Artist Poll, Poll — July 31, 2017 at 7:51 am

The absolute best of R.E.M.: All 282 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers

Today we unveil the results of Round 3 of our latest Slicing Up Eyeballs readers poll series, a 1-to-282 ranking of R.E.M.’s entire catalog of songs recorded between 1981 — the original Hib-Tone release of “Radio Free Europe” — and the band’s eventual break-up in 2011.

A quick refresher: We asked readers to vote for up to 25 of their favorite songs recorded by R.E.M., choosing from a ballot that listed 282 singles, album tracks, compilation cuts and, yes, even cover songs, which we’d excluded on previous polls involving the oeuvres of The Cure and The Smiths.

Not included in this poll: Remixes, alternate versions, re-recordings of songs, or live tracks — though a couple of the latter may have slipped through and onto the prodigious ballot.

RELATED: Playlist of all 282 of R.E.M.’s songs, ranked — minus the 38 that aren’t on Spotify

Based on a total of 64,828 votes, the full results are presented below. As you can see, the No. 1 song topped the list by a comfortable 160-vote margin (unlike the single vote that split No. 1 and No. 2 on our poll of The Cure’s work). But two songs tied for No. 2 on the R.E.M. list with exactly 1,759 votes apiece.

After our poll of The Smiths’ catalog that saw no ties whatsoever, there are ties galore on this list, particularly when you get down to songs in the lower depths — obscure B-sides, fan club singles — that only garnered a handful of votes apiece. And, for the first time, there are songs — six to be exact — that did not get any votes. They round out the bottom of the poll, tied for last.

As always, thank you all so much for participating.

And now, the results:

 

THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF R.E.M.: ALL 282 SONGS, RANKED

 

1. “Fall On Me”

Single; appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,919 votes

 

2. “Driver 8” (TIE)

Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 1,759 votes

 

2. “Radio Free Europe” (TIE)

Single (twice); appears on Murmur (1981/1983) | 1,759 votes

 

4. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”

Single; appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,701 votes

 

5. “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”

Single; appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,497 votes

 

6. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”

Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,457 votes

 

7. “Nightswimming”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 1,406 votes

 

8. “Begin the Begin”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,184 votes

 

9. “Orange Crush”

Single; appears on Green (1988) | 1,183 votes

 

10. “Gardening at Night”

Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 1,126 votes

 

 

 

11. “The One I Love”

Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,116 votes

 

12. “Losing My Religion”

Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 1,082 votes

 

13. “Finest Worksong”

Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,073 votes

 

14. “Pretty Persuasion”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,029 votes

 

15. “Superman”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,011 votes

 

16. “Talk About the Passion”

Single; appears on Murmur (1983) | 996 votes

 

17. “Man on the Moon”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 994 votes

 

18. “Cuyahoga”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 955 votes

 

19. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 902 votes

 

20. “Can’t Get There From Here”

Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 897 votes

 

 

 

21. “Perfect Circle”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 876 votes

 

22. “I Believe”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 874 votes

 

23. “Harborcoat”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 830 votes

 

24. “World Leader Pretend”

Appears on Green (1988) | 750 votes

 

25. “Country Feedback”

Appears on Out of Time (1993) | 733 votes

 

26. “Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)”

Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 726 votes

 

27. “You Are the Everything”

Appears on Green (1988) | 689 votes

 

28. “7 Chinese Bros.”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 680 votes

 

29. “Drive”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 668 votes

 

30. “Everybody Hurts”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 663 votes

 

 

 

31. “Find the River”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 647 votes

 

32. “Pop Song 89”

Single; appears on Green (1988) | 642 votes

 

33. “Feeling Gravity’s Pull”

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 630 votes

 

34. “Swan Swan H”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 611 votes

 

35. “Wolves, Lower”

Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 591 votes

 

36. “These Days”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 579 votes

 

37. “Catapult”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 562 votes

 

38. “Half a World Away”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 554 votes

 

