Best Ever Albums

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

RoundTheBend — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 14:30:37 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/22/2020 19:30

Skinny wrote:

Going strictly by studio albums I'm familiar with here, although Eponymous would rank very highly.

1. Murmur
2. Lifes Rich Pageant
3. Reckoning
4. Fables of the Reconstruction

5. New Adventures in Hi-Fi
6. Automatic for the People
7. Document

8. Reveal
9. Around the Sun
10. Up

11. Out of Time
12. Green
13. Monster

To be clear, I like all of these albums, which is pretty crazy given how liable I am to hate stuff. Apparently R.E.M. also released two albums post-Around the Sun, whose names sound vaguely familiar, but whose contents escape me entirely, although they did come out during the height of my hedonistic days when tracking R.E.M.'s graceful slide into middle age wasn't really a priority for me. What my list says to me, now that I'm looking at it, is that Automatic for the People was actually something of an outlier, an album containing actual songs produced in ways that played to the band's expanding strengths during what I consider to be a relatively fallow period, creatively, for an otherwise excellent group. Whilst it's probably very clichéd to consider their I.R.S. years (particularly pre-Document) to be their quote unquote golden era, they were just astonishingly great during that period, and the expansion(s) of their sound - whilst likely necessary in order to maintain both their own interest and that of the much maligned "record-buying public" - simply led to increasingly inconsistent releases that charmed and often thrilled, but also occasionally sagged and disappointed. I tend to think that R.E.M. were already grown up and wise beyond their years when they started, to the point that the further growing up they very publicly went through was reductive (though definitely and thankfully not redundant, given that they still managed to provide glittering moments on a remarkably regular basis). The more I think about them, the more respect I have for them, as a group who were able to create worthwhile art for as long as they did without dropping any actual turds along the way. Not even my beloved Flaming Lips could manage that, although neither they nor R.E.M. can hold a candle to Yo La Tengo's consistency, which puts all other similarly aged, indie-adjacent bands to shame.

Anyway, I think the tangent pile-up I just skidded straight into is probably a sign that I should end this post here.

Eponymous is indeed fantastic and captures a lot (but not all) of what I love about their early years... it was actually my first R.E.M. album, now that I think about it, even if I had already listened to my siblings' Out of Time and Automatic for the People from cover to cover, as well as countless singles like Stand (which irony I love). Do you know where the fuck you stand or are you a lemming? ... well at least that's how I hear the song. Likely 90% of the population thinks it's a blank pop song, which I'm ok with because I misinterpret a lot of music.

Oh right I was quoting skinny... hehe. Yeah I.R.S. years... somehow I love this period and somehow it simultaneously escapes me as significant... I think it's the depth of emotion I get from it (not that it can't have it), but one reason I feel like Green explodes for me is the depth of emotion is quite significant. Either from a passion for political statements, or passion against child abuse, or personal suffering. The obscure/inability to convey love. The passion for living an examined life... I mean there's just so much on Green, it's no wonder Kurt Cobain had it listed as his favorite too.

Damn, I can't stay on point... anyway, I'm shocked and not shocked by your last 3, especially with Around the Sun (although this does have quite a few gems) and Reveal (I find this album really difficult to enjoy on any level... if R.E.M. had a shit record they had to release because they were contracted to as opposed to poured their heart and soul into it... I think Reveal is hands down that album, for me at least). But hey it gave them their only #1 hit in Japan.

I can ramble about these guys all day. Favorite band basically since memory can serve.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:29:09 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/22/2020 15:29

I especially love the two mandolin songs. Did they use mandolin before?

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

Skinny — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 04:09:52 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 11/22/2020 09:09

Going strictly by studio albums I'm familiar with here, although Eponymous would rank very highly.

1. Murmur
2. Lifes Rich Pageant
3. Reckoning
4. Fables of the Reconstruction

5. New Adventures in Hi-Fi
6. Automatic for the People
7. Document

8. Reveal
9. Around the Sun
10. Up

11. Out of Time
12. Green
13. Monster

To be clear, I like all of these albums, which is pretty crazy given how liable I am to hate stuff. Apparently R.E.M. also released two albums post-Around the Sun, whose names sound vaguely familiar, but whose contents escape me entirely, although they did come out during the height of my hedonistic days when tracking R.E.M.'s graceful slide into middle age wasn't really a priority for me. What my list says to me, now that I'm looking at it, is that Automatic for the People was actually something of an outlier, an album containing actual songs produced in ways that played to the band's expanding strengths during what I consider to be a relatively fallow period, creatively, for an otherwise excellent group. Whilst it's probably very clichéd to consider their I.R.S. years (particularly pre-Document) to be their quote unquote golden era, they were just astonishingly great during that period, and the expansion(s) of their sound - whilst likely necessary in order to maintain both their own interest and that of the much maligned "record-buying public" - simply led to increasingly inconsistent releases that charmed and often thrilled, but also occasionally sagged and disappointed. I tend to think that R.E.M. were already grown up and wise beyond their years when they started, to the point that the further growing up they very publicly went through was reductive (though definitely and thankfully not redundant, given that they still managed to provide glittering moments on a remarkably regular basis). The more I think about them, the more respect I have for them, as a group who were able to create worthwhile art for as long as they did without dropping any actual turds along the way. Not even my beloved Flaming Lips could manage that, although neither they nor R.E.M. can hold a candle to Yo La Tengo's consistency, which puts all other similarly aged, indie-adjacent bands to shame.

