Murmur

Not really my style.

3/5

Окей, давайте поговорит об R.E.M. На мой взгляд Рем — одни из главных инди-дарлингов американской сцены, а любовь к этой группе — это едва ли не часть экзамена любого музыкального критика. я хз, есть ли в мейнстримном роке группа, которой сильнее восхищаются и рецензенты и слушатели. Почему так происходит (вернее происходило, ибо ныне группа уже не существует)? Отчасти из-за невероятно переоценённого жанра «adult alternative», который предполагал более «глубокие» и «чувственные» тексты и темы. Отчасти из-за культового статуса главной колледж-группы 80-х и наиласковейшего сарафанного радио. Отчасти из-за действительно отличных песен! Да, тут надо чётко обозначить, что Рем умеют писать отличные, великолепные треки. Даже оставляя за бортом попсовые Losing My Religion и Drive, мы всё равно имеем развесёлые Orange Crush и It's the End, задумчивые и меланхоличные Low и uBerlin, мечтательную Texarkana, гимноподобную Walk Unafraid и т.д. У них есть ПЕСНИ... Но вот АЛЬБОМОВ у них нет. К сожалению, мне всегда было сложно проникнуться творчеством Стайпа и Ко в полной мере, потому что при таком бешеном темпе выпуска альбомов и таком малом изменении музыкального курса невозможно плодить годноту в промышленных масштабах. R.E.M. для меня всегда были и остаются больше сингловой группой — и я это говорю как человек, который ненавидит слушать песни внеальбомно. Но честное слово — выдержать целую пластинку Ремов это та ещё мука. Почему-то при умении создавать завораживающую тёмную атмосферу и писать драматичные припевы они нередко клонятся в сторону какого-то юродивого цирка, либо всерьёз пытаются уморить меня скукой на своих унылейших пиано-балладах (привет Everybody Hurts). Какова ситуация с Мурмуром?.. На самом деле лучше, чем со многими другими, лол. При всей недоформированности их стиля на дебютнике, в той версии Ремов ещё чувствовалась студенческая лихость и тяга к экспериментам. Особенно вот эти вокальные переклички в Moral Kiosk — лучший момент альбома, без сомнения. Ранее я слушал этот альбом всего однажды, выделил для себя киоск и забил на всё остальное по причине серости и однообразности материала. Но теперь, при повторных прослушиваниях, ещё несколько треков подняли голову и заявили о себе: Radio Free Europe, 9-9, We Walk, West of the Fields. Это не великие песни, они даже рядом не стоят с лучшими хитами группы, но в них есть очень интересный задор, нестандартные мелодические ходы и более-менее отчётливая вокальная мелодия. Остальное же, к сожалению, слипается в один большой ком акустических гитар и невнятного мычания Стайпа (что, вообще-то фича, а не баг, если вспомнить название альбома). Оно не раздражает, но и не впечатляет особо, и, думается мне, находиться среди музыки, которую обязательно услышать перед смертью, не должно. Но всё же 6/10

I enjoyed this far more than I expected to. There are some catchy songs without there being any huge hits. It's nice to have on in the background and I'll definitely listen again.

pretty good

Perfectly fine. Some good tracks on here, I didn’t dislike any of it. But this band generally really do nothing for me. I just can’t get excited by this album.

In a word, nice. Just not standout or memorable.

Really enjoyable without blowing me away but holds up today and will explore more - wanted to stretch to a four but couldn’t

Not a fan but I enjoyed this album more than Automatic for the People. ***

Leuk hoor, REM! Kende dit album niet, maar eigenlijk zijn alle plaatje behoorlijk goed (en hetzelfde?)

Groot bewonderaar van deze band, maar hun debuut dus nog nooit gehoord. Je kan in deze liedjes goed de sound al horen waar ze later zo succesvol mee waren. Mooie kennismaking, maar vind de albums later toch wel beter.

Yeah, was fine. Not really much to be said.

Not bad. Bit samey but like the low-fi mood. Clearly signs of the good things they did to come.

Promising start, but they get better

I know its the start of REM but it sounds like everything by REM that I've ever heard. Not bad, perhaps unfair to judge on their later work.

Average REM

"Laocoön and her two sons Pressured storm, tried to move No other more emotion bound Martyred, misconstrued" (Laughing) "Not everyone can carry the weight of the world" (Talk about the passion) Nada de lo que diga será justo porque llevo encima como tres horas de sueño y lo odio todo. Me lo tendré que volver a escuchar.

My least favourite of the early REM albums lose the last two for Gardening at Night and Carnival of Sorts.

5

R.E.M. hab ich erst kennengelernt, da waren die schon Superstars. Nette Band, "Losing My Religion" lief schon auf irgendwelchen Klassenfeten und fiel nicht durch; Shiny Happy People auch ein schöner Hit. Aber sonst: haben mich nicht interessiert, waren immer zu unscheinbar und unaufregend. Bei der Recherche zu Murmur dann wieder gemerkt, dass die ja eigentlich aus dem Underground kamen, ausgestattet mit der entsprechenden Credibility und so und fast ja schon sowas wie die amerikanischen U2 sind, nur mit einem etwas weniger bescheuerten Sänger. Naja, egal. Schön das alles zu lernen, bewundernswert wie reif schon die erste Platte klingt. Aber auch die in meinen Ohren: alles andere als revolutionär. Eher wie immer schon da gewesen und gut abgehangen. Also im Grund genau das, was sie für mich immer schon waren: wahnsinnig unspektakulär, aber schön anzuhören. Dafür gern: 3,2 Punkte.

