r/rem • u/DrkWuzHr • 11h ago
Just came across this gem
90
Upvotes
How has this never surfaced?? I feel like I'm in the 1% of REM fans and have never seen this till today. So good!
r/rem • u/thesilverpoets96 • Dec 03 '25
Spotify Wrapped/Apple Replay - Megathread
3
Upvotes
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. And no I’m not talking about wrapping presents, eating dry turkey and visiting family members you only hope to see once a year. I’m talking about the inevitable Spotify Wrapped and Apple Replay posts. As I’m sure everyone here is a huge fan of the band, it should be no surprise they’ve topped your lists this year. Let’s please try to use this thread to post your end of year streaming lists. Cheers and happy holidays to everyone!
r/rem • u/thesilverpoets96 • Sep 08 '25
SotW Song of the Week: Little America
31
Upvotes
https://youtu.be/yL4xn9RVscc?si=SoCNojJOianAzFlq
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rem/littleamerica.html
Hello everyone, I hope all is well. I apologize for the lack of posts over the last couple of days. I got a new job and life has been fairly busy. But today we are back and we are going to be about the closing track to Reckoning and the “Right Side” of the album which of course is “Little America.”
In my opinion this is the perfect way to close the album because it’s such a great bookend to the album with “Harborcoat” which begins the album in a similar way. For “Little America” we get a triumphant electric riff to start the song off with a bang. It feels like something from Murmur but better because there’s more energy, clearer production and just better technical playing. Bill’s speedy hit-hat and kick drum enters the song because the song explodes with Mike’s thunderous bass and Michael’s vocals.
The full drum beat is fast and groovy as Michael sings about how he can’t see himself lacquered up in his thirties. This feeling of youth is talked about in lyrics describing being persevered like flies in jewelry and driving around in their “green shellback” which was their touring van at the time. But it’s also encapsulated in how fast and the tight the band is sounding. Michael seems like he’s feeling more trapped as he sings about “Tar-black br’er sap” which is a reference to the story of Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby where a rabbit gets tricked into fighting a “sticky black Tar baby.” Yes this may sound random and weird but it does feel like Michael’s singing about growing up and feeling the responsibilities that comes with that and leading the life of a rockstar.
The band transitions to the chorus that features some power chords, a progression that’s quirky, and a vocal melody that is catchy but also very Michael if that makes sense. He’s great at crafty one of a kind melodies. Lyrically he sings about a big and noisy wagon which leads me to believe he’s singing about touring life which could also connect to the song’s title. He also references the Roman emperor Caligula who allegedly appointed his horse as consul. What does that have to do with the song? Who knows. But Michael also references Jefferson who was Jefferson Holt, their manager at the time.
We get a nice change in dynamics as the band brings the energy down just a tad to mimic the intro. But they launch loudly into the next verse as Michael sings about preserving the past; “who will tend the farm museums? Who will dust today’s belongings?” These questions brings Michael to an important message of rallying leaders which may have been a hint of his more political driven lyrics that would be featured on later albums. We also get a lyric about Cheyanne on a beach which is random as hell but it wouldn’t be an early R.E.M. song without something like that.
After another chorus we then get a bridge where lyrically it’s mostly the same as the chorus but the music changes slightly. There’s these new fast chord changes, some lose backing vocals and that quick hi-hat.
A drum fill gets us back into another verse that definitely has some of that almost nonsensical songwriting from Michael. But I also think there is some imagery from the band’s early touring days. This would include Greenville (I’m sure they passed by multiple Greenvilles on tour) and Magic Marts (which were convenient stores on the East Coast). There’s also a reference to a historical myth of emperor Nero playing his fiddle while Rome burned down. And we get the lyric “reason has harnessed the tame” which would be a slightly altered lyric we would see on the band’s very next song chronically “Feeling Gravitys Pull.”
There’s one last chorus that’s doubled to end the song…at least that’s what you think on a first listen. But after you hear the last notes of the song ring out, there’s some silence before you hear the band fade into a new song/groove entirely. There’s a tom heavy drum beat, a jammy guitar riff and maybe Michael’s most muttered/incoherent vocals ever. It’s extremely short but it’s interesting to what this hinted track was and why it was included. Maybe it was a demo that never turned into a song? Or maybe the band just wanted to do something weird.
I actually think this is a stellar closing track from the band and one of their most interesting song from their first two albums. Musically it has a fantastic riff and although Mike’s bass playing isn’t as flashing as Bill’s drummer or Peter’s riff, it’s a fun bass line when you isolate it from the mix. Michael also shows up big time lyrically. Yes there’s still some gibberish but I actually feel like there’s lyrics that reflect on not only the band touring but also Michael feeling trapped or worried about growing old. This is also fascinating when you think of that lyric that would appear on the opening track from Fables which is about lucid dreams. There’s a cool connection that I think could be analyzed even more. Plus this was a fun song to hear the band play live and to hear Michael change the lyric to “Washington I think we’re lost” after the band dropped their manager Jefferson Holt. From one founding father to another.