39. “Exhuming McCarthy” (TIE)

Appears on Document (1987) | 529 votes

 

39. “Maps and Legends” (TIE)

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 529 votes

 

 

 

41. “Near Wild Heaven”

Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 522 votes

 

42. “Disturbance at the Heron House”

Appears on Document (1987) | 521 votes

 

43. “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite”

Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 517 votes

 

44. “Pilgrimage”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 504 votes

 

45. “Sitting Still”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 500 votes

 

46. “Try Not to Breathe”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 496 votes

 

47. “Life and How to Live It”

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 477 votes

 

48. “E-Bow the Letter”

Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 476 votes

 

49. “Electrolite”

Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 470 votes

 

50. “Crush With Eyeliner”

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 448 votes

 

 

 

51. “Turn You Inside-Out”

Appears on Green (1988) | 437 votes

 

52. “Texarkana”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 434 votes

 

53. “Stand”

Single; appears on Green (1988) | 421 votes

 

54. “Me in Honey”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 408 votes

 

55. “Daysleeper”

Single; appears on Up (1998) | 404 votes

 

56. “At My Most Beautiful”

Single; appears on Up (1998) | 401 votes

 

57. “Imitation of Life”

Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 396 votes

 

58. “Welcome to the Occupation”

Appears on Document (1987) | 388 votes

 

59. “Shaking Through”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 368 votes

 

60. “Low”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 362 votes

 

 

 

61. “Green Grow the Rushes”

Appears on Fables of Reconstruction (1985) | 360 votes

 

62. “The Flowers of Guatemala”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 351 votes

 

63. “1,000,000” (TIE)

Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 339 votes

 

63. “Moral Kiosk” (TIE)

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 339 votes

 

65. “Shiny Happy People”

Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 334 votes

 

66. “King of Birds”

Appears on Document (1988) | 330 votes

 

67. “Sweetness Follows”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 328 votes

 

68. “Bang and Blame”

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 318 votes

 

69. “Wendell Gee”

Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 317 votes

 

70. “Oddfellows Local 151”

Appears on Document (1987) | 308 votes

 

 

 

71. “Strange Currencies”

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 306 votes

 

72. “Laughing”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 300 votes

 

73. “Radio Song”

Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 290 votes

 

74. “Camera”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 287 votes

 

75. “Ages of You”

B-side of “Wendell Gee” and a single off Dead Letter Office (1985/1987) | 282 votes

 

76. “Belong”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 271 votes

 

77. “Get Up”

Single; appears on Green (1988) | 266 votes

 

78. “The Great Beyond”

Single; appears on “Man on the Moon” soundtrack (1999) | 263 votes

 

79. “Time After Time (Annelise)”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 251 votes

 

80. “Ignoreland”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 243 votes

 

 

 

81. “Leave”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 235 votes

 

82. “Bittersweet Me”

Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 233 votes

 

83. “Hyena”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 228 votes

 

84. “Leaving New York”

Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 222 votes

 

85. “Bad Day”

Single; appears on In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003) | 216 votes

 

86. “Let Me In” (TIE)

Appears on Monster (1994) | 208 votes

 

86. “What if We Give it All Away?” (TIE)

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 208 votes

 

88. “Crazy”

B-side of “Driver 8” (1985) | 207 votes

 

89. “Letter Never Sent”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 204 votes

 

90. “Monty Got a Raw Deal”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 197 votes

 

 

 

91. “Auctioneer (Another Engine)” (TIE)

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 194 votes

 

91. “I Remember California” (TIE)

Appears on Green (1988) | 194 votes

 

91. “Star 69” (TIE)

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 194 votes

 

94. “How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us” (TIE)

Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 191 votes

 

94. “Walk Unafraid” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 191 votes

 

96. “Kohoutek”

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 189 votes

 

97. “We Walk”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 188 votes

 

98. “Pale Blue Eyes”

B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 185 votes

 

99. “Hairshirt”

