The rock band, R.E.M, is legendary with its multiple albums and smash hits. There are plenty of fans who would love to see a ranking of their best albums! If you are among those who enjoy the group founded by drummer Bill Berry in 1980, you would probably be interested in knowing which albums hit hard – and when.
Best R.E.M Albums Ranked
It’s always interesting to know which one of your favorite albums rocked which. The official rating for all the best albums of the ever-so-popular rock band is out!
Murmur – IRS, 1983 Automatic for the People – WARNER BROS, 1992 Fables of the Reconstruction – IRS, 1985 Lifes Rich Pageant – IRS, 1986 Reckoning – IRS, 1984 Document – IRS, 1987 New Adventures in Hi-Fi – WARNER BROS, 1996 Green – WARNER BROS, 1988 Out of Time – WARNER BROS, 1991 Up – WARNER BROS, 1998
The Legend Blossomed
Even the first album R.E.M brought out – Murmur – would have been enough to make them legends on its own. The album came out when new wave music was coming in hard and serves as a reminder of the past. You can find their post-punk energy throughout the songs. Their vocals and strong guitar notes can be heard. It’s overall a golden album that was very marketable for them and would have been perfect if it was their only one.
Halfway Down the List
Scrolling down the list, we stumble upon their album Reckoning from 1984. It was a busy year for R.E.M., as they were constantly appearing in live shows and dealing with the constant energy we saw in each appearance. The entire album was written in three weeks or so around Christmas of that year, and it summed up their unquenchable momentum perfectly!
R.E.M in the End
The last album on the list, Up, from 1998, is a full-blow manifestation of mood fluctuations for the band – or at least of the three remaining band members. It was the year when the band lost Bill Berry – he quit! The only ones who remained were consumed, more or less, by self-doubt, which can be picked up throughout their songs. It’s a fascinating display of the band dabbling in non-rock lyrics, and it was an album full of raw emotions.
What we can all take away from the rating of the greatest R.E.M albums is the fact that, no matter which album you pick up, as a fan, you’ll be thrilled to listen to it. Predominant guitar parts, mesmerizing vocals, and transforming lyrics – the band’s got everything a legendary band needs to remain in the hearts of fans forever!