Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Great debut from the indie band that wrote the soundtrack to my high school and college life. Will never not love this. Right in the 4/5 line for me.
Listen soon
Uno de los mejores grupos delos 80. Buen album
murmurhash(bushi
I like R.E.M. but haven't heard many of these songs. I enjoyed the album. I didn't realize it was their debut.
R.E.M. a toujours été très économe de ses effets, et ça se voit dès ce premier album, où l'identité est forte et ne témoigne pas d'emprunts évidents à d'autres groupes
Gotta love that 80s sound especially when it’s done well
9.0/10. Debut album "Pilgrimage" "Laughing" "Moral Kiosk" "Catapult" "Sitting Still" "9–9" "Radio Free Europe"/"Talk About the Passion"/"Perfect Circle"/"Shaking Through"/"We Walk" "West of the Fields"
I was in high school when this album came out it's just as good as the first time I listened to it!
Me enteré que no es su mejor disco a mi parece espectacular. El tema final, me parece desalentador y lleno de esperanza a partes iguales.
Absolutely love We Walk as a song. It is so simple and yet something about it tickles me just right -- glad to have listened to this album just for this one song. Never was a huge R.E.M. fan growing up and hearing them on the radio, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album and the rest on the list. Maybe this is growing up? In any event I found this one to be more hit than miss without any of the major hits that were present throughout my youth. For me this leaned a bit more post-punk across the board (9-9, Pilgrimage) with several songs tapping a vibe similar to The Police. All around solid and will be back. 4 / 5
Brilliant album, not one that I am too familiar with. Great to hear REM when they were raw!
7/10 Great Start Pre Winter
Not my favorite REM album but there is a whole different scale for REM. I thought the first half was better than the second. But for a debut, it was pretty remarkable.
Hasn't heard this one before. Was quite enjoyable
Amazing debut album!
Early REM is so good. Just an arty college rock at its best.
Great debut. 8/10.
Another REM. this ones a classic
Shame it wasn’t as popular as their other albums
Fantastic, I don’t think I’ve heard most of this before
pretty decent
Comforting
Songs I liked the most: Radio Free Europe, Moral Kiosk and We Walk Songs I disliked: None Actual rating: 4.5 stars, would listen to again
I feel like this one is worth coming back to!
I really enjoyed this record in a way that I didn't expect to. Previous to this, I don't think I'd say that I was a fan of R.E.M but this record combines both post punk and jangle pop together in a very pleasing way.
Having owned the Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, I somehow never collected any of their albums, despite being an album sort of person (shocking I know). Imagine my surprise to find five albums I had no idea existed until a few years ago. This is the pick of them, incredibly fresh for 1983 and easily one of their best. Really wanted to give this a big five, but it's a high four - only one R.E.M. album reaches that level.
4+ Stars (12/15)
I think this album is on here because REM were such an influential band to so many acts that would come later and this is the first real definition of their sound. I don’t think it’s their best album but it’s still a great one. To think this came out in 1983 is crazy; it sounds right out of the early 90s, probably because so many bands releasing music then grew up listening to this. I’ve always had a gripe with the way Stipe sings. His lyrics are sometimes confusing which is fine, it’s the way he pulls his words together and sings with a disaffected drawl vs when he talks. In any case, he stuck with it and it’s part of their songs now. The rest of the composition has their own distinct way of doing things. The guitar never uses too much distortion, and the bass is really clever, using the whole fretboard in every song. It’s that kind of stuff that makes REM who they are - 4 distinct parts that are really more than the sum. This album in particular has a much more upbeat tone than some of their later stuff. The opener, “radio free Europe” sets the speed and feel for the rest of the album. The only stinker in here I think is “Catapult” which is almost too pop for me even though this album is very much guitar pop. This is a foundational rock album for the music to come in the following decades. It could come out today and still be relevant.
Great record. I was introduced to REM by a colleague in the M&S IT department, back in 1986.
r.e.m.'s debut album is a little different compared to their most known discography, instead of the usual quiet rock their debut is akin to dreamy alt pop rock like the police. i honestly think a lot of this material is better than their most popular songs... maybe it's just me, but i would give this one a listen if you're looking for really solid 80s alt rock.
Classic REM. 4
Another great debut album!
Группа очень нравится, но на этом дебютном альбоме ни один трек не полюбился.
Remurmur remurmur the firth of novermbuh 3.7/5
I think R.E.M. is becoming my new Elvis Costello, where I like quite a lot of their music but somehow feel like I'm still not getting something. There are some really fantastic songs here, but sadly also others that I wasn't very fond of. But I still mostly really like this record
I was having a difficult day so I ended up only listening to this on repeat and you know what? I didn't hate it. Thank you rem
Not the best REM album, but Laughing is such a good song
I've always had a soft spot for REMs early output. Their debut album Murmur is classic REM. *Heard before.
