200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #37. Continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#37

GREEN: R.E.M. 

 

 [1988] 

When R.E.M. dropped 'Green', it marked a turning point for the critically acclaimed alternative rock / college radio band. For some years, they had been the darlings of the Athens, Georgia rock scene, hinting at their potential with some stellar tracks. 'Green' was the group's 6th studio album, but the 1st for a major label. The faith shown by Warner Bros. paid off on this release. The album is packed with an array of approaches that widened R.E.M.'s audience. The mainstream made  songs such as "Stand", "Orange Crush", "Get Up" and "Pop Song 89" radio staples. 'Green' was the band's most accessible album at the time. Delving deeper, past the radio hits, the LP reveals different sides to the group's evolving sound. "World Leader Pretend" is simply brilliant; a modern-day sequel to Simon  & Garfunkel's "I Am A Rock". This release saw R.E.M. share production duties with Scott Litt; a combo that would repeatedly bear fruit on subsequent releases. The musicianship is tight, augmented by Michael Stipe's vocal dexterity.

Highlight tracks: World Leader Pretend; Orange Crush; Stand & Pop Song 89.