1-12: High Speed Train vs. Romance

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Vote

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High Speed Train is actually not bad live, where it becomes a little heavier and so a little less plodding. Although not a great song, or even a good one, it's one of the better examples of a song on Around the Sun harmed by the utterly antiseptic feel of the album.

Romance is a little hidden gem - for all the nonsensical lyrics it somehow manages to capture the frustrated and fleeting possibilities of new love. A great example of everything early jangle pop REM did so well

Romance

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There's a great live performance of this on the outstanding live at olympia record

[Kaius]

I like Romance

[chewm]

Romance, High Speed Train might be my least favorite song on any of their srudio albums. I havent listened to the live versions tho.

[Mike]

I think I never really listened to Around The Sun so I'm not familiar with High Speed Train. Listening to it right now...it's okay I guess. Pleasant but forgettable. If it weren't for Michael Stipe I couldn't tell that this is an R.E.M. song.

I also never heard Romance before. I'm enjoying it on my first listen. Sounds like a Green b-side. I'm voting for this one.

[UglyRedHonda]

Romance is an early song finally recorded by the band circa Document. I basically started my R.E.M. fandom via Eponymous, so it's an easy choice for me.

[digster]

Romance is one of those songs I always forget exists, but it's a fun little song. It doesn't hold up for me like a lot of their album material from that time period, but it gets the win in this case.

[bada]

I basically started my R.E.M. fandom via Eponymous, so it's an easy choice for me.

[Kevin Davis]

"High Speed Train" is one of the few REM tracks I really just don't care for. "Romance" is a solid early track, but like some of the "Chronic Town" stuff, I prefer the tighter, more spring-loaded "Olympia" version.

Vote for "Romance."