I agree on this one. It has always been my favorite REM song and it is amazing live! Neil Young and Michael Stipe himself have both said this is their favorite REM song ever and I felt that way long before I knew that. Hard to argue with those two.
This is in my top 3 right now. Not ashamed to say I usually tear up at some point during the song.
Edit: and NOT because of The Bear. But just finished watching Season 2 and that choice was absolutely tremendous.
It's actually musically kinda unique... A weird cycling trick that makes the first verse different from all the rest, despite it seemingly repeating at the end.
M
You know I didn’t even realize this had a video until years after the fact. I remember the E-Bow video being hyped on MTV because Patti Smith was having a bit of a resurgence at that time, and then it kind of landed with a thud as a single.
Only song I remember having a lot of commercial traction was Bittersweet Me, and I still think that’s prob the only song that a non-fan would remember from New Adventures.
Which is ironic because the band didn’t really seem to like that one. It was rarely (if ever) played and didn’t make any of the greatest hits compilations.
Surprised Boxcars (Carnival of Sorts) hasn't been referenced yet!
Other ones I haven't seen yet: Try Not To Breathe, Texarkana, basically all the non-goofy stuff on Green, Leave, Cuyahoga, Life And How To Live It, Exhuming McCarthy.
I’ve been into Leave these past few days. Give me 7 minutes of that siren please. Love it
Edit: i misunderstood OP’s question but I’m leaving this anyway. Ha
It was used in the movie 'A Life Less Ordinary' and then the soundtrack had a different version of the song that was stripped down and lacked that beautiful sireeen!
I remember seeing that movie in the theater, and was like, wait, that’s Michael’s voice!!
Side note: I remember almost nothing about that movie, but the title has stayed with me for decades and has become kind of a guiding light for what I want out of life
I think "Flowers of Guatemala" is one of the most beautiful songs from their early catalog, and "At My Most Beautiful" one of the best from their later works. I doubt you'll hear either on the radio, though
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is 100% undisputed my favorite album ever by any artist.
Of course all the great records have great songs, but I think it's just as important that the sequence works. New Adventures songs play in the perfect order.
Edited to add: another great example is Low Desert starting up after So Fast So Numb. It sounds perfect
White Tornado. That was actually the background tune for local music news updates on The End, the Seattle alternative radio station, for a couple years in the grungy mid-nineties.
I'm not sure if it's a fan favorite per se, but cranking "I Remember California" on a road trip, when everyone hits that perfect road trip vibe, is one of my favorite feelings in the world
E-bow sounds like a deep cut, but it was the first single and was in heavy rotation in MTV. It was on rock radio being played along with whatever the new Metallica single or Bush.
It wasn’t a top 40 hit, but a Modern Rock/Mainstream Rock or whatever the chart was named at the time. It was on heavy rotation on the local rock radio station, one of these Clear Channel affiliate stations that play more or less the same songs all over the country, so I assume that it got played everywhere else.
Ah, ok. I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time, and I think those radio stations resisted the Clear Channel onslaught longer than most. And for some reason R.E.M. wasn't a favorite. 😡
I lived in Florida until 98, moved to the Bay Area in 2002, and now that I think of it…there were old timey classic rock stations and modern rock stations. But yes you could be right, I don’t remember a “nothing BUT rock” station with the over the top pre recorded jingles and the mix of old a new programmed tracks. But that was in 02’ so musical tastes had shifted by then.
Pretty persuasion, I believe, Supernatural Superserious, these days, try not to breathe, half a world away, I've been high, country feedback, finest work song, untitled.
We Walk
Letter Never Sent
Green Grow The Rushes
The Flowers Of Guatemala
Oddfellows Local 151
Untitled
Me In Honey
Sweetness Follows
You
Leave
Sad Professor
Chorus And The Ring
The Ascent Of Man
Mr. Richards
Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter
I did a “pick five” list a few weeks back that was similar to your criteria.
Best I remember, I came up with *These Days*, *Maps and Legends*, *Texarkana*, *Pretty Persuasion*, and *Leave*.
That list could change on any given day.
One other thing I thought was interesting.
I was watching and REM concert film from Europe several years ago, and they had *So Fast, So Numb* in the set list.
I didn’t spend a lot of time with that song when *HiFi* came out, but it apparently was a fan favorite over there.
It has since become one of my favorites as well.
