R.E.M.'s
albums
on the planet, and they did it in the right way, by starting off small and building to something enormous.
Their greatest songs evoke emotion very deep ("Catapult", "The One I Love", "What's The Frequency
Kenneth", "The Man on the Moon", "Losing my Religion") but also a pop sensibility, mixed with artsy
intentions ("It's the End of the World as We Know It", "Moral Kiosk", "Fall on Me", "Daysleeper",
"Electrolite"). They try different things on their many records, but always remain themselves; the band
definitely has their own style. All four members of the band are very distinct, and that brings a certain
charm to their music. Not many bands have as many great albums as R.E.M., and hardly any bands
can boast that right mix of likability and referentiality. "What kind of bands do you like?" Personally,
R.E.M. is a band I can say, and while just about anyone knows what I'm talking about, and I don't betray
my better judgement by not screaming my more, "accustomed", musical favorites. In short, they are one
of my favorite bands, but also very universal.
Band Members: Bill Berry - drums
Mike Mills - bass
Peter Buck - guitar
Michael Stipe - vocals
Best Album: Life's Rich Pageant
Biggest Influences: The Velvet Underground, The Soft Boys, The Byrds
1983
Murmur - 8/8
R.E.M.’s first album is a relaxing jaunt into rock n’ roll. Their approach to rock music is very
interesting, it relaxes and rocks you at the same time. What I mean is, it has rock songs as well as
somber ones, and they are mixed very well together. The songs found here are very verse-chorus
verse, but there is nothing wrong with that. Unless you leave it as the only thing in your car cd player for
three days, like i did. In fact, on Murmur, R.E.M. have made a new way to express music that combined
things that came before, but also sounded new and fresh. Peter Buck's lush guitar picking defined the
term "jangle pop", Mike Mills bass and Bill Berry's drums kept things steady but surprising, and
everyone has a different opinion on what Michael Stipe is actually saying. They make the structure of
music their own, and set a standard for everything R.E.M. did after. Personally, my favorite songs are
the weirder "9-9" and "Moral Kiosk". One of the best debut albums ever, quite a masterpiece.
- Trevor e.y.
1.radio free europe- 4
2.pilgrimage- 4
3.laughing- 4
4.talk about the passion- 3
5.moral kiosk- 4*
6.perfect circle- 4
7.catapult- 4
8.sitting still- 4
9.9-9- 4
10.shaking through- 3
11.we walk- 3
12.west of the fields- 4
1984
Reckoning - 7/8
Definitely one of the hardest albums iv’e ever had to review, but Reckoning is a keeper. At first look, it
didn’t seem that great. Actually, at second and third glance my opinion didn’t approve that much of it,
but oh the fourth glance! This album is mysteriously complex, the songs are just on the verge of too
weird or slow, but they actually fit just right. The album has a very unique kind of feel, it gives listeners a
different view of R.E.M., and definitely shows them maturing in their own way(what in the world is that
intro on "Rockville?" Are they getting funky?!?). I don't feel that this record is near as accessible as any
of their others, i mean who goes around playing "Camera" to people and says, "so, you like R.E.M.
better now?". Some songs like "Pretty Persuasion" and "Time After Time" sound kind of worn out to me,
and that is odd because "Pretty Persuasion" is one of their better known tracks. Looking at songs like
"Harborcoat", "Letter Never Sent" (my favorite), and "South Central Rain" are in a different league in my
opinion, and the moody songs "Second Guessing" and "Seven Chinese Bros." get by on their great
mood. For these reasons alone, I wouldn't call Reckoning a major achievement, but some people think
this is their best record. It is hard to say, but i will say it is a great album, though not my personal
favorite. - Trevor e.y.
