Heston and Marky's Friday Top 5

[Dr. Medulla]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

You’re supposed to be old and grumpy like the rest of us old and grumpies!

[revbob]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

Psychefunkapus - Hillbilly Happy Smash (a kickass tune by the way)
Van Halen - Happy Trails
Jam - Happy Together
Dead Milkmen - Happy Is
Inspiral Carpets - Many Happy Returns

She's the only saving grace but it ain't enough

[WestwayKid]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

Psychefunkapus - Hillbilly Happy Smash (a kickass tune by the way)
Van Halen - Happy Trails
Jam - Happy Together
Dead Milkmen - Happy Is
Inspiral Carpets - Many Happy Returns

Thank you not letting me hang alone regarding Hi Fi!!

[weller259]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

Psychefunkapus - Hillbilly Happy Smash (a kickass tune by the way)
Van Halen - Happy Trails
Jam - Happy Together
Dead Milkmen - Happy Is
Inspiral Carpets - Many Happy Returns

Thank you not letting me hang alone regarding Hi Fi!!

You're welcome. I mean, if you're a fan of R.E.M. its not possible to not like Hi-Fi. Its a fantastic album, I play it loud and it kicks ass.

[weller259]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

You’re supposed to be old and grumpy like the rest of us old and grumpies!

Doc, its my love of certain music that keeps me from being grumpy, the old part is a given at this point, lol. R.E.M. are one of them, I discovered them in 1982 and I just knew they were going to be huge.

[Dr. Medulla]

Said this before but that album is weird, got some of REM's very best for me and also some of their worst. SHP and LMR are both equally bad, can't make my mind up which is the more horrible.

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

You’re supposed to be old and grumpy like the rest of us old and grumpies!

Doc, its my love of certain music that keeps me from being grumpy, the old part is a given at this point, lol. R.E.M. are one of them, I discovered them in 1982 and I just knew they were going to be huge.

Bah! R.E.M. is the perfect band for Xers to get grumpy over, with clear moments and reasons to highlight their fall. Embrace the grumpiness, damn you!

[revbob]

After Green, and with the exception of Automatic For the People, their records became one or two good songs and sterile sludge that, if they'd been a boy band, we'd know as filler. It's telling, perhaps, that I don't know anyone hankering for a reunion concert or tour or whatever.

New Adventures In Hi-Fi is one of their very best, the last one with Bill Berry. Its magnificent. Accelerate is really fun as well, their "last gasp" of greatness in my opinion.
I also have no issue with Shiny Happy People, its a nice guitar riff and having Kate on it is exactly what that song needed.

You’re supposed to be old and grumpy like the rest of us old and grumpies!

Doc, its my love of certain music that keeps me from being grumpy, the old part is a given at this point, lol. R.E.M. are one of them, I discovered them in 1982 and I just knew they were going to be huge.

Bah! R.E.M. is the perfect band for Xers to get grumpy over, with clear moments and reasons to highlight their fall. Embrace the grumpiness, damn you!

REM were a decent band that got shitty.

[Dr. Medulla]

I can't help but think Stipe and Mills would regard their Warners stuff as best, while Buck would be an IRS guy.

[JennyB]

2. Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

One year ban! No way that is top anything.

K’s Choice, “Almost Happy”
XTC, “Stupidly Happy”
St. Vincent, “Happy Birthday, Johnny”
Bjork, “Violently Happy”
Metric, “Die Happy”

I've heard worse ...

Moral relativism shouldn't be applied that way …

I might be in the extreme minority, but I've never disliked that song. I don't love it, but it doesn't make me cringe. It's like Sunshine Jangle Pop with some absolutely wonderful backing vocals from Mike Mills and Kate Pierson. Peter Buck brings out the Reckoning era Rickenbacker sound, too.

I actually really like SHP. But, I don't know if I would if not for Kate.

[Dr. Medulla]

I actually really like SHP.

[JennyB]

I actually really like SHP.

Those in houses none the richer shouldn't throw stones!

[Dr. Medulla]

I actually really like SHP.

Those in houses none the richer shouldn't throw stones!

[Silent Majority]

I actually really like SHP.

Those in houses none the richer shouldn't throw stones!

[drowninghere]

On REM - just a quick comment on 80s albums versus 90s CDs.

Reckoning, Fables, Lifes, Document all 38 - 39 minutes.

New Adventures in Hi-Fi 105 minutes, Up 104 minutes. Both would be a hell of a lot better at 38-39 minutes. And yes, there's about 30 minutes plus of some very nice stuff on Up.

[Dr. Medulla]

On REM - just a quick comment on 80s albums versus 90s CDs.

Reckoning, Fables, Lifes, Document all 38 - 39 minutes.

New Adventures in Hi-Fi 105 minutes, Up 104 minutes. Both would be a hell of a lot better at 38-39 minutes. And yes, there's about 30 minutes plus of some very nice stuff on Up.

There is certainly an argument to be made that the respective space on vinyl versus cd forced a sensible concision on artists.