Appears on Green (1988) | 179 votes

 

100. “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)”

Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 166 votes

 

 

101. “Second Guessing”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 164 votes

 

102. “Voice of Harold”

B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 163 votes

 

103. “Living Well is the Best Revenge”

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 162 votes

 

104. “Little America”

Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 153 votes

 

105. “9-9” (TIE)

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 149 votes

 

105. “Good Advices” (TIE)

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 149 votes

 

107. “Be Mine”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 148 votes

 

108. “Star Me Kitten”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 142 votes

 

109. “Supernatural Superserious”

Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 140 votes

 

110. “West of the Fields”

Appears on Murmur (1983) | 139 votes

 

 

 

111. “Just a Touch”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 135 votes

 

122. “New Test Leper”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 134 votes

 

113. “Fretless”

Appears on “Until the End of the World” soundtrack (1991) | 126 votes

 

114. “Bandwagon”

B-side of “Can’t Get There From Here” (1985) | 164 votes

 

115. “I Don’t Sleep, I Dream”

Appears on Monster (1994) | 124 votes

 

116. “So Fast, So Numb”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 122 votes

 

117. “First We Take Manhattan”

Appears on I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1991) | 118 votes

 

118. “There She Goes Again”

B-side of “Radio Free Europe” (1983) | 115 votes

 

119. “The Wrong Child”

Appears on Green (1988) | 114 votes

 

120. “11th Untitled Song”

Appears on Green (1988) | 112 votes

 

 

 

121. “King of the Road”

B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 112 votes

 

122. “Strange”

Appears on Document (1987) | 110 votes

 

123. “Lightnin’ Hopkins”

Appears on Document (1987) | 109 votes

 

124. “Old Man Kensey”

Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 106 votes

 

125. “The Wake-Up Bomb”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 98 votes

 

126. “Lotus”

Single; appears on Up (1999) | 96 votes

 

127. “Femme Fatale” (TIE)

B-side of “Superman” (1986) | 90 votes

 

127. “I’ll Take the Rain” (TIE)

Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 90 votes

 

129. “Love is All Around” (TIE)

Appears on “I Shot Andy Warhol” soundtrack (1996) | 87 votes

 

129. “Toys in the Attic” (TIE)

B-side of “Fall on Me” (1985) | 87 votes

 

 

 

131. “Stumble”

Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 85 votes

 

132. “Tongue”

Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 83 votes

 

133. “Photograph” (with Natalie Merchant)

Appears on Born to Choose compilation (1993) | 78 votes

 

134. “I Took Your Name” (TIE)

Appears on Monster (1994) | 76 votes

 

134. “Uberlin” (TIE)

Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 76 votes

 

136. “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (TIE)

Appears on Athens, GA: Inside/Out soundtrack (1987) | 73 votes

 

136. “Fireplace” (TIE)

Appears on Document (1987) | 73 votes

 

136. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (TIE)

B-side of “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” (1993) | 73 votes

 

139. “Undertow”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 71 votes

 

140. “Why Not Smile”

Appears on Up (1998) | 68 votes

 

 

 

141. “King of Comedy”

Appears on Monster (1994) | 66 votes

 

142. “Wall of Death”

Appears on Beat the Retreat: Songs by Richard Thompson (1994) | 64 votes

 

143. “Romance”

Appears on “Made in Heaven” soundtrack (1987) | 63 votes

 

144. “Sad Professor”

Appears on Up (1998) | 61 votes

 

145. “Academy Fight Song” (TIE)

Appears on 1989 fan club single | 59 votes

 

145. “We All Go Back to Where We Belong” (TIE)

Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 (2011) | 59 votes

 

147. “Underneath the Bunker”

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 58 votes

 

148. “Circus Envy” (TIE)

Appears on Monster (1994) | 57 votes

 

148. “Falls to Climb” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 57 votes

 

150. “All the Right Friends”

Appears on “Vanilla Sky” soundtrack (2001) | 56 votes

 