I enjoyed this album over Automatic for the people. I feel like this album better represents the bands range while still having the same REM feel at the core of each song. I dig it and will definitely return to it in the future
Not bad! Has all the ingredients of many of their later hits but missing a bit in the execution.
This is a good album. Radio Free Europe and Sitting Still are my favorite songs. Michael Stipe sometimes uses his ability to sing catchy nonsense, which somehow resonates with us.
Classic, but probably only the 3rd or 4th best REM album...
A pretty remarkable debut album, and one that I think merges classic rock music formula with the more artistic aspects via Michael Stipes lyricism. The guitars are bright and sparkly, and the baselines are groovy and intricate. There's very little to dislike about this era defining project, and it certainly laid the foundations for the wonderful career that REM went in to have. Highlights: Radio Free Europe Moral Kiosk Catapult
I have not heard many R.E.M. songs before this, and it turns out I like them more than I thought I would. 4/5
Early R.E.M. slapped. Imagine being in college and this is the hottest thing on the college radio station. Would be sick
College radio Welcomed contemplative rock Practiced nonchalance
Great album, I used to listen to it a lot in the late eighties and early nineties. Radio Free Europe was the first REM song I heard and I loved the sound. I like the fairly basic (in a good way) rocky sound whilst it is also melodic and Michael Stipe's voice contributes a lot to the quality of the songs. Crisp guitars and a very functional rhythm session complete the picture. Maybe not their very best album but excellent still! And it has aged well.
Classic
Not R.E.M.'s strongest album, but still a good one. They've definitely found their sound here, and the energy is there.
Midwest emo before Midwest emo
Kaunis! Perfect Circle päätyy soittolistalle, ehkä joku muukin biisi. Pakko tosin todeta että nää biisit on aika samanlaisia, tai sitten mä en tunne bändiä tarpeeksi voidakseni kuulla nyansseja paremmin. Joka tapauksessa mukavaa taustamusiikkia piirtämiseen, 4/5.
REM - a band I never think of listening to but a band I always enjoy a lot. Finishing every album really focussed on listening to them more often……..I never will, but I’ll certainly think about it for a short while. 3.8
2 R.E.M. albums in a week! I wasn't familiar with any of the songs on this one. It was good overall, but it didn't blow me away. A strong debut, though.
The build up to their run of perfect albums
The fact that this is their debut album is mind blowing. I love this album.
good but weird
I hadn't listened to this album, no do I recall hearing any songs off of it save for Radio Free Europe. Pretty good overall. It's interesting to me to listen to this album as I think their distinctive sound was evolving strongly at this point.
I Like it because it is nice and upbeat. I like his voice, good sound.
I like the upbeatness in the songs, even though it's simple. LOVE the guitar in the background. I would put this on on a long road trip.
So my first thought was - WTF? THIS is the REM album on this list? Why on earth would you do this instead of Automatic for the People or even Monster? But then I realized - this is their debut album, and the high quality and high impact of these songs at such an early stage of their career really is something worthy to behold. Is it a must listen for everybody? No way. But is it a must listen for REM fans? Oh heck yeah!!
Ok, so this is a weird. First listen I was like meh, it all sounds a bit samey. But something drew me back to listen again several times and the subtleties became more apparent. It’s gone to a 4 and with time could go higher. Isn’t it funny how some albums do that. Or is it just me?
I like REM but hadn't heard such early stuff before. I wasn't disappointed! All the things I enjoyed about them at the end of the 80s were already in place here; in fact they seem to me to have a very mature sound already. Thanks to this project, I thought I could hear some of the New York alternative influences, and also hear how they, in turn, influenced bands like Nirvana, so thank you Wiki for backing me up on those things. I think I just like the overall blend that makes up REM's sound. Thoughtful without being annoyingly so; melodic and jangly but not twee; enough edge, rockiness and misery to keep things cool.
Beautiful work of art. Is it soft post punk? I really like it from start to finish.
Kinda sounds like the normal Radiohead albums
A very enjoyable rem album as always.