1.harborcoat- 4
2.seven chinese bros- 4
3.so. central rain- 4
4.pretty persuasion- 2
5.time after time- 2
6.second guessing- 4
7.letter never sent- 4
8.camera- 3
9.rockville- 4
10.little america- 4
1985
Fables of Reconstructon - 6/8
R.E.M. sure had a lot of rises and falls in their career, but that is what makes them interesting. This
is their least consistent record to date, but it does show they are trying new things. The more known
songs include "Feeling Gravity's Pull", "Maps and Legends", and "Driver 8", which are coincidentally the
first three songs! Please don't become U2 you guys and put all your 'singles' at the first of the album.
This album also has its good share of the now-usual R.E.M. rocking album tracks, "Green Grow the
Rushes", "Can't get There from Here", and "Life and How to Live It", which are all great. So far so good.
But what was that song in between some of those album tracks? "Old Man Kensey"! That song tries a
more dark, folky side to the band that DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. Unfortunately, they repeat this for
their last four songs on here too. So five boring ass songs among six great melodic ones, that is how i
view this album. No songs are just "good" and none are "horrible", but to mention those last four...lets
just all be grateful they don't sound anything like that for their next two records. - Trevor e.y.
1.feeling gravity's pull- 4
2.maps and legends- 4
3.driver 8- 4
4.live and how to live it- 4
5.old man kensey- 2
6.can't get there from here- 4
7.green grow the rushes- 4
8.kohoutek- 2
9.auctioneer- 2
10.good advances- 2
11.wendell gee- 2
1986
Life’s Rich Pageant - 9/8
With their 4th album, R.E.M. have created a rock masterpiece. From the rocking “begin the begin”
to the end of the Cliché cover “Superman”, this album is great all the way through. R.E.M. shows that
they can be a straight ahead rock band, and it is amazing. To begin the album with such a stunning
opener is great, though "begin the begin" is a grower of a song, so it enhances further listens. "These
Days", "Hyena", and "Just a Touch" show off R.E.M.'s punky side like nothing before them, and it is
great to listen to. This doesn't mean they don't have ballads; "Cuyahoga", "Fall on Me", "Swan Swan H"
and "The Flowers of Guatemala" are the best ballads they EVER did, and they are all on this record.
"Underneath the Bunker" serves as a resting point in this fun fun fun album, but let me say it is not a
"party" record. None of this band's albums are so easy to describe, and this is no different. I will say it is
the best flowing mix of rockers and ballads that the band has made so far, even though it is not as
atmospheric as any of their albums before it. I say they jolted their sound up, and it was a much needed
jolt. No words can describe it really, but this is definitely in the top records of the 80’s. R.E.M.’s most
consistent and best to date, probably ever. - Trevor e.y.
1.begin the begin- 4
2.these days- 4
3.fall on me- 4
4.cuyahoga- 4
5.hyena- 4
6.underneth the bunker- 4
7.the flowers of guatemala- 4*
8.i believe- 3
9.what if we give it away- 4
10.just a touch- 4
11.swan swan h- 4
12.superman- 4
1987
Document - 8/8
You know, despite R.E.M.'s verse chorus verse structure, they have some albums that are very
complicated. Document is an accumulation of everything that the band has done to this point, and that
is important to know. It comes off as one of their best albums because it adds to their template as well
as expanding it. The first four songs are similar to Life's Rich Pageant, then "Strange" is a cover of a
Wire song, and it really sounds kind of out of place on here. But after that fumble comes "The End of
the World as we Know It" and "The One I Love" which are R.E.M.'s big hits off the album, and no matter
how repetitive they sound, they somehow work! The last four songs are kind of experimental; a nice mix
of tribal ("Lightnin' Hopkins"), jazz ("Fireplace") and Sonic Youth ("Oddfellows Local"), and they all work
once you get use to them. Getting used to them might take a while for some, it did for me, because
those last four songs are very different than the first seven, but if it clicks with ya, you'll love the album
forever. "Welcome to the Occupation" is an often over looked song, and one that is political but has one
of the band's most memorable melodies. It is songs like that one that make R.E.M. one of the greatest
album bands of all time, and that is just an album track! All and all, R.E.M.'s most diverse album, and a
true document of what a band can accomplish in rock 'n roll. - Trevor e.y.
