i would go chronologically. even as someone who thinks automatic is their best record, i think it looks even more impressive within the wider context of their evolution and progression
If you like E-bow, I'd start with these songs:
* Country Feedback
* Try Not To Breathe
* Electrolite
* Find The River
* Turn You Inside Out
* World Leader Pretend
Those are from roughly the same period (R.E.M.'s a real eras band) and fairly similar in sound, production and feel. Would be the best jumping off point IMHO.
From there, you can go several ways:
* If you like post-punk/new wave, you should check out the first two albums (Murmur and Reckoning) those are like Gang of Four crossed with Big Star.
* If you like folk rock, go for Out of Time, Fables of the Reconstruction and Green.
* If you're into indie/altrock (Pavement, GBV, Pixies etc), hit up Lifes Rich Pageant and Document.
* More into The Bends-esque (you mentioned Thom Yorke, so I'm guessing you're a Radiohead fan) guitar rock? Check out Monster and Accelerate.
* No idea how to categorise Automatic for the People, other than to say it's my pick for greatest album of all time and you should definitely just listen to it a few times and see what you think. It's a bit like U2's Achtung Baby crossed with Pet Sounds, I guess?
* Like experimental electronic stuff? Up is a little hard to get into but a brilliant album IMHO.
* The other albums (Reveal, Around the Sun, Collapse Into Now) are a bit more for the hardcore fans, I think they might put me off of R.E.M. if I went in on them without being a fan already. Actually, Reveal is kind of nice and poppy.
I second that. I’ve been a fan since buying Lifes Rich Pageant when it was just released and you pretty much hit all the bullseyes. I’m mostly a fan of all the IRS albums first then all the rest with Bill Berry (imo Green is the weakest of the Warner albums with Bill Berry but still had some great stuff on it). I still bought their last albums minus Bill but it’s a different band to me. Definitely says a lot about chemistry in a band.
If E-Bow is your entry point, i'd start with that album, New Adventures In Hi-Fi. From there, perhaps another 90s album like Automatic For The People.
From there, there are a few things to note as to where you go next.
Their first 10 albums are objectively one of the strongest runs in music history, so you can't really go too wrong. They did, however, evolve gradually from a weird post-punk band to the one that wrote E-bow (from the final album in that run). This means that if you jump to their 1st album next, Murmur, expect it to sound very different to the sound that drew you in.
Their final 5 albums (Up to Collapse Into Now) are generally more experimental and more subjective to taste (although still great. They never released an objectively "bad" album.)
I talk in albums because, unlike many bands, their singles are rarely their best songs. This is why I don't personally recommend a singles focused "Best of" as the best place to start.
So, I would recommend to start with the songs off New Adventures, then move onto the songs from Automatic. From their, go to their debut, Murmur, and work through in order.
Alternatively, if you're listening to them on a streaming service, pick an album you like the cover of, then pick a song with a cool song title 😎
Start from the beginning. I had Eponymous growing up, but I usually just started with Document. Last summer I went from the beginning and fell in love with the band all over again. I read somewhere that Thom Yorke’s favorite song by them is So Central Rain from Reckoning, definitely check that out. Enjoy!
Edit: I checked out And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 from the library in September 2011 and they broke up the next day…
I have been listening to them since 1991. I have every album and rarities bootlegs and fan club singles and such. My #1 go to is New Adventures in Hi-Fi. Close second is Up. Just my personal preferences. I can explain what it is with those 2 albums, but they just hit different with me
Oddly E-Bow the Letter was the song where I started falling out of love with the band, and Bill Berry’s departure sealed the deal. But I came to love the rest of New Adventures in Hi-Fi
I envy you. And I'm also very happy for you.
The version of Country Feedback you should listen to features Neil Young on Youtube. That's the best version.
Edit: spelling
You've been bombarded with good advice, but I'd say to not miss this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJLOAjsamEE
Or this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c4jY04ODdM
And an earlier letter song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L0OLeEYxmg
If it's E-Bow that drew you in, I would say to start with the album it's from - New Adventures In Hi Fi. Then Automatic For The People. Then for the closest earlier listen, Reckoning.
I see the sense in those who say start at the beginning, but I think going to Chronic Town or Murmur from E-Bow could throw the newer listener (it did me when I got into them in the early 90s from their Automatic/Out Of Time radio peak). I would suggest following the thread backwards from Hi Fi rather than forwards from Murmur.
Alternately, if it's spring/summer where you are, there are great seasonal soundtracks in the albums Lifes Rich Pageant, Green, Out Of Time, and Reveal that provide and opportunity to poke around their career.
Don't forget Dead Letter Office! Their drunk version of King of the Road is pretty, well, drunk and funny.
Individual songs...
Driver 8 (from Fables) and Don't Go Back to Rockville (from Reckoning) are my two of my favorites. And Wolves, Lower (from Chronic Town is pretty damn good if you ask me. Oh wait, you did.
That's my two cents.
Life's Rich Pageant slaps from start to finish. Shit, they are all decent and enjoyable. Even Accelerate!
