synthesizers and drum machines. But R.E.M. have matured so much as musicians, it's hard to identify a specific "R.E.M. sound".

[Churchill]

Locomotive8 said:

Most of UP.
In fact there's a song there that sounds like Leonard Cohen... :D

Was it "Hope"? It was co-written by Cohen himself, so that is probably the reason.

[rosie]

Churchill said:

Was it "Hope"? It was co-written by Cohen himself, so that is probably the reason.

um, no it wasn't.  i believe the story goes that when Michael produced the lyrics and melody for Hope, Peter pointed out the similarity to Leonard Cohen's song, Suzanne, so they decided that the decent thing would be to acknowledge this in the liner notes.

sue

[CollectingVinyl]

Hope
Airportman
Sad Professor
The Outsiders
Leave

[Churchill]

rosie said:

um, no it wasn't.  i believe the story goes that when Michael produced the lyrics and melody for Hope, Peter pointed out the similarity to Leonard Cohen's song, Suzanne, so they decided that the decent thing would be to acknowledge this in the liner notes.

sue

Okey, then. It said it was co-written in the Up brochure and the wikipedia mentioned it being so, but I'm no expert.

[REMFan]

I agree, the band has changed so often, it's hard to pinpoint their all-around sound.  But I'll give this a shot:

The Ascent of Man
Chance (Dub)
Saturn Return
(Don't Go Back To) Rockville

[wagtail]

Churchill said:

Okey, then. It said it was co-written in the Up brochure and the wikipedia mentioned it being so, but I'm no expert.

I guess there is a difference between a writing credit and an actual collaboration though. right?  Regardless, I think the original poster that mentioned it was just making a joke.

As for the question of this thread, I'd say Wanderlust.  a great word, but a kinda dodgy, VERY unR.E.M.ish song.