TheBig3

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...w-jimmy-fallon

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The Batlord

1. You just said you hated the Smiths cause of their fans so you just told a lie.

2. What non-leftists have real world experience and love of the unions that you support?

Tbh I think the answer to both of these questions is that you're lying about your issues with either group and you're just whining about kids you don't like.

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rubber soul

Er, last I checked, both bands were kind of to the left.

Anyway, while I truly like the Smiths and even some of Morrissey, how can I go against the band I rate second only to the Beatles? No, they aren't perfect (Green and Out of Time are, for the most part, REM in commercial mode, I mean Shiny Happy People, really?) but Murmur and Reckoning alone puts them above the Smiths' output during the same general period. Then add classic albums like Document and Automatic For the People along with classic gems like Fall On Me and Losing My Religion and you have to ask, how can you possibly rate Morrissey over Michael Stipe? Even after Bill Berry left the band, while I can't single out any particular album, I can definitely point out gems like the Great Beyond, leaving New York (though, I'll admit that will probably put Elph to sleep- sweet dreams), and Man-Sized Wreath. Needless to say, I'm a big REM fan.

And anyway, REM is sure less depressing.

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Marie Monday

No Morrissey may have hated Thatcher but he's definitely a bigot man

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music_collector

I'll have to vote REM. That's not taking away from the Smiths, as well as their place in rock history. I like lots of Morrissey's solo stuff too.

REM's body of work (the middle bits, from Life's Rich Pageant to New Adventures In Hi-Fi) resonates more with me.

I don't know anything about their political views. I never concerned myself with them. They put out good music. That's enough for me.

Psy-Fi

I've never been able to get much into The Smiths. I like Johnny Marr's guitar work in the band but it's just not enough to make me a fan and I've never cared for Morrissey's vocals. I'm a fan of the early works of R.E.M. (Chronic Town, Murmer, & Reckoning) and I went to see them perform live around 1983 or 84 but they don't hold my attention much beyond those early releases.

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She's a Brick House

GD

I'm fairly cool with the Smiths and appreciate The Queen is Dead quite a bit, but I'll admit that R.E.M. is a pretty big hole in my familiarity with the music of their heyday, i.e. I don't know anything much of them beyond the "big hits" – "Losing my Religion" etc.
What would the R.E.M. aficionados among you recommend as a good starting point in their discography?

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lasty|rate-y music-y

SGR

I'd recommend just starting with their first two records, Murmur and Reckoning. It's great, great stuff. Their sound changes throughout their career though - so if their early stuff isn't much to your liking, try checking out some of their mid '90s material. Here's a sample of one of their early songs:



Just for comparison, here's a song of theirs from the mid '90s - as you can tell, the sound is quite different.



Most R.E.M. fans would disagree with me, but Up is my favorite album of theirs. R.E.M.'s Kid A, or close to it. Their only record that I think can safely be skipped is Around the Sun.

GD

Yeah, thanks. The first video you posted shows up as unavailable to me (maybe a regional thing), but also judging by RYM it seems starting with either Murmur or Automatic for the People would be way to go. Figure I'll just start at the beginning and then throw in Automatic... somewhere.

That's interesting about Up too. What aspects of it appeal to you in particular?

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lasty|rate-y music-y

SGR

Now that I think of it, they're better than all Smiths studio albums besides perhaps The Queen is Dead. Can't front on Hatful of Hollow and Louder than Bombs though - even though they're not proper studio albums, they're absolutely excellent.

It was the first REM record after the departure of drummer Bill Berry. Instead of just replacing him REM decided to take a different approach to their sound. The album is much more steeped in electronics and mood pieces. This album became one of those rare albums for me that would provide real comfort during times of depression or anxiety for me - it just kinda made me relax. It's a very slow and deliberate record - and it is easily the most beautiful sounding R.E.M. record. The band took a similar approach as the Smashing Pumpkins after their drummer bowed out (or was kicked out) - they released their beautiful and wistful electronics steeped Adore the same year (only a few months before) R.E.M. released Up and that record works on a very similar cerebral level that this record does.