1.finest worksong- 4
2.welcome to the occupation- 4*
3.exhuming mccarthy- 4
4.disturbance at the heron house- 4
5.strange- 3
6.end of the world as we know it- 4
7.the one I love- 4
8.fireplace- 3
9.lightnin’ hopkins- 4
10.king of birds- 4
11.oddfellows local- 4
1988
Green - 4/8
Green is R.E.M.'s major label debut. Green sucks. Bad. Especially compared to any of R.E.M.'s first
five records. What happened here?!? They decided since it was major label time they would make thier
shortest, lamest, cheesiest album? Crap man, I'm sorry for them. This album does have four listen-worthy
songs: "Stand", "World Leader Pretend", "Orange Crush", "Turn you Inside Out". The rest just sounds
tiiiiiiiired, whether too poppy on "Pop Song 89" and "Get Up", or lame like "You are the Everything", the
"Oddfellows Local" rip off "I Remember California", or the worst R.E.M. song yet, "Hairshirt". Luckily, the
band took a 3 year rest after this to re-examine their approach, and really that moved saved their career
(i am very glad they kept going though, most bands wouldn't). Not a good album, so I'd skip it while
getting the band's catalogue unless you just have to hear it for yourself.
- Trevor e.y.
1.pop song 89- 2
2.get up- 2
3.you are the everything- 1
4.stand- 3
5.world leader pretened- 3
6.the wrong child- 1
7.orange crush- 4
8.turn you inside out- 4
9.hairshirt- 1
10.i remember california- 2
1991
Out of Time - 6/8
R.E.M. is back with their 7th record, first of the 90's, and after a three year hiatus. The R.E.M. of the
90's starts off with one of their greatest songs, also their most popular, "Losing my Religion". An old
southern expression about losing ones way, the song is touching in many ways. Overplayed on the radio
to this day, yes, but easily the best song on here, though nothing on here sounds like it. There are many
poppy songs on here, and they range from great and melodic, like "Near Wild Heaven", "Me in Honey"
and "Texarkana", to kind of annoying like "Shiny Happy People" and "Radio Song". Did i say kind of
annoying? "Radio Song" is the band's biggest misfire to date, with rapper KRS-One guest rapping (very
similar to Sonic Youth's Chuck D cameo a year). Hilariously bad, and a horrible way to start off the album,
ESPECIALLY coming before "Losing my Religion". This is a very random album, can't gain momentum
successfully, there is a poppy as hell song every other song. While some songs are decent, like
"Endgame" and "Country Feedback", others just don't work like "Low", "Half a World Away" and "Belong".
To some, this stuff might be great, but to me the songwriting is way too sketchy and almost pretentious.
But, most of the album is worth hearing, just lame for being their most popular album to date. - Trevor e.y.
1.radio song- 1
2.losing my religion- 4
3.low- 2
4.near wild heaven- 4
5.endgame- 3
6.shiny happy people- 3
7.belong- 2
8.half a world away- 2
9.texarkana- 4
10.country feedback- 3
11.me in honey- 4
1992
Automatic for the People - 8/8
What a magnificent album this is. And how unexpected! This moody, sad, beautiful thing really came
out of nowhere. The dark ballads are like nothing R.E.M. has ever done before, and a total 180 spin from
the last record. It is better than Out of Time though, as far as more meaningful songs, more consistency
(there ain't a bad song on here),and a solid atmosphere. Cloudy and drifty, these songs are emotional in
a very creepy way. "Drive", "Monty got a Raw Deal", and "Star me Kitten" are the introspective songs with
a dark mood; "sweetness follows", "everybody hurts" and "try not to breathe" are the tear jerkers about
the meaning of life; "Man on the Moon" and "Ignoreland" are the much needed rockers to prove the band
still has it. Many of these pieces had to grow on me, like the sometimes draggy "new orleans instrumental
# one" and cheesy "the sidewinder sleeps tonight", but given time i enjoy them a fair amount. The closer
"find the river" is good, but kind of derivate of a couple of older R.E.M. songs, "Disturbance at the Heron
House" and "Welcome to the Occupation" to name some, but slowed down some to hide it. But the album
is one of their last great works of art; there are just some truly singular amazing moments on here; like the
four minute mark of "everybody hurts", the surprising repeating of "fuck me, kitten", and when the drums
enter on "Monty". To sum up, a unique experience and a restoration of faith (never really doubted them!)
in one of the world's greatest bands. - Trevor e.y.
