R.E.M. fans decide on the band’s worst songs, from ‘weird B-side’ to ‘joke of a song’

Every musical artist has a few clangers in their discography, but fans are keen to know which of R.E.M.‘s are the worst.

The Everybody Hurts and Losing My Religion hitmakers may be certain on never reforming, but listeners still have plenty to discuss about the Michael Stipe-fronted group. Longtime listeners believe they’ve narrowed the group’s worst songs down to a small selection, which are mostly from their later records. A discussion of the worst songs appeared on the r/REM subreddit, where a member of the public asked people for their picks. They asked: “What is the worst R.E.M. song? I know it’s off one of their later records, but what is the exact song with the least redeeming qualities?” While it may be a subjective question, there were a few popular answers found in the thread. Some believed it was a song featured on a compilation album, while others say one of the band’s biggest songs is also one of their worst.

One listener wrote: “A Month of Saturdays.” The highly upvoted comment singled out the song ripped from Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982 – 2011 as one of the worst R.E.M. tracks. Another user agreed, adding: “That should’ve been an unlisted hidden last track on that compilation. One final, weird, what the fuck B-side.”

A third added: “This is the correct answer. No WAY should this have been on a best-of comp. Should have saved this as an outtake from last album.” Others believed it was a more popular single which was the worst offender for the group’s discography. Some users believe one album from the band is where the cracks begin to show, and that their biggest songs from this era are part of the problem.

One listener wrote: “I skip Shiny Happy People almost always, Radio Song a close second. Honestly, some stuff on the albums after New Adventures in Hi-Fi never clicked, but I don’t listen to those albums much. Applaud them for pushing boundaries, but Murmur through Green is by far their best work (to me).”

Another user replied: “I think Green is where the cracks start to appear. Although I’m a bit partial to some of the songs on Automatic for the People in my older years. Going soft probably…” A third shared: “Radio Song is hot garbage.”

Though Radio Song was mentioned several times in the thread, fans are holding out hope for an alternate version of the song which allegedly samples James Brown. A fan shared the song may exist, as Stipe had mentioned it in an interview.

The fan shared: “Stipe mentioned that they have a mix of Radio Song that includes some James brown samples that they ultimately decided not to use. I’m not a fan of the song but I’d really love to hear that version.”