 

 

151. “The Lifting”

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 55 votes

 

152. “Binky the Doormat” (TIE)

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 54 votes

 

152. “Burning Down” (TIE)

B-side of “Wendell Gee” (1985) | 54 votes

 

152. “I’ve Been High” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 54 votes

 

155. “Accelerate” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 53 votes

 

155. “It Happened Today” (TIE)

Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 53 votes

 

155. “Oh My Heart” (TIE)

Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 53 votes

 

158. “Man-Sized Wreath”

Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 49 votes

 

159. “Hollow Man”

Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 47 votes

 

160. “Windout”

Appears on “Bachelor Party” soundtrack (1984) | 46 votes

 

 

 

161. “Electron Blue” (TIE)

Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 42 votes

 

161. “Hope” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 42 votes

 

161. “You” (TIE)

Appears on Monster (1994) | 42 votes

 

164. “She Just Wants to Be”

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 41 votes

 

165. “Beat a Drum”

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 40 votes

 

166. “Endgame”

Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 39 votes

 

167. “Until the Day is Done”

Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 37 votes

 

168. “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 36 votes

 

169. “The Apologist” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 36 votes

 

170. “Burning Hell”

B-side of “Can’t Get There From Here” (1985) | 35 votes

 

 

171. “Departure”

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 34 votes

 

172. “Discoverer”

Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 32 votes

 

173. “Suspicion” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 31 votes

 

173. “Walter’s Theme” (TIE)

B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 31 votes

 

175. “It’s a Free World, Baby” (TIE)

Appears on “Coneheads” soundtrack (1993) | 30 votes

 

175. “Low Desert” (TIE)

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 30 votes

 

177. “Diminished” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 29 votes

 

177. “Moon River” (TIE)

Appears on Reckoning: IRS Vintage Years reissue (1992) | 29 votes

 

179. “Dark Globe”

B-side of “Orange Crush” (1988) | 28 votes

 

180. “Animal”

Single; appears on In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003) | 27 votes

 

 

 

181. “New Orleans Instrumental No. 1”

Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 26 votes

 

181. “Arms of Love” (TIE)

B-side of “Man on the Moon” (1992) | 26 votes

 

181. “The Ascent of Man” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 26 votes

 

181. “I Walked with a Zombie” (TIE)

Appears on “Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson (1990) | 26 votes

 

181. “White Tornado” (TIE)

B-side of “Superman” (1986) | 26 votes

 

181. “You’re in the Air” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 26 votes

 

187. “Boy in the Well”

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 25votes

 

188. “Parakeet”

Appears on Up (1998) | 24 votes

 

189. “Aftermath” (TIE)

Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 23 votes

 

189. “I’m Gonna DJ” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 23 votes

 

 

 

191. “#9 Dream” (TIE)

Appears on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (2007) | 22 votes

 

191. “Around the Sun” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2008) | 22 votes

 

191. “Hallelujah” (TIE)

Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 (2011) | 22 votes

 

194. “Draggin’ the Line” (TIE)

Appears on “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” soundtrack (1999) | 21 votes

 

194. “Ghost Rider” (TIE)

B-side of “Orange Crush” (1988) | 21 votes

 

194. “Houston” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 21 votes

 

197. “Blue” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 20 votes

 

197. “Disappear” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 20 votes

 

197. “Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 20 votes

 

197. “Airportman” (TIE)

Appears on Up (1998) | 20 votes

 

 

 

201. “Chorus and the Ring” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 19 votes

 

201. “Final Straw” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 19 votes

 

201. “Horse to Water” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 19 votes

 

201. “Revolution” (TIE)

Appears on “Batman & Robin” soundtrack (1997) | 19 votes

 

201. “See No Evil” (TIE)

Appears on 1988 fan club single | 19 votes

 

201. “Walk it Back” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 19 votes

 

207. “Every Day Is Yours to Win” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 18 votes

 

207. “Mr. Richards” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 18 votes