Very decent!

Primera escolta del debut dels REM. En el context dels 80 s'entén la novetat de la seva proposta sonora. Una espècie de deconstrucció del rock (sense solos, sense veus rasgades, introspectiu...) amenitzada per unes lletres críptiques i una veu molt especial. "Murmur" és un gran títol per a ell, sense dubte. Una aposta que sorprenentment els va sortir bé i va significar el tret de sortida d'una carrera de 15 àlbums, alguns incontestables. M'ha semblat un disc interessant, amè, potser mancat de temes més efetius, però amb un nivell notable en general. Un jangle pop de manual, molt inspirat pels The Byrds que influenciarien a vàries bandes de la fornada dels 80. Les guitarres especialment m'han agradat molt.

Bueno. Pop after punk (por llamarlo de alguna forma) de los 80. NO es lo mejor de REM, pero tiene un pase

It's fine.

Empezó bien pero luego algo pasó que no se que

3 - ja macht doch euer zeug

Warum wählt man ein Album ohne Hit von einer Band mit Hits? Keine weiteren Fragen.

Cool rock, nice range of musical style 3.5

I thought it was only okay. I'm a sort of fan of REM but hadn't really listened to this album, preferring their rare high-energy efforts. There were a few songs I enjoyed but the album soon descends into the kind of mellow rock that I enjoy less.

This was difficult to listen to critically because it kept leaking into the background. It definitely belongs on the list. I've heard far too much alt rock and too much of the poppy REM songs to see this for the first time, but it must have been magical. Now it's good.

Another perfectly pleasant album

Está muy cabrón que escuchas las rolas de este disco y escuchas la base de todos los éxitos de rem del futuro. 3.99, cerquitita del 5.

Está chido pero enfada pronto.

Better than I thought it would be and not what I expected from this band, but still the same kind of bullshit

Average REM album

Laughing has great opening bass line, but gets rather repetitive with lyrics near the end. Sitting Still probably the weakest from the album. Early REM is decent and clearly shows its roots for what it will be, but I do think this is weaker than some of their albums to come.

REM is one of those bands that figured very prominently in my daily playlists for many years (starting with an LP of Life's Rich Pageant owned by my brother, a situation that will no doubt become a common refrain in this project). And then I just stopped picking up the new stuff and really stopped listening to them at all.

Not my favourite R.E.M. album but still quite enjoyable. Vocals are sometimes more mumbly than I'd like them to be but otherwise the sound is nice. 2nd listen was better than the 1st. Highlights: Moral Kiosk, Perfect Circle and Sitting Still.

Great college-years REM.

clæssic

A great display of music setting R.E.M. up for their next work however I found it a little lacking in depth.

It’s ok. Not a big fan

Kinda put this one on in the background. Definitely REM but before they were a super big deal so some of the songs sound a little different, not so monotonous as their later output

Radio Free Europe: The mix is sorta weird in a way in which I can't really pay attention to the lyrics because of everything else that's going on even though they are audible. I really like how the bass is audible, it really adds a lot to the song. It sorta reminds me of going along on a train almost. Overall, the song was kinda just background music, I couldn't really pay attention to it or it didn't really hold it as long as I thought it would. 6.5/10 Pilgrimage: This song is already a lot more interesting to me. The guitar work in this song is pretty good, as well as the drum work. This song sorta gives off a vibe of being in a cave I guess? I can't really put my finger on it, but I like it. I think the repetition of the lyrics really works with this one just because of the different interesting elements in the song. 8/10 Laughing: This is a very indie sounding song, and I am honestly not very interested by it. It's just sort of boring in a way, there's not really anything interesting going on, or anything that's really standing out. The vocals are especially weird in this one, it just sound whiny almost in this one, the vocalist sounds like he's mumbling throughout the song, like he wasn't really interested in singing the song. 5/10 Talk About The Passion: This is another boring song where the singer sounds very uninterested (which I'm starting to think that's just his style which I don't really like). This one is a little bit better though, I dig the guitar quite a bit more than in Laughing. There's not really much to say about this one other than I liked it slightly more than Laughing. 6/10 Moral Kiosk: This song bops, I'm digging it quite a bit. The guitar is very cool in this one, as well as the drums that have perfectly timed fills which I appreciate. I think the lead singer's voice fits this song a lot more than the other songs, I can't quite figure out why, but it does. 7.5/10 Perfect Circle: This one already stands out a lot more than the previous songs on the album because of the honky-tonk-like piano which I enjoy. The mixing on the drums is really weird in this song, the hi-hat is in my right ear and it is really stange to me and it's almost distracting. I really like the bass in this song as well, it's played very well and it works with the song very well. As with all the songs on the album, the chorus is just repeating the same thing, which is getting very boring. 7.5/10 Catapult: This is another one of the boring songs with mumbley lyrics. This one feels incredibly uninspired as well, maybe even more than Laughing. I really don't have anything for this song. I suppose the guitar is pretty good. 5/10 Sitting Still: This one mixes it up a little by not having the chorus be a repetition of the same word over and over, which I like. 7/10 9-9: This one is already interesting at the start with the crazy guitar riff and the talking in the right channel. This one feels like it has more energy in it than the other songs by a lot. It's definitely an enjoyable song, and it has a lot of character to it, the lead singer makes it sound like every other song on the album though, which is kind of annoying. This one is probably my favorite so far though. 8.5/10 Shaking Through: This song is, once again, just okay. It pretty much just sounds like every other song on the album. Once again, this song really doesn't have much to talk about. The song has a very interesting ending, with the choice of fading out, and then going back in. 6.5/10 We Walk: This song has a bit of a jumpy feel to it, which I think is pretty cool, and sounds good with the lead singer's voice. This is definitely the most creative song on the album, so far. This song makes me feel like I'm walking through a forest with a dog. I like it. 8.5/10 West Of The Fields: This is another one of those boring songs, which is really disappointing for the closing track on the album. It just sounds like all the other songs that are like this on the album. 6/10 CONCLUSION This is a very underwhelming album. Most of the songs on the album sound basically the same, with the monotone, bored, tired sounding vocalist. The mix on all the songs are basically the same too, which drown out the vocals anyway because of how much reverb was put on the vocals. The guitars are boring, which are just arpeggiating chords, pretty much. And the writing to all the songs sounds like they were all written by the same person on the same day because of the repeating chorus and the references to random philosophers and Greek locations which just make it sound like they were trying to be quirky. Overall, this album was uninspired and I didn't enjoy it much. Favorite Song: We Walk Least Favorite: Laughing Overall Rating: 6/10