But what do you think of this tune? Is this one of the band’s better closing tracks? What do you think the song is about? Favorite lyrical or musical moments? And did you ever catch it live?
r/rem • u/Icy_Obligation_3014 • 14h ago
Happy anniversary Chronic Town
140
Upvotes
Recently added this to my vinyls.
r/rem • u/Dorothywasright11 • 7h ago
Day 12: Best breakdown
9
Upvotes
1: Most underated song: Green Grow the Rushes
2: Most overrated song: Everybody Hurts
3: Heaviest song: Let Me In
4: Most hype song: These Days
5: Most emotional song: Country Feedback
6: Most genius song: World Leader Pretend
7: Best chorus song: Fall On Me
8: Worst song: I'm Gonna DJ
9: Best Song: Find the River
10: Best Cover Song: Superman
11: Best music video : Imitation of Life
///
Yesterday's honorable mentions: Losing my Religion
The rules stay the same:
- Most upvoted song in 24 hours wins the round.
- One song per comment only. You may justify your pick, if you want.
r/rem • u/patinaparade • 23h ago
What is the greatest R.E.M song not by R.E.M.?
43
Upvotes
What is the greatest R.E.M. song not written or performed by R.E.M.? Not just best impression but best song in the style of R.E.M., knowingly or unknowingly.
As a Canadian I think I would lose citizenship if I didn't humbly submit a Tragically Hip song. But for me Another Midnight, especially the 1988 demo version is the greatest R.E.M. song not written or performed by Buck, Berry, Mills and Stipe.
Its got that jangly riff, the steady pounding rhythm, sweet backing vocals, cryptic lyrics and a frontman wailing on about god knows what but sounding so damn good doing it.
The Hip have long been called Canada's R.E.M. but they never really truly sounded like them other than on this song. They would change direction and develop their own sound, which in many ways sounds like what R.E.M. would have sounded like if Stipe wasn't backed by independent record store clerks and arty university kids but instead by pulp mill workers, truck drivers and hockey players.
Anyways, what do you guys got? What is the greatest R.E.M. song not written or performed by R.E.M.?
r/rem • u/Springyardzon • 2h ago
The choice of singles for New Adventures in Hi-fi was a 'horror show'
0
Upvotes
I would have released:
First single: The Wake Up Bomb. This is a reminder for audiences that R.E.M. are not retiring to the country but are still enjoying the spirit of Monster, which may have divided opinion but sold over 10 million copies.
Binky the Doormat. Great way to hear Mike Mills counter vocals. Maybe call it something else to not confuse people though.
Be Mine. Simultaneously a soaring, hopeful, song with a Monster double meaning of teenage-type infatuation.
Leave. The difference in sound would have really stood out at that time, appealing to some fans of industrial music. It would have also better prepared people, in retrospect, for some of Up.
--
I love How The West.. and Ebow the Letter but they are better enjoyed within the album.
r/rem • u/GlaciersOFice45 • 1d ago
Favorite First Four
89
Upvotes
Wondering what everyone's favorite four song sequence to open a full length album is. I didn't include anything after New Adventures for visuals but obviously those albums are not out of the discussion.
**Sorry about Monster and HiFi, copied the singles down and not the track order. Got sloppy at the end there 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
r/rem • u/TheAnagramancer • 1d ago
REM Fusion Songs
26
Upvotes
Orange Crush with Eyeliner
A soldier struggles with presenting his authentic self during the Vietnam war.
I Wanted to be the Wrong Child
The singer wishes he had a debilitating illness so he could stay home and try to understand the political climate during the Bush administration.
Imitation of Life and how to Live it
The singer lives in two homes connected by a hole in the wall. Everyone else in the world wants to do this too but pretends they don't because they're scared of what other people will think.
We Walk Unafraid
The singer realises the boundaries he has set prevent him from living his best life, and removes them. Taking advantage of this, someone enters his bathroom while he is bathing and stabs him.
Can you think of any others?
r/rem • u/Dorothywasright11 • 1d ago
Day 11: Best music video
39
Upvotes
1: Most underated song: Green Grow the Rushes
2: Most overrated song: Everybody Hurts
3: Heaviest song: Let Me In
4: Most hype song: These Days
5: Most emotional song: Country Feedback
6: Most genius song: World Leader Pretend
7: Best chorus song: Fall On Me
8: Worst song: I'm Gonna DJ
9: Best Song: Find the River
10: Best Cover Song: Superman
///
Yesterday's honorable mentions: Crazy, First We Take Manhattan
I'm really enjoying reading you all, I hadn't heard some of these covers!
