TS: R.E.M. vs. B-52's

if you dont vote b52s you are lying to yourself and god

b's easy

really though if i think real hard i probably dig like 10 REM songs (i was headboppin when shiny happy ppl came on in the target last week) which is more than i give a fuck about for almost any other 80s college rock but seriously dude... b-52s

OMG fantastic idea for a thread.

REM. their stock hasn't fallen that low has it? They used to be so huge.

R.E.M. and it's not close. Comparable when at their best, but R.E.M. made 5 or 6 albums worth of their top-grade stuff.

thread will be useful as a killfiling list

totes b's

why no poll??

As much as I love the B-52's, and I love the B-52's, REM is the easy answer.

too hard, need to sleep on it.

every singe thing the b-52's have ever done has been straight up and down amazing

single

Anyone want to start a "Athens, GA Inside/Out" poll?

In 1986 my ranking would be:
1. R.E.M.
2. B-52s
3. Howard Finster
4. Pylon
5. Flat Duo Jets
6. Love Tractor
7. Bar-B-Q Killers

In 2008 my ranking is:
1. TIE: B-52s & Pylon
2. Flat Duo Jets
3. Howard Finster
4. R.E.M.
5. Love Tractor
6. Bar-B-Q Killers

New B-52s album >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> new REM album.

As much as they annoyed the shit out of me every time I saw them, the BBQ Killers' album has its moments, even if they're likely mostly David Barbe's doing (RIP Laura Carter).

Anyhow, back on topic, the B's have always been more fun, and while their albums haven't always been great, at least they haven't made a whole raft of middling "mature" statements so that they look busy. I listen to the B's now a lot more than R.E.M., so B's.

The best B-52's >>>>> The best REM
But I can certainly think of more REM songs I like, simply because they've released more stuff.

"dirty back road" alone is better than anything REM has ever done

Head says B-52's, heart says B-52's, feet say B-52's, etc.

I will also say that "Shiny Happy People" and "Me In Honey" are shamefully underrated R.E.M. tracks. A world in which we had a hybrid B-52s/R.E.M. album in place of the ultimately disappointing Hindu Love Gods album would be a really good one.

I've always wanted to hear Michael Stipe sing "Give Me Back My Man."

Sometimes I think the B-52's might have made the only music I actually hate (though I've only heard a handful of songs, admittedly). This actually makes them interesting and potentially likeable. Still, I'm voting REM.

tracer hand O T M .

Ricky Wilson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Peter Buck

Ricky Wilson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Peter Buck

Sometimes I think his bit on "52 Girls" is the best rhythm guitar part ever recorded. I don't always, but sometimes.

best use of a four (?) stringed Mosrite ever!

I can't decide!

Albums -- Slight edge to R.E.M. for the body of work, but I probably play the first B-52's record more than any R.E.M. album.
Live shows -- Haven't seen either since the mid-80s, but both used to be a lot of fun on stage.
Songwriting -- Both have some great songs and some dogs; the smaller body of work plays in the B's favor here.
Musicianship -- R.E.M. (mainly because of Bill Berry).
Singing -- Edge to the B's, especially live; early R.E.M. bootlegs are mostly unlistenable for this reason.

Nope, still can't decide.

The best B-52's >>>>> The best REM

This was correct.

On the basis of what I listen to now, it has to be the B's. I shall never get bored of listening to someone shout "A Wig!" in answer to the question "What's that on your head?"

*yawn*...that was a good little nap.

Yeah, I agree with NedT2, I mean Satellites was kind of a downer B-52's album...and it's like ten times cooler than Document. R.E.M. has made too many boring albums to side with them.

happy 9/9!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa-gkgzYps8

9/9 should be a national holiday

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/09/r-e-m-slam-trump-go-fuck-yourselves.html?via=mobile&source=email

B-52's!