Probably the most hated of R.E.M.'s IRS albums, but after listening to it for decades I think it stands with the best of them. I also found this one more difficult to choose a song from than the first two - I went with “Life and How To Live It”, but was wavering between that, “Feeling Gravitys Pull”, “Maps and Legends” and “Driver 8”. So, what say you?
Feeling Gravitys Pull, for me.
FotR is my favourite REM album by some distance.
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It’s hard to choose just one. This is my favorite REM album for just the sheer number of good songs I like to listen to.
“Maps & Legends” and “Green Grow the Rushes” were close behind, and I actually like “Wendell Gee” quite a bit.
I remember when I was a kid and I liked REM and I got this album and started listening to it and was like, “Wow this sucks.” Was never very articulate about it but my impression from memory is that I just thought it was somehow really boring.
Listened to it more recently and it seemed–able to be appreciated, at least.
Why are the usual complaints about this album?
Off of this, their weakest release on I.R.S. (IMO), the clear stand out track to me is “Driver 8”, though “Green Grow the Rushes” and “Life and How to Live It” are also good tracks.
This gets harder and harder. I voted for Feeling Gravitys Pull. For me, each release was better than the last.
I like “Can’t Get There From Here.” It has that philosophical absurdity that runs through a lot of their work.
Damn, I didn’t realize that it was on that album, so I chose Driver 8.
Driver 8. Didn’t even have to think about it. Damn…I didn’t know that song was THAT popular!
I also think Driver 8 was the best track on this album. And on Reconstruction of the Fables as well. 
Always been my go to REM album. The pinnacle of their mumble brooding obscure style. It’s been progressive clarity of diction ever since, if not meaning. I chose Kohoutek, because the line “You were gone, like Kohoutek” was one of the few I could get. Something to latch on to.
toss up between Wendell Gee and Green Grow the Rushes. Driver 8 was the popular song from this album, as I recall, at least in my very-into-REM* group of teen acquantainces.
*REM was the voice of every intellectual kid I knew growing up in the deep south in the late 80s. They were everything cool about getting the hell out of town and going to college so you could officially, appropriately listen to “college radio.” They were my gateway to the Velvet Underground and Television and Pylon and so much more. Lots of fond memories.
ETA: Can’t Get There from Here also holds up well
Is someone going to do one of these for Murmur? Perfect Circle, hands down.
Driver 8, didn’t even have to think about it. I was surprised that anyone agreed, though, I didn’t realize it was so popular.
Sorry - here’s Murmur, Reckoning, and the latest, Lifes Rich Pageant.
Feeling Gravitys Pull, without question. That opening guitar bit is my ringtone.
I’ve really never understood the hate this album seems to get from fans - it’s not my favorite but I do really like several of these songs. By far one of their most under rated releases. I chose Feeling Gravity’s Pull.
Driver 8, easily. Runner-up Maps and Legends.
I went with Maps and Legends just to give it some love, although I ADORE Driver 8.
Fables isn’t as catchy as other REM albums, but it’s definitely solid.