I've only heard R.E.M.'s hits, and I never really felt a strong pull to their music, so this was my first time listening to a full album. I'm a bit conflicted about it. It's not a bad album at all, but I still don't really feel that strongly about them. It was kind of fascinating to listen to from a music history perspective though. There are songs on here that are very of their time, like Pilgrimage and 9-9, which are firmly in post-punk style of early U2. The jangly guitars also give it a 60s-pop feel a la The Byrds (Laughing). But in other ways this album feels very ahead of its time. I would have easily believed that Talk About the Passion, Catapult, or Sitting Still came out in the early 90s. It's very obvious where 90s alternative bands like Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, and even Nirvana got their sound from. This R.E.M. album feels like it's somewhere between The Smiths and U2, but there's something innovative about the use of jangly guitars and the song compositions that feels different. I think it's easy to gloss over 40 years later, but I'm sure at the time this sounded pretty unique. I will say, Michael Stipe's lyrics make no freaking sense to me, and it's often difficult to make out what he's singing anyway. The harmonies mostly sound good, though his voice can be a little whiny at times. As someone who's very much a lyrics person, I think that's a big part of what keeps me from connecting more with this band. I'll give it a 4/5 but it's probably closer to a 3.5. It's an interesting album to listen to, but I'm not sure I'd revisit it much aside from a few songs. Highlights: Laughing, Moral Kiosk, Catapult, Sitting Still, 9-9
I'm really almost sorry I listened tot his album. I've never been much on R.E.M. They've had a few songs that I liked, a few I've liked quite a bit, but in all it's really not been a big attraction to me. With my CD collection being just a frogs' hair under 3,000 I've had to limit my intake to what I really like. I've got 4 R.E.M. CDs but listen to them rarely. Then I heard Radio Free Europe and Pilgrimage - both for the first time and thought "Why have I not heard these before. Then I heard laughing and thought "Oh yeah. THAT'S why." Murmur, overall, is a good CD - and I say it that way because it honestly surprised me. There are several tunes I'll skip the next time I listen (and I will listen again - it's worth it). Too bad they're not around anymore.
A melting pot of country, alternative and melody. Some great early REM songs on here and I'm sure was considered a groundbreaking debut at the time.
What a great debut album. Unique, deep and holds up well over the years.
Sounds just like R.E.M. Extra star for being the first album to sound just like R.E.M.
8/10
Another solid R.E.M. album that I enjoy but am not as thrilled by as I expected to be.
I think this was ultimately fine? It's good but I don't think, at the end of the day, I'm much of an REM fan.
A pleasant listen
REM always good
Some cities have a distinctive sound, and Athens, Georgia is one of them. REM were one of the bands that defined that sound - solid bass, punchy drums, jangly guitars and laconic vocals with lyrics ranging from the esoteric to the surreal. Michael Stipe has said that he still doesn’t know what Pilgrimage is about and he wrote it. Highlight is Radio Free Europe which one of my Athens friends sent me on a mix tape of local music back in the day.
An excellent debut album, maybe not as strong as the few others to be released in the decade, but still great.
It is a good but not great album. But then how to rate an album that surely helped pave the way for The Pixies, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam? And likely pushed contemporaries like The Smiths or The Replacements to refine their sound. While these guys weren't influencing the mainstream US just yet, they had to have been eating up the airwaves and influencing a different rock sound in the UK and Canada. Growing up in Canada, everything about late 80's and 90's rock is this sound - some of my favorite artists in The Watchmen and The Tragically Hip and The Northern Pikes just scream REM motifs. In some ways Canadian rock still sounds a bit like this. I couldn't pick a single song title from this album out of a police line except for Radio Free Europe, but you know right away it's REM between Stipe's vocals and the rest of the band's distinctive guitar, bass, and piano. I'm not saying it's a 5 but I enjoyed listening to this and damn if it is not a monumental album that was so different from the rest of rock music at the time but so similar to what followed it (thanks to their influence). Some favorites were Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Moral Kiosk, Perfect Circle, Catapult, and Sitting Still.
4.5 Really. Love R.E.M. and its like they sprung fully formed with trademark arpeggios and lyrical melodies. Only loses a bit of steam on the second half songs before closing with a shout chorus of West of the Fields.
i just started my second listen-through, and overall im not super impressed. it's definitely a good album; i enjoy how it sounds and every song is well-made. i just don't feel like it's personally to my taste. it has that sort of muted, low-key vibe that i associate with 80s music, which isnt bad, though it all sounds very similar to my ear. none of the songs particularly stand out to me. i could see myself playing this album while driving or just vibing, but i don't think it'd be my first choice. it lacks some essential quality which would attract me
Liked this album. Not necessarily a new favorite, but I could see myself listening to it again. It grew on me the more I listened.
4/5
Just a solid album. Lots of great tracks and nearly 0 misses.
Surprisingly coherent for a debut album. Every song is good, and there are a few bangers as well (Moral Kiosk)
No private Spotify session needed. Not my favorite REM album, those came later. Not my least favorite either, those come much later. I like it, listen to occasionally.
