Disturbance at the Heron House

I realize I've been maybe a bit nit-picky with the overt political messages in Document thus far. But here, four cuts in, they get it right. "Disturbance" is a great tune on a few different levels, but upfront, it's a spot-on political song about smaller voices being hushed and displaced. As recently as last year, Stipe suggested that the song reflects his take on Animal Farm, "an uprising dismissed by the powers that be." The protest is decidedly meek without losing strength.

Matched with this self-aware lyric is essential late-IRS era REM: Bills drums are arena big, Pete's guitar is both riffy and crunchy, Mike's bass is melodic, and the usual whiny nature of his vocals (with Michael doing double duty harmonizing with himself) actually serves the nature of the song well.

All that and it uses "monkeys" three times in one line.