Murmur

Pleasant and catchy

Good album

It was ok but no note worthy songs so very little to bring me back.

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. I don't exactly hold R.E.M. in the highest regards, but this was a pleasant surprise. It's relaxing and well produced 80s style rock, and it never gets too annoying. Hell, I even thought at one point "maybe R.E.M. isn't as bad as I always thought". Crazy.

Excellent debut album,

Inoffensive

Not on Spotify

Awesome 80s alt rock

Had never listened to this album. The more I listened the more I realized how much I like their music. Every bit as good as the later stuff that got a lot of radio play.Cutting edge but easy to listen to and appreciate for its musical creativity and integrity.

Debütalbum. Noch ohne grosse Hits, aber trotzdem hörenswert.

Retro

The jangles are poppin’ on this one. Love the songwriting. Love the mumbled vague lyrics. Love the rhythmic beat that flows throughout. An indie rock trailblazer.

T’was okay but I’m surprised there aren’t 1001 better albums in the world. Moral Kiosk is probably the best track.

Meh

done. 9/10

Enjoyable album

Nettes Album, coole Band. Glaube, dass ich keinen Song gekannt habe.

Kinda loved it. Liked almost all of the songs. This gave me a special feeling somehow. Sounds adjacent to the Smiths.

2/5. Maybe I'm not getting it, is this really a 10/10 like all these reviews are saying? Sure, it was definitely ahead of its time, basically started the 90's rock revival in 1983, but it's influence does not weigh more than the actual listening of the album. I didn't hate it but it was quite boring. Sure, there were some bops but I must not be getting it because I wouldn't care to play this one again, nothing excited me, just did enough mid without being annoying.

Meh

Enjoyable

Godfathers of alt/indie music. You can hear hints of what the genre would become throughout this album. All that said, there were only a few songs that really stood out to me.

Déçu mais pas choqué

I like R.E.M., but I cannot listen to a whole album of them, the songs sound too much the same.

This is not nearly as great an album as what this band would become but frankly it’s still a helluva debut. The amazing lyricism and song crafting have been there and that comes as a surprise to no one that that’d be the case. Even Michael Stipes voice sounds different here at times.

I think with a few more listens I would really like this. 3.3 for now

Jangly and bittersweet poppy alt rock. This is a solid debut that sets out the sound REM spend the next two decades evolving. The best bits are the hyperactive interactions between the bright clean guitar arpegios (great right-hand work here from Green) and the melodic Beatles-y bass lines. The singing and lyrics are in Stipe's distinctive style, but don't reach the heights that would come in later albums.

Have been wanting to hear more REM. This one was a nice surprise; song structures, transitions, and melodies are pretty well-crafted for a debut. Favourites here are Shaking Through, then Laughing

Thought this was just forgettable at first, but actively disliked it by the end.

i enjoyed a lot but can’t think of any stand out moments

6.5/10

Having just listened to and reviewed the album Document I have to say that Murmur is a superior album and much more to my taste. This album combines the great sounds of the 60's with a slight folk edge, when you add in just enough punk energy it is a very solid album. I love Peter Bucks guitar work (every jangly note!) in particular and the harmonizing. Stipe's vocals and the rest of the bands work make this an excellent debut album. While I have my favorites on the album, I could easily interchange some of these picks with other songs on the album. This may be my favorite R.E.M. album. Favorite songs: Radio Free Europe, Talk About the Passion, Sitting Still, Shaking Through

The most successful band to come out of Athens, GA, Murmur proves why R.E.M. made them such a juggernaut. Peter Buck's jangly guitars are present and accounted for, and while he would develop his sound over the next few records, there's a charm to his more rudimentary/post-punk playing style. Michael Stipe's melodies are catchy as hell, and his lyrics are perfect for an introspective walk in the rain, headphones on, hung-up on every word. This era of R.E.M. fits in alongside acts of the era like the Replacements, Husker Du, and Pylon, but more than that, broke away from the trends of the day and paved the way for other indie-flavoured bands to come. 4.5/5 Fav tracks: Talk About the Passion, Sitting Still, Radio Free Europe, 9-9, Moral Kiosk,

Two R.E.M. records in a row! What are the chances?! This is a formidable debut. The band feels so fully formed and distinctive right out of the gate. My personal preferences for jangley guitar make this a really nice listen. It's a sparer version of the R.E.M. that would come to dominate the airwaves in the 90s, and I appreciate what it reveals about the band's musical dynamic. It's right in my wheelhouse. Some interesting range here, too. I'm hearing more of a post-punk vibe than I expected from R.E.M. on tracks like "9-9" and the triumphant piano-powered "Shaking Through". Of course, Stipe's vocals and lyrics are characteristically personal, introspective, and haunted throughout. I feel like this record gets a little lost in R.E.M.'s long career. If this was all they ever made, it would be a cult classic. Favourite songs: Radio Free Europe, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk, Sitting Still, Shaking Through Rating: 4.5/5

forever tickled i share my initials.