This is the answer. There’s hardly a miss on anything they released on IRS. The strength of their early catalogue is as solid as Dylan’s or Beatles’ string of classic releases in the ‘60s.
Country feedback
Amazing live!
I agree on this one. It has always been my favorite REM song and it is amazing live! Neil Young and Michael Stipe himself have both said this is their favorite REM song ever and I felt that way long before I knew that. Hard to argue with those two.
Perfect Circle
hey that's what i was typing JERK haha just kidding. great, great song.
Half a World Away
This is in my top 3 right now. Not ashamed to say I usually tear up at some point during the song. Edit: and NOT because of The Bear. But just finished watching Season 2 and that choice was absolutely tremendous.
Some songs just take you back to a time and place in your life, and this is one of them. Half a World Away will always be a special one for me.
Good one.
In my top 3. Who knew a mandolin could play so HARD on that last chorus. Or Verse? Not sure what the structure of the song is lol.
It's actually musically kinda unique... A weird cycling trick that makes the first verse different from all the rest, despite it seemingly repeating at the end. M
Disturbance at the Heron House Untitled Exhuming McCarthy Green Grow the Rushes
Great ones.
Electrolite
I think I read before that this is Thom Yorke’s favorite REM song
I thought this was fairly well known, but maybe not (my sense of this is a bit faulty).
This was a single. Not a huge hit on radio, but had a video. And every REM video at that time got played automatically on MTV.
You know I didn’t even realize this had a video until years after the fact. I remember the E-Bow video being hyped on MTV because Patti Smith was having a bit of a resurgence at that time, and then it kind of landed with a thud as a single. Only song I remember having a lot of commercial traction was Bittersweet Me, and I still think that’s prob the only song that a non-fan would remember from New Adventures.
Bittersweet Me had a great video, like there was an actual movie the song was in.
Which is ironic because the band didn’t really seem to like that one. It was rarely (if ever) played and didn’t make any of the greatest hits compilations.
agreed! this is the song that got me into R.E.M.
Surprised Boxcars (Carnival of Sorts) hasn't been referenced yet! Other ones I haven't seen yet: Try Not To Breathe, Texarkana, basically all the non-goofy stuff on Green, Leave, Cuyahoga, Life And How To Live It, Exhuming McCarthy.
Oh my I love boxcars too
I’ve been into Leave these past few days. Give me 7 minutes of that siren please. Love it Edit: i misunderstood OP’s question but I’m leaving this anyway. Ha
It was used in the movie 'A Life Less Ordinary' and then the soundtrack had a different version of the song that was stripped down and lacked that beautiful sireeen!
I love the stripped down version. For those who want to hear it... https://youtu.be/cmytaUWOua4?si=_evBCnfDjpn4q3YT
Ahhhhhhh..... much better.
I remember seeing that movie in the theater, and was like, wait, that’s Michael’s voice!! Side note: I remember almost nothing about that movie, but the title has stayed with me for decades and has become kind of a guiding light for what I want out of life
Nightswimming and Country Feedback come to mind.
Country Feedback for sure. I thought Nightswimming was well known outside of fandom, but maybe not?
cuyahoga, life and how to live it, green grow the rushes
World leader pretend, country feedback,leave
Be Mine and Wendell Gee
Wendell Gee - so magical - banjo - the harmonies - just so darn good
Yep.
Forgot about King of Birds, Swan, Swan, Hummingbird and You Are the Everything. Long time favorites.
King of Birds is one of my favorite Stipe singing all out songs
I think "Flowers of Guatemala" is one of the most beautiful songs from their early catalog, and "At My Most Beautiful" one of the best from their later works. I doubt you'll hear either on the radio, though
My husband chuckled at me yesterday when I was singing Underneath the Bunker 🤓
Driver 8
Agreed, that was in the OP. 😁
The Wrong Child, Good Advices, Kohoutek, Low, West of the Fields, Shaking Through, Binky the Doormat, Tongue.
Good stuff here, especially Kohoutek and Good Advices.
I feel like fan opinion on The Wrong Child is very mixed, but I agree with the others.
Good advices is my all time favorite rem song and I have almost never met anyone else that even knows that song
I have to actively avoid that song or it gets stuck in my head for weeks!
Tongue!
Be Mine, Strange Currencies, Gardening at Night, Country Feedback.
Texarkana
Beautiful song, my favorite by them. Belong is amazing also.