 

207. “The Outsiders” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 18 votes

 

210. “Wicked Game”

Appears on 1995 fan club single | 16 votes

 

 

 

211. “Mine Smell Like Honey” (TIE)

Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 15 votes

 

211. “Saturn Return” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 15 votes

 

211. “Zither” (TIE)

Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 15 votes

 

214. “Rotary Ten” (TIE)

B-side of “Fall On Me” (1986) | 14 votes

 

214. “Wanderlust” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 14 votes

 

216. “I Wanted to Be Wrong” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 13 votes

 

216. “Where’s Captain Kirk?” (TIE)

Appears on 1992 fan club single | 13 votes

 

218. “After Hours” (TIE)

B-side of “Losing My Religion” (1991) | 12 votes

 

218. “All the Best” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 12 votes

 

218. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (TIE)

Appears on 2010 fan club single | 12 votes

 

 

 

218. “New Orleans Instrumental No. 2” (TIE)

B-side to “Man on the Moon” (1992) | 12 votes

 

218. “Permanent Vacation” (TIE)

Appears on iTunes Originals: R.E.M. (2004) | 12 votes

 

223. “The Worst Joke Ever” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 11 votes

 

223. “Tighten Up” (TIE)

Appears on Bucketfull of Brains magazine flexidisc (1985) | 11 votes

 

225. “Last Date” (TIE)

B-side of “The One I Love” (1987) | 10 votes

 

225. “Memphis Train Blues” (TIE)

B-side of “Stand” (1989) | 10 votes

 

227. “Sing for the Submarine”

Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 9 votes

 

228. “High Speed Train” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2011) | 8 votes

 

228. “Out in the Country” (TIE)

B-side of “Bad Day” (2003) | 8 votes

 

228. “Sex Bomb” (TIE)

Appears on 1994 fan club single | 8 votes

 

 

 

231. “Chance (Dub)” (TIE)

B-side of “Everybody Hurts” (1993) | 7 votes

 

231. “Good King Wencelas” (TIE)

Appears on 1989 fan club single | 7 votes

 

231. “Make It All Okay” (TIE)

Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 7 votes

 

231. “Summertime” (TIE)

Appears on 1990 fan club single | 7 votes

 

231. “That Someone Is You” (TIE)

Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 7 votes

 

236. “165 Hillcrest” (TIE)

B-side of “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)” (2001) | 6 votes

 

236. “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” (TIE)

Appears on 2000 fan club single | 6 votes

 

236. “Indian Summer” (TIE)

B-side of “Hollow Man” (2008) | 6 votes

 

236. “Mandolin Strum” (TIE)

B-side of “Everybody Hurts” (1993) | 6 votes

 

236. “Red Head Walking” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate: Deluxe Edition (2008) | 6 votes

 

 

 

236. “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” (TIE)

Appears on MTV’s “The Cutting Edge” (1984) | 6 votes

 

236. “Summer Turns High” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 6 votes

 

236. “Winged Mammal Theme” (TIE)

B-side of “Drive” (1992) | 6 votes

 

243. “Beach Ball” (TIE)

Appears on Reveal (2001) | 5 votes

 

243. “Christmas Griping” (TIE)

Appears on 1991 fan club single | 5 votes

 

243. “Favorite Writer” (TIE)

B-side of “Bad Day” (203) | 5 votes

 

243. “I Will Survive” (TIE)

Appears on 1996 fan club single | 5 votes

 

243. “Sponge” (TIE)

Appears on Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation (1996) | 5 votes

 

243. “Tired of Singing Trouble” (TIE)

Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant: IRS Vintage Years (1993) | 5 votes

 

250. “Baby Baby” (TIE)

Appears on 1991 fan club single | 4 votes

 

 

 

250. “Forty Second Song” (TIE)

B-side of “Shiny Happy People” (1991) | 4 votes

 

250. “Ghost Reindeer in the Sky” (TIE)

