Farewell R.E.M.

My best friend Martin had turned me on to R.E.M. and they were alternative before the category existed. The first song he played for me was "It's The End of World" which was from their Document CD. Ever since then and until their commercial hits Green and Out of Time. The CD also featured a collaboration with rapper KRS-One on the track "Radio Song".

R.E.M. provided a contrast to other bands of the time like Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc. Their songs were mellow and yes, commercially successfully enough to cross over onto the pop charts.

As the band says farewell, here's to the fellas in R.E.M., who provided the soundtrack to my youth. Thanks for the memories.