'Murmur' by REM is a bit forgotten in their 25+ years long career. It was the band's debut album in the early 1980s and they already had a very characterestic, recognisable and unique sound. They were the first indie rock band, too, because no one had a sound similar to theirs before them and it's just so easy to hear the influence they had on many bands later. Excellent debut and a really influential album.

I tried to be objective about this because I know it’s not even my favorite REM album, but I loved it. Not a skippable song (tbf, maybe the last 2) and a very remarkable debut.

Very nice !

Not their best album.

Some killer tracks that show the future promise of this band, but some mediocre tracks too.

I wasn't feeling this and was going to give it a 2, but "We Walk" was good enough to bump this up to a 3.

Thought I wasnt gonna like this but I liked it. It good

Postpunk på den gode måske, tager garagelyden og blander med gode hooks

Fair

This project has given me a new appreciation for REM. While this album’s lyrics cross the line from poetry into nonsense, it sounds like the breakthrough for alternative music that would come to dominate the 90s. It mixes sounds and instruments while always taking care to entertain.

Love it

2.5 - not bad, just really bloody boring

Not bad.

This was a treat to listen to. At one point, I kind of zoned out and was pleasantly surprised that I was listening to R.E.M. I don't think it's my favorite from them, but I do enjoy their sounds in general.

You know, R.E.M. has never really stuck out to me as being one of the all-time great bands, but after doing some research that I hadn't done before, I can see why people consider them to be among the greats. They were one of the first big alt-rock bands, and with this being their debut album (what's with all the debut albums on this list, by the way?), Murmur serves as one of the first major alt-rock albums. So how does it hold up? I think it holds up pretty well. This is a good album. The writing is admittedly a bit confusing, but it just works for some reason. You can still feel that there's something to be said with each song. You can't hear it though. Yeah, the singing is a bit unintelligible at times, but I can tell that Michael Stipe is a decent enough singer. The instrumentation is quite nice, and has the perfect balance between positive and negative vibes. It kind of makes me feel similar things to how I felt with Meat is Murder by The Smiths all the way back for my second album of the project. However, this album doesn't have a weirdly, kind of mid title track, so I do think this is a better album. I don't even know why I'm comparing those two albums other than "I kind of felt similar feelings when listening to them." Anyway, this is good debut album from a pretty iconic band. 4/5.

I find REM pretty boring except for their few hits which weren't on this album.

Jangle pop. Sounds like Nirvana if Nirvana did pop. Good car music. I liked one of their songs. 2/3 star

Dull

I didn't like them then but they grew on me.

Pleasant, but not very interesting.

Not bad.

This is quality. People always say it's better than Document and I'm not so sure. Or AFTP either. Still enjoyed it. Good stuff.

Good, not as good as others. Somewhat one dimensional.

In three words: punkish, folkish, enjoyable. A bit aged sound.

It’s was alright. Just didn’t spark any joy for me

Overall, it was pretty good. I was fairly familiar with R.E.M.'s music before this review. However, I had never listened to an album from them. The vocals and lyrics were on point, and the overall vibes were immaculate. However, there are some songs I wasn't the biggest fan of, which bumps it down from a 5/5.

Phenomenal album by a phenomenal band.

Far from outstanding but not bad

Good background tunes - all sounds very similar - no songs I knew to anchor the album. Would need to listen to again with headphones.

Entirely inoffensive but completely forgettable for me. Nothing really felt special here, doubt I will revisit this one.

I wanted the other REM album, but still solid

Great

Don’t love REM but this album was outstanding. The Moral Kiosk is my favorite track

beautiful!

good but less than I expected

First two tracks are my favorites, but the whole album is pretty great.

talk abour the passion

Banger after banger

Laughing is really good. Good album but songs all sound very similar

I like R.E.M, but this isn't the best. What i expect from a mid 1980 rock album. Almost boring but there were good times. Couldn't really get into it though.

pretty good, i quite liked most of the songs kind of nothing special to be honest would listen to it in its entirety again

I don't know. It's nice. But I wouldn't recommend listening for someone that doesn't get R.E.M.

sort of unremarkable beginning and end, but some good songs in the middle.

R.E.M at their most college rock and most boring, radio free europe is still fun but the rest of the album was eh

The original College Radio Indie Kings - Loved this album, quickly became a top R.E.M. album for me. Nothing too deep or sad, simple almost whimsical at times, really appreciate the simple melodies and instrumentals.

This was way better than I was expecting. This is way ahead of its time, in a good way. About halfway through this album, I noticed that this was from 1983 and was shocked and impressed that it doesn't sound like 80s music. This is my new favorite R.E.M. album.

This was great. I have a special place in my heart for Tzezm.

Ok

Loved 'Green' but this one is exactly how I picture REM to sound, and it wasn't so good...

It was ok, not really my style.

Es un meh, no es la gran cosa para ser R.E.M.