Appears on 1990 fan club single | 4 votes

 

250. “Magnetic North” (TIE)

Appears on 2007 fan club single | 4 votes

 

254. “Christmas in Tunisia” (TIE)

Appears on 1994 fan club single | 3 votes

 

254. “Christmas Time is Here” (TIE)

Appears on 1993 fan club single | 3 votes

 

254. “Emphysema” (TIE)

B-side of “Daysleeper” (1998) | 3 votes

 

254. “Funtime” (TIE)

B-side of “Get Up” (1989) | 3 votes

 

254. “Hastings and Main” (TIE)

Appears on 2000 fan club single | 3 votes

 

254. “Living Well Jesus Dog” (TIE)

B-side of “Man-Sized Wreath” (2008) | 3 votes

 

254. “No Matter What” (TIE)

Appears on 2002 fanclub single | 3 votes

 

 

 

254. “Santa Baby” (TIE)

Appears on 2009 fan club single | 3 votes

 

262. “Fruity Organ” (TIE)

B-side of “Man on the Moon” (1993) | 2 votes

 

262. “Java” (TIE)

Appears on 1995 fan club single | 2 votes

 

262. “Live for Today” (TIE)

Appears on 1997 fan club single | 2 votes

 

262. “Rotary Eleven” (TIE)

B-side of “Losing My Religion” (1991) | 2 votes

 

262. “Yellow River” (TIE)

B-side of “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)” (2001) | 2 votes

 

267. “32 Chord Song” (TIE)

B-side of “I’ll Take the Rain” (2001) | 1 vote

 

267. “A Month of Saturdays” (TIE)

Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage (2011) | 1 vote

 

267. “Adagio” (TIE)

B-side of “Bad Day” (2003) | 1 vote

 

267. “Airliner” (TIE)

Appears on Accelerate: Deluxe Edition (2008) | 1 vote

 

 

 

267. “Jesus Christ” (TIE)

Appears on 2002 fan club single | 1 vote

 

267. “Only in America” (TIE)

Appears on 1996 fan club single | 1 vote

 

267. “Organ Song” (TIE)

B-side of “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” (1993) | 1 vote

 

267. “Silver Bells” (TIE)

Appears on 1993 fan club single | 1 vote

 

267. “Surfing the Ganges” (TIE)

B-side of “Lotus” (1998) | 1 vote

 

267. “Take Seven” (TIE)

Appears on 2000 fan club single | 1 vote

 

277. “2JN” (TIE)

B-side of “Imitation of Life” (2001) | 0 votes

 

277. “Crazy Like a Fox” (TIE)

Appears on 2009 fan club single | 0 votes

 

277. “Nola-4/26/2010” (TIE)

B-side of “Oh My Heart” (2011) | 0 votes

 

277. “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” (TIE)

Appears on 1988 fan club single | 0 votes

 

277. “Toyland” (TIE)

Appears on 1992 fan club single | 0 votes

 

277. “Tricycle” (TIE)

B-side of “E-Bow the Letter” (1996) | 0 votes

 

 

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

 

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55 Comments

  1. Very cool that Fall On Me hit the pole position. In retrospect it’s a perfect balance of where they came from and where they would go.

  2. Thanks for doing this vote.

    It was very difficult to limit picks to 25, but lost of fun to see the results.

    I am stunned that “Shiny Happy People” did as well as it did given its status as probably the most despised R.E.M. song by many fans (and even the band itself.)

    • Agreed re: SHP. Conversely, the fact that Losing My Religion couldn’t crack the top 10 suggests there was a lot of discernment amongst the voters. This crowd isn’t just casual fans!

  3. P I X I E S N E X T

    • Nice hint, dc. Wow, Pixies promoter since hearing/buying them for the first time in 1988 @ the shop we worked in, BBC Records in Lancaster, PA. I find their recent songs on par. A huge worry for me is, when a list or the subject of the Pixies comes up, so many “fans” acting cool or just having a their brains in their pants, will rant “I miss Kim Deal!” and/or “No Kim Deal = no Pixies!” Of for Christ’s sake.