Thoughts before listening: Early REM is my favorite era for the band (as it is for most non-casual fans), and Murmur is typically thought of as their best...at least from music journalists. Its also their debut. I am a big enough fan of the band to own all these early records and listen to them fairly regularly, but I forget what songs are on each album. REM has so many good songs from their early years that it doesn't really matter whats on this....I know I'm going to love it. Review: This album is very good, especially knowing that its the debut of such a massively important band, but it is not my favorite REM record. There are some great songs here: "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage", "Talk About the Passion", "Catapult", "Moral Kiosk", etc all rank amongst the band's best, but I feel that that later releases like "Reckoning" and " Life's Rich Pageant" are more consistent. Still though, the influence of this album can't be understated. This essentially kickstarted the entire US college rock movement that over time morphed into alternative and indie rock. Essentially all music that I grew up loving in the 90s and 00s cite REM as a major influence. This is a 4-star album (only cause REM has other 5-star releases).
Good stuff. I enjoyed it, but isn't something I want to hear on the regular.
got some bangers
Listened to the album in two parts, one 15 minute session and another finishing the album while drunk. Good listen under that context, like a nostalgic wavey vibe where you sit on the ocean all day. Phases in and out. Cool with that view of it. Couldn’t tell you anything I listened to, though. Not an accurate review. Standouts: Pilgrimage, Catapult, 9-9, We Walk, and West Of The Fields.
4 stars. Fav Trax: Radio Free Europe, Laughing, 9-9
It's not the best R.EM., but even their average is still dope!
With R.E.M. being such a classic 90's band, you would almost forget they had a lengthy career before 'Automatic For The People' and 'Losing My Religion'.
Interessante keuze. Kende enkel Radio Free Europe. Op zich echt nog wel een tof album, ideaal om de "hidden gems" van R.E.M. te ontdekken. 3.6*
Much mellower REM than I am used to, but still solid! Not memorable but still enjoyable.
Yes!*
Rating: 8.5/10 Consistently great songwriting, jangly, fun riffs. Melodic basslines and tight drumming. Another great album from this band. Favorite songs: Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Talk About Passion, Perfect Circle, Catapult, Sitting Still, 9-9, Shaking Through. Least favorite song: Moral Kiosk.
I just love R.E.M. I love the sound. Not a great album from a hit perspective. Just a great album to listen to.
3.5
There’s a lot here that I like, but none of the songs stick out as overly memorable. I like their later, more expressive stuff better.
I've heard it before and wasn't that impressed, it's more on the jangly side of post-punk which is not my preferred style. I can say I do enjoy pretty much every song though, there's just nothing that really sticks out after the opener. Kind of want to give it another try in the future though, so I guess that says something.
Twaalf keer het R.E.M geluid maar dan zonder nummers die je echt bij blijven. Tenminste niet na één luisterbeurt. Ik vind het geen ramp. Ik heb vandaag al serieus huiswerk gemaakt en dit is ontspanning. Ze gaan nog wel een 5 krijgen, maar ik hou hem nog even op zak. Toch kan het goed zijn dat ik deze nog wel een keer vaker aan ga zetten. Niks mis mee.
I like how it builds - good Pinterest scrolling album 😸 faves are Radio Free Europe and 9-9
At the start I was like eh, but as it went along, it grew on me, and I liked it. Shaking through was one I liked a lot, as well as the songs that came after it. I ended up enjoying this album more than I thought I would. Might even listen to it again. 8/10
Still a lot of fun after all these years. And the lyrics remain virtually indecipherable!
While I feel like there are few songs that really stand above the rest on this album, I like it. Great guitar sounds and rhythms. A terrific Saturday, sit outside in the sun and listen to music album. One song I will day I will singleness despite my previous comment is 'Radio Free Europe". Catchy, it is!
It was a really cool sound. I honestly didn't get to listen to this too closely. I will have to come back it to. It would probably be a 3.5, but the fact that it came out in 1983 makes me want to round up to a 4. This is what all indie and alternative music sounded like in the later 80 and the 90s. And you can still hear it today.
Very nice, good music, typical REM sound
not my favorite REM, ok tho
Post trip album
"what even are the decades?"
En su primer larga duración R.E.M. sienta las bases de un sonido característico que con los años perfeccionará y lo hará inconfundible. La presencia de las guitarras en primer término y la característica voz de Michael Stipe, junto al lirismo de sus letras crean un estilo en el que se mezcla la tradición del folk-rock con el garage y el post-punk americano, pero que suena diferente a todo lo escuchado antes llevando su música a la cumbre del rock alternativo. Comienzan fuerte con el tema "Radio Free Europa", sobre el poder de los medios independientes para lograr cambios sociales, para después dar un giro introspectivo, impulsado por los medidos riffs de guitarra de "Pilgrimage" (Peregrinaje) y su viaje de autodescubrimiento y crecimiento personal. También destacaría la melancólica "Talk About the Passion", en la que reflexionan sobre la necesidad de poner pasión al enfrentarse a los problemas del mundo, y las sinuosas guitarras y pianos de "Perfect Circle" que nos hablan de navegar entre lo que la sociedad espera de nosotros y nuestra propia individualidad.
