I respect U2 but I've never enjoyed them. Loved REM growing up but I loved their regular opening act from Athens, The dB's, even better. Of course, I loved Pixies better than any of these bands, by miles.
I prefer REM. But I never really thought of them to be in the same 'league' as U2. They were more the 'underground' band with the $100m recording contract that everyone knew of. Odd. I went through a stage where I didn't like U2 at all. Maybe because they were too popular. But I started listening to them again -- and their music is really incredible.
I don't see how you could have Lifes Rich Pageant (no " ' " in the title, by the way) as not one of their classics. I think it is their best. For this poll I would have to break it into decades. For the 80's I much prefer (and preferred) REM. For the 90's and 2000's I didn't/don't really care for either but I guess U2 would be considered better? Even though that would be two decades to one overall, my subjective scorecard says REM wins in a landslide.
Oddly enough, my favorite REM “album” might be Dead Letter Office. Some great tunes on that compilation. There She Goes Again – great Lou Reed cover Voice of Harold – alternate version of 7 Chinese Brothers which has Stipe reading liner notes to a gospel album White Tornado – instrumental surf rock! Toys in the Attic – Aerosmith cover And my personal favorite….a completely drunken version of King of the Road that is a must listen. Plus a bunch of great B-sides (remember B-sides?) that I think were better than a lot of songs that made it onto their albums. I’m definitely getting that cassette out of storage this weekend.
Yeah, I was trying to make a somewhat objective comparison, and try to avoid any "*insert album title* was no classic" posts that completely overshadowed the rest of the comparisons I was trying to make. I thought I could make the point with out calling that album a classic, but maybe I underestimated it's reputation a little. I agree Lifes Rich Pageant is a classic, Mr. REM-Album-Title-Grammar-Police.
I may have voted too soon as I listened to "Automatic for the People" today and what a great album that was! Yet, every time I hear "New Year's Day", I have to stop whatever I am doing and listen to it with complete attention and devotion.
I like both bands, IMO, REM hasn't been consistently as good (since Automatic for the People) than U2.
I don't know why this thread is in the past tense. Especially since both of them have new material out. I've listened to both of them off and on for a while - gone back and picked up much of the 80's stuff that I missed from them the first time as well. I answered U2 to this poll because of the whole past tense/ nostalgia band slant that it seemed to have, but I actually like REM better currently and listen to more 2000s-era stuff from both bands, overall, than older. U2 was my favorite band for a long time but they are starting to sound cliched for some reason, like a self-parody, and "No Line on the Horizon" was about the least appealing thing I've heard from them since "Pop". (Though I loved "How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" and much of "All That You Can't Leave Behind".) REM went through a long phase of mostly lame output, with a couple of really good songs on each album and a lot of filler, but have turned things around for the two most recent albums. Regardless, amazing how both have had such long careers and still continue to create worthwhile music.
I believe the "Losing my Religion" video was responsible for about 15 years of movies, commercials, etc, etc, using that annoying bright white flash in between scenes. It was torture. My vote is for none. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eB3VTX0pxoE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eB3VTX0pxoE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I liked Bright Eyes back with Connor Oberst was writing songs on the lining of his mother's womb. When he said something with a big, fancy word and a whiny voice filled with faux pain it makes my soul feel touched in its special place. But regardless, I hate REM because Orange Crush is a stupid song to put on Rock Band and I hate U2 because Nobody should be named "The Edge"
I have every single studio CD from both bands. After The Who, they're my #2 and #3 favorite, just tough to say who's better. Sort of like who's better, Robert DeNiro or Dustin Hoffman? Two different styles. Lyrics: REM Music: U2 Live: Even Great studio albums: Even The Best from either of them: Achtung Baby from U2 The Worst from either of them: Zooropa, from U2 Of course, when it comes to discussions about U2, some people have to bring in Bono's current political involvement and nonsense like that, as if it has anything to do with their music. The impact of both of those bands coming out was undeniable- I distinctly remember having the, "hey, this is really something" reaction to Boy and Murmur, and they've both been consistently great ever since, with a few missteps. So the only thing to do is compare each's top 10 recordings: 1. Achtung Baby vs. Murmur: U2 2. War vs. Automatic For The People: REM 3. The Joshua Tree vs. Document: U2 4. Boy vs. Life's Rich Pageant: U2 5. The Unforgettable Fire vs. Document: REM 6. October vs. Reckoning: U2 7. All That You Can't vs. Fables: U2 8. Pop vs. Out of Time: REM 9. How to Dismantle vs. New Adventures: REM 10. Zooropa vs. Monster: REM So, I guess, U2, but just barely. It's really a tie for me. I do think each has done much better earlier in their career than later, although their latest albums are pretty good (but no one comes close in this category to Cheap Trick -that new CD The Latest is the best studio recording of their career, and that's among 16 releases- theirs is a strange history- great first 5 CDs, several good to mediocre ones in the 80s, and then 5 excellent CDs from 1994 to now. Very rare- but I digress- back to Bono and Michael Stipe). Wow, tough question. Depends on the day, I guess.
REM. I liked them both in the 80s and early 90s. After Achtung Baby, U2 has not recorded anything that I have liked. I have liked all of the REM albums with the exception of Monster.
All I am saying is give POP a chance. All I am saying is give POP a chance. It's ironic that an album called Pop has some of U2's most ballsy rockers on it: Exhibit A- Last Night On Earth <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kqW9Q3KjF_4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kqW9Q3KjF_4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> I think POP is seriously underrated by critics and fans. Frankly, I think Bono's lyrics really started falling off after this album. There's been a lack of good poetry and cleverness in his lyrics since that album. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nKPNyC2tCiM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nKPNyC2tCiM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
I got this weird response... You must spread some rep around before giving it to either of these 2 people again U2's War and REM's Murmur have that spot in my life that will always take me back. I loved REM from the first time I heard gardening at night. The early albums are so great and full of so much great music. I still buy every album and even though the masses have left the music is still great. There are some down songs like shiny happy people and end of the world as we know it but the collection as a whole will stand the test of time. U2, Same thing with the early stuff being just great. I loved up to Rattle and Hum after that I think it all got mixed up and watered down. Numb is a great song but otherwise I haven't looked forward to one of their albums in years. But for me it all came together with the Pixies. Charles Thompson aka Frank Black Francis is the most underrated singer songwriter of the late 80's - the 00's. Excuse me now I think I'll make one last drink and go float in the pool and listen to murmur and look at the stars.