  4. Just a goof I noticed.

    “Second Guessing” is listed at #101. When you scroll down to #110, “West of the Fields” there is a photo of the “Radio Free Europe” single sleeve. Below it “just a Touch” is listed as #101, and down to #110 as the Untitled song from “Green.”

  5. Alright you people …. who’s the joker who gave “Organ Song” a vote?!?!

  6. Great list. But come on people. “Shaking Through” at 59?!?! That is top ten or nothing!

  7. Shocked that Sing for the Submarine is so low on this list… but it’s arguably the best song on Accelerate. But at the same time I wouldn’t expect an unscientific vote to actually make sense, no offense intended. The top of the list thought is pretty accurate. I might quibble with the placement but that seems like a fair part of this list.

  8. I think the Top 50 is very strong which is a good sign of immaculate taste by the voters
    Agreed Shaking Through is worthy of more

  9. Jeff Hayner

    Fun to participate in this, naturally as an old man and old-time fan my Top 25 were all pre-1990 – looks like I was not alone with that preference

  10. “Superman” Was a Single too….and had a great cover!

  11. Agree with top 20 for most part, except for ‘Kenneth'(not even close) and ‘Rockville’ is top 20, but not #5. Most egregious is ‘Fireplace’ at #126

  12. https://foolsrushinredux.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/the-gilded-age.html o hai I wrote a thing about them, for REM lovers only. Love the list, but #2 is my #1.

  13. FleeDoubleE

    Find the river at 31. You’re having a laugh. Should be much higher.

  14. Have ‘Collapse Into Now’ songs still not sunken into our collective consciousness yet? Nothing until Uberlin at 124, and my favorite ‘All The Best’ at 208. My favorite post-Berry album.

    • It’s an album that’s probably due for a reappraisal at some point. I tend to think it starts strong, but their better instincts abandon them as the album goes on with all the novelty songs and guest appearances and so forth.

      Look no further than “Mine Smell Like Honey,” which upon release was hailed for having all the musical elements of a classic REM song, right down to the wonderful singalong chorus … but was inexplicably (and inexcusably) titled “Mine Smell Like Honey.” People expect a lot of things from REM, but they don’t expect crassness or stupidity. And so here we are and a song that could have been an all-time favorite earns all of 15 votes, and the album around it is largely forgotten.

    • Hey Jon, Collapse Into Now is not lost on our gang. We love it. I think many here obviously don’t own it. Hopefully comments like ours will help them pull the trigger.

  15. You’ve got #s 101-110 repeated. Not the tracks, but you used the number set twice. So everything should be bumped up by 10 or something like that.

  16. A friend points out that “Furry Happy Monsters, the Sesame Street version of “Shiny Happy People,” is not listed. It appears on Sesame Street’s “Songs from the Street” box set from 2003.

  17. Scott R Stalcup

    What a shame “Crazy Like a Fox” didn’t rate higher. Great Lenny Kaye cover sung by band secret weapon Mike Mills. I should’ve voted for it. Sure hope this list generates some interest in releasing the fan club singles in a widespread format.

  18. “Good Advices” got robbed!

    Accelerate has grown on me, though it seems that’s not a common opinion.

  19. Im surprised that Mr Richards isnt higher. After saying that I’m not sure it would make my top 25. Nightswimming is my all tume favourite song by any artist but apparently there are 6 songs better!

    • No, there aren’t. I agree with you about “Nightswimming.” For some reason others don’t know that it is the greatest song ever.

  20. Not surprised, but once again the most underrated album in rock history, Up, is GROSSLY overlooked.

  21. Ordered lists are one of the many tools we use to push back the realization that we are going to die. Also, “Leaving New York” should be way higher up than #84.