1.drive- 4
2.try not to breathe- 4
3.the sidewinder sleeps tonight- 3
4.everybody hurts- 4
5.new orleans instrumental # one- 3
6.sweetness follows- 4
7.monty got a raw deal- 4
8.ignoreland- 4*
9.star me kitten- 4
10.man on the moon- 4
11.nightswimming- 4
12.find the river- 3
1994
Monster - 7/8
Not giving their new dark sound a chance to go stale, R.E.M. have gone hard rock! Not grunge, not
bad, just harder and more rockin'. Changing their overall sound is how R.E.M. get experimental, they
don't ever really change song structure, but that is ok. I don't think anyone would argue that "What's the
Frequency Kenneth" is one of the best R.E.M. songs; its my personal favorite up there with "Welcome to
the Occupation" and "Flowers of Guatemala". That same insane sound the band gets on "Kenneth" is
mirrored through the whole album. "I Took your Name", "Star 69", "Crush with Eyeliner", "Circus Envy",
these pure rock songs bring life to the world of music baby! Fun is in the bands name again, but
surprisingly this album gets a lot of slack. To those who hate this album, I just say you are being trendy
and stupid. There is NO REASON ANYONE SHOULDN'T LIKE THIS. The sound? Great. The songs? 3/4
good or great. The topics/lyrics? Always adventurous. I truly do not understand why people cannot get
into this catchy album, it is R.E.M.'s most catchy damn it! There are a couple of songs that musically,
could use more: "I Don't Sleep I Dream", "Tounge", "Let me In" (Breeders sounding). Yeah, "Strange
Currencies" sounds like "Everybody Hurts", but is a better song. "King of Comedy" references a great
film; "You" has a great atmosphere with that sweet guitar sound. Dare I say a flawed masterpiece? I say it!
To those who underrate this album, open your ears. To those who don't know what I'm talking about,
don't worry about it, this is a fine place to start your R.E.M. collection out of 9 records so far. - Trevor e.y.
1.what’s the frequency kenneth- 4*
2.crush with eyeliner- 4
3.king of comedy- 3
4.i don’t sleep I dream- 2
5.star 69- 4
6.strange currencies- 4
7.tounge- 2
8.bang and blame- 3
9.i took your name- 4
10.let me in- 2
11.circus envy- 4
12.you- 4
1996
New Adventures in Hi Fi - 6/8
This album, the band's 10th, is good overall. It has many little problems that add up for me though.
First of all, many of these songs sound like b-sides. Second, the album doesn't have a great song on it
until the fifth song, so that is four songs of boredom to sit through, unless you can skip songs like some
cd players can. Third, you don't know which side is the correct side, because both cd sides look just alike
when playing it. Forth, the opening song rips off The Tragically Hip's "Thugs" (am I the only one who
cares about that?). Fifth, it is like Out of Time in that it has no momentum because it is pretty inconsistent.
Lastly, it is too long at 65 minutes. That is a double album by my standards! So here we have R.E.M.'s
10th record in a nutshell. Now for the actual review.
New Adventures in Hi Fi sounds is only 'new' in someways. The sound is kind of Automatic meets
Monster, which ain't new, just a hybrid. Some songs on here are amazing, the seven minute "Leave"
being the best example, which can't be talked about just has to be heard. The rest of the album has the
drifty tone of "Leave", whether it is lazy like "E Bow the Letter" and "Electrolite" or a ballad like "Be Mine".
