Murmur

Forgettable

very soft but grungy

Cerramos la semana con el debut de R.E.M. Disco de rock alternativo clásico, con toques sutiles a The Velvet Underground (sobre todo con Radio Free Europe), con la particular voz de Michael Stipe y la forma de tocar la guitarra de Peter Buck. Gran gran debut. Hasta el lunes, gente.

Enjoyed this more than I expected. Never been a fan of REM and there were no known "hits" on this album (to me) but certainly an early 1980s vibe I liked!

its pretty good but vocals are masked out a lot/ sung too soft in places and a lot of the songs are kinda forgettable

Amazing debut.

it was alright, i just wasn’t feeling this one really

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.

8/10 A great album. Thinking of when it came out, it feels so far ahead of what else was going on - it has dated much less, or at least in a different way. Could be 5 stars, mlbut it drags a tiny bit in the middle and it would be nice to hear the lyrics

Nice album, you can hear the elements that would make REM great, but not as good as later albums. 3*

Love this album

I really wanted to love it, but it was just okay for me.

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

But my favorite REM but still REM

How can someone not like REM?

sure why not Killer bass tone. They've got some good ideas here and interesting parts even if I'm not completely sold. Knew none of these songs prior to this listen (there's gotta be at least one other R.E.M. album on this list, I imagine.)

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.

Pas le meilleur de R.E.M. mais un très bon album tout de même!

So this album has come as a surprise to me, I say that not because it’s a bad album but because there are 3/4 REM albums that are better than this one. Murmur very much carries the sound of a band still finding its feet I think and while that could be seen as a weakness for the album, it also means there’s a lot of really interesting sounding material here. Radio Free Europe is a great album opener with a really infectious structure, but is then followed by Pilgrimage, a much weaker track in my opinion and a song that feels like filler, almost intentional filler. Laughing and Talk About The Passion are both great tracks but again don’t feel like tracks you’d associate with REM’s general sound. And that’s about it really, the album is good with solid tracks, good instrumental foundations and a soft vocal delivery from a young Michael Stipe clearly still finding his niche not only as a vocalist but also as a lyricist, what a fascinating album. I can see this growing in me in the coming months. 3.5/5 FTW Woooo ! A band I know with an album I don't and REM's debut album of all things, love that combination plus it keeps me occupied at work. Radio Free Europe starts us off and wow what a beautiful track, it just screams post punk with those known REM influences, you get that punky feel and tone, with very hard hitting simplistic chord progressions and basslines, alongside a very 60s folk rock sound. A certified banger to start the album, really familiarising us with REM sound we've all come to love and admire. Pilgrimage goes in a different direction lyrics wise, coming across as very dark and moody, with the clear message, distrust and skepticism of authority and religious figures. Musically the track stays with that 60s esc folk rock sound but adds an almost haunting feel to the track overall. One hell of a bassline starts off Laughing, automatically the bassline and drums remind more of old school disco than a rock n roll or folk track, but its not unwanted at all and fits incredibly well alongside Peter Bucks incredible guitar work and the lighthearted keys, a fun little track showing once again a simple example of the REM we all know. There not much I can say about Talk About the Passion musically thats not already been said, but lyrically its an incredibly powerful track speaking about the helplessness we feel as we are unable to help others who live in poverty or suffer with hunger. Okay I won't keep going track by track but you get the idea, this album is a fun one because its got the fun, boppy, folky rock n roll sound that makes REM brilliant but with powerful lyrics that span a multitude of subjects from social commentary to the human soul and even morality (Moral Kiosk is probably my favourite track on the album). Musically it can became a bit samey but then again, its fucking REM so it slaps. Overall I'm slightly embarrassed I've never listened to this album previously, second banger in a row lets keep them coming. 3.8/5 MTW.

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.

It was okay. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.

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.

surprisingly good!

The mix is a little muddled making it hard to understand the lyrics

meh

I don't know about this one. I like some of what R.E.M. has done over the years but I feel that this is just sort of something I couldn't really care for. There are some aspects I liked about it but in all honestly, it is weird hearing them in their early days because they started to sound different when they started to really take off in the early 90s. This is early indie that did define the genre but I just don't really find it that groundbreaking. It's good, but not unbelievably amazing. Favorite Tracks: Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Catapult Rating: 3/5

Just meh, nothing special, typical REM stuff here

6/10

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

Interesting in places - it’s REM after all - but in my estimation not at the top of their list.