8/12, 67%

Dreary. Three R.E.M albums have been presented to me within the first 25 albums of this list. The first I felt was enjoyable, since then, each one is becoming progressivley more dreary and bland to my ear. I don't know if this is the quality of each individual album or the sum of listening to a bunch of R.E.M in succession but, either way, their music is starting to grate on me. In this album, Stype's vocals are bleary, lacking dynamics with a too-laid-back demeanor that is uninspiring and sucking the energy from my soul.Stype seems to have a thing about singing happy songs and melodies in a reserved, pulled-back style that undermines teh joy of the melodies. I can see the appeal, but it is draining my life source. The musicianship is pleasant, the instrument pseudo folk - I hear a mondolin - the drums are pretty uninspiring. It's starting to remind me of The Cure, who pull off the off kilter vibe much more effectively in my opinion. Finding this the first really difficult listen in my 1001 albums experience.

Good, easy to listen to

Interesting to hear more from REM than "Losing my Religion". Okay music, but not very memorable.

2/10 entire thing sounds so samey and that same sound isn't even that fun to listen to

Classic. Wildly influential and unique in it's aesthetics. I'm not sure of another album that captures so well the eccentric world of adolescence and grappling with feelings of inadequacy while also feeling mysterious yet deeply personal. For those who enjoy this, check out Pylon, another Athens Georgia group from the late 70's and early 80's, who influenced this album's punch and unusual nature.

just very nice-sounding. i wanted to rate it a bit higher but i just kept zoning out and forgetting to properly listen to the songs, so it wasn't as captivating as i wanted it to be. i knew i quite liked r.e.m. from what i'd listened to before, but i couldn't have sung a song of theirs off the top of my head so i wasn't exactly sure what to expect. it definitely wasn't this genre, but i still quite liked it overall.

Great. Jangly and nice. Reminds me of some Dunedin sound bands

- Way better than the previous REM album - 9-9 was a fantastic listen with great guitar - Wonderful alt rock

- meh

A few songs stood out to me, but it wasnt anything too special. Overall decent listen.

Boring, 2/10

Robust musicality, featuring impressive vocals and intricate guitar work, solidifies its position as a standout of Post Punk Indie Rock

Easy to listen to. It's hard to unremember the SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE REM that wouldn't stop for years. But, this first album of theirs is Radio Free decent.

Better than I’ll probably give credit to

L'album était cool à écouter en voiture, mais il n'a rien d'original je trouve. La première musique m'a fait rire car quand ils disent "push that push that" j'entends "peuchère peuchère" 😂

J’ai bien aimé l’album, surtout We walk je pense (ajoutée à mes titres likés). Il y a de l’énergie et un rythme qui me plait! Certaines chansons sont quand même un peu trop plates pour moi (disons que l’association voix et musique est trop sur le même niveau tout du long, ce qui crée un brouhaha sur le long terme)

Sympa mais pas transcendant. Type d'album qui serait encore mieux en live.

Masterclass of classic alt rock. Jangly and catchy, not a bad track

I really dug this, I'll have to listen to it again to get a real feel. But the first impression was 🔥🔥🔥

Good

Not a bad song on this album and has aged so well. Incredible to think that this was released in '83 - around the same time as bands like The Cure and The Police were peaking.

not my jam :(

Not the best

I try to like them. I just don’t. I can mesh with a few of these songs, but their style is just choppy and lacks the rhythm.

Hey, I've been practicing an REM song. Everybody Hurts. It's not a hard song. The only technical part it has is the "Don't throw your hand, oh no" part. Never heard this album before. REM was one of those bands for me that defined the grunge era. There's just a certain sound to them that reminds me of when I was coming into my awareness of music and discovering my own tastes. And to clarify, it's specifically the voice. 3 stars

Debut album from a small up-and-coming band from a sleepy college town the the south, I see big things from them...

Not my go to genre but somewhat enjoyable for some songs. Pretty impressive for a debut album but nonetheless it still wasn't my ideal cup of tea. Songs seemed thrown together for some but the ones that stood out for me were Talk about the passion, We walk and West of the fields. Average album, average score. 2.5/5

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. Great sound, timeless.

Decent, didn't move me that much

very enjoyable listen

In their debut, REM releases an album that is unlike anything else out there. Sure, it has some punk / New Wave beats and basslines, but there are no synths or guitar solos. Instead, you have a series of fun and bright jangly pop songs to sing along to. Stipe is notorious for his recognizable, grating, barely audible mumbling singing style. You don't have to understand what he's saying to groove along to the happy jangles and random percussions. Their debut is arguably their best. Their first three albums all have a similar consistent sound, but this has the most recognizable and non-forgettable tracks. Every song here is catchy and melodic in their own unique ways, and you couldn't confuse any two alike. Some are louder, and some are quieter. Some will argue the last 4 dip in quality, and I agree they don't hit as hard as the ones before them (except "We Walk", I have an unusual crush over that bubblegum tune). But I love them all, and at no point do I get tired.