Music was well done, but not my thing.

Good album from a good group but they have better songs and albums

ganska bra. catapult är den bästa tror jag. men älskar inte hans röst och alla låtar låter lite för lika varandra.

Kivaa rokkia

Closer to a 3.5

mid

'Shaking You' was my favorite on the album. Not a huge fan of the cheery R.E.M. sound.

I tried but Michael Stipes voice grates me. A couple of pleasant enough tracks and it could grow to a 3/5 but not enough there to make me want to listen to it again.

This def needs a relisten, I think if I try this one again I’ll like it a lot more, I wasn’t exactly focused while listening to this album. Very much enjoyed the last 3 tracks

this is background noise to me i fear. good background noise, but still.

Nah

A lot of the songs have potential, but REM has always sounded boring to me. I was dozing off while listening.

That was pretty boring but significantly better than Mariah Carey’s bullshit.

Not my cup of tea.

they're talented, just not my cup of tea

is everybody hurts their only interesting song

неплохо, но не завайбилась

Al het drammerige geneuzel dat het latere R.E.M. zo onuitstaanbaar maakt, zonder het hitpotentieel.

bleh, precies een grote berg puree zonder zout. kleine stukjes van nummers klinken alsof ze iets gaan worden, ma t valt dan toch helemaal plat. wie dacht er da het een goed idee was om op disc 2 live versies te zetten? eerste album dat ik niet heb uitgeluisterd, niet omdat het per se zo slecht was, gewoon omdat het zo verveelt

2.5 - not a bad album but nothing amazing.

not my fav

Another R.E.M. album I’m convinced I should enjoy but I just don’t like how they sound and I don’t think that’s gonna change. Sigh.

not fw it twin

He sounds so whiny!

This was honestly boring

Know REM from the hits — Losing My Religion, Everybody Hurts, the later polished era. Murmur is earlier and stranger: jangly guitars, Michael Stipe deliberately mumbling so the voice becomes texture rather than meaning. It's an interesting idea. It just didn't land for me. Nothing stayed. Nothing grabbed. Atmospheric in a way that passed through without leaving a mark. I can hear why it mattered — there's something genuinely different about the approach — but different doesn't automatically become compelling on first contact. 2/5 — respectfully unaffected.

Well, it didn't offend, but it was boring, kind of a snore fest. Some of the choruses are pleasant enough, but nearly every song drags way too long. Why repeat verse-chorus three times when it's so bland and forgettable? 2/5 below average

Didn’t hate hate

Urgh

я ща ебнусь. Честно? Ну что это за пиздец, я чё хиппарь в курилке, скукотища пиздец, 1.5 звезды бы поставила потому что ну в целом норм, но это просто никак. Поэтому 2 звезды и всё.

I'm not too familiar with R.E..M. outside of the massive hits of the 90's. Probably a reason for that. This album started out very bland and then remained like that throughout.

Highlights: Laughing

Nice but a bit forgettable

REM but forgettable. At best went slightly Meat Pupppets-y, at worst just bland.

every single rem song sounds the same

I found this to be some great background music but not much more. REM is great in small batches but when listening to an entire album there is something missing. The sound is not inspired enough for me and everything sort of blurs together with no distinct aspects I can pull from to articulate my thoughts. This makes sense for a first album though.

Boring AF. I understand how influential this album is supposed to be but I really just don't care.