To be honest this is the first album I listened to all the way through and didn't pay much attention to. That's on me. I did enjoy it, nothing really stood out. It seemed like a good road trip album.

Like the vibe, popular band, live version is lots more fun

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.

Gracias a esta recomendación por fin he tenido la excusa que buscaba para escuchar a REM, una banda de la que me flipan sus temas más conocidos, pero por A o por B nunca me he puesto a escuchar.

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.

I really am starting to see why Greatest Hits albums are a thing. There's nothing wrong with this album. But. It's pretty much the same as the last R.E.M album we got. Still got the arpeggio guitar with occasional rock drive. The guy sounds exactly the same. And, the melodies don't venture into anything catchy. It's like a stock draft beer in a bar. Yes, you could drink it all night, but it's never going to change. I couldn't tell you the difference between the third and sixth song. I know these guys got famous for a reason, but surely not for being progressive... Perhaps 'Losing my Religion' was a flash in the pan. It sure ain't on this album. Dear Administrator/composer of this list, they're not something I need to listen to before I die, they're something I am going to hear a hundred times before I die! 3 Stars. Because that's what they are. A run of the mill band. Down the middle. 2.5 actually! Damn rounding up at the 5!

This album is like going for a nice walk on a Sunday afternoon. It rained throughout the previous evening, but the Sun is peeking out through the clouds and the forecast says it is only going to improve, so you figure you should make the most of it. You hop in your car and drive out to the Waitakere ranges to walk a trail that you don't think you've done before. Even though it is a little damp underfoot, the walk is quite pleasant. At one point you get to a bit of a clearing, where the sunlight hitting the path gives rise to a bit of steam, creating a hazy effect. It is a bit ethereal to look at, but you don't feel compelled to stop and take it in for any longer. After a few more twists and turns, you get back to the carpark. You're a bit surprised, as you were expecting to see some more interesting things on your walk. Aside from that clearing and a relatively nice stream, you can only really recall punga trees and ferns. Not that you don't like those. You have to stop for petrol on the way home which is a bit of a pain, cos it isn't a 10c day at Z or BP. If only you could have lasted til Wednesday before filling up, you'd have saved a couple of extra dollars. Oh well, you're pretty sure Z puts their prices up on Wednesdays to cover the bigger discount anyway. You grab a Nippy's iced coffee to drink on the way home. It is only when you get into your car that you remember they have switched to cardboard straws. Does it spoil the taste? You think it does, but then maybe that is just your mind playing tricks on you. Nippy's is still pretty damn good, and you do enjoy this one. After an early dinner, you head to bed feeling relatively worn out. The next day you head to work and Denise asks what you got up to over the weekend. "Not much", you say to her. While the walk was good, it wasn't really good enough to tell your workmate about.

I always assumed i didnt really like REM and never understood how they could be so influential to people like Kurt Coban. This album was the missing piece. A great showcase of song writing and balancing pop influences with indie and rock execution. Really enjoyed the bass lines on this album. Could have done with a bit more variation towards the end, but I'd play this again.

You can tell they are great. Pop music sensibilities done artistically.

Like usual REM but nothingy? Bit nothingy.

Wait, do I get it right that the album with the only track by this band that I know is not even on the list? It was consistently solid, although I admit there's nothing on the I Remember California level

eh

Not horrible but very much the same. I wouldn't choose to listen again, but I also wouldn't go out of my way to turn it off either.

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

i kept waiting for someone in the corner....for someone in the spotlight....losing their religion, if you will

this is SOOOOO 80s!!! it was fun and cute and i enjoyed it during my morning routine, i felt like molly ringwald getting ready for school to see her crush

całkiem git, ale w tle trochę monotonne

Feels like a collection of tracks that just don’t quite hit the mark. Without any of R.E.M.'s biggest hits, the album tends to blend together into a forgettable experience. The sound is characteristic of their early style, but it lacks the standout tracks that make you want to hit replay.

I have such a soft spot for R.E.M as they are the first band I was ever like "I am a fan of R.E.M". Their songs are so fun and were definitely designed for the radio. Michael Stipe is such a good singer. "Moral Kiosk" was sooo catchy and "Radio Free Europe" is obviously a massive hit. "Shaking Through" shows off their vocalist harmonies pretty well too! Actual rating of a 4.5. Liked Songs: The entire album although "Pilgrimage" and "We Walk" weren't my favorites.