Laughing is first to get Playlist treatment. Moral Kiosk has also been playlisted.

I don’t mind the odd R.E.M. song, but this album was just not for me.

1. Radio Free Europe - this one was ok 2. Pilgrimage - didn’t really care for this one 3. Laughing - didn’t mind the sound of this one. 4. Talk About the Passion - just ok 5. Moral Kiosk - this one is a little more interesting 6. Perfect Circle - 7. Catapult - 8. Sitting Still - 9. 9-9 - 10. Shaking Through - 11. We Walk - 12. West of the Fields - Overall, I didn’t mind this album, definitely very consistent and listenable but it didn’t really wow me though. The singing style gets a little tiring since it’s a little monotone for me.

I've tried listening to REM albums a few times, and they are generally well-crafted with their own recognisable sound. However, they are also drearily forgettable. I guess if this album had any emotional impact, it's something like "generalised listlessness". I can see how this would be a powerful time capsule album, if this was like the soundtrack to your adolescence. But who spent their adolescence listening to toothlessly slow-motion indie? What's annoying me is that I actually like the vocals, the songwriting, and lots of the sound - but it's so lukewarm in delivery that I'll forget all these songs by tomorrow. 3*

Fine music. Very average. Don’t like the whiny voice. Sounds like he needs to take a yuge dump.

I lost my religion listening to this.

This album makes me feel nothing. It's decent

😊

Same ol' REM

Not bad, it was alright. Piano was fun.

About what I expected. Got tired of it quickly, but for a few moment td

I can’t see myself connecting with this, just find it pretty blah.

Another melancholy album. Not my favorite of theirs but still good. Road trip music if I’m not already tired.

It's REM. Not much to say otherwise. 3/5.

Radio Free Europe and Talk About the Passion resonated the most with me. I really enjoyed how quickly REM reminded me of my father. The overlapping vocals in Moral Kiosk add a frenetic, pleasing energy. There's an uplifting energy to the album, with no pretense about what the sound is.

god this is making me feel like a dad

you can find some hooks in it

REM, the band we love to hate. Deeply uncool, but also extremely enjoyable to listen to. You can definitely feel that this is their debut, it's a little unpolished and raw, which is a good thing overall, but also means that you lose the clarity of voice and lyrics that later REM has.

There's 4 REM records on the list. That's too many. I like this record, but it's not their best by far. Not the worst by far either. But I don't think this should have been on the list. Sounds like a British new wave record with an American singer. Favorite song: Pilgrimage.

Couldn't really get into them. Tried two listens but kept stopping midway. Maybe try again someday.

Good album, but I think that REM improved with later albums. Its an outstanding album and absolutely a must listen, though. 4/5

Some real good songs on there! Radio Free Europe, Catapult stood out.

Extra medium right down to the meh picture on the cover. The songs you know are OK, and you missed nothing on the ones you didn't.

Kinda slow, good ol rock album

Solid rem album. A roadtrip anthem for sure. Little soft and sounds samey throughout but good.

They would go on to make better albums later, but is still a great start. My favorite songs are Radio Free Europe, Shaking Through, and 9-9.

I like REM, I even love some of their songs. This album does show the beginnings of those songs you love. As I was listening to this album I kept wanting to hear a good hook, a strong chorus or a nice lick but instead got bland mellowness but not even good enough to count for that. Sometimes you just want a song that fucks and this isn't this. Half way through the album I put on hangar 18 by Megadeath just to get something that fucks. Murmur is a fine enough album but lacks any punch or even a slap. 2/5

REM sounds like a depressed male version of the Go-Go’s. And I think the Go-Go’s are great so sorry to drag you into this thought ladies.

Is of just me or the vocals puprosely mixed just soft enough to not understand.. i hear syllables at a time otherwise forgettable even if the instrumentation is apparently skilled

Hard to believe that sound came out in 1983

not my jam, 2*

ask me in a week, if I have heard this album. Most likely I've forgotten ever listening to it.

I like the fun sounding tunes. The first song was nice

I always thought that R.E.M. was kind of boring and this album confirmed that. I just didn’t really have any connection or interest in this album. Two stars

I think the alt genre is an odd descriptor. If anything doesn't 100% align with the current popular sound that slap that ALT descriptor in front of the genre like its supposed to explain what it sounds like. Depending on what decade you are listening to Alt-rock can sound completely different. This album was supposed to be the start of alt rock but it honestly sounds like a lot of the other chill jams from the 70's and 80's. None of the songs really stood out to be and I had to push myself to finish the album. It isn't one I would ever go back to listen to again. 2 Stars

not for meeee

No particular song caught my attention.

It's nowhere near my favorite R.E.M album, but it's still R.E.M, and that's enough.

Great album with a clear REM sound. Lyrics and music sounded like a band at the end of their careers with how strong and right they were.

Amazing very peaceful and great beats

I like the album a lot, but wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it. We walk may have been my favorite track.

I can definitely see why it's on this list. I love the call and response as well as the rhythm section.