Anyway, I think the tangent pile-up I just skidded straight into is probably a sign that I should end this post here.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

RoundTheBend — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 23:57:18 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/22/2020 04:57

CA Dreamin wrote:

RoundTheBend wrote:

CA Dreamin wrote:

Personally I like poppy R.E.M. and I used to have Green as my #2 R.E.M. album but I think Reckoning has that claim now.

What's your #1?

Murmur, for sure. I checked my overall list after making this comment and saw I have Green on there near the bottom. I think Murmur's spot in my Top 40 is safe for now. But for whatever reason, I thought I pulled Green recently. Maybe next time I update. And I can't say I'd agree with your R.E.M. album ranking but that's all good. It's hard to put albums in order for a band so prolific and consistently good.

For sure, I mean the only legit studio album I don't find to be good to great is Reveal.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

CA Dreamin — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 20:07:27 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 11/22/2020 01:07

RoundTheBend wrote:

CA Dreamin wrote:

Personally I like poppy R.E.M. and I used to have Green as my #2 R.E.M. album but I think Reckoning has that claim now.

What's your #1?

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

RoundTheBend — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 18:24:43 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/21/2020 23:24

CA Dreamin wrote:

Skinny wrote:

Interesting. I tend to think of Document as basically being a continuation of their earlier work with slightly catchier hooks and slightly higher production values, but in no real way removed in terms of actual songwriting or style, whereas Green found them transitioning to a sound that was punchier and more deliberately straightforward, trying on power pop riffs on the one hand whilst enhancing their sonic palette on the other with their take on mandolin-driven soft rock balladry.

I totally see your point. I find Document's catchier hooks, higher production value, and mixed up instrumentation as signaling the band venturing into mainstream territory. But I agree they largely stayed true to their songwriting roots. And I think the success of The One I Love and It's the End of the World clearly got through to them, as they made Green much more mainstream-friendly. Mileage varies with this change in direction. Nevertheless, I still feel Document is where it began, albeit subtly.

Personally I like poppy R.E.M. and I used to have Green as my #2 R.E.M. album but I think Reckoning has that claim now.

What's your #1?

I can't really pick one... But for me (song for song), it goes:
Green R.E.M. 1988 100
Automatic For The People R.E.M. 1992 96.2
Accelerate R.E.M. 2008 95.4
Eponymous R.E.M. 1988 92.5
Monster R.E.M. 1994 91.6
Murmur R.E.M. 1983 90.8
Out Of Time R.E.M. 1991 90
Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982 - 2011 R.E.M. 2011 90
Collapse Into Now R.E.M. 2011 89.5
New Adventures In Hi-Fi R.E.M. 1996 87.5
Up R.E.M. 1998 87.5
Around The Sun R.E.M. 2004 87.3
Fables Of The Reconstruction R.E.M. 1985 86.8
Document R.E.M. 1987 86.8
Chronic Town R.E.M. 1982 85
Live R.E.M. 2007 85
Live At The Olympia R.E.M. 2009 85
Unplugged 1991 / 2001: The Complete Sessions R.E.M. 2014 85
Reckoning R.E.M. 1984 84
Lifes Rich Pageant R.E.M. 1986 83.3
Dead Letter Office R.E.M. 1987 79
Reveal R.E.M. 2001 79

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

RoundTheBend — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 18:15:51 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/21/2020 23:15

PossiblyMichigan wrote:

Never really got into any REM beyond their jangle pop era so I've never really gotten into this one. I'd agree with Skinny, this is the transitional record as opposed to Document which feels to me as the record Stipe realized ohhhh people want more of So. Central Rain

And I'd agree with CA Dreamin' as Finest Worksong, One I Love, and The End of the World... are clear grabs at "traditional rock" they never did before.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

RoundTheBend — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 18:14:35 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/21/2020 23:14

Their intro into pop - that ends up the whole time mocking it. It's incredibly brilliant. Unfortunate that's lost on too many as just "pop".

Easily song for song their best record as a life long fan of the band.

Are some of their other individual tracks more quality, absolutely. Having said that, probs 3 of my top 10 R.E.M. tracks are on here, Hairshirt possibly being my all time favorite song of theirs.

