R.E.M. was often noted as one of the first alternative rock bands, made outstanding by Pete Buck's guitar arpeggios, Michael Stipe's vocals, Mike Mills' bass riffs, and Bill Berry's tight drum beats. Even as they mutually agreed to disband in 2011, the band remains among the world's best-selling musical acts.
With fifteen studio albums and countless recognitions under their belt, it's no wonder that this Athens, Georgia act has been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame right off its first year of eligibility.
To better appreciate and understand the works that helped shape later alt-rock acts like indie/ underground legend Pavement and Nirvana, here is some choice R.E.M. vinyl records to listen to:
Monster (25th Anniversary Remastered Edition)
Enjoy R.E.M.'s audio shift from its preceding albums with better quality and clarity with this 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition of the band's ninth studio album. "Monster" uses distorted guitars and elements reminiscent of glam rock popular during the 70s.
Its carrier single was the chart-topping "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" joined by other charting singles "Bang and Blame," "Strange," and "Tongue." It also contained the single "Let Me In," which was Stipe's call to the late Kurt Cobain to "let him in" and help the Nirvana frontman get out of the frame of mind.
Lifes Rich Pageant
One of the band's earlier works, "Lifes Rich Pageant," marked R.E.M.'s move towards more mainstream, hard rock sounds. It also contained socially and ecologically conscious singles such as "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga."
The 12-inch, 33 rpm vinyl is contained in its original 1986 cover art. Listen to the sound that made R.E.M. earn a larger, wider fanbase with "Lifes Rich Pageant," marking a smooth transition from the band's formative years to mainstream success.
Automatic For The People
"Automatic for the People" is often noted as R.E.M.'s darker work, reflecting on life and loss, mortality, and mourning. While the album has generally damp and serious tones, it still featured the band's versatility - reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and selling more than 18 million copies.
The 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition contains the original 12-track setlist, plus exclusive and previously unreleased demos and an online download card to have these R.E.M. songs with you. "Automatic" has spawned the band's signature tracks "Everybody Hurts," "Nightswimming," and "Man on the Moon."
In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003
If you still can't decide on what specific R.E.M. sound or era to listen to, try having a taste of all at once with "In Time." Their second official compilation contains most of their instantly-recognizable anthems "Losing My Religion," "Nightswimming," "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" and "The One I Love."
Take the time to digest the band's musical evolution in this double vinyl, containing eighteen of their songs from albums starting with "Green" (1988) to "Reveal" (2001), plus two previously unreleased works "Animal" and "Bad Day." Its audiophile-quality 180-gram disc is a perfect gift for both the casual R.E.M. fan and the supporters who prefer to listen to all their hits at once.
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