I read the reviews here, and one of them describes this as "mainstream radio formula rock" and I just about broke down in tears. This came out in 1983, into a musical landscape laden with synths (Toto - Africa) and heavy production - Duran Duran, Michael Jackson etc. REM offered a stripped down and truly 'Indie' sound, jangly guitar, wandering and dancing bass, and earnest lyrics. It would be years before they could fill a stadium. This was them finding their feet and doing it their own way. Great debut - a few weak songs preventing a 5 but just about there.
Great intro to REM. More raw than later albums, it gives context to what would follow.
It's interesting to learn that this album was wildly different than everything else on radios at the time. It definitely sounds like R.E.M., but doesn't sound like anything else I know of from the era.
I’m from this part of GA. So I’ve got a soft spot for this one. In REM’s total discography, I find this not as great as other albums. But it’s good stuff and a very solid debut.
i see why this is important to people
Two REMs in one week, what is this? My sleep cycle? Just kidding, I sleep pretty good mostly. After listening, this might be my favorite of the REM albums. I say that both because I don't think I skipped any songs, but also I just really liked a lot of them. Many of the other albums went in one ear and out the other, but this one I had to pause at moments because some songs sounded so familiar. I kept a bunch from this one: Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Moral Kiosk, and Perfect Circle. The last one there reminded me of some other songs I heard, really great melodies. Very happy we got this album.
Great album.
Chill thing, must listen again.
One of the greatest albums from one of the greatest bands in Alternative
good album but not my favorite R.E.M.
Much more accessible than I remember. Glorious stuff
4 great album
good album, i can see why they became popular from this
Fairplay to REM it's a pretty good fucking album
A classic. Early REM. I saw them before famous in New Brunswick NJ in the 80s playing local pubs. Solid
Love the mono stereo sound. Very unique
I'm not sure if I've heard this all the way though before, though I recognize about half the songs. I do like how stylistically this album is a little.ore variable than some of their later albums, as they probably still haven't locked in their "sound" yet.
This doesn't hit as hard as Green or some of their other later albums, but is still insanely listenable for being their debut - and, too, is utterly unlike anything else you would have heard on the radio at that time. To have the courage of your conviction to blaze this trail is admirable.
This album is very soft and good to play in the background while playing games or just relaxing
Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but a pretty good one. A nice easy listen.
Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but still a damn good one. Relevance to this list: 5/5 Personal enjoyment: 4/5
Great album, but I prefer life’s rich pageant and document more
I thought R.E.M. was a later '80s-'90s band. Seems ahead of its time in '83. Super influential sound. A transition from the pop of the 70s to the grunge of the 80s.
Мур-мур Мяу-мяу Пошел нахуй 8/10
Album was pretty good, i'm not that well versed in music terms and shit but I'll just say that this was a pretty good album with nice sounding vocals and instruments
Not as good as the other REM albums I've listened to. Still pretty good though.
Great. I already liked R.E.M. a lot, but this album was before my time. I give it a 4.5 and will probably add it to my playlist.
Apart from "Radio Free Europe", "Talk About the Passion" and "Perfect Circle", I wasn't very familiar with the tracks on R.E.M.'s debut album, but I really liked it.
Solid debut
Someone once told me that this was the best album recorded from the perspective of sound engineering. I might agree with them. Such a good album. Crisp sound. Very good listen.
This is way better than the R.E.M. I know. Even though Michael Stipe's voice isn't much different in terms of its emotion, there's just something better going on here. Maybe it's that when I think of the R.E.M. of the late 80s/early 90s, I think of a darker tone? I dunno. This was really pleasant to listen to.
ive listened to rem a lot because i feel like i should enjoy them more than i do. its not the first time ive listened to this record but one i got around catapult i started to enjoy it a lot more and it bumped it up to a comfortable 8/10. great record and ill try some other rem albums again.
It was nice hearing more from REM than the usual suspects.
Was fine
Great debut album, sometimes referred to as “Mumble.”
Hard to recall any specific moments but I enjoyed it. Hard to know my feelings about it. Need to return to better decide how I feel about it
I believe this was REM’s debut and it is a solid debut. This album showcases a skilled band with a lot of promise. Not every song on here is amazing, but there’s a lot of great stuff, and no real duds. Overall I think it’s a very cohesive album. It was a perfect one to throw in on a Sunday afternoon. It’s got a chillness to it that’s perfect for just kind of hanging out. It is one of those albums that you can listen to closely or just have on in the background and it works.
A very solid album, a lot of good songs not too many great ones though. It is interesting hearing REM before they really found their sound.