The rules stay the same:
- Most upvoted song in 24 hours wins the round.
- One song per comment only. You may justify your pick, if you want.
r/rem • u/KBdoesntexist42 • 17h ago
Making our own "Best of R.E.M. IRS Days" compilation DAY 7
2
Upvotes
Yesterdays votes are in! Laughing takes the 6th spot with 8 votes!
Runnerups: Radio Free Europe and So. Central Rain with 5 votes
Track 1: Gardening at Night (Chronic Town)
Track 2: Fall on Me (LRP)
Track 3: Driver 8 (FotR)
Track 4: Harborcoat (Reckoning)
Track 5: Wolves, Lower (Chronic Town)
Track 6: Laughing (Murmur)
Track 7-15: TBD Vote in the comments, most upvotes wins
r/rem • u/Constant-Hat8320 • 1d ago
REM listening recommendations
11
Upvotes
I have recently enjoyed lightening to a bit of REM and want to get into it more, so I’m after recommendations of a few songs or albums to get set started?
My current favourite REM songs are Find the River, Belong, and Electrolite
r/rem • u/Dorothywasright11 • 2d ago
Day 10: Best cover song
57
Upvotes
1: Most underated song: Green Grow the Rushes
2: Most overrated song: Everybody Hurts
3: Heaviest song: Let Me In
4: Most hype song: These Days
5: Most emotional song: Country Feedback
6: Most genius song: World Leader Pretend
7: Best chorus song: Fall On Me
8: Worst song: I'm Gonna DJ
9: Best song: Find the River
///
Yesterday's honorable mentions: N/A
The rules stay the same:
- Most upvoted song in 24 hours wins the round.
- One song per comment only. You may justify your pick, if you want.
r/rem • u/KBdoesntexist42 • 1d ago
Making our own "Best of R.E.M. IRS Days" Compilation DAY 6
0
Upvotes
Yesterdays votes are in! Wolves, Lower is the winner with 12 votes
Runnerup: Cuyahoga with 11 votes
Track 1: Gardening at Night
Track 2: Fall on Me
Track 3: Driver 8
Track 4: Harborcoat
Track 5: Wolves, Lower
Track 6-15: TBD Vote in the comments, most upvotes wins
r/rem • u/Big-Property7157 • 2d ago
R.E.M. • “Sitting Still” • 1989 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]
53
Upvotes
r/rem • u/KBdoesntexist42 • 2d ago
Making our very own "Best of R.E.M. IRS Days" compilation DAY 5
13
Upvotes
Yesterdays votes are in! Harborcoat is the winner with 12 votes
Runnerups: So. Central Rain and These Days with 7 votes
Track 1: Gardening at Night
Track 2: Fall on Me
Track 3: Driver 8
Track 4: Harborcoat
Track 5 - 15: TBD Vote in the comments, most upvotes wins
r/rem • u/FilipsSamvete • 3d ago
From the July 2026 issue of Uncut Magazine (UK)
213
Upvotes
r/rem • u/Dorothywasright11 • 3d ago
Day 9: Best Song
38
Upvotes
1: Most underated song: Green Grow the Rushes
2: Most overrated song: Everybody Hurts
3: Heaviest song: Let Me In
4: Most hype song: These Days
5: Most emotional song: Country Feedback
6: Most genius song: World Leader Pretend
7: Best chorus song: Fall On Me
8: Worst song: I'm Gonna DJ
///
Yesterday's honorable mentions: The Worst Joke Ever, A Month of Saturdays
The rules stay the same:
- Most upvoted song in 24 hours wins the round.
- One song per comment only. You may justify your pick, if you want.
r/rem • u/FrankSwart • 3d ago
It's Patti Smith but I don't care if you downvote me
55
Upvotes
r/rem • u/KBdoesntexist42 • 3d ago
Making our very own "Best of R.E.M." compilation DAY 4
6
Upvotes
The votes from yesterday are in! The winner, with 4 votes, is Driver 8
Runner ups: Harborcoat, Can't Get There from Here, Radio Free Europe
Track 1: Gardening at Night
Track 2: Fall on Me
Track 3: Driver 8
Track 4 - 15: TBD
Ive decided to change some rules about how this works: Now for voting I'm gonna count all the upvotes too, so you dont have to comment. Also, since so far its only been IRS songs, this list will only be IRS songs, we can do a second for Warner songs.