1. MONSTER (1994) There is perhaps no more maligned R.E.M. album pre- or post-Berry than the garage rock buzzfest known as Monster. Everyone hated it. “Star 69” is annoying. And “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” is pointless, even in a retro-reclamation “30 Rock” world. Once you get past those songs, though, shit gets real. This is the one single album in R.E.M.’s career where they went honey badger and didn’t give a fuck. It’s all “Fuck hits. Yeah, garage rock.” Fuzz, fuzz, fuzz. “Don’t like it? Fuck you.” I remember buying this record in a used store’s bargain bin for $3 almost 20 years ago and you can probably get it now for $2. For value this would be the best $2 you’d spend on music in a long time.