Oh yeah REM à ses débuts c’est quand même d’la bombe

Gud stuff

Their best

Seems like Radiohead got quite a bit of inspiration from REM. Its not bad, its quite alright, some songs are very musically pleasant to listen to, some not so much, some lyrics are nonsensical and just make their respective song sound like filler.

It took me a little while to get into it, but it was nice.

I don’t know why, but I got a lot more out of this than Green. I mean, for that one I wrote a joke review because I didn’t know what to say and I’ve done a ton of reviews where I just said that. Review was lame, anyway. Whatever, I like Murmur. It’s just nice and jangly, and all the songs are great. I guess I don’t really have anything more to-DAMMIT

I am not liking this album.

Classic alternative album. Set REM on the path to stardom.

I had kind of high hopes for this, I liked the first track, but unfortunately after that it got dreadfully boring and samey sounding.

I like REM but this wasn't my favorite album

Never really got into REM when they were "big" and can't really get into them with the albums that have made this list. I actually have Radio Free Europe downloaded and this is the only song of the album I can say was good and upbeat. I found the rest of the album rather slow and pretty boring. I did think Catapult was OK, but really, nothing got me excited. When I hear hear REM, I think of overplayed college music and all the frat boy pussies I use to smack around after a few beers, just for fun. 2.5

Man, honestly at this point high school me would be awfully confused with current me. I can easily tolerate REM and love Supertramp. Most Nirvana is still pretty much a pass for me though tbh, sorry Luke. *high fives 17 yr old me* Anyway, I enjoyed the last REM album on the list more than I thought I would. I haven't really gone back to it though. Sadly this is more of the same for me. I know REM has really really good albums and I'm looking forward to them. This ain't it though. Don't get me wrong there are definitely cool ideas here but for me it just never came together. 2

4 How the hell it took R.E.M. until their fifth studio album to make it big will never make sense to me because what an album to start out with. In fact, I would even go as far to say it’s better than Document. Clearly the world just wasn’t ready for it yet - I mean, no band was doing what R.E.M. was doing at this time, and surprise, ten years later, it was what every band was doing. Like, if you didn’t know any better, tell me this wouldn’t fit perfectly alongside releases like In Utero and Siamese Dream. And yet, it actually came out an entire 10 years earlier, before decade-defining 80s stars like Cyndi Lauper or Madonna had even made it big. While they may not have invented alternative rock (the credit for that goes to groups like The Velvet Underground and Big Star), R.E.M. were probably among the most impactful on its sound. It’s like suddenly, rock music wasn’t just limited to grandiose rock stars anymore, nerds could do it too. Of course, there was no way of knowing any of this at the time, but that all to say, I can only imagine that this must have been unlike anything else in 1983. The simple, non-flashy style of rock was everything the 80s wasn’t, but it works so well here. Even now, 40 years and 15 studio albums later, it might still be their best work… and yet somehow its name is rarely brought up in conversation regarding R.E.M. And that’s a damn shame because I think anybody who enjoys songs like It’s The End of the World, The One I Love, and Losing My Religion would actually enjoy a lot of the songs here. I would even go as far to say that Radio Free Europe is the group’s best song (okay, no, it’s actually Crush With Eyeliner, but RFE is a close number two). There’s no shortage of great tracks anywhere here, with Pilgrimage, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk, and my second favorite here, Catapult, all being really strong offerings as well. Admittedly, I do think the album ends a bit weakly - after Catapult, it doesn’t quite feel like you’re being hit with the same caliber stuff. Still, it’s not bad, and as a whole I really have no particularly strong complaints to lodge towards this album. While R.E.M. isn’t one of my all-time favorite artists, I do think this is a really strong album, and probably the one of theirs I’d rate the highest - though Automatic for the People might get there as well if I’m in the mood.

Not really heard this earlier era of REM properly before. I thought it was brilliant. 4

This album went by before I even knew it which is a good sign to me. Very good album that I'll come back to

Classic album. Not my favorite REM album, but essential nonetheless. Great one.

Average

6/10. Surprisingly liked some later tracks, but not for me.

Cohesive, very nice

Surprised that I didn't recognize any of the songs off this album. "Sounds like R.E.M." is my feeling, and realizing it's from 1983 makes it more interesting - since it could totally be released today and you wouldn't know it was 40 years old.

Debut album from one of my favorite bands and it delivers.

I am a big R.E.M. fan. Although this isn’t one of my favorite albums, it’s still got some great songs. Monster is the album that got me hooked and this is a very different era and sound. Four stars for being the one that got it all started.

An enjoyable listen even though this isnt my thing either. BIG sound, very well recorded.

great driving music

had some good songs...radio free europe, perfect circle, sitting still...and nothing so bad i wanted to stop.

An album of two tracks and a lot of filler. Radio Free Europe's a legitimate banger and Talk About the Passion a distant second. The rest is unmemorable whiny bollocks. Album really doesn't belong in any 'top of' anything. I suppose when it was released it could be considered ground braking vs what else was around in 1982 but it's not aged well at all. Pass.

