R.E.M.'s 15 albums: best to worst

For two decades, R.E.M. was my favorite American rock band of all time. As anyone who has read my book or reads this newsletter knows, it’s now Guided by Voices. But it was R.E.M. who lit my flame and really led the way in the burgeoning early 80s world of indie rock, beginning with their “Chronic Town” EP in 1982. The Smiths from across the pond were t…