Well I hate to be critical but it's a long way from their best songwriting. The song about 'the landing' nearly tipped me over the edge!

eh its alright. Guitar was nice but it felt like it was missing something

They have better albums, felt kind of repetitive

A lot of great and memorable R.E.M. songs out there, but unfortunately, none of them on this album. Pretty bland and forgettable.

Helt ok

I don't think I'll ever get REM. It just doesn't resonate with me in any way. No bops. No bangers. ugh.

Meh.

More like mumble am I right fellas

genérico y olvidabld

One R.E.M. album was enough. We don't need to hear their entire catalogue.

I struggled to listen to this whole album. I just didn't find it enjoyable or all that interesting to listen too. It's not horrible and I get why people like it but it's just not for me. 45-50/100

beginning, it is okay but also i can see myself being annoyed hearing this for too long. (written while listening to pilgrimage) five tracks in i still dont like it :( thinking like a 55/100 finished. didnt like it sorry kind of boring

-love the instruments, the lyrics is not really my style at all -really long -love the vibes

Aside the taut and punchy opening track "Radio Free Europe", this record struggles along in second gear, with the monochromatic vocal melodies, repetetive strumming and skeletal production failing to generate any sparks.

I listened to it today, but I don't even remember it.

so sleepy. Not for me.

none stood out to me

I struggled to get through it all. Not their best work.

Very samey and inoffensive, but pleasant enough.

I never warmed up to these guys.

Helt mid Soft rock men sånn holyyyy ymid

Unremarkable for me.

a bit too country, i found that a previous R.E.M. album made for great background noise but this one was noticeably dislikeable

Why do they have four albums on this list? Totally overestimated.

i dont got many words. i had one song originally liked so its getting a 2

I just don’t love REM

- I thought I'd like this because I like R.E.M.'s later albums, but the songs didn't really hook me. It's not *bad*, but it just feels kind of nothing. It might be because I didn't hear it in the 80s when it was fresh, and now there are so many bands that sound like this. - I enjoyed the melody of Perfect Circle (it's really pretty), Shaking Through, and (the hit) Radio Free Europe. - I didn't love the tone of the guitar - it leans too metallic/twangy. - I felt like Michael Stipe was singing out of tune quite a bit - I think he tried to go a little too low for his range, but when he's in his range, his voice has its distinct charisma. I can't make out the lyrics, though. - The bass is good, but I wish I could hear it better - I don't know, but the mix is kind of off to me. It's hard to really hear the vocals and bass on most tracks. It's mostly twangy guitar on top and drums. - I'm not sure, I think this is a 2.5, but I don't actually like it that much, so I think I'll round down.

- Never been a fan of REMs vocals - Liked 'Pilgrimage' and ' Shaking Through' - Pretty good overall, but I can't shake the feeling that they haven't quite found their more memorable sound yet.

Not really a fan of this. Seemed kind of hum drum.

is the kind of music that reminds me Dumb & Dumber OST

Decent album but repetitive

It's kind of funny bc I really enjoyed Green. I awarded it 4 stars, but honestly, it could have been a 5. Document I enjoyed less, and now this... It's not bad. It's just not good either. It's like what I'd hear playing in the background of a smokey sportsbar occupied by a bunch of 50 year olds who been drinking since 1pm.

Passed mostly unnoticed. Nothing stuck really

no es mi estilo

First listen of the album and I’m giving it a 2. The tracks pretty much all had the same sound so a bit boring

Didn’t really like. Not my genre, got bored

No es mi tipo de música

Honestly didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought it would, but still listened to it because REM has other bangers

Love REM but this one was just kinda meh

I didn't hate this. I'd even say it was tolerable. Maybe it's because Michael Stipe doesn't sound as Michael Stipey on this album. I was into the bass lines.

I feel like a broken record saying this about another band, but do we really need four instances of R.E.M. on this list? They were ok, but not that great. I've always felt they were too whiney. As for this album, their later stuff is when they really started to shine (for as much as a whiney proto-indie band can shine). This is pretty meh.

The best thing about this album is that his voice isn't as pinched and nasal as it would be on later albums. This album didn't do a damn thing for me. I don't know who came first, R.E.M. or The Smiths, but the The Smiths accomplished with their sound what these guys were trying to aspire to here.

3/10

Just didn't have any fun with it.

I love the overall sound, but Michael Stipe is not a great singer and as much of the lyrics as I could make out are really random. R.E.M. got a lot better as they went on. I would not listen to this again.

++: Moral Kiosk, 9–9 +: Pilgrimage, Talk About the Passion, Catapult, West of the Fields +-: Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Perfect Circle, Sitting Still, We Walk -: Shaking Through 5,0/10

Coffeehouse music

I like the use of tension in this, holding a note for a beat longer than expected. Favourite track: Radio Free Europe

West of the Fields almost sounded like the Smiths so that was cool. The rest of the album….ehhh fairly boring as is often the case for “pioneering” bands and those that engineer a particular sound

Maybe it’s just because I got Metal Box before I got this one, but man, there is just nothing interesting me here at all. Just sounds astoundingly safe. Radio Free Europe is a very strong track though, credit where it’s due.

