I forgot how wonderful early R.E.M. was

Agreed. Everything up to and including "Monster" was phenomenal.

The only glitch would be "Shiny Happy People".  Many like that song....I could do without it. 

After "Monster" came the song "E-Bow The Letter".  The lyrics were pretty much talking to music.  That is - not with the beat at all. 

As such, that put me off any further R.E.M. recordings.

Joker's Wilde