Green

With the release of their sixth studio LP, REM had a larger label and a larger audience, which meant a larger paycheck. Jumping the indie/college radio ship to mega-corporate monster Warner Bros. resulted in the inevitable cry of "sell out" from the fans. But to borrow Morgan Spurlock's line, there's selling out, and then there's buying in. REM was definitely buying in with Green.

Green is a cheeky album, and our Georgian lads were well aware of the skepticism the departure from IRS would create. The album oozes irony: a disc titled "Green" with bright orange cover art, the first track on the album is called "Pop Song 89", the uber-cheesy “Stand” has not one but two key changes. And yet Green is no toss-off album. It shines in places with touches of real honest, creative song crafting.

I don’t know any REM fan who holds up Green as their favorite album in the catalog, but then again I don’t know many who wouldn’t sing along with all earnestness to tunes like “World Leader Pretend” and “The Wrong Child.” If anything else, Green is ambitious – here is a band not so much with something to prove, but with a whole lot to gain.