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Is R.E.M. underrated by new music nerds?

I've been in a R.E.M. phase in late 2018, they kept me going through the toughest period of my life. A lot of their stuff especially in their incredible 1987-1996 run means a lot to me and have been pivotal in growing my music taste but emotion aside I think quality-wise they were one of the greatest rock band of all time, if not one the best band. I actually think this is not a hot take.

What I think is an interesting thing to discuss is how R.E.M. are relevant to new audiences of my age (I'm 20 btw) like all the music nerds that grew on the Internet (RYM or /mucore) or the music channels or profiles on YouTube and Instagram that review or examine music.

I think that in this demographic area R.E.M. are underrated or more specifically they are put inside the categories of "Gen X bands" like U2 or similar. And i think it's a shame because they have one the best musical palettes of all time provided by really skilled musicians and an incredible and eclectic vocalist and songwriter like Michael Stipe. A band that even when they became globally famous they managed to stay coherent to their sound (until at least the early 90s) and political ethic. Their material should get more recognition among younger audiences like mine considering the huge influence they had on a lot of artist.

What do you think?

seola30
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,164 posts
 

We all have our favourite one band,  or couple  bands that we do care about and follow, …. and the many bands that we don’t.

Some drive Fords, and some drive Chevys… You have your fave band …. Carry on.

roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,693 posts
 

They did what they did, and for a short while they were great; until Michael Stipe's ego and political leanings spoiled what was best about them. I think thatt hey were average musicians, but Peter Buck just had the spirit to evoke emotions from his playing that far more technically adept players miss. 

The first few discs were really a revelation at that time I think, my favorite being Life's Rich Pageant. I believe that time will be good to the earlier part of their catalog, where their more obscure lyrics inspire individual interpretation rather than the dated and tiresome political commentary that came later. 

 

larsman's avatar
larsman
1,753 posts
 

I'm 71, and I like a lot of REM's music, and there's also a lot that doesn't do much for me. I saw them once live back in the 90's, with Sonic Youth opening, and kinda lost interest in REM while becoming a big fan of Sonic Youth.... I never thought of U2 as a 'Gen X band' (I was still in my 20's when I first saw them) any more than I thought of the Beatles as a '60's band'. 

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