R.E.M.

R.E.M. Songs MP3, Ringtones, Music Downloads

About R.E.M.

Athens, Georgia quartet REM played a crucial part in defining lo-fi alternative rock. Prior to REM's efforts, non-commercial music had been relegated mostly to the thriving club scenes on the country's coasts. But with a relentless touring schedule, idealistic political values and a jangly knack for crafting catchy, lyrically complex guitar-pop songs, REM made a name for themselves and, while they were at it, blazed a trail for and inspired an entire scene's worth of young musicians. Unlike the commercial metal bands dominating the charts, REM kept things intense and introspective. They released an album a year between 1982 to 1988, and fans tracked down every one. Drawn to the lifestyle, they wrote songs and learned to play on the road. Michael Stipe has said that, on every early record, he was constantly surprised when hearing his own murmured vocals played back in the studio. The band's first, post-punk records are lyrically ambitious, and themes ranged from sincere love songs to tense paranoia. REM gained a cult following by playing colleges and local dive bars and their first single, "Radio Free Europe," brought their album Murmur critical acclaim and earned them a bashful appearance on David Letterman. Their dark follow-up Fables Of the Reconstruction, was inspired by the South's rich, troubled history and the supporting tour was the band's biggest ever. On 1987's Document, Stipe's previously mumbled vocals were brought to the front of the mix and the band spoke out on political themes like international policy and the Reagan administration. Singles "The One I Love" and "It's The End of the World As We Know It" propelled the band out of their college rock ghetto. Since then, they've become unlikely arena stars, scoring chart topping singles with the cryptic "Losing My Religion," the up-tempo "Stand," "Everybody Hurts" and "Man On the Moon."