[MotleyGirl70]

The Last Of The Mega-Deals #13 One label’s big spending single-handedly ends “alt-rock” boom In 1996, Warner Bros. signed R.E.M. to a five-album contract for a reported $80 million.

I never understood R.E.M.s popularity. I received their CD Out of Time as a gift and I ended up re-gifting it to someone who was a big fan of theirs.

Win-win situation for all : )

[Clemenza]

Actually, REM were a pretty cool group until Michael Stipe stopped mumbling (on the Green album) and we could understand the sap coming out of his mouth.

[Wyatt's Torch]

I never understood R.E.M.s popularity. I received their CD Out of Time as a gift and I ended up re-gifting it to someone who was a big fan of theirs.

Out of Time is where it all started going down hill for R.E.M. Their first several records were outstanding. Where I think it all changed is when "Stand" from Green went huge on the pop charts. That song was put on the record as a joke. They then discovered that they could sell out and make cross-over pop crap. They remain my all time favorite band though...everything through Green. Everything after that is just bad.