# How much R.E.M. is Too Much? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583 "2001-08-22T18:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/1 "2001-08-22T18:25:13Z")
I’ve been listening to _Automatic for the People_ twice a day, everyday, for the past two weeks. I think I’m being weird, but when I look over the CDs I have in my office, that’s the one that appeals to me. This is an IMHO double-header: 1. Is this Too Much? 2. Do you have an album you’re capable of listening to over and over? ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/2 "2001-08-22T18:32:52Z")
Never too much R.E.M., but I’d mix in some Monster or Out of Time to avoid hypnosis. I’ve been known to listen to my George Strait’s Greatest Hits for days on end…I can sing (poorly) the whole album. In fact, I don’t think I could do one song without starting the next one… ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/3 "2001-08-22T18:33:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > \*\*1) Is this Too Much? > > 1. Do you have an album you’re capable of listening to over and over? \*\* 1. IMO, yes. 2. Lyle Lovett’s _Pontiac_. Elmore James - this anthology CD I have. Charlie Patton - same deal. ---
**Author:** ![Sophie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Sophie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/4 "2001-08-22T18:35:18Z")
Hmmm. Many, many albums come to mind, actually, but in terms of R.E.M., I vote for “Life’s Rich Pageant”. Their best last album. ---
**Author:** ![kylen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@kylen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kylen)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/5 "2001-08-22T18:42:13Z")
1. REM in moderation is ok, except for thier newest album, which should be lit on fire and tossed out the window. 2. Paul Simon - Graceland. Not a measure of my musical tastes on the whole, but an album that has never fallen out of my regular rotation. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/6 "2001-08-22T19:13:15Z")
The only nugget of REM I can get too much of is “End of the World As We Know It”. That song sticks in my head like glue when I hear it. Currently I’m wearing out my Coldplay disc. Can’t decide whether it’s because I like it so much or because I’m too lazy to pop in another disc. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/7 "2001-08-22T19:21:26Z")
How much R.E.M. is too much? IMHO, _ANY_ R.E.M. is too much. I’ve never been a fan of theirs, though _Losing My Religion_ and _It’s the End of the World (As We Know It)_ were good songs. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/8 "2001-08-22T19:42:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kylen \* > \*\*1. REM in moderation is ok, except for thier newest album, which should be lit on fire and tossed out the window. > \*\* I resolved to listen to _Reveal_ again, to really give it another fair shot to win me over. That was two weeks ago, and I’ve just never brought myself to actually pick it up and put it in my CD player. I even looked at it today, then promptly put on _Life’s Rich Pageant_. That, I can listen to over and over again. I can also listen to PJ Harvey’s _Rid of Me_ and Morphine’s _Like Swimming_, plus many others that don’t come to mind right now. My initial reaction was to say,“No, there is no such thing as too much REM? What kind of stupid question is that?” On further reflection, I would think one has been listening to too much REM when one is worried about listening to too much. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/9 "2001-08-22T19:46:12Z")
It pains me to see REM as inessential as they are now. I really love the band, but I found Up and Reveal to be just dull. At New Adventures in Hi-Fi I had hope that they were finding their way again, but it just doesn’t seem to be so. I don’t want them to keep doing Lifes Rich pageant over and over, and I give them credit for trying new things, but none of it seems to stick. It’s been ages since they had a truly memorable song. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/10 "2001-08-22T20:40:59Z")
I do that-I tend to listen to one type of music, or one album or even a song or two a lot at one point. Lately it’s been U2 and Glenn Miller, along with classical. How’s THAT for variety? Bono and Glenn, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Infectious\_Lass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e56c9b/32.png) [@Infectious\_Lass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infectious_Lass)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/11 "2001-08-22T21:51:12Z")
There is no such thing as too much REM!! Well…to be honest there is no such thing as pre-Monster REM. Can I add my voice to the people who hate Reveal? I gave it a chance I really did and I wanted to like it I really really did. But the fact remains that that album is dull, dull, dull. All the Way To Reno is a good song (but it is really just a catchy chourus and nothing more to be honest)But no matter how I try I cannot get along with that album. I played it twice, then I pulled out Fables of The Reconstruction and played that instead. I think that says it all. Although having thought similarly bad of Up when it came out I gave it a second chance months later and it actually grew on me! Don’t think Reveal will do the same though. Oh where is my beautiful mysterious poor, van-touring REM? The REM that didn’t print its lyrics in a nice little booklet? Oh where has it gone? I miss it! Waaaah! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![navtechie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@navtechie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/navtechie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/12 "2001-08-22T22:01:23Z")
I can listen to _Kenny Wayne Shephard_ **Live On** non-stop. ALso some AMerican Made Music To STrip By from Rob Zombie stays in my player for days on end. As for REM(sleep) I would rather stick a knife in my ear. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/13 "2001-08-22T22:48:48Z")
I am surprised to see so many people spouting megative feelings on REM’s Reveal. I love it, I think it is as good as AFTP or OOT. Maybe I am not your average REM appreciator - for instance I never could understand why Murmur was so highly regarded. :D&R: ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/14 "2001-08-22T23:44:08Z")
I concur 100 percent with what **Superdude** said. Underworld’s “Everything, Everything” is one of the few CDs I can listen to on endless repeat, but techno is really just background music for me when I’m writing and editing. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/15 "2001-08-23T00:22:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > \*\*It pains me to see REM as inessential as they are now. I really love the band, but I found Up and Reveal to be just dull. At New Adventures in Hi-Fi I had hope that they were finding their way again, but it just doesn’t seem to be so. I don’t want them to keep doing Lifes Rich pageant over and over, and I give them credit for trying new things, but none of it seems to stick. It’s been ages since they had a truly memorable song. \*\* This is exactly how I feel about it. (Although I did like that song from the Andy Kaufman movie.) And I, too, think that printing the lyrics on these last two albums was a huge mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/16 "2001-08-23T00:31:00Z")
…I love REM. I really do. I’ve listened to all their albums, and I find them all to be–at the very least–tolerable. In fact, I consider most of them to be freaking brilliant. However… … **Up** is not their best work. By a long shot… … **Reveal** is good, but there are a couple songs on there which just make me want to tear my hair out. There are also some that I consider to be some of their best work (“I’ve been high,” “She Just Wants to Be”)… …there’s nothing wrong with listening to **Automatic for the People** all day… …yeah, this is mundane, all right… ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/17 "2001-08-23T00:39:47Z")
My REM experience consists of three tracks I downloaded onto my computer. Oh, and I once borrowed a CD from my friend. The one with “Nightswimming” on it. So no opinion on too much REM. CDs I can listen to over and over and over and … : - Tragically Hip, _Live Between Us_ - Metallica, _S&M_ - Dixie Chicks, _Wide Open Spaces_ - Lifehouse, _No Name Face_ - Dwight Yoakam, _Long Way Home_ Also, anything by Jack Ingram I can listen to again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2001, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-r-e-m-is-too-much/77583/18 "2001-08-23T09:19:13Z")
Add me to the list of those who are REM fans but just can’t get on with Reveal. I’ve listened to the album about 5 times now and whilst I’ve been High, Disappear and I’ll take the Rain are up there with some of their best songs (although not on the same level as the classics by any means) the album just doesn’t gel properly. My own favourite album was New Adventures in Hi Fi. There they messed with their sound a bit and got it just right. They should try doing that sort of thing again.