Those are the great songs, and there are some other good ones and some mediocre ones but i don't feel
like mentioning them, just know that R.E.M. shows not a failure here, but a sign of being tired and worn
out. This would be the perfect record to call it a day on, the last R.E.M. album worth owning, and the last
with the original line up, seeing as drummer Bill berry quit after this. Along with Fables of the
Reconstuction and Out of Time, it is worth owning for the die hard, but not necessary if you can get the
best songs off of it. - Trevor e.y.
1.how the west was won and where it got us- 3
2.the wake up bomb- 2
3.new test leper- 3
4.undertow- 2
5.e bow the letter- 4
6.leave- 4*
7.departure- 4
8.bittersweet me- 3
9.be mine- 4
10.binky the doormat- 2
11.zither- 3
12.so fast, so numb- 3
13.low desert- 3
14.electrolite- 4
1997
Up - 3/8
Well, a year after their last album, R.E.M. come out with an album just as long, another double
album. Not only is this not needed, it is mostly a completely horrible effort. The sound here is euro-techno
meets rock, but in a very lame way. The opener "Airportman" sets the tone: bad, murky, and devoid of
melody. Gee, who wouldn't like this? Maybe Bill Berry wrote all the older songs or something, I don't know,
but the songwriting quality of R.E.M. has taken a nose dive for the most part. I will say that not every song
is horrible though, there are at least five good ones that ALMOST make this album worth getting. "Lotus"
has a rocking vibe that meets this new computer sound; "At my Most Beautiful" is reminiscent of The
Beach Boys except R.E.M. style, and one of my favorite R.E.M. tunes; "Daysleeper" is traditional R.E.M.
in a GOOD WAY; "Walk Unafraid" and "Suspicion" are also decent, moody songs. Everything else is bad
though, the laughable songs include "Hope", "Your in the Air", "Falls to Climb", "Sad Professor", and
"Parakeet". Not only do these songs have no tune, the lyrics are the close to the dumbest words you will
ever hear. Talk about a misfire, one or two great songs but at least 45 minutes of total crap. What a
wreck. - Trevor e.y.
1.airportman- 1
2.lotus- 3
3.suspicion- 3
4.hope- 1
5.at my most beautiful- 4*
6.the apologist- 2
7.sad professor- 1
8.your’e in the air- 1
9.walk unafraid- 3
10.why not smile- 2
11.daysleeper- 4
12.diminished- 2
13.parakeet- 1
14.falls to climb- 1
2001
Reveal - 5/8
Yeah! This album is only 54 minutes so it's not a double album like the last two! Thank god that is
not the only thing that is better here; this album is more consistent, cheerier, and melodic than Up could
ever hope to be. I guess the 4 year break was needed. I know R.E.M. signed like the largest record deal
ever around this time or something, so they will be making records for a while, and hopefully they will be
at least decent like Reveal is. Your average album is about half good, half bad right? Well that is about
how this is, some great songs like "all the way to reno", "beat a drum", and "Immitation of Life" and then
some good ones like "The Lifting", "Disappear", and "I've been High". The tone here is less computerised
than Up was also, which helps the lame songs. "She just wants to be" and "I'll take the Rain" are
emotional ballads, but they ain't that good, and "Summer Turns to High", "chorus and the ring", and
"Beachball" sound like traditional R.E.M. but their certainly not as good as R.E.M. has been in the past.
This really is not as bad as R.E.M.'s worst records, which are Green and Up in my opinion, but some
songs are too long and therefore too repetitive. Still, it gives us hope that R.E.M., at their best, can still
explore new territory and are capable of good records. They as a band have lasted longer than most and
we are grateful they are still making records, as long as they are at least decent. - Trevor e.y.
1.the lifting- 3
2.ive been high- 4
3.all the way to reno- 4
4.she just wants to be- 2
5.disapear- 3
6.saturn return- 2
7.beat a drum- 4
8.immitation of life- 4
9.summer turns to high- 2
10.chorus and the ring- 1
11.ill take the rain- 2
12.beachball- 1
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