What a weird sounding band. I've only hear a a song or two by them before but the slower pace compared to my normal choices and the awesome bass lines in this album made it a fun listen.
Najbolje pjesme: 1. Radio Free Europe 2. Perfect Circle 3. Catapult 4. Talk About The Passion 5. Sitting Still
Kósý og fín plata frá þeim. Mjög gott að hafa í bakgrunni og hlusta þótt það séu kannski engir slagarar á plötunni (ég kannaðist við Radio Free Europe en það er enginn rosalegur hittari). Þrátt fyrir það eru lögin bara góð og platan rennur ljúflega í gegn. Þessi fer aftur á fóninn og eflaust oft.
Although I´m familiar with R.E.M. I have never heared this whole album before. And surprisingly one can already find all of their genius on this debut but not in the later perfection. Favourite: "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage", "Sitting Still"...
Classic. An important soundtrack for me to 8th grade through 9th grade.
Good stuff, plenty of the signs they would eventually become, I enjoyed this one a lot.
I love R.E.M. This album is a great debut from a truly great band. 4/5
Great opening album from these guys. Never actually gave it a proper listen before. I’ll be adding it to my vinyl collection soon!
This is like seeing a high school photo of one of your favorite grownup. You can really hear where REM started.
Very good. Very impressive for a debut album by a bunch of young’ins that were basically a college band. Radio Free Europe is a great song.
One thing that I appreciate about this project is that it is making me realize how much I like REM.
Still a good album, not quite as good as the other 3.7
So much nostalgia! Went down an REM rabbit hole yesterday, loved minute of it
Also torn between 3 and 4, but I have to admit to some catchiness of the tunes.
I quite liked it, I was only familiar with R.E.Ms hits before, so it was cool to hear some songs of theirs that I hadn't heard before
I loved this. It was the most ridiculously well timed listen too, given that I was on my last day of a trip to Seattle. I adore REM but never went this far back to listen so was grateful for this one
It was good
Liked this way more than expected
Chimey guitar and Mandolin stylings, I think, were rare in '83. Not the best debut album but I think these guys are going places!
Even more than Kollaps this is _the_ most important album that no one ever heard. Just like Kollaps invented industrial music, Murmur invented college radio. Rem is one of those bands where there is a clear progression of quality in their music over each record they put out. By the end of the 80's they were the kings and everything they touched was gold. Unfortunately the 90s happened and I'm still not sure what happened to REM. I assume they are still touring and making tons of money. i was a huge fan of REM in the late 80s. I never owned murmur so I only heard it a few times before today. My best friend's older brother had it on tape, but we could only listen to his tapes when he wasn't around or he would beat us. Talk about the passion is still one of my favorite song by REM. Side note, i think its a bit ironic that spotify has all the lyrics. As i remember Stipe really didnt like people dissecting his lyrics to the point that they never had lyrics in the liner notes until 98's Up album. Of course by 98 i no longer cared about REM.
2024-03-09...
Very pleasant listen. Varied melodies, but some repetitive choruses. I understand that these guys invented a new sound which I happen to like a lot. The nonsense poetic lyrics remind me of Nirvana, which is definitely a positive. Not perfect, can get a bit tiresome, but still very solid.
Probably a 4.5 for me. Like this album a lot. Rescaling my grading from here out.
Not as polished as later releases, but a solid first effort. Lyrically distinct and strong. Songwriting is a bit homogenous and poppy compared to the signature style most identified with the band. We Walk was a standout and West Of The Fields is a great closing track for the album. The sound of the last track is the strongest foreshadowing of what R.E.M. would eventually become, IMO.
Albumet var bra, visste inte att jag uppskattade REM! Favoritlåt från albumet var: Moral kiosk. Albumet får 4/5 stjärnor. Skön takt genom hela albumet och inte för långt!
Gostei
Very good and very interesting as a record of where one of the biggest alternative bands started out. Radio free Europe is great, some of the rest is a bit filler, but I really enjoyed it
Strong launch, but they got better.
4.25
R.E.M.'s debut is exactly what I expected from the group, and even though it's exactly what you get from their later catalogue, it's still a lovely listen. Sitting Still is one I see myself looping often.
Great REM that I was not familiar with. I would definitely listen to this again.
muy bueno!
Rather just listen to talking heads
Very chill music. Lovely album that was unknown to me by R.E.M.
Enjoyable album. Not blown away by any of the songs in particular. Sounded much like the other R.E.M. songs I was previously familiar with.
Nice, cathy, cohesive album. Good to hear some of the non-radio hits from REM. Really holds up.