Also kinda find it cool R.E.M. matches up with KRS-one here and then with qtip later. Metal and rap often mixed up, but hard to think of an alternative rock group who did, especially of the caliber of R.E.M.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

PossiblyMichigan — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 15:54:24 GMT

Author: PossiblyMichigan

Posted: 11/21/2020 20:54

Never really got into any REM beyond their jangle pop era so I've never really gotten into this one. I'd agree with Skinny, this is the transitional record as opposed to Document which feels to me as the record Stipe realized ohhhh people want more of So. Central Rain

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

CA Dreamin — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:44:29 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 11/19/2020 03:44

Skinny wrote:

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

CharlieBarley — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 17:52:29 GMT

Author: CharlieBarley

Posted: 11/18/2020 22:52

Skinny wrote:

I agree that Green saw the band venture into pop and become more mainstream, whilst they maintained their quirkiness. However I like poppy REM. I mean, I still like the earlier 80s albums, especially Pageant and Murmur, but I feel it was a good move by them, going power pop. They were never going to be a straight-up pop band. And by doing so I got to hear about them. I might never had discovered them had they not made this move.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

Skinny — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:29:08 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 11/18/2020 17:29

CA Dreamin wrote:

I feel as though Document was the transitional album, while Green was the album that completed the transition. That being said, Green is probably their most polished album from Murmur through Monster, which might not be everybody's cup of tea. But personally I find the average quality of track very strong here, maybe even Top 3 R.E.M. I certainly prefer Green over Out of Time, Fables, and Monster. It's a close call with Document and Pageant. But honestly, there isn't a weak album in that decade-plus run.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

CharlieBarley — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 20:44:52 GMT

Author: CharlieBarley

Posted: 11/17/2020 01:44

🙏
Praise be!
Finally an album and a discussion I can get into. Well, there have been a lot of interesting discussions and a lot of good albums but this one I like a lot.

Ok, for me Green is a very nostalgic album because it is almost the one that got me into R.E.M. It was one song from the album which sparked my interest but I didn't know which album it came from. It was 1990 and I was on a school trip to the Belgian and French former battlefields of World War One. It was very emotional. And I was a teen so feelings seemed deeper. All of us felt it.

One night my school mates and I tuned into Belgian radio. And we taped it. I had a ghetto blaster with me. We thought the Belgian/French music was cool. But they also played British and American music. So the song Stand came on by R.E.M. and I loved it. This guy Matt knew it was by R.E.M. I thought it was great. It really struck a chord with me and was one of the high points of the trip after the emotionally moving tours in the daytime of the battlefields and preserved trenches.

Fast forward a year and Losing My Religion debuted. So I bought Out of Time album. Then got Green out the library and taped it. I loved both albums. I preferred Out Of Time and still do, but both are good albums.

Green seems more innocent to me. Out of Time is a bit more worldly wise to me and although both have happy songs and sad songs I think Green is happier overall. The low points in OOT are lower, even though it hits some highs too.

My favourite track is Orange Crush.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

CA Dreamin — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 18:08:01 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 11/16/2020 23:08

I feel as though Document was the transitional album, while Green was the album that completed the transition. That being said, Green is probably their most polished album from Murmur through Monster, which might not be everybody's cup of tea. But personally I find the average quality of track very strong here, maybe even Top 3 R.E.M. I certainly prefer Green over Out of Time, Fables, and Monster. It's a close call with Document and Pageant. But honestly, there isn't a weak album in that decade-plus run.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

EyeKanFly — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 17:29:25 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 11/16/2020 22:29

Probably my second favorite album named "Green" after Green by 吉�'弘 [Hiroshi Yoshimura]

Agreed with Skinny though, it's sort of middle-of-the-road for R.E.M., meets but doesn't exceed expectations.

Re: Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

Skinny — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:22:04 GMT

Author: Skinny

Posted: 11/16/2020 21:22

A transitional record, and not one that I'm particularly fond of. They gave in heavily to their hi-fidelity power pop urges, adding an unnecessary sheen to their previously murky jangle, and lost a lot of their charming mystique in the process. Scattered throughout are a few dry-runs for the sorts of open-hearted, open-ended singalongs that they'd perfect across the next two records, but they're kinda bland and forgettable in comparison here. Overall, it's the sound of an ambitious band who hadn't quite got the concoction right yet, straining to become superstars but losing sight of themselves in the process. I prefer everything that came before, and quite a bit of what came after. That said, I don't hate it by any means. It's just a good pop-rock record by a band from whom I expect great pop-rock records.

Album of the day (#3621): Green by R.E.M.

BestEverAlbums — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:00:18 GMT

Author: BestEverAlbums

Posted: 11/16/2020 21:00

Today's album of the day

Green by R.E.M. (View album | Buy this album)

Year: 1988.
Country:
Overall rank: 551
Average rating: 78/100 (from 600 votes).

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Tracks:
1. Pop Song 89
2. Get Up
3. You Are The Everything
4. Stand
5. World Leader Pretend
6. The Wrong Child
7. Orange Crush
8. Turn You Inside-Out
9. Hairshirt
10. I Remember California
11. Untitled

About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album, or artist, has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety. A full history of album of the day can be viewed here.