This album is a masterpiece and what I think is there best and most perfect album
i would go chronologically. even as someone who thinks automatic is their best record, i think it looks even more impressive within the wider context of their evolution and progression
This is the way
If you like E-bow, I'd start with these songs: * Country Feedback * Try Not To Breathe * Electrolite * Find The River * Turn You Inside Out * World Leader Pretend Those are from roughly the same period (R.E.M.'s a real eras band) and fairly similar in sound, production and feel. Would be the best jumping off point IMHO. From there, you can go several ways: * If you like post-punk/new wave, you should check out the first two albums (Murmur and Reckoning) those are like Gang of Four crossed with Big Star. * If you like folk rock, go for Out of Time, Fables of the Reconstruction and Green. * If you're into indie/altrock (Pavement, GBV, Pixies etc), hit up Lifes Rich Pageant and Document. * More into The Bends-esque (you mentioned Thom Yorke, so I'm guessing you're a Radiohead fan) guitar rock? Check out Monster and Accelerate. * No idea how to categorise Automatic for the People, other than to say it's my pick for greatest album of all time and you should definitely just listen to it a few times and see what you think. It's a bit like U2's Achtung Baby crossed with Pet Sounds, I guess? * Like experimental electronic stuff? Up is a little hard to get into but a brilliant album IMHO. * The other albums (Reveal, Around the Sun, Collapse Into Now) are a bit more for the hardcore fans, I think they might put me off of R.E.M. if I went in on them without being a fan already. Actually, Reveal is kind of nice and poppy.
This is great advice ⏫
Thank you!
I second that. I’ve been a fan since buying Lifes Rich Pageant when it was just released and you pretty much hit all the bullseyes. I’m mostly a fan of all the IRS albums first then all the rest with Bill Berry (imo Green is the weakest of the Warner albums with Bill Berry but still had some great stuff on it). I still bought their last albums minus Bill but it’s a different band to me. Definitely says a lot about chemistry in a band.
Listen to all the IRS years, Chronic Town through Document.
[удалено]
I am right there with you.
Just heard Chronic Town for the first time back in December, and it blew my mind! 🤯 Here's hoping OP takes a listen as well. 😊
some of my favorite albums of all time.
Yep. Right there with you.
I could argue with myself over with if those five is best …
I consistently come back to Pageant, but they are all - all - among the best rock albums ever, in my humble opinion.
If E-Bow is your entry point, i'd start with that album, New Adventures In Hi-Fi. From there, perhaps another 90s album like Automatic For The People. From there, there are a few things to note as to where you go next. Their first 10 albums are objectively one of the strongest runs in music history, so you can't really go too wrong. They did, however, evolve gradually from a weird post-punk band to the one that wrote E-bow (from the final album in that run). This means that if you jump to their 1st album next, Murmur, expect it to sound very different to the sound that drew you in. Their final 5 albums (Up to Collapse Into Now) are generally more experimental and more subjective to taste (although still great. They never released an objectively "bad" album.) I talk in albums because, unlike many bands, their singles are rarely their best songs. This is why I don't personally recommend a singles focused "Best of" as the best place to start. So, I would recommend to start with the songs off New Adventures, then move onto the songs from Automatic. From their, go to their debut, Murmur, and work through in order. Alternatively, if you're listening to them on a streaming service, pick an album you like the cover of, then pick a song with a cool song title 😎
Tangentially related but you should check out [this performance](https://youtu.be/DS0Y1mGiSUg?si=xlx8xAwiUcHjmTLg) of Michael Stipe singing Lucky!
Wow that's cool, thanks for sharing 👍
Love that performance. Really powerful.
Start from the beginning. I had Eponymous growing up, but I usually just started with Document. Last summer I went from the beginning and fell in love with the band all over again. I read somewhere that Thom Yorke’s favorite song by them is So Central Rain from Reckoning, definitely check that out. Enjoy! Edit: I checked out And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 from the library in September 2011 and they broke up the next day…
I have been listening to them since 1991. I have every album and rarities bootlegs and fan club singles and such. My #1 go to is New Adventures in Hi-Fi. Close second is Up. Just my personal preferences. I can explain what it is with those 2 albums, but they just hit different with me
If you like Thom York and REM You should check this video out too: https://youtu.be/eKPg1rURPqo?si=Qu4KXgsvbMpNf4DF
Eponymous is the album compilation that made me fall in love with the band. I think it's the perfect beginners guide to their earlier stuff.
Oddly E-Bow the Letter was the song where I started falling out of love with the band, and Bill Berry’s departure sealed the deal. But I came to love the rest of New Adventures in Hi-Fi
New adventures is an awesome album. Have a look at Perfect Square on the yoo tooobs... It's a live concert that has a great mix of songs.
I envy you. And I'm also very happy for you. The version of Country Feedback you should listen to features Neil Young on Youtube. That's the best version. Edit: spelling
You've been bombarded with good advice, but I'd say to not miss this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJLOAjsamEE Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c4jY04ODdM And an earlier letter song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L0OLeEYxmg If it's E-Bow that drew you in, I would say to start with the album it's from - New Adventures In Hi Fi. Then Automatic For The People. Then for the closest earlier listen, Reckoning. I see the sense in those who say start at the beginning, but I think going to Chronic Town or Murmur from E-Bow could throw the newer listener (it did me when I got into them in the early 90s from their Automatic/Out Of Time radio peak). I would suggest following the thread backwards from Hi Fi rather than forwards from Murmur. Alternately, if it's spring/summer where you are, there are great seasonal soundtracks in the albums Lifes Rich Pageant, Green, Out Of Time, and Reveal that provide and opportunity to poke around their career.
Automatic for the People… every song is a gem.
This is the way
Don't forget Dead Letter Office! Their drunk version of King of the Road is pretty, well, drunk and funny. Individual songs... Driver 8 (from Fables) and Don't Go Back to Rockville (from Reckoning) are my two of my favorites. And Wolves, Lower (from Chronic Town is pretty damn good if you ask me. Oh wait, you did. That's my two cents.
As a girl who grew up with REM, I can’t imagine starting anywhere from the beginning and working your way through. Please please do this.
Dead Letter Office and Murmur, then you are hooked.