Radio free europe a good opener, most of the others fall a bit short and unmemorable.

Fav: We Walk

Music wasn’t bad, just not my taste

I own this. Great background music. Love the basslines.

Good bass playing, never knew this album.

Pretty standard alt rock, nothing special. 6/10 decent.

Entertaining enough to listen to. Good rhythm guitar work. Didn't recognize any of the songs.

Very nice sound. I like that the guitar leaves a lot of room for the bass. The guitar itself is also lovely.

Loved this album since I was young!

This was a good listen. More subdued than later R.E.M. They seem to never go back to this style of american folk rock and alternative blend.

good, sweet, fine

Really good moral kiosk super good sounds like xtc made the song.

R.E.M. Lowkey alt rock. I do like it but not a lot sticks. Not very eventful.

r.e.m.'s first full length album leaves something to be desired. i'm sure r.e.m. was still finding their sound, because i found murmur to lack originality or variety. while i wouldn't call myself a fan of r.e.m., i can at least find more of a unique sound in their later albums--and at least *some* excitement. did the record company or producer hold r.e.m. at gunpoint to create this album? that's the only explanation i can gather. and not to mention, michael stipe's vocals are Not Good. ugh.

Generally speaking, I enjoyed this album! I had never heard R.E.M.'s debut studio album before, so I was quite surprised to hear a very clear inspiration for modern indie rock sounds here, way back in 1983. As a fan of 2000s+ indie rock, it's no surprise I found some enjoyment here. R.E.M. would definitely go on to do better things, in my opinion, and some of the rhythms did seem to get repetitive here, but still, the very blatant indie inspiration was probably the most apparent to me here.

Rock alternativo de R.E.M. No me ha hecho mucho... Un 3.

Very nice

Huske kje så masse fra da, men såg da hadde fått jævlig bra reviews i følge wikipedia

Production superb. Unpretensious, doesn't feel overly self aware in a very pleasing way. Great songs throughout.

Didn’t enjoy the songwriting

R.E.M super nostalgic for me (thanks rogerom). Such a tight album. Stipe vocals so iconic. Fav Track: Radio Free Europe

Never been a big Stipend but the first half of this record had me rethinking! Lovely easy-going alt rock tracks with a nice little sprinkle of existential unease. Then I'm not sure what happened, but my interest really dropped off in the second half. Might give it another run in future to settle the score. Three and a half. Fave track: Laughing

This is a banger. A pioneering record in a genre that is probably closest to what I listen to most. Great instrumentation; I'm in love in particular with the textures and melodies of the guitars on this album. R.E.M. can be pretty easy to shit on, but this album holds up so well - probably my favourite of theirs. Four and a half. Fave track: Pilgrimage

Very reflective of the era it came out in. Joni Mitchell is one of great lyricists of all time and this shows here. Soul searching and soothing.

Very lofi Good background

I really liked some of the songs. Had a hard time distinguishing one from another at some points. Its definitely mind-blowing to think this was released early in the 80s. REM influence on indie rock is insane.

4.75

I prefer later R.E.M. Perfect Circle is a nice, new discovery.

I enjoyed this record. Never really listened to R.E.M much, but really dig the production on this, and there are some good jangly tunes here. Honestly, the production sounds amazing for 1983 to my ears. Some of it did wash over me a little bit, but I suspect it'll improve with further listens. Favourite tracks: Radio Free Europe, Laughing, West of the Fields.

They become better but this one is just ok

A good debut

Fun, simple catchy songwriting. highlights: Catapult, Shaking Through, We Walk

4. Decent album.

Very REM. No particularly memorable tunes.

Half snoozy, half catchy. Pilgrimage is a fun track.

2,75

It's a banger.

It’s a strong debut album, I just found it hard to get really into. The guitars are interesting, Shaking Through was was favourite track on it, Radio Free Europe was strong as well. It just never fully drew me in, just kinda consistent all the way thru but nothing blew me away. Edit: gave it another listen and it may be a grower, for now 3 stars

Decent album. 2.6

Never knew REM (stipe) was known for unintelligible lyrics. Radio Free Europe and Talk About The Passion were the singles. Not what I was expecting - probably wouldn’t have known this was R.E.M on first listen.

An influential and important album. It’s not perfect though. A couple of songs are as grating as anything they ever did and Stipe mumbles throughout the entire album.

College rock, meh

nao o melhor deles

Wonderful album good mix of the era. While I listened it I felt like I listen the mix of beatles and kansas/eagle.

very pleasant jangle pop with mumbley lyrics. Very influential album in early 80s indie scene

The pioneers of indie rock. Am not necessarily a fan of theirs but their influence on the genre cannot be ignored

I also kinda like it, still I'm not saving any songs to my playlist. It was ok.

This is REM's shitty 80s college rock phase. It's probably their weakest album.

