If you were born in my generation (1965-1975), REM's influence on your musical sensibilites is undeniable. Their catalogue of songs alone, from all the other "underground" bands of the eighties that made it big (like u2 for example), still stand up, still sound fresh and timeless. Jangly guitars never go out of style. But their artistic growth and embrace and experimentation with traditional instruments of American roots music prefigured the rise of 90s Alt country. Love em. Nuff said.