Why I love R.E.M.

It's no secret that R.E.M. are one of my favourite bands. Like many other bands their music has flaws & it doesn't really appeal to everybody but I have loved them for years which is something that is not about change anytime soon. After 30 years of being a band its hard not to admire them but people really underestimate their influence and R.E.M. as a band in general especially since they have influenced the likes of Radiohead, Sonic Youth & Nirvana.

R.E.M. were the first real band I got into growing up. I was about 13 when I heard Man on the Moon and things just progressed from there. My friends at the time were into artists such as Akon, Sean Paul and The Black eye peas so it was certainly worth getting the shit ripped out of me for listening to R.E.M. as my friends couldn't quite comprehend the "gibberish" that Micheal Stipe dared call lyrics. At times I can barely understand it myself but if you listen to "E-Bow the letter" you'll understand where I'm coming from. Weird lyrics aside, R.E.M. were the kings of the American alternative music scene  and became pretty successful for what some considered to be a "College band".

R.E.M. went on to become a mainstream success with such songs as "Everybody hurts", "Losing my religion" and "Shiny Happy people". People still remember these songs but they weren't all R.E.M. had to offer as a band. They recorded politically orientated singles like "Orange Crush" which concerned the Vietnam war. R.E.M. have also dabbled in a heavier form of alternative music with the album "Monster". As well as the many anthems and ballads they have produced its indisputable that R.E.M. are versatile.

In the 30 years they spent as a band they managed to produce 15 albums, 7  of which were number one albums in the UK, 4 live albums and have made 3 Greatest hits albums. Out of all of them I have hand selected 3 songs I have listened to a of lot lately. Enjoy my friends!

R.E.M. - Uberlin 

Uberlin was one of the bands last singles before they split up. It features Aaron Johnson of Kick ass & Nowhere boy acting like a dickhead for four minutes. It's not my favourite song but its still rather significant in terms the timeline of the band.

R.E.M. - The One I love

What I love about the song is the simplicity of the lyrics in contrast to the fantastic instrumental in this guitar heavy anthem. I would love to be able to play this on the guitar and that's not to say it would be an easy song to sing either, because its not. 

R.E.M. - The Sidewinder sleeps tonite 

I would say everybody misinterprets the lyrics in this song. It's fucking weird man but I fucking love it. The hook is fantastic and its one of those pop songs you don't mind having in your head for a while. 

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