Ram

Unappreciated in its time—seminal today. Without Ram, there’d be no R.E.M., no Wilco, and the like. Don’t believe me, just check out Eat at Home. Or Too Many People. Or just the whole album.

Seriously, is Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey Paul’s best song ever? I’m not saying your favorite, I’m saying his best. What plane of genius was Paul on when he wrote that? To listen to that song again for the very first time—and not know what’s to come—would be a delight.

And on top of Ram’s poetic mastery, it’s Paul’s anger letter to John. Oh dear boy!