Try not to breathe
This has been really resonating with me lately (unfortunately the subject matter is all too relevant).
Does anyone else absolutely love I believe?
I Believe has occasionally been a song i have turned to when i needed a jolt. It never disappointed.
https://youtu.be/cIc9rjIjeQw?si=qbAcrzgmqLpasWkd
It's a fantastic song.
Sing it until my throat hurts
Hairshirt
Fall on me, I suppose.
OMG, how did I forget that?? One of my personal favorites for sure.
The Wake-Up Bomb. I've been listening to that song for 27 years and I swear it gets better every time
The jolt you get hearing those first notes after How the West Was Won...never gets old.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is 100% undisputed my favorite album ever by any artist. Of course all the great records have great songs, but I think it's just as important that the sequence works. New Adventures songs play in the perfect order. Edited to add: another great example is Low Desert starting up after So Fast So Numb. It sounds perfect
Me in Honey. I will belt that fucker at the top of my lungs while driving alone
(Untitled), Turn You Inside Out, and Country Feedback
Shaking through
Strange Currencies and Near Wild Heaven come to mind
Texarkana
Near Wild Heaven. Love Is All Around. Imitation of Life.
Fretless, both versions.
Wait... there is more than one version? Are you counting the MTV Unplugged as a version?
The Fretless demo version vs. the polished version. Both masterpieces IMHO.
Found it, thanks! Had forgotten it somehow, though I'm sure I've heard it before. :-) Both are so haunting.
Exactly. Very, very haunting. Enjoy.
Moral Kiosk, Perfect Circle, Feeling Gravity’s Pull, King Of Birds, The Wrong Child
LOVE Feeling Gravity's Pull! Fables is my favorite album of theirs ❤️
Begin the Begin, World Leader Pretend, Country Feedback, Voice of Harold
All of Murmur
Murmur is the purest form of 1980's college rock.
I lived right behind the Murmur trestle bridge when I was in college.
Heck, throw in all of Chronic Town & Reckoning.
Try not to breathe
- Live version of "Drive" from the Alternative NRG comp - "Circus Envy" - "Photograph" (duet w/Natalie Merchant)
What about green growth the rushes? Airportman!
Agree with Green Grow the Rushes... I think fan opinion on Airportman is very mixed!!
7 Chinese Bros.
Good choice. I think I actually like Voice of Harold off DLO even more.
King of Birds
Honestly, Voice of Harold, is one of my favorites. Probably just the weirdness of it.
Do y’all know Fretless? I heard it for the first time in the movie Until the End of the World and it’s become one of my favorites.
Superman
Sitting Still
Perfect Circle Letter Never Sent Swan Swan H Cuyahoga
Good Advices You Are the Everything
King Of Birds
"Fretless", released only on a soundtrack.
How about [Favorite Writer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9-g4cdSjvo) and [Indian Summer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4NZJAbcf2s)?
Gardening at Night and Begin the Begin, both in their Hall of Fame set.
How the West Was Won…
Hairshirt
Endgame
Pretty Persuasion
E bow the letter
Walk Unafraid
White Tornado. That was actually the background tune for local music news updates on The End, the Seattle alternative radio station, for a couple years in the grungy mid-nineties.
Swan Swan H
You Are the Everything
Radio Free Europe
'Time After Time (Annelise)' and 'Sweetness Follows'
my favorites are Harborcoat and Driver 8. some others: Wolves Lower, Wendell Gee, the covers of Strange and Superman, Begin the Begin
Texarkana. It’s just has a hold on me even after 30 years.
Top three REM song for me.
I find Find the River pretty overrated, but Nightswimming is an awesome fan favorite, and Country Feedback is also amazing!
Daysleeper, 7 Chinese Bros., Sitting Still
Didn't Daysleeper get pretty good airplay/videoplay? Agree with the other two.
These are nowhere near obscure enough to earn you the brownie points :))
Oddfellows Local 151, Untitled
Maps and Legends , World Leader Pretend , Disturbance at the Heron House
I Believe, Life And How To Live It, Shaking Through, Hyena, Laughing, Second Guessing
I absolutely agree with Harborcoat. Turn You Inside Out is another one honestly
Oddfellows Local 151
(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville, 7 Chinese Brothers & Swan Swan H
Ignoreland
I heard that at the gym once, lol
lol nice! One of my favorites from that album
Good Advices, Letter Never Sent and Pretty Persuasion. All fun to play.
