File Under Water 6: Lifes Rich Pageant (Patreon)

The top half is R.E.M. at the top of their game, and the bottom half is, appropriately, some bullshit.

After the misery of recording Fables of the Reconstruction, R.E.M. wanted a win. So they headed to Indiana to record with John Cougar Mellencamp's producer, with the express goal of making a big dumb rocker. The result is one half of a very good album. Political, clear, resonant. And one half of a shambling mess.

Links:

• R.E.M. - Fall On Me - YouTube
• REM - Swan Swan H - YouTube
• Tired of Singing Trouble - R.E.M. - YouTube
• R.E.M. - Rotary Ten - YouTube
• Toys in the Attic (REM) - YouTube
• Just A Touch (Athens Demo) - YouTube
• R.E.M. - Dream (All I Have To Do) - YouTube
• R.E.M. - Femme Fatale - YouTube
• R.E.M - White tornado - YouTube
• R.E.M - Theme from Two Steps Onward [Demo] - YouTube
• Mystery To Me (2006 Digital Remaster) - YouTube
• R.E.M. Wait. - YouTube
• Get On Their Way (What If We Give It Away?) (Athens Demo) - YouTube
• These Days (Athens Demo) - YouTube
• I Believe (Athens Demo) - YouTube
• R.E.M. (PSA) Bad Day, I Believe, (demos) 1986 - YouTube
• REM - Begin The Begin live 10/21/86 Dekalb IL - YouTube
• R.E.M. - 10/02/85 Germany 10. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? - YouTube
• R.E.M. Average Setlists of year: 1986 | setlist.fm