The Case For: REM's Best Single
- by Dan Clay Release Date: Label:

One of the most imaginative bands of our time have a wealth of songs at their disposal, but which showcases the band at their peak? Picking one track from each of their albums through the years, we aim to arrive at their ultimate track.
Murmur (1983) The band's debut certainly contains some great tracks but surely with its haunting backing takes the crown in this jewel.
Reckoning (1984) now trademark Peter Buck guitar sound beats off the competition from their strong second album.
Fables Of The Reconstruction (1985) A darker release than the previous two but containing some great tracks, the best of which has to be the melodic, harmonic ode to
Life's Rich Pageant (1986) The strongest of their IRS albums features some undiscovered gems. Michael Stipe's own favourite though from their entire discography, beats them all.
Document (1987) Their breakthrough album brought Warner Bros knocking and with as a calling card, it's no surprise.
Green (1988) The more acoustic, lighter first album for a major label gave them the confidence to produce several poppy moments as their next album would prove. Here show's the band really having fun.
Out Of Time (1991) Their first major major album gave us some terrific songs, but not to include mega-hit amongst them would be a travesty.
Automatic For The People (1992) The benchmark album for the band gave us the beautifully uplifting which nearly everyone learnt to play when they first picked up a guitar.
Monster (1994) Although a relative disappointment for fans, the much anticipated rockier follow up album to Automatic features some terrific songs. The fuzzier, grungier re-working of Everybody Hurts makes the best.
New Adventures In Hi-Fi (1996) brings the mournful tones of Patti Smith's vocals to the fore and creates the band's darkest but most interesting lead single.
Up (1998) The first album after drummer Bill Berry left features some oddly creative material and in one of Stipe's best love songs.
Reveal (2001) Lush instrumental moulded in the Pet Sounds image created REM's warmest album to date. Imitation of Life may have been the big hit but how isn't as popular as their best-known work remains a mystery.
Around The Sun (2004) A pretty terrible album devoid of much melody chose to put it all on one track and in created a classic REM ballad.
Accelerate (2008) The most recent album returns to the band's rockier early roots and penultimate track at just two minutes long blends a killer chorus with enough pace to outgun Usain Bolt himself.
Top 3 Finalists
1. Perfect Circle
2. Everybody Hurts
3. Fall On Me
And the winner is….. EVERYBODY HURTS - a monumental career-definer and life-changer.
Now choose your favourite band and have a go!







