1-64: Mr. Richards vs. (Don't Go Back to) Rockville

[stip]

vote

[stip]

I am always surprised by how much I enjoy Mr. Richards since it's never a song I think of as an Accelerate highlight (although to be fair almost every song on that album is a highlight. It's that good).


Rockville has worn a bit over the years, but it is an undeniable classic. Mike Mills sings on the late period live versions, but I'll always prefer Stipe's versions.

It's such the odd man out on those early records. Even stacked against the entire career. It's one of the most straightforward songs they ever wrote.

[stip]

Rockville

[Kevin Davis]

I enjoy "Mr. Richards," and love the lyric "Mr. Richards, your conviction/Had us cheering in the kitchen." But while I'm not sure at whom the song is aimed, it does feel a little tactlessly done in places, almost trite in its finger pointing. "Rockville" is just a damn fun song.

[chewm]

I like Mr. Richards a lot but Rockville is an all time favorite of mine, it brings me tons of memories. One of the things that surprised me the most in the REM tournament done earlier is that this was the last drafted song from Reckoning, and that it wasn't drafted until the last round.