  22. I enjoyed this. So happy to see Fall on Me on top.

  23. Surprised and pleased to see Gardening at Night at number 10. Very discerning voters. :-)

  24. Totally missed the poll re: summer holidays but pleasantly surprised to see Driver 8 so high. Spent the weekend in the garage listening to “The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987” (many repeats) and always stopped doing work and just listened to it every time it cued up. Bloody great song.

  25. Ebow the letter,& I am the lotus, should have been placed higher: in my opinion; & night swimming also deserves a higher pole position…
    Rem: well done good Sirs, thank you :) x

  26. Holy cow, I thought I was the only one that valued “Driver 8” so highly. Glad to see I was not alone.

  27. Fun list! Really interesting that Fall On Me was #1, not what I expected, but very cool. Driver 8 as #2 made my month. Only disappointment for me was the low numbers for songs from Accelerate. I think “Until The Day Is Done” was there best thing since Document. Underrated album methinks…fun read though!

  28. Find the River is the best song Michael ever wrote

  29. Glenn Boothe

    I loved participating and bummed I missed the Smiths poll, as they are my favorite band. I’m currently also enjoying the playlist for this poll on Spotify – it’s nice to hear some of the later-era songs in a different context than the album (and lots of late-era non-album tracks I never heard, kinda gave up on the b-sides after Dead Letter Office.)

    One thought/suggestion for future polls: Is there a way to list the songs by album?

    Looking at the final list, I’m realizing there are a handful of songs I accidentally skipped over. I had planned to go through the list a second time but with so many songs, I decided to just stick with my original list.

  30. Driver 8 number 1…..by a long way followed by Country Feedback at number 2 and It’s the End of the World…..number 3 You are the Everything honourable mention

    Also shows the early stuff was ace latterly they we average……..

  31. loving this, especially the driver 8 placing, the song is used to sing to my kids at bedtime … but little of new adventures … one of their 2 or 3 best albums (life’s rich and document also).

    but hey, great list thank you and agree with loads

  32. New Adventures in Hi-Fi

  33. Ralph Cady

    Just a guess, but maybe the song listed in between #111 and #113 might just possibly be #112: not #122? It’s “New Test Leper”, which should be MUCH higher on the list.
    “How The West Was Won, And Where It Got Us” is #1, with “Drive” and “Nightswimming” tied for #2 in my list.
    “Furry Happy Monsters” should absolutely be on this list.

    This 59 y/o grandpa loves R.E.M.’s music.

  34. A bit too much nostalgia for the older tracks me thinks.

    1.Find the River
    2.Strange Currencies
    3.Nightswimming
    4.So central Rain
    5.Daysleeper
    6.Everbody Hurts
    7.Fall on me
    8.Bang and blame
    9.Driver 8
    10.Half a world away/Belong

  35. Gareth Calland

    I challenge anyone to come up with a better collection of songs that have been released by any artist or group. ‘I’ve Been High’ would/should have been huge if released as ‘live version’,too much overproduction butchered the song on the album ‘Reveal’.

  36. Good Advices should be in the top 30

  37. “Good Advices” belongs top 30

  38. Wendell Gee
    Cuyahoga
    Flowers of Guatemala
    Binky the doormat
    Strange
    ALL ABOVE GREAT

    We Walk… not

  39. I assumed Flowers of Guatemala was a top 20 shoe-in

  40. I know I’m way too damn late on this, but I freakin LOVE Hope.

  41. Way, way late on this. I fell off REM just before Automatic (not sure why), only know the old tunes. Love seeing Fall on Me at the #1…there’s something about that tune, seems to capture best that kind of mysterious beauty which I think drew us all to this band. And yeah, I’m one of those guys that liked it best when you couldn’t really get what Stipe was saying and when you could, you didn’t care what it meant, you just liked the sound of the words. The chorus with Mills, Stipe and Berry singing different melodic lines (that’s called polyphony for us stuffy academic types) is absolutely inspired. Enjoying all the comments here, good stuff.

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