I don't think it's possible to be a "big R.E.M. fan" and think that Country Feedback "sucks donkey balls."

In fact, when Murmur was released, one of the things that critics and radio programmers noticed was how bass-heavy it was; it was ahead of its time in that regard. Mills' bass lines often carried the melodies while Buck played more like a rhythm than lead guitarist.

"Why are they so scared of bass, or even low mid-range?"

LOL. Porking! It was "porking," people. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

Even this excellent list is incomplete. I would add:

That is a legit and relevant quote but the date might be a little off.

Exactly. The fact that they could do both Shiny Happy People and Country Feedback on the same album is proof of this band's greatness. It's a rich tapestry—or pageant, if you prefer.

I agree to some extent, but even if you only listened to their radio singles, you still have an incredible variety of stuff: The One I Love, End of the World, Orange Crush, LMR, Drive, Man on the Moon, Kenneth, Bang & Blame, E-Bow, Electrolite, Imitation of Life, Supernatural Superserious….

Exactly. If he had limited his hate to this song, I couldn't argue much. But then he goes on to do exactly what Steven Hyden did here at the AVC when Around the Sun came out—use one bad song or album to trash the band's entire (long, varied and celebrated) career. Maybe this guy will discover Fables of the…

Again, "awful" lyrics? Compared to what? Just what kind of high-brow pop music are you guys listening to that "Oh, life!" is now considered the worst thing in the history of songwriting. I think the lyrics on that song are great.

It's more of a beat-poetry thing than a rap, which wouldn't work so well by itself if not for the great musical accompaniment and Patty Smith chorus.

Tears for Fears? I know they had some great singles, but albums?

Dead Letter Office is not a good R.E.M. gateway, but it's not "elevator music." It's mostly pretty f*ing crazy.

If any of them had a five-album run as good as Murmur through Document, I want to hear it. (Seriously, I really do.)

Your breakdown is not bad, except I don't know how you're getting "sixty percent elevator music." But the fact that they could do sincere songs like Everybody Hurts alongside ironic "smirking," or that they could do both Nightswimming and say, Crush W/ Eyeliner one album apart, is part of what makes them great, and…

Ha ha. Yeah, if I had to characterize this guy's use of animal analogies, I would have to say that they truly "suck a dog off."

The line is not "awful." It's not supposed to be some kind of profound, stand-alone epigram. It's part of a lyric about a narrator who's obsessed with someone but unsure how to express it.

I'm sure they'll appreciate your name-calling.

Not only that but both of them seem to imply that this song killed R.E.M.'s career. Never mind that they had multiple hits after this one and sold tens of millions more albums throughout the '90s.

And let's not overlook Mills' bass playing.