R.E.M.
R.E.M. lives in the middle ground — 52 moderate songs that balance intensity with control. 28 quiet anchors and 9 songs where they let go completely.
The character of R.E.M.
Across the 89 R.E.M. songs we've measured, intensity averages 41/100 — calmer than the typical song we measure (46/100).
They run from Nightswimming (the calmest here, 11) to Life and How to Live It (the most charged, 70), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1983–2011.
The widest dynamic swing belongs to Pilgrimage.
5.7
Avg Intensity
89
Songs Decoded
0
Fan Stories
The songs that hit hardest
Life and How to Live It
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1985
Begin the Begin
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1986
These Days
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1986
Finest Worksong
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1987
It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
intense
layered texture · mild changes · DR 8
· 1987
Ignoreland
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1992
Let Me In
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1994
Departure
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1996
Living Well Is the Best Revenge
intense
layered texture · mild changes · DR 8
· 2008
The controlled burn
Catapult
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1983
Pilgrimage
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 1983
Radio Free Europe
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1983
Sitting Still
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1983
Talk About the Passion
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1983
Harborcoat
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1984
Pretty Persuasion
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 1984
So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 1984
Can't Get There from Here
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1985
Driver 8
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1985
So Central Rain
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1985
Wendell Gee
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1985
Cuyahoga
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 6
· 1986
Fall on Me
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1986
Superman
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1986
Exhuming McCarthy
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1987
The One I Love
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1987
Hairshirt
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1988
Orange Crush
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 1988
Pop Song 89
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1988
World Leader Pretend
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 1988
Belong
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Country Feedback
moderate
layered texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1991
Losing My Religion
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Radio Song
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Texarkana
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Drive
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1992
Bang and Blame
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 1994
Crush with Eyeliner
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1994
King of Comedy
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1994
Strange Currencies
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1994
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1994
Tongue
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1995
Be Mine
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1996
Bittersweet Me
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1996
E-Bow the Letter
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1996
How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 1996
Undertow
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1996
Lotus
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 6
· 1998
The Apologist
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1998
Walk Unafraid
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 1998
Imitation of Life
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2001
Bad Day
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2003
Final Straw
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2003
Leaving New York
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2004
Wanderlust
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2004
Accelerate
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2008
Hollow Man
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2008
Man-Sized Wreath
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2008
Supernatural Superserious
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2008
Discoverer
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 6
· 2011
Mine Smell Like Honey
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2011
The quiet ones
Perfect Circle
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1983
Stand
safe
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1988
You Are the Everything
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1989
Endgame
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1991
Half a World Away
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 1991
Me in Honey
safe
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Near Wild Heaven
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1991
Shiny Happy People
safe
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1991
Everybody Hurts
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 1992
Find the River
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1992
Man on the Moon
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1992
Nightswimming
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1992
Star Me Kitten
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1992
Sweetness Follows
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1992
Try Not to Breathe
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1992
Electrolite
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1996
New Test Leper
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1996
At My Most Beautiful
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1998
Daysleeper
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1998
All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)
safe
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2001
I'll Take the Rain
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 2001
I've Been High
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 2001
Electron Blue
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2004
Every Day Is Yours to Win
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2011
It Happened Today
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2011
Oh My Heart
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 2011
Walk It Back
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2011
Überlin
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2011
Frequently asked about R.E.M.
Answered from our measurements of every song above.
What is the most intense R.E.M. song?
Of the 89 R.E.M. songs we've measured, “Life and How to Live It” scores highest at 70/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.
What is the calmest R.E.M. song?
“Nightswimming” measures gentlest at 11/100. It runs 72 BPM. The songs here span 11–70 on our 0–100 intensity scale.
How intense is R.E.M. overall?
R.E.M. averages 41/100 intensity across 89 measured songs — calmer than the 46/100 catalog average.
What is the average tempo of R.E.M.?
The R.E.M. songs we've measured average about 113 BPM — upbeat.
Which R.E.M. songs are calm enough for background listening?
These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “Nightswimming”, “Star Me Kitten”, “I've Been High”, “Oh My Heart”.
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