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User
Reviews 2
Approval 83%
Soundoffs 27
Album Ratings 253
Objectivity 70%
Last Active 06-14-13 12:05 pm
Joined 06-14-13
Review Comments 47
| First 10 R.E.M. LP's Ranked
First 10, before Bill Berry left. | | 1 |  | R.E.M.
Murmur
The album that started it all and the classic R.E.M. sound that they're known for. Cohesive and well produced with Stipe's trademark mumbled nonsense lyrics, Buck's crisp, weaving, innovative guitar, Mills's prominent bass lines and second vocal, and Berry's masterful pacemaking. Favorite tracks include: "Laughing", "Perfect Circle", "Radio Free Europe" and "Shaking Through". | | 2 |  | R.E.M.
Reckoning
A slightly shorter, but impressive followup to Murmur. The band branches out a bit, with a completely different recording style (binaural recording). Stipe branches out lyrically with dark themes and water motifs. Different musical styles are pursued to a fantastic effect. Alt-country "Rockville" and dark and tumbling "Time After Time" are two of these examples. Reckoning is a jam that goes often under the radar, and a fantastic sophomore effort. Favorite tracks include: "Time After Time", "Rockville", "Harborcoat" and "Pretty Persuasion". | | 3 |  | R.E.M.
Automatic for the People
R.E.M.'s most complex, acclaimed work falls eighth in their discography. The lyrics are more direct, but the music more abstract, a sort of 180 for R.E.M. Unorthodox instruments are sprinkled in and create a very dense atmosphere. Each track is a challenging piece and the album would be missing without it. That being said, one of the albums weaker points is that it has a bit of filler, i.e. the New Orleans Instrumental. Tracks 7-9 are also a bit of a dry spell, but this is just personal opinion; I just don't find them that remarkable. The album as a whole is a classic, despite abandoning many of R.E.M.'s trademarks. Favorite tracks include: "Nightswimming", "Everybody Hurts", "Find the River" and "Sweetness Follows". | | 4 |  | R.E.M.
Document
Politically charged, lyrically direct, not a bad track on the album. In fact, a few huge hits. Document is a stellar album, and was the last of the IRS years. It is a little musically different from the previous four records and not very atmospheric. It all depends on what the listener is looking for in music, really, but there is no denying Document was a great album. Favorite tracks include "The One I Love" and "King Of Birds". | | 5 |  | R.E.M.
Green
Green is a whole lot like Document, but replace the massive hits and decent rest with 11 wholesome, good-all-around tracks. The album didn't spawn and major hits, but has a better overall feel and cohesion to it. Favorite tracks include "Orange Crush", "Pop Song 89", "I Remember California" and I'm partial to "Stand". | | 6 |  | R.E.M.
Out of Time
Ahhh, how polarizing! On one hand, the collaborations with other artists (meaning hip hot artist KRS-One and B52's singer Kate Pearson) could be viewed as forced or a bad idea. One the other hand, the experimentation on this album produced some massive songs, namely band staple "Losing My Religion". The album fits together nicely and has a pleasant feel to it. I think that some of the songs are over done, but sarcastically sugarcoated "Shiny Happy People" isn't half as bad as we all say it is. Favorite tracks include: "Half A World Away", "Losing My Religion", "Belong", and "Texarkana". | | 7 |  | R.E.M.
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
What a comeback from "Monster", and sadly Bill Berry's last effort with the band. The sound of this album was supposed to be taken from the road while the band was touring. Though a bit long, the album shines with quality tracks that Monster lacked. It is also Michael Stipe's favorite album, apparently. Favorite tracks include "Bittersweet Me", "Be Mine" and "So Fast, So Numb". | | 8 |  | R.E.M.
Fables of the Reconstruction
Dark, experimental, and daring, Fables takes R.E.M.'s theme and adds onto it, however while subtracting in the process. The idea of branching outward from an established sound is great, but Fables was generally weighted down by being a tad lackluster. Some songs are too dreary for their own good. Other songs became staples of the band's live discography. Favorite tracks include: "Driver 8", "Feeling Gravitys Pull" and "Wendell Gee". | | 9 |  | R.E.M.
Monster
Monster was the one and only time R.E.M. tried to pigeon-hole themselves into a genre and work together in that manner. They were inspired by the grunge around them (this is 1994) and Monster more than reflected that with distorted guitars, angsty lyrics and so on. Because of this, the album is generally a hit or miss, both as a whole and track-by-track. Some tracks really shine, while others...well, let's just say they fall to the bottom of the barrel in R.E.M.'s discography. You can't blame them for trying, after all Monster is their 9th full length. Favorite tracks include: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and "Strange Currencies". | | 10 |  | R.E.M.
Lifes Rich Pageant
Much like Communism, Lifes Rich Pageant is a lot better on paper than in practice. It contains all of R.E.M.'s defining musical characteristics that set them apart from surrounding bands. Though this sounds like a remarkable idea, the result is not. The tracks as a whole just fail to impress. While there are still gems, there is definitely a reason that I found this CD for $2.00 at a local thrift store. Favorite tracks include "Begin the Begin", "Fall On Me", and "Cuyahoga". | |
Dylan620
07.30.15 | I never thought I would see an R.E.M. album be compared to Communism XD
Great list 10/10 would bang | Dylan620
07.30.15 | Wait
"Tracks 7-9 are a bit of a dry spell"
But "Monty" and "Ignoreland" are two of my favorites on Automatic 😢 | Ocean of Noise
07.30.15 | rly inconsistent band. I love some of their stuff but hate a lot of it too | strawberriesandgravy
07.30.15 | edit: forgot to include favorite tracks on Automatic.
@Dylan620 sorry man! ill have to give them all another listen. | Royl123
07.30.15 | 3 is 1... | Dylan620
07.30.15 | @strawberries no worries dude!
List is making me jam Murmur for the first time in a couple weeks m/ |
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