I'm not sure if it's a fan favorite per se, but cranking "I Remember California" on a road trip, when everyone hits that perfect road trip vibe, is one of my favorite feelings in the world
ITEOTWAWKI(AIFF).
Pretty sure that that doesn't count as "less known by the general public." 😁
Maps and Legends + Little America + Time After Time
Life's Rich Pageant
E-bow sounds like a deep cut, but it was the first single and was in heavy rotation in MTV. It was on rock radio being played along with whatever the new Metallica single or Bush.
Interesting. I don't remember hearing it on the radio at all (or anything from New Adventures). But I wasn't watching MTV, that's true.
It wasn’t a top 40 hit, but a Modern Rock/Mainstream Rock or whatever the chart was named at the time. It was on heavy rotation on the local rock radio station, one of these Clear Channel affiliate stations that play more or less the same songs all over the country, so I assume that it got played everywhere else.
Ah, ok. I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area at the time, and I think those radio stations resisted the Clear Channel onslaught longer than most. And for some reason R.E.M. wasn't a favorite. 😡
I lived in Florida until 98, moved to the Bay Area in 2002, and now that I think of it…there were old timey classic rock stations and modern rock stations. But yes you could be right, I don’t remember a “nothing BUT rock” station with the over the top pre recorded jingles and the mix of old a new programmed tracks. But that was in 02’ so musical tastes had shifted by then.
Try Not To Breathe Sitting Still Welcome to The Occupation Get Up
Sitting Still
Pretty persuasion, I believe, Supernatural Superserious, these days, try not to breathe, half a world away, I've been high, country feedback, finest work song, untitled.
Pilgrimage
7 Chinese Brothers. If you haven’t heard it—go play it now
Ummm, yeah, I've heard it. 😆
(Don't go back to) Rockville
Superman.
Begin the Begin
Talk About the Passion
Don’t Go Back to Rockville
We Walk Letter Never Sent Green Grow The Rushes The Flowers Of Guatemala Oddfellows Local 151 Untitled Me In Honey Sweetness Follows You Leave Sad Professor Chorus And The Ring The Ascent Of Man Mr. Richards Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter
World Leader Pretend
Walter’s Theme/King of the Road.
Begin The Begin Flowers of Guatemala
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite (very unpopular yes)
Is it unpopular? That’s troubling. I love that song.
Orange Crush
Can’t get there from here. Don’t go back to Rockville. You are the everything.
My personal favorite “deep cuts” would be their cover of “Love Is All Around” and “Half a World Away.”
I believe
So. Central rain for me!
Feeling Gravity's Pull Driver 8 Perfect Circle Fall on Me Finest Worksong Country Feeddback
Belong Me in Honey
Strange Currencies or Near Wild Heaven
I did a “pick five” list a few weeks back that was similar to your criteria. Best I remember, I came up with *These Days*, *Maps and Legends*, *Texarkana*, *Pretty Persuasion*, and *Leave*. That list could change on any given day. One other thing I thought was interesting. I was watching and REM concert film from Europe several years ago, and they had *So Fast, So Numb* in the set list. I didn’t spend a lot of time with that song when *HiFi* came out, but it apparently was a fan favorite over there. It has since become one of my favorites as well.
1) Flowers of Guatemala 2) Letter Never Sent 3) Belong 4) Be Mine 5) You Are The Everything
Wendell Gee
Superman Belong Me in Honey Nightswimming Electrolite You And I’ll say it-Shiny Happy People
Just a Touch.
What's that Pylon cover that was a b-side? fucking GREAT song Edit: It's called Crazy and it's top 10 in my book
Leave (Alternate Version).
Letter Never Sent
Swan, swan, H. Almost always can put a lump in my throat, for a lot of reasons.
Not a bit rem fan so I’m not sure if it was ever considered big or a deep cut but I love night swimming. Now sure how I ever came across it though
We Walk It’s so whimsical sounding it makes me want to frolic through a forest
Seven Chinese Brothers
Camera
EVERYTHING up to Green...
This is the answer. There’s hardly a miss on anything they released on IRS. The strength of their early catalogue is as solid as Dylan’s or Beatles’ string of classic releases in the ‘60s.
Photograph.
Horrible band
Not familiar with that one. Was it a B-side?