Time for the next one. A spotty collection, but the good songs are among their strongest. I remember buying the cassette of this in a Longs Drugs (similar to Rite Aid) in '86, and being happy that they were selling R.E.M. in a suburban strip mall. What say you?
My first thought was Superman because that’s probably the first R.E.M song I ever loved. I didn’t even know who the band was, but any song that referenced a comic book hero was ok in my book when I was 12. But, on relistening Fall On Me seems more complex and a lot more enjoyable to listen to. I still love Superman, but I think Fall On Me might be a better song.
My vote is for “Superman.”
I actually bought the album back around 1988 because I wanted this song. (It took me a long time to figure out what album “Superman” was on because it was omitted from album track list.)
when I was young and full of grace
I voted for Superman as well, it always struck me as almost a throw-away gimmicky song (and it’s a cover, so I don’t know if that should have impacted my choice) but it really is one of those songs that just gets me into the groove as soon as I hear it.
“Fall On Me” by a country mile. It’s by far the tightest song on the album–though others are pretty good–and is just. . .I mean, it’s perfect R.E.M.
I never cared for “Superman.” Always skip it.
Ah, yes! R.E.M.'s return to splendid form after a slight misstep with their previous album!
It was tough, but ultimately, the greatest track on this very strong album is “Cuyahoga”; also rans being “Begin the Begin”, “These Days”, “Fall On Me”, “What If We Give It Away?”, “I Believe”, and “Swan Swan H”.
So many great songs on this album, I had a really hard time choosing one, but in the end I came down on “These Days.” It’s got an infectious energy and spirit that I love, a nice tight chorus, and you can actually hear what Stipe is singing for the most part. 
I also love Swan Swan H, The Flowers of Guatemala, Underneath the Bunker (cute little gem!), Begin the Begin. Really, I’m having a hard time finding a song I don’t like. Amazing album.
“The Flowers of Guatemala” has one of those perfect 3-note guitar solos that I love. No showing off, just fit the song.
There’s a ton of good songs on this, not a bad one IMO, but voted for “Fall on Me”. Second would be “What If We Give It Away?” even though it’s a teeny bit REM by numbers. A great album in a run of great albums.
Ugh, too difficult, tho I voted for I Believe, I could have easily voted for Cuyahoga, These Days, or Fall on Me.
Underneath the Bunker has been my ringtone for years (I almost never hear it, always on vibrate.) But even though it’s fantastic, it’s too short. Fall on Me is a great song, but I’m picking These Days because it makes me happy whenever it comes on.
“Fall On Me” for sure, but I really also enjoy “Superman”.
Also, there’s that typo in the “Fall On Me” video, totally classic.
Superman was a cover? Man, you can really learn stuff on this forum! Well I voted for it anyway, even though the whole album is decent.
Always thought it was interesting how there’s this whole demographic of people (my brother and his friends, who were 2 years younger than me, were part of it) who didn’t think REM existed before It’s the End of the World was released. Personally, I think that was the turning point for the worse with them (even though Automatic for the People is still my favorite album of theirs), and mostly prefer their mid 80s stuff.
Superman.
“These Days” by a hair. They opened their show in Atlanta a few years ago with it.
Can’t argue with any of them, though.
Cuyahoga seems to be the strongest, or at least first amongst several equals.
I wish I could find the article, but I swear I remember reading that the songwriter had no idea how big REM was and how popular the song became until he found a huge check in his mailbox one day.
This would be in my top 3 albums by these guys and I Believe is the best of a bunch of great songs here.
Cuyahoga gets my vote, for the evocative lyrics and for the anguish in Stipe’s voice when he sings the word.
But let me also say a good word for the acoustic version of Swan Swan H from Athens, GA Inside Out. See it here.