Even though their style can be found in many later bands, REM's debut still sounds pretty unique. This mix of jangle pop and alt rock with a lot of post punk influences really works and will set the tone for the 80s rock sound. It could sound a bit formulaic, and many people could get bored of it pretty quickly, but it's just so catchy. The vibe is unmatchable Best song: Laughing

Not as good as I was expecting...

Really enjoyed this album. Wasn't a fan of REM before, however having actually listened to it, I really enjoyed it. 4/5

I think the best thing I can say about this album is it truly shows how much REM developed from here to become such a huge band in the 90s. The folky influence is there, and the angst, but the songs are all very mid level. None of the hooks or leftfield inventiveness which conquered the world. It's very much the Pablo Honey of their ouvre - you wouldn't have guessed that this band would go on to immortality from these meagre beginnings.

Standout: Radio Free Europe Others: Talk About the Passion 3.5/5

Such nostalgic album. One of R.E.M.'s best albums.

The animaaaaaaaaaaaals. How straaaaaaaaaaaaaange. Try. TRY to stick it innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

OK, didn't pull me

BL: I really did not like the previous R.E.M. record I had, I pray that this one is better because I thought the last one was a slog and probably the worst record I’ve had the entire run so far. AL: While this was definitely an improvement on “Automatic for the People”, I still didn’t like this. The first half of the album had some moments where I was almost excited for it. The opener and “Catapult” were two tracks I enjoyed. However everything else just melded into one, and the second half of the album after Catapult just became a chore to listen to, no interesting ideas were heard or musical variation. I’m amazed I’m dissapointed by R.E.M. twice in a row but I guess they are just not for me. FT: “Radio Free Europe”, “Catapult” 2/5

Pretty nice debut by this iconic band! The vocals are definitely a well discussed weaker point, but Michael would work on that for upcoming releases. I have never been a big R.E.M. fan, and I'm not sure if I'll ever be. But I recognise their significance in music and applaud them for their great body of work, look forward to diving in their other releases though! 7 out of 10

Day 121 Besides Out of Time, I never understood R.E.M. Spending some time with this album was somehow great; at times it seemed to reveal itself to me, but then it was just a glimpse. At the same something about Murmur was clear from the start: the drumming is huge! Well, that was a great starting point. But I still struggle with the songs in and on themselves. At times it was okay, but at times I was wishing I could be listening to Out of Time instead. And oh, I know many think that's far from being their best album, but maybe one day I will get to write about it.

4/5 stars. Definitely music a dad would listen to. The artist sounds a little whiney, but the music flows well.

omg

3 stars

Bought this years ago and never got around to listening to it properly into today. Really good, long before breakthrough success in the 90s.

I like Rem but meh for me

As debut albums go, they don't get much better than this. It was new, its fresh, it's influences were clear for all to hear. Some called it jangle pop because of Buck's chiming guitar. Welcome to the world of R.E.M. one that was much better for having them.

decent album for the time

R.E.M. has been one of my favorite bands for roughly 20 years so i was always going to like this album, but i confess i only knew the big songs off it. after listening through a few times, i think this album is a perfect encapsulation of R.E.M.'s sound in the 80s. jangly pop-rock guitars without the otherwise ubiquitous 80s synths, creative but obtuse lyrics that get muddled in the mix (so you really have to work to understand what michael stipe is saying), alternative rock drum beats, and driving basslines. all in all, a solid package of tracks that set the stage for their next several albums and some of their biggest songs yet to come. favorites: radio free europe, laughing, talk about the passion, catapult, we walk

Invloedrijk, en dat is duidelijk hoorbaar. Maar niet geweldig.

i was not expecting such a good album - somehow sounded a lot like stuff that came later

Music production and album progression were top notch! But I couldn't understand the lyrics at all! The singer reminded me of Thom Yorke on anti-depressants.

Didn't enjoy it. But I appreciated how modern there sound was for 1983.

Mid REM

I expected this to be better. I liked the R.E.M. songs and albums of the 90s that I grew up on but I never dug into the past catalog. I found it to be okay but not compelling.

I really like REM, though these early tracks are all pretty similar

I can feel the foundation being laid for some of my favorite 90s alternative acts as I'm listening to this. Did not come into this exercise expecting to love two separate REM albums, but I don't hate that I ended up doing so. The instrumentals are so damn good in this album--really, really interesting and gripping stuff. Favorite tracks: Catapult, 9-9

Nonsensical lyrics that are catchy and strange, jangly guitars, solid and unique bass lines and a drummer that matches pace. What more could you want from one of the original "indie" bands of the 80s?

I think Document is probably the REM album I think typifies their most enduring work. Murmur is a close second.

Sublimely simple and complicated at the same time. I sought out this album when I was in college when I had a limited budget for CDs. I never regretted it.

Never really liked REM, and that didn't exactly win me over.