Kept afloat by some good hooks but they’re so disconnected that I don’t give full marks even for that.

I see a lot of people describing this album as "college rock." I was sitting here like a dingus thinking "I'm a college student and I've never heard any other college student talk about R.E.M." and then I realised it's what alternative music was called before it was called alternative music. Anyways, I'm definitely missing something here. This album almost reminds me of a Cocteau Twins record. I feel drawn to the vocals because of what the guy's saying, but then I listen and have to ask "is he just saying random words?" Apparently the singer actually had no clue what he was saying in the chorus of Sitting Still, so yeah, random words. The instrumentals are much more understandable, but they're a little too one-note a lot of the time. That seems to be a common problem with this kind of music, I feel the same way about The Smiths.

Not that memorable

Not sure the mass appeal of REM. All sounds like the same song.

Enjoyed the melodies and instrumentals on this one. Lyrically, the album is trash. The main chorus of most songs consists of repeating the song title 2-5 times, and the verses and bridges aren’t much more interesting. I would have given this a 3, but after seeing all the glazing 5 star reviews, I decided to downgrade to a 2 for justice

Loosing my my liking for Micheal stipe...c

Really not one of their best. It's just ok.

Well put together album. Classic REM sound, just not completely my style. 2.8/5.0

I never could get into R.E.M.

Murmur - R.E.M не смог дослушать вообще не мое radio free Europe 5,4/10 понял текст, но вообще не зацепило, как то не дожали не музыкой не текстом Pilgrimage 9/10 чисто из за звука, текст тоже не со всем понял, может это про какие эмоции которые человек поглощает, но я че то хз Laughing 5/10 попсовая песня, ее это не красит вообще, не понимаю о чем вообще поется

R.E.M. is an appropriate name for these lot since they near bored me to sleep

Not bad, but definitely not my cup of tea. While the instrumentation is solid, Michael Stipe’s vocals just don't do it for me.

Easy listening, soft rock with distinct vocals. Prefer their later songs.

Don't like REM. Just don't. I've tried a few times. I feel absolutely nothing listening to this. But at least it's somewhat close to something I might listen to. It's like a good meal but everything's undercooked 4 / 10

I found this REM album to be underwhelming. I had never heard their debut and given how big they got I was expecting more. I guess if you’re a completist this album is a must hear but as a part of this project it’s not.

12 of the same song

Pre-football match music. Thought there was a good song at the end but it was just that the album finished and The Cure came on

O primeiro álbum da banda, ainda tavam procurando identidade, ao menos soou isso. Bateria muitos anos 80, melodias previsíveis. Não salvei nenhuma música.

i’m not rating this low cause it’s bad i’m rating it low because i personally found it boring and probably won’t relisten

Really just gets worse the longer it goes

Smara

Didn't like it as well as Automatic for the People. This sounded earlier and like they hadn't really started to take chances to write interesting songs. But could be wrong about timeline.

Rem can be so good and then so bad

Didn't really love this one, "Radio Free Europe" was okay but the rest just kind of blended in and overall felt really repetitive.

was ok

Found Michael Stipe's voice pretty boring. Think I would like this if I were an 80s dad. Highlights: Moral Kiosk.

Not much more to say that I didn’t already say for Document. REM just isn’t my cup of tea. Stipe’s voice is maybe even more unimpressive here, and I feel like a lot of these songs build up to nothing.

2.5

Most of the songs were a background noise with nothing interesting going, maybe except Talk About The Passion and Perfect Circle. 2.5/5

JAg gillar REM men detta albumet var för långt, 28 låtar!?

Its okay but absolutely nothing is catchy or exceptional.

disnt stand out in any way

Not for me

This was a tad boring. REM just doesn’t do much for me.

There were a couple songs I enjoyed, but the rest seemed like the predecessor to emo music. It was middle of the road, boring.

I used to quite like some of their tunes back in the day and even saw them live, but I am reminded of how much I always kinda disliked Stipe's vocals and tbh this didn't do much for me although there's nothing technically bad here... I'd given the Haircut 100 album 2 stars and I liked that better than this. As I said in that review, there were things I enjoyed more from the 80s, and this album was a bit of a snoozefest for me. Reckon my R.E.M. sleep stats will be good tonight!

This was really dull and repetitive. Never did get the popularity of REM

5/10 - it all melds into one track

I’ve never gotten the hype on this album. There’s maybe two songs I’d put on their top 20. Drums are unfortunately robotic 80s vibes

Eh, it was alright.

Some nice pop rock, but I couldn't get particularly into it on this day. Nice enough songs. Nice enough sounds. On the day I listened it just didn't really strike me as particularly interesting or particularly appealing. Don't feel myself in any rush to try again with this album either.

I know R.E.M. is considered "important," especially in Georgia, but I've never really gotten it. This release is clearly influenced by British post-punk, which I don't like, and folk music, which I also don't like. The album isn't offensive, and even has moments I enjoyed, but overall, it's not for me.

A bit meh to be honest

This was one of the more boring albums I've ever listened to. I tried so hard to pay attention and within 30 seconds of each song I already lost concentration. There seems to be talent in the music, but just so boring and monotonous.

