I was pretty lucky, as not only did I get to see them perform in a small club (Bowery Ballroom, NYC), but it was just after Up had come out. They played a lot from Up and IIRC, they didn't tour for that album.

Thanks so much for posting that! Today I listened to Accelerate and Collapse today in memoriam, but I remain quite saddened by this news. Regardless of all the intellectual arguments being posed for their break up, emotionally it's going to be rough for me, for awhile at least. R.E.M. opened up a whole world of music to me. Before them, I listened to Pink Floyd 24/7. For a long time, they were my favorite band. (pearl jam is my favorite these days, which makes that video all the more touching for me) Saw them twice on the Green tour, once on the Monster tour and once for Accelerate. They were artsy, gutsy, intellectual, political, emotional, cool, danceable - they had it all. I will greatly miss their music.

Indeed.

That's just plain wrong.

Good point. I was totally kidding anyway.

I posted that earlier: (It Happened Yesterday)

I don't know why. I loved (and very much still love) that song. It's fun to sing and is very uplifting. Great vocals from Kate Pierson too.

Sorry, when I want cheery I look to the Beatles or maybe Stevie Wonder. Loneliness sucks though, so I know what you mean. All too well, in fact.

Video for It Happened Today: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/pop-song-2011-the-video-for-r-e-m-s-it-happened-today/

Missy, I don't know why this came to mind, but I bet you'd love this:

Absolutely. Totally crazy. ;-) Seriously, you are the best judge of what you like obviously, so it's good that you did some research yourself. I have a friend who hates REM but loves UP. I happen to like it a lot, but find it to be second tier REM. Reveal I also enjoy, but like a bit less.

I just heard Collapse Into Now again and feel it's an excellent R.E.M. album. Great variety and thankfully, the mastering isn't as over the top as Accelerate was. Man that thing was LOUD.

Thanks very much for that cool video to Uberlin, Jahfin!

I think you'll love Automatic for the People, then. Yes, 2CDs and 1DVD, superb setlist - http://www.amazon.com/Live-At-Olympia-2CD-1DVD/dp/B002NVTBUY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1299012692&sr=8-2-spell Here's the trailer for it -

That's a tough call, mostly because I see Pink Floyd and Zeppelin as having multiple albums that you need to have. I'd suggest getting Lifes Rich Pageant and Automatic for the People used over at amazon. They should be dirt cheap and since they are both albums you "need" to have, they are also very different, as is Accelerate for that matter. If only plan on getting one album (I shudder to think ), I'd say get the Eponymous compilation. Has all their early "hits."