REM personal top 25 lists are appearing. So here is a joint effort of me and Taska to make this list. It took a lot of vodka, many trips to the iPod, and some serious soul searching to hash this out. Ranking is way out of the question, but we managed to break it into 3 groups.
All REM is Great (Except Monster-which is only good) but these are not in the top 2 tiers (21-25)
Cuyahoga-Lived in Cleveland-Cuyahoga county Ohio long after this album came out-irrelevant, but significant at the time.
Radio Free Europe-Classic-can’t leave it out.
Electrolite-New Adventures is on Compton Ave in Cleveland, Sr year of College. Monster was a bit disappointing (for eveyone) and then this-hours of play- on the big white dusty college couch.
Around the Sun-bought this album in Joshua Tree. How many REM songs are connected to climbing for us! Yet we've loved them for far longer than we've climbed.
Chorus and the ring- Reveal-We lived in the East bay when we got this album and I never really connected with it, however this song is great. There are some other good ones on that album, but Up, Around the Sun and the Great Beyond, all dwarf this album a bit.
Really good songs-but one tier down (11-20-no order):
Nightswimming- A photo of us-dancing at Central taken by Brad?-on the dashboard of the Honda, every streetlight reflected...
Drive- Motivation. A great opening to an album.
Talk About the Passion-muhmuh-The Prelude, in front of 431 Stonewall.
Gardening at Night-I’ve done this...
Perfect Circle-Driving down Forrest St., turning on to Stonewall, again Taska introduces me to this song. Taska: Jamison’s house, music cave, father’s record player, $250 needle-sounds good even without that.
End of the World-Classic-Slamdancing at Shad’s new years party-every year
bittersweet me- Taska:long story-Group sex-AIDS test-poster on the wall-illustrator “M.M.” -bomb strapped to leg- “I’d rather chew my leg off...”-told you it was a long story.
Time after Time-The slow pause is “one of the best moments in music ever: according to Taska. Travis likes So. Central rain here instead....
The One I Love-Classic, though very overplayed, and “oft misunderstood”
Why Not Smile (Taska)/Walk Unafraid (Travis) Up is always in Boulder Canyon.
Obvious Inclusions- top 10 in no particlular order:
Driver 8-It just screams REM. Tri-tone. Taska:First REM song she learned to play on the Guitar
Losing my religion-I bought out of time in a record store in Athens, while there for a bike race with my Dad. I knew and liked REM, but I didn't realize they were from Athens till I got home!
Belong-Resonates. Driving my Honda Prelude to Central High School-the parking lot of Subway on Union Ave, with Taska.
Maps and Legends- Driving through Coventry in Cleveland hgts. listening to a live version of this, long after it came out.
Hope-Taska and I rented a car with a CD player in Boulder, CO and I had UP and we played this song over and over while driving/climbing in Boulder Canyon
Half a world away- Taska:painting in Byron’s room, writing letters to Adam, in college, half a wor.....
King of Birds-Newton. Taska:Anything is cool if it starts with a Sitar
You are the Everything-What can I say? Steamy windows. Romance. Mandolins. Taska: First time I saw them in concert-Green tour Mid South Coliseum with indigo girls.
World Leader Pretend-When I quit my PhD program at Stanford I climbed a route in Yosemite, sat on a ledge above the valley, painted arrows on myself and sang this song.
Swan Swan H--Taska’s first favorite REM song.