Consistently pleasing album. I would not say it is magnificent, but it is really difficult to have such a high bottom line. Great listen. E.M.R.: 4/5
This is hitting for me more than a lot of other alt-rock. It sounds to me like it's applying post-punk, new wave, and folk sounds to 60s and 70s rock songs structures, which is a cool combination. Its attitude compared to other alt-rock is less jagged fuzz and more blurry, if that makes sense. I was pretty shocked when I saw this was 1) R.E.M.'s first album and 2) released in 1983. It's a strong debut and sounds so ahead of it's time!
I love R.E.M.
My first experience with a full REM album, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The instrument playing does come off a bit dated, seeing as many timbres and textures of popular 80s and early 90s bands ended up sounded very similar to this. However, speaking objectively and without regard to other musicians, this is some great stuff. Pulsating, atmospheric guitars, melodic basslines, a tight rhythm section, and solid vocals. Some forgettable tracks, and some really fun ones. Highlights: Talk About The Passion, West Of The Fields, Radio Free Europe 4/5
got some bangers, few forgettable tracks but considering it’s their debut and how it was overall, great album
Debut album for REM, I know almost every song and really enjoy the style
Decent but i liked the other rem album better
I like it! I don’t think this will be my favorite REM album by the time this list is done, but I had fun listening. 4/5
- Wiedermal ein Debütalbum. Ich habe durchaus das Gefühl, dass der Autor der 1001 Albums durchaus auf Debüts abfährt. - Da mein Alter gefühlt einer der größten Fans von R.E.M. ist, dachte ich, würde ich nach 29 Jahren Musikinfusion durch ihn so ziemlich jede R.E.M. Platte kennen. So kann man sich täuschen. Papa, ich bin enttäuscht. Denn das Album ist echt cool! - Radio Free Europe kannte ich schon (arbeite grad an einem Serienkonzept zu dem gleichnamigen Sender in den 80ern). - Der Rest war mir gänzlich unbekannt. Mochte ich aber sehr gern. - Fand schon immer die Mischung aus Alternative Rock und so Folk Einflüssen bei R.E.M. echt cool. Dazu die unique Stimme von Michael Stipe. - Kein aufdringliches Album, eher zurückgenommen. Das macht es sehr angenehm durchzuhören. - Mein Song des Albums: Pilgrimage. Hat mich direkt richtig abgeholt. - Bemängeln kann man im Vergleich zu anderen R.E.M. Alben definitv die Abwesenheit der Hits. Und das ich die meisten Songs nach dem ersten Hören nicht so gut auseinanderhalten konnte. Zudem nimmts hintenraus bisschen ab. - Insgesamt schönes Ding Rating: 3,5/5
Very good, different voice, but good
good poem music
REM - MURMUR - It grabs me with an immediacy and urgency. It is melodic, but not simplistic (e.g., there are occasional minor key turns that suggest a sense of menace). The album is pretty damn consistent too. The only dog is “West of the Fields”. The standout is “Radio Free Europe”, but (with the exception of Fields), the other songs are just about as good. While high quality and consistent, there isn’t much variety. The songs are not very distinct from one another. Nice clean sound - particularly love the guitar in “Pilgrimage”. The performances are very solid. They do nothing spectacular, but the songs don’t call for that.
revisiting this and checking the release date is so shocking. i think as my knowledge of alt rock history has developed over time, the more impressive an achievement like this comes across. and then the fact it's a debut.... kind of so good it's scary. fav is probably perfect circle!
I like R.E.M. Stand-out: Perfect Circle
I am not as familiar with this one as I am others, but it certainly packs a punch. It is easy to see why they became the superstars they would be years later. A solid intro to a solid band. 8.8/10
RFE is such a great song - it carries the album and sets the tone. The rest is not nearly as good, but still enjoyable!
Enjoyed this more than I expected to. I like the steady bass guitar and vocals. Honestly wasn’t aware of how much I like REM. The lyrics are a bit repetitive but not in too much of an annoying way.
I’m digging this album. Some groovy beats and weird musical choices, then some classic rock sounds, but it kept me on my toes. This is an album that I can’t believe is 40 years old. It still feels so modern - or could at least be from the 2000s.
Another extremely familiar listening suggestion. I had rather hoped to be introduced to some material I might have overlooked and was not that familiar with. On the plus side this project has prompted me to take a renewed interest in my listening and the quality of the sources I choose to listen from. Amazon Music Unlimited coupled with the recently revamped HEOS user interface has provided a greatly improved experience as well as some minor frustrations. An album that has not been completely remastered into UHD can be somewhat distracting.
This was really good. It’s REM but this was more early era. I thought it was excellent.
While I believe I liked the other REM album a little more, this was still great. I should have given these a listen a long time ago.
chill rock music
Murmur is a solid alt rock album that reminds me of college radio. "Radio Free Europe" is still a great song and one of R.E.M.'s best. Overall, a wonderful album.
