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Chapter 157: I'm Sorry

College & indie rock

‘College rock’ is a hilarious and cruel name for a genre, at once condescending to the people who don’t ‘get it,’ and effectively painting the people who do as Poindexters lugging textbooks around. In truth, none of these songs that got popular on college radio stations in the 80s require a degree to enjoy. R.E.M., the exemplars of the style, may feature Michael Stipe’s mumbled and esoteric lyrics, but their song structures are traditional, their melodies clarion-clear. (And sometimes, like on “So. Central Rain,” they write a chorus anyone who’s ever made a mistake can appreciate.)
1. The Dream Syndicate

Tell Me When It's Over

2. The Jesus and Mary Chain

Taste of Cindy

3. R.E.M.

So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)

4. Aztec Camera

Oblivious

5. Indigo Girls

Closer to Fine

6. Iggy Pop

The Passenger

7. The Smiths

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

8. The Pretenders

Back On The Chain Gang

9. R.E.M.

These Days

10. The Blue Nile

The Downtown Lights