Maybe it was rubbing me the wrong way or something but I feel like I liked this one less than Green? Not that I remember Green well, but I felt periodically mildly irritated listening to this. It could be just another 3, but right now it's getting this 2.

I like other REM songs, but these were all like nails on a chalkboard To me. perfect circle was ok. 1.8 / 5

Indistinguishable from every other REM album. Felt like it lasted hours.

Not my style of music. I added pilgrimage to my playlist but I didn’t really enjoy much of the rest of it. That’s how most albums are though.

Can’t think of a witty thing to say about this album. Definitely comes out the 80s stronger that hairspray rock and leggings tho

Interesting to hear some early R.E.M. but a weak effort overall.

Nice vibe. Seems ahead of its time.

Nothing on the album got me excited. Too slow and too boring.

I'm less and less impressed with REM as this challenge goes on. They are fine. Jangle rock, but still not impressing me

Irgendwie egal

Well-crafted music. And yet, this album seems to be rather uneventful and boring. So this doesn't do much for me.

They have better Blended together a lot and was just not the biggest fan

Have heard this album so many times and I still cannot remember a single song off of it. A shame cus I do really like their poppier hits.

Album de rock en live chanté par une femme ? À la voix enrouée assez sympas

Dette ble litt vel monotont, samtidig druknet vokalen. Mulig det var anlegget i bilen, men uansett kjedelig...

Painfully boring. Only reason it's not 1* is because of the vocals on a few songs were great

dull

Not a huge REM fan to begin with but I do like their main hits sparingly. Honestly, found this album pretty boring. I get why some people might like it, it’s just not for me.

Not really keen on this particular album. Does not compare favourably with some of their other work. Disappointed

pretty good. gives the vibe that if you've heard one REM, you've pretty much heard em all, and most aren't as good as ones i love.

It's OK I guess. Probably too much REM on this list. 2/5.

There are some okay tracks on this - I don't love REM but this wasn't bad. The last track was a fun one.

Might ruffle the feathers of most fans, but I prefer early-to-mid 90s, chart-friendly REM to early-to-mid 80s alternative pioneers REM. Not that this is a bad album or anything, it is just a bit low key, a bit lacking in some overarching vision tying everything together, and a bit lacking in character.

Some good moments but most of the album ended up ended up blending together.

A little boring and samey. No REM bops here.

OG alternative rock

Forgettable

very soft but grungy

This was dull. Not sure why it is on the list. Being one of their early records, I expected this to be rawer and more rugged than it actually is. Evident it is before they honed their songwriting skills, or maybe before they started writing more commercial tunes. Fine for what it is, but flaccid and uninspiring.

Jag kunde jobba och koncentrera mig, så det var nice att ha i bakgrunden ig, annars lite tråkigt...

So, first thought when opening the album is that it's from the 80s instead of the 70s like the last few days, so maybe it has a better chance at me liking it. Then started listening to the first song. I really hope the rest of the album isn't like this, I'll just say that. Songs were so repetitive that they felt like they were 10 hours long. Not really my type of music, yet again. I added a few songs to my liked songs. I'm actually going to change my scale due to this album. It is going to be number out of total songs, then adding to my "faves" playlist gives one bonus point. That would give this album a 34% which I believe more fairly reflects than the less than 20% before. While I recognize this album is likely very important to rock, punk rock in particular, it literally put me to sleep. There are a few good songs in there though. I feel whoever made this 1001 list is more apt to put the artist's early efforts vs their more tenured efforts which reflects in my scores.

A serviceable, but not memorable (other than ‘Radio Free Europe’), collection of songs that are virtually indistinguishable from one another (other than ‘Radio Free Europe’). There’s very little here to hint at what would come later (other than ‘Radio Free Europe’). And nothing on the album approaches the awesomeness of. that killer opening track.

Cool jangly instrumentals but I really did not enjoy the vocals at all

Never been a fan of REM's music, and this was no exception. Very boring sound, and the vocals are monotone. Only kinda liked the opening track. 2/5, not a good listen for me.

meh

Just meh, nothing special, typical REM stuff here

It was ok, good for a british rock band (I think). I just dont think it would be a consistent listen

People say 80s music was bad, but at least it was upbeat and generally happy. The 90s brand of emo-rock that REM typifies ranges from dull to depressing. They have a few hits which are enjoyable, and made them famous, but most of their stuff is just like every track on this album; simple, boring and repetitive.

Don't know much about R.E.M so didn't have any feelings going into this other than I thought it might be boring. I wasn't completely wrong. I thought a lot of the songs sounded too samey, and the main vocalists voice was really bloody annoying after a few songs. "Perfect Circle" was particularly crap, and the last three songs on the album were a terrible way to finish, I almost can't believe how lame "West of the Fields" was as an end to the record. Some highs: enjoyed "Pilgrimage", chorus on "Moral Kiosk", "Sitting Still" would be decent in a car, and "9-9" was at least sonically interesting and jarring in a good way. Was going to give it a 3 for being alright, but changing to a 2 because I've become more pissed off with the vocalists voice while writing this review, and for how shit the ending was.

eh

Mediocre monotone mumbling. 28 songs and can't remember any of them.

