R.E.M.

Strange to remember now that the youthful R.E.M. were dismissed by the rock press as a '60s throwback who'd soon be forgotten. Instead, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck are the creators of an array of rock anthems unrivalled in recent decades. New fans should begin with these tracks.

Well, at least you can hear what Michael Stipe is singing on their recent albums, unlike their utterly mysterious early gems. But what does it all mean? That's the mesmeric enigma of R.E.M., ensuring that classics like these repay endless repeat plays.

From the beginning, R.E.M. have put their audience first, throwing them tasty morsels in the form of rare B-sides and killer deep album cuts. The hits carried them into the mainstream; these cult favourites have kept their fanbase loyal.

R.E.M. rose out of Athens, Georgia, in the early '80s to become one of the most important bands of the past quarter-century. Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry supplied the supple, atmospheric underpinning, while Michael Stipe's oracular vocals set the elusive, haunting mood of their early albums. As the band evolved, the words grew clearer and the sound got tougher and more eclectic. But R.E.M. stayed true to its unique vision through it all. Get into their compelling Southern gothic rock with R.E.M.'s most enduring works.