Only R.E.M album I really know, but I love it. Another 80s band, like Talking Heads, that I think I genuinely would have been very into if I was old enough at the time. First half better than second half, but a lot of catchy lyrics and melodies throughout

REM distinct sound. Original for the time. Every song instantly recognizable as REM. Boring as all fuck.

he escuchado unas cuantas cosas de otros grupos posteriores aquí, me los volveré a poner, me ha gustado

4/5

One of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. The impact this has had on the shaping and rise of alternative/indie/college rock can’t be ignored. There’s jangle along with some punk sensibilities, so it doesn’t come across as being toothless. I’ve heard Radio Free Europe countless times, and it still sounds fresh to my ears.

This had a good sound, but didn't grab me like some of their later albums.

has peaks, but overall kinda boring rock/punk. 6.5/10

3.4 Really can hear the Echo and the Bunnymen and Killing Joke influences here it's so cool to see their sound develop too faves: radio free europe, 9-9

Sounds like R.E.M., so if you like that, you'll probably like this. Didn't have any songs that I knew on the album, but it was still good.

I adore REM but this album is not amazing. Bring on Automatic For The People.

Solid

Murmur has not helped me decide whether I find R.E.M. boring. I certainly find them boring some of the time, but ‘Radio Free Europe’ is exciting. Rest cheerfully slided past my ears without residue on first listen. Then I listened to this in OUR NEW CAR and they made more sense. The passion one stood out in particular. Is this car music? I still have trouble remembering most of the record, but I felt happier when it came on automatically when I worked out how to start the engine again. Maybe the connection is boredom: driving is boring at its best, a good kind of boredom. This is an important record, and I respect how they manage to pin down a distinctive aesthetic straight out of the gate. Calling their first album "Murmur" is gloriously on the nose, vaulting past the introductory, peak and self-parody phases straight to the post-modern. Feigned kindness has me refrain from repeating Chris Morris's cruel dark mirror description of Stipe, but I mention its existence in case it reminds S or anyone else here of it to bring a nasty smile.

Another one I have committed to memory, with my REM phase following my Led Zep phase, appropriately enough - although I do still listen to this on occasion. As a youngster, I was amazed by the jangly sound and the clever melodies, and "Laughing" is still probably my favorite song of this style from anyone. So good, it seemed to me that REM were not of this planet, and they cast me firmly into the depths of the indieworld. I have never investigated the lyrics, so this album remains mostly a phonetic collage (probably for the better). Can't believe I never saw them live, stupidly giving away tickets to the Hollywood Bowl at the twilight of their career. Moron

Amazing first half but drags a little later on still very important as the advent of American indie rock

Always appreciate a debut. While this likely isn't the REM album I would choose were I to only pick one (I'd probably go Document or later), it's an enjoyable listen. The biggest sin of the record is just knowing what would follow. All the elements that make them great are here, they have such a unique sound, but outside of Sitting Still, I'm not sure most tracks ever kick into second gear the way their later, bigger hits resonate, and to my ear some songs end rather jarringly. That being said there's still plenty to love, and it sounds so far ahead of its time for 1983. What stands out to me on this listen is how good they immediately were at sustaining momentum - every shift between verse and chorus builds upon what came before it. Stand outs: Pilgrimage, Moral Kiosk, Sitting Still, Shaking Through (though that ending is bizarre)

Overall an impressive debut. I’m never dying to hear R.E.M but I never mind it either. Not my favorite of theirs that I’ve heard but really solid.

I loved R.E.M. in the early 80s. This release (their debut if you don't count Chronic Town) displays the reasons why. This was different than 99.9% of the music out there. The combination of influences, rock (Byrds), folk and most importantly punk and post-punk are on display here. There is nervous energy here that was not present in their later (more mature works). Holds up for me today.

A fairly good debut by a band that I think is highly overrated. Other than Radio Free Europe nothing really stands out to me.

This album was fine, but that's about it. It was nice jangly background music for me to work to, but I know REM has much better work that this. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really feel anything at all. I'm guessing this was pretty influential on lots of indie rock I find boring too. "Talk About the Passion" was a favorite for me.

I think this might be my favorite R.E.M. album.

It’s kind of shocking how much cooler R.E.M was in the early 80’s than they ended up being in their 90’s commercial heyday.

bem paia

Hated then loved

Not great

Say what?

R.E.M. is one of those band that I never understood their fame. It's nothing bad, but also nothing incredible that sticks with you.

I don't get why this album is legendary, but it really seems to be. It's nice, but also very samey all the way through. I don't know... maybe 3 stars?

Genius

I'd like to rate it higher but it needed a bit more variety and energy.

1/5 Best: Pilgrimage Worst: Talk About the Passion

mid. 2 or 3. je n ai pas accroché

It’s was good, appreciated the drive home from work listening to this one.

It def had that 80s ambient music going for it. Good background music for a walk

Surprisingly enjoyable. Undertones of future R.E.M. hit-maker sounds with hints of punk rock sensibility, especially evident in the production techniques. Much better vibe than the later, seemingly more marketable, albums that everyone is familiar with.

Prefer other REM