There are many REM songs that I like. But it seems that none of them are on this album.

не запоминающийся, но даже на фоне надоедающий. напомнили этим битлз

I didn't know R.E.M. was making music already in the early 80s. This is far more boring than their biggest hits later on.

I feel pathetic because I actually enjoyed this one.

Well I still don't like this band, but I didn't hate this. Mostly just thought it was boring.

Really erm mid (for me)

Just not for me.

Bored now

Going into this album my only previous knowledge of R.E.M. has been the popular songs "It's the End of the World as We Know It" and "Losing My Religion". The first song Radio Free Europe was a strong opener with this upbeat, but alternative rock sound that felt pretty reminiscent to me like something I would hear from Surfs Up. As I continued to listen more to the album this beginning track felt like one of the only memorable things I would hear. The tracks all have a very similar sound where the lead vocalist tends to get lost in the instrumentals of the song and this formula rarely changes except in the song Perfect Circle, where it has a more slow and sad tone. The lyrical content isn't very engaging either with forgettable melodies and no real message or structure behind the songs you hear. These aren't bad songs either, but it really feels like it's missing something to be stronger or stand out more. A album I think was a change of pace for its time, but doesn't really blow you away in the present day where this alternative rock and punk rock blend has been performed and mastered better by other artists. If I were to pick a top 3 songs from this album it would be Radio Free Europe, Moral Kiosk, and Sitting Still.

Lots of water under the REM bridge by now and, acknowledging that this one opened the gates, it reminds me of the first Tragically Hip album - significant to real fans but not much for the other 98% of us.

Not for me

Nice alternative album, but a bit repetitive for me.

I find this pretty boring. The beats are so repetitive without memorable hooks. I didn't really enjoy this one sadly. 2.5

Knappt något som sticker ut, tråkigt :(

I find it very hard to like R.E.M., especially this album. Michael Stipe’s mumbled delivery, the lyrics that range from cryptic to stupid, the meandering melodies. They’re just not a band I can enjoy.

MEHH. rem just doesn't do it for me. Very average and all the songs sound so similar. queue the hate

No me dice nada tbh

Yawn. I know that lots of people love REM, but i don't get it.

2,3/5

It was fine

I can name 5 better REM albums easily.

Just somehow never got that into it.

komm bei REM nicht rein...

I will say that this album feels very ahead of its time, and I know that it's later songs and acts that build on this one, not vice versa. But it was just very meh, especially in comparison to R.E.M.'s later songs. Nothing stood out. Theoretically I like the genre and style, but I can't tell you anything about what I listened to. Honestly if there were half stars, this would be a 2.5 because I didn't mind listening to it. There just didn't seem to be much to this album other than historical significance.

I get it. It's just so boring, every song sounds the same.

I like REM, but this one was pretty mid.

Pretty fkn boring. No songs I really liked

This sounds like every other REM song I've heard, but without the sense of adventure. Pretty standard stuff. Like Ken in the Barbie movie, this albums job is "Music"

I know R.E.M. from it's many 90's hits which resonate with that decade however I did not know they put out albums far back as 1983 such as with Murmur. Knowing now that R.E.M. predates The Smiths and even Pearl Jam it's not so crazy to say this band may have influenced those two bands a bit. I hear a bit of the musical backtracks found on some The Smiths albums as well as some of the voicing familiar to Morrissey and Eddie Vedder. Murmur is a good album. I wouldn't get it in vinyl but it was an easy listen, I found it interesting to see how this band evolved from this into its iconic style of the 90s.

Honestly incredibly middling Palace style music I did NOT like this one I was bored

I'm not a huge REM fan, and this album just kind of solidified that. Randomly, I got the sense that the Tragically Hip's first album borrows from these guys though. Otherwise the Gin Blossoms kind of sound like this, and those bastards made the Friends theme song, which gives them a special place of hate in my heart. Boring and twangy. And the singer is half mumbling gibberish anyway--more like mumble than murmur. 2/5

I wanted to like it but doesn't really do anything for me - most songs have decent performances and choruses, but the songwriting just don't quite work for the full song. Album continues on like this until it fizzles out at the end. I think I'm closer to a 5/10 than a 6/10 on this as there are a few songs I was actively disliking, so I'm going for 2.

This is a very bland and forgettable album. It's like the greige of music. 2/5

An album that feels quite outdated by today's standards. It's possible this is a Beatles/beach boys situation where their sound is copied so much that it doesn't sound as special anymore, even though at the time it created the opportunity for sounds like this to exist

bass intro on Laughing is fun Shaking Through has a nice kick

bass intro on Laughing is fun Shaking Through has a nice kick

Recognize how influential they are and their radio hits are fine, but have bounced off of any of their albums I've tried to listen to, this one included. We Walk was the standout track.

So wild to hear their distinct sound in such mundane songs.

Inoffensive but not interesting to me. I understand that REM has lots of fans and has influenced many people with their music. I don’t happen to be one of them.

2.3 Of the REM albums we have gone through this one id be most likey listen to again

This album was just plain jingling, although fairly decent at that. Stipe’s sound isn’t as irritatingly nasal as it is on the later records. It also got a lot better after a lousy start. Still, it doesn’t really earn many points.

