Taking Sides: Smiths vs. REM

REM bores me to tears these days, Smiths still vital, funny, evocative, surprising, detailed.

I'd guess that REM will, over time, be more influential on a subtle musical level and The Smiths will be more influential on a conceptual level. The latter is what tends to get written about. Personally I prefer Smiths.

their actual recorded output
you know this brings up an interesting point more broadly, which is that I wonder how much of the initial R.E.M. impact is due to what a phenomenal live band they were early in their career? Also makes me wonder about other bands whose live shows exceeded their recording impact.