REM hit before I was old enough to get it. I feel in love later during the Monster years. This record is good, but it feels "proto". They haven't settled in their sound yet and everything is a little raw. Less polished.
Definitely didn't know REM started in the 80s. This a really cool album, I can hear its impact in a lot of the alternative rock I like today. It's definitely ahead of its time, but in some moments, it does sound like its time; the vocals get buried but it's still very fun.
listening to early REM is almost too painful, their fall was so precipitous and so absolute
Full of absolute bangers. I don't listen to R.E.M. often enough.
4/5 Classic Classic rock, pretty easy to listen to each song and f ull of classics
Such a classic album
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Cool baselines, great melodies...always liked Stipe as a front man. A cool 80's alt-rock album.
I like REM, never listen to this before. Enjoyable listen, will keep in rotation
Good album by rem and has that classic sound you would get from the bands best songs
Honestly weirdly enjoyed it 😅. F.song : Laughing
Boy, now don't **this** make me kick my own ass for not listening to more R.E.M.? Gawddamn. Document used to be my favorite, but now it's this, and I'm gonna look back at this four I'm giving it and I'm really gonna wish I gave it a five, dang it.
An excellent debut.
I think based on what I knew about R.E.M., I was expecting something more akin to their big hits – in terms of the soundscape, it absolutely delivered, and for a debut album, I think it perfectly sets up the framework for all of their future records. They stick to it perfectly, and I think the vocal performance on each track suits every single track. Lyrically, I was just desperate for more substance. It isn’t gonna drag the album down for me that much, but after Berlin, I'm just kinda underwhelmed. I think I have to give this a 4, but it doesn’t really feel that way to me, just because I couldn’t get past the lyrics thing, I couldn’t enjoy it as much as say, the Yes album or OK Computer, but I definitely enjoyed it more than Neil Young & Run D.M.C. It’s like a 3.6, I guess.
VERY close to 5 ⭐️but not quite although i very much enjoyed this album :D
I do really enjoy R.E.M. This is probably the worst one yet for them but boy what an album it was. The vocals were solid throughout with that iconic guitar sound in practically every single song. To pair with this it has that eerie album cover, I can dig this.
I had forgotten about this album. Some hits that are now stuck in my head (again)
I like REM but prefer their later work which seems to have a bit more depth.
Pretty good... closer to my preferred genre, but not spot on...
I have never heard of R.E.M. before so listening to this album made me excited to explore something different. And it did not disappoint! I liked all of the songs; some even made me start dancing along and mouthing the words. My favorites were: Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, and We Walk. I will definitely listen again and may even explore more of R.E.M.’s music!
Very nostalgic and low key easy listening
real chill might add this to my productivity playlists, don't need to focus too hard to enjoy it
Pleasant and catchy
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,
Debütalbum. Noch ohne grosse Hits, aber trotzdem hörenswert.
Retro
Enjoyable album
Kinda loved it. Liked almost all of the songs. This gave me a special feeling somehow. Sounds adjacent to the Smiths.
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.
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
i enjoyed a lot but can’t think of any stand out moments
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,
Thought I wasnt gonna like this but I liked it. It good
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.
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 didn't like them then but they grew on me.
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.
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.
good but less than I expected
First two tracks are my favorites, but the whole album is pretty great.
sort of unremarkable beginning and end, but some good songs in the middle.
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.
Good, easy to listen to
- Way better than the previous REM album - 9-9 was a fantastic listen with great guitar - Wonderful alt rock
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)
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 🔥🔥🔥
very enjoyable listen
😊
Another melancholy album. Not my favorite of theirs but still good. Road trip music if I’m not already tired.
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.
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.
Good album, but I think that REM improved with later albums. Its an outstanding album and absolutely a must listen, though. 4/5
Kinda slow, good ol rock album
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.
Hard to believe that sound came out in 1983
I like the fun sounding tunes. The first song was nice
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 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
I like REM but this wasn't my favorite album
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.
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.
had some good songs...radio free europe, perfect circle, sitting still...and nothing so bad i wanted to stop.
I own this. Great background music. Love the basslines.
Good bass playing, never knew this album.
Very nice
Production superb. Unpretensious, doesn't feel overly self aware in a very pleasing way. Great songs throughout.
R.E.M super nostalgic for me (thanks rogerom). Such a tight album. Stipe vocals so iconic. Fav Track: Radio Free Europe
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
I prefer later R.E.M. Perfect Circle is a nice, new discovery.
4. Decent album.
It's a banger.
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.
very pleasant jangle pop with mumbley lyrics. Very influential album in early 80s indie scene
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
Really enjoyed this album. Wasn't a fan of REM before, however having actually listened to it, I really enjoyed it. 4/5
Such nostalgic album. One of R.E.M.'s best albums.
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.