Hört sich an wie the smiths in boring… keine Einzigartigkeit

im sure some people enjoy it, i dont. Punk bass lines with boring vocals. + nearly all songs sound the same cover: 3/10

2.2 but pretty boring

Ok for REM.

Come on list. I fail to see why you have to prove the point TWICE that early REM is pretty dreary indie albeit with small hints of where they’d end up. Let’s just move on to Out of Time and tick them as done.

A strangely flaccid band, as if some accountants and librarians decided to make some music but didn't want to be too loud about it. Listening to them is like writing your name with a wet noodle. You can do it, but why would anyone want to? Their rhythm is constant and busy, the recording is thin and trebly, Stipe's singing is weird and morose. But it's a strong debut record for its originality, even if I don't like what they do. I wish they had maintained this experimental spirit as they went on, instead of moving into a more mainstream-friendly sound.

That sure was an album of REM. 9-9 was the best.

REM once again fades into the background for me , nothing bothersome but nothing interesting , the beat in shaking through was fun but otherwise writing this off as early synth pop I didn’t vibe with

Didn't like this one so much, ambiguous.

Honestly, I like REM but this didn’t do much for me. No match for their later 90s output.

I was never an REM fan and this album didn’t help. They have better songs than any of them on the sell for sure.

Meh

I found this Album quite boring and the tracks sounding the same throughout. Obviously REM got better with time. 2/5

Meh, it was ok

Fourth album by R.E.M. on this list and definitely a weakest one. Guitar melodies weren't that interesting, bass lines were good, but forgettable and even though vocalist is as good as always, it didn't really work on this record. It feels like the band didn't find its rhythm yet. Unfortunately, no better than average songs in here make it a bit of a disappointment.

I never cared for R.E.M., and listening to this album confirms my point of view. The album is full of boring songs, perhaps useful for background music while you’re doing something useful.

I'm always a little conflicted about R.E.M. because I sort of like some of their music but it is a tad too generic for me. Like they are sort of 'standard 80s alt' no matter what they do. All of their records are really dated sounding regardless of when they were released. This record is no exception - straight down the middle for 80s alt/indie. They've always been a little thin sounding for me with the jangly guitars and Michael Stipe's high voice. I do really like the bass on this record, the tone is fantastic and the bass parts are really good, I wish it had been upped in the mix a little. 2.5/5 but going to round down because there isn't really anything here that makes me want to round up.

I'm glad that this exists because it's a precursor to the great albums that followed in the 90s However, this is mind numbing

This didn't do much for me. The songs are by no means bad at all, but just felt bland. Sitting Still was the only one that stood out a bit. All in all inoffensive background music.

I liked some of it.

Listening to REM is like being offered a piece of cake as a little kid, except it turns out it’s carrot cake instead of the sweet chocolate or vanilla you imagined. It’s not terrible, maybe it’s even good, but all the adults keep going on about how delicious it is and you wonder if maybe you don’t taste the same things everyone else does.

THIS WAS MID

Well, I certainly listened to that. Retained nothing from it.

Maybe the list needs a review? A couple of good tracks does not maketh a good album. Clearly a band learning their trade, with a few under formed tracks and ideas, production now sounds old as well.

This album was just ok for me. Not particularly memorable. Some of the songs didn't really even sound like R.E.M. for me. I didn't mind hearing it but I would not seek it out again.

It's whatever.

The only R.E.M. songs I know aren't on this album.

i think i just don't like REM

Rätt tråkigt, kommer inte lyssna igen

Should've named this one Mumble...could not understand a word this man said

Shake Me Through walked so Take On Me by A-Ha could Run, similarity is a bit uncanny TF is happening in the end of We Walk? the sound of a muffled pool table game? Overall a boring album, I want to say its mainly because the lead singer's voice isn't unique, guitar patterns are a little repetitive and can easily get you into a lull.

Ughhhhhhhh yet again more R.E.M Whenever I see an album of theirs come up, a part of me dies inside This is my 4th R.E.M album and I can confirm I still don't like this guys whiny ass singing and the bland songs 2 ⭐️

Unfortunately didn’t do a lot for me. It’s a shame bc I was starting to like them too

I don’t remember a ton about this, which I guess should inform my review

an REM album without anything i already know makes me suspicious as all anybody played around this era was REM

R.E.M. is growing on me. At a snail's pace, mind you, but growing nonetheless.

Not bad but not much stands out. Really liked West of the Fields a lot, but didn’t find any others particularly memorable. At best, made me think of The Tragically Hip or even Crowded House and then I just kind of wanted to listen to them instead. (2.5 stars)

Nothing about this album captured my interest or held my attention.

Never heard it. Liked it ( ish). Might listen once more but that’s it

Inte min "cuppa" så att säga. Sångaren gör lite till ingenting för mig. Mixen är ibland väldigt obalanserad tycker jag. Vissa låtar är rätt bra och basen är go. 2/5

Meh. Uninteresting. 2/5

Radio free Europe a standout. Other than that, nothing special.

dubbel zo goed als de Smiths...verdient dan ook dubbel zoveel sterren