REM: The 80s Years | Pop Culture Graveyard Ep75

This episode of Pop Culture Graveyard features a deep dive on '80s-Era R.E.M., the college-radio legends who would later take over the world in the '90s and beyond. Click SHOW MORE below for extra R.E.M. content.

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Please use these links to purchase R.E.M.'s '80s albums:
Chronic Town: https://amzn.to/2XTNVEq
Murmur: https://amzn.to/3nX8SZL
Reckoning: https://amzn.to/3zx6LhB
Fables of the Reconstruction: https://amzn.to/3zx8OSO
Life's Rich Pageant: https://amzn.to/39sSfNb
Dead Letter Office: https://amzn.to/3zy5CpV
Document: https://amzn.to/3EKNahB
Green: https://amzn.to/3kyHmQ8

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As promised, here are my personal favorite Top Ten REM Songs of the '80s (in order of release):

Gardening at Night: This is a top three REM song for me, and I think it's got something to do with Bill Berry being way up high in the mix. Michael's lead vocals and the drumming dominate, and give the song real power:
   • REM   Gardening At Night  

Million: This song captures "early rock 'n' roll R.E.M." perfectly; and Michael Stipe's voice was never grittier. I used to begin DJ sets with this song sometimes, because it always got me amped up:
   • 1,000,000  

Radio Free Europe: The most important early single for the band, Radio Free Europe was recorded twice. The first "Hib-Tone label" version (available on Eponymous) is faster than the Murmur version, but in my estimation it sounds a bit skinny and staticky, lacking the power and the crispness of this re-recorded version from Murmur:    • R.E.M.  Radio Free Europe  

Laughing: Michael turns Laocoön (an ancient Greek priest immortalized with his two sons in a statue ), into a single mom with two sons who is trying to find a place to settle down, where they can all safely enjoy the absurdities of life without fear of scorn or abuse from humorless people:
   • Laughing  

West of the Fields: For a song with dreamy production and references to Elysian Fields, this track packs a real wallop! I may be a verse guy, but the chorus to this track always gets me worked up:
   • West Of The Fields  

Harborcoat: This has been my favorite REM song for many years and it never gets old to me. I think the backing vocals are a big reason why:
   • Harborcoat  

Pretty Persuasion: From its opening Byrds-like guitar, this track grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's a gorgeous rocker, if there is such a thing:
   • Pretty Persuasion  

Maps and Legends: Pure poetry set to music, this track sets a definite mood somewhere between confusion and helplessness, which I think the song is going for: "Maybe he's caught in the legend... Maybe he's caught in the mood... Maybe these maps and legends... Have been misunderstood."
   • Maps And Legends  

These Days: This song, my favorite off Life's Rich Pageant, always lifts up my spirits. Oh, and it ROCKS! "Happy throngs, take this joy wherever, wherever...":
   • R.E.M. - These Days  

Exhuming McCarthy: "By jingo!" From the driving rhythm to the anti-imperialism lyrics to the funky "sign of the times" breakdown, this is easily my favorite song off of Document:
   • Exhuming McCarthy  

I Remember California: It may not be as accessible as Stand or as fun as Pop Song 89, but this moody number is my favorite track off Green:
   • I Remember California (Remastered 2013)  

Honorable Mention:
The One I Love: This track almost made my list, so I had to give it a shout out. It is a favorite, and lyrically it is succinct perfection, but I've probably been overexposed to it:
   • The One I Love (Remastered 2012)  

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Here's the band's video for It's the End of the World, with a young man sifting through the detritus of what I assume to be a post-apocalyptic world. It seems like it was a fun video to make, but if I were that kid, I'd get checked out for asbestos poisoning!:    • R.E.M. - It's The End Of The World  

Here's the band's fantastic video for Orange Crush. Whether you were exposed to agent orange or not, the sad story of wasted youth really hits home:    • R.E.M. - Orange Crush (Official Music Video)  

Here's the band's live TV appearance, performing S. Central Rain on Late Night with David Letterman, that made such a big impression on me:    • So central rain| R.E.M| Live in Letterman ...  

And here's the other half of their National-TV-debut appearance, Radio Free Europe:    • REM - Radio Free Europe  

Superman by The Clique: This song is charming as hell! From the lead singer's odd accent "Yaaaa-yam-Syooper-myaan," to the sudden instrumental breaks to the kaleidoscopic keyboards to the layered backing vocals, there's a lot to love here:    • The Clique - Superman  

00:00 Intro
01:53 Chronic Town EP
04:11 Murmur
06:46 Reckoning
10:28 Fables of the Reconstruction
13:31 Lifes Rich Pageant
16:26 Dead Letter Office
18:40 Document
21:54 Green
24:41 Out of Time
25:15 Eponymous
26:00 Outro


#REM #JanglePop #80sMusic