2-115: World Leader Pretend vs. Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)

[stip]

vote

[stip]

For many years World Leader Pretend was my favorite song by anyone. No longer the case, but it's still amazing. Carnival of Sorts is great in the way that all the songs on Chronic Town are interchangeably great--simple pieces of mysterious pop song writing. But it doesn't come close to WLP.

[Kevin Davis]

I am tempted to vote for "Carnival" but "World Leader" is too good. I am especially partial to the version that closes the first "Unplugged" -- a natural beauty.

[Norah]

I am tempted to vote for "Carnival" but "World Leader" is too good. I am especially partial to the version that closes the first "Unplugged" -- a natural beauty.

World Leader Pretend is another song that might be my favorite REM song. And you're right, that unplugged version is just tops.

[chewm]

Boxcars is a stellar song, and probably the best from Chronic Town, but it's just not better than World Leader Pretend.