Is good 3.5

REM do not yet feature under my controversial artists section but regardless of whether they will ever feature, they are my very own conundrum. There is not much on this album which I like or would return to but then again there is a single track Perfect Circle which is REM at their very best and producing a sound which is unique. REM is composed of great musicians capable of producing outstanding songs but also terrible songs. To my mind there is only one album they have produced where every track is exceptional and this is Up. So, as I might have mentioned on my last REM selection, apart from Up my favourite all time REM album must be the greatest hits compilation. When they are good they are very good but when they are bad they are horrid! 3/5 6/9/25

Radio Free Europe is cool; nice bass line. Pilgrimage has a Charlie Brown ass piano lick that I like. Also like Sitting Still. Hard to believe this came out in 1983 - sounds like 90s alternative. I liked it.

I've always felt as if I was supposed to like REM (and of course I know the words to their singles), but could never fully dive in. This album made me realize why - Michael a stipes vocals and lyrics are too whiney Art Student for me to really dig. It either feels like he's just complaining or trying to hard to be profound/poetic. Music is great and I want to like it, but he just irritates me a bit. All that said, still a quality piece of music and an awesome debut.

Strong debut from a band that would kind of perfect their thing over the years. Michael Stipe at his most mumble-y….I love the jangly guitar sound and “Talk About the Passion” probably one of my favorite REM songs. Also particularly Mike Mills’ bass playing this time around

Murmur still feels like a strange little miracle of a debut. Instead of chasing the louder, sharper sounds of early 80s rock, R.E.M. leaned into something murky and mysterious, with jangly guitars, mumbled vocals, and a mood that is both distant and intimate. Songs like “Radio Free Europe” and “Talk About the Passion” sound familiar on the surface, yet there is something slightly off-kilter about them, like you are hearing echoes of another world. Michael Stipe’s voice is full of feeling even when you cannot make out the words, and that sense of obscurity ends up becoming part of the charm. What makes the album so special is how consistent it is at building its atmosphere. The production is hazy but deliberate, with every bassline and guitar texture working together to create a sound that is instantly recognizable but hard to pin down. It is a record you can sink into, discovering new details with every listen, and it has an understated confidence that many debuts lack. Murmur is not just a strong first step for R.E.M., it is one of those albums that seems to invent its own world the moment you press play.

REM rules

Very dreamy, jangly, fun and playful. Like the Smiths but without their boy-ish attitude. More mature in a way, but very good. Towards the end gets a bit samey tho.

Headboppingly good. Good vibes man. Will go back to as an album.

bolji od prošlog rema (dokument), al niš posebno opet. par fora stvari

Some good stuff but in general just sorta average, didn’t fully like the sound it had that much. 3 stars

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

A bit too calm

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

One the earliest indie rock records and holds up well today considering its 40+ years old.

Oh man, I love R.E.M. They formed a band even before they knew how to write songs, I think that's why they seem so unique and earnest. Love it.

Very relaxed

Like it. Own it.

I love R.E.M. But it’s always been slightly harder for me to connect with the band’s early work. Maybe if I’d just been five years older when the band broke…. Anyway, I know how important Murmur was. It sounded incredibly new and fresh, and the world rightly took notice. “Radio Free Europe” is unquestionably one of the band’s best songs. Even I get that! I do think Side 2 of the album is a bit weaker—or, at least, harder for me to relate to. If I could, I’d give the album 4.5 stars.

I find it intriguing to check out R.E.M.'s debut album after listening to their later records on my album journey. Because, from the sounds of Murmur, they started as more of a cross between garage rock and jangle pop. It's still apparent where the sonic direction will be going in the near future, but this early on, they nailed their distinct characteristics. Peter Buck's arpeggiated guitar playing, Mike Mills's countermelodic bass lines, Michael Stipe's abstract lyrics paired with the vocal harmonies, and Bill Berry's punchy percussion are all present here. Credit where it's due to producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, who employed a largely hands-off approach to capture the raw, live energy. Speaking more about the lyrics, I was surprised by how many poignant messages could be extrapolated from this debut. From the perils of biased media on "Radio Free Europe", to finding safety in a difficult situation in "Laughing", to the starvation and hunger portrayed in "Talk About the Passion", to the loss of youth and innocence on "Catapult", there was a lot of resonance to be found in these songs. Even if a meaning couldn't be found for a particular track, there was enough intricate imagery and interconnected vowels to match the mood of the instrumental composition, such as in the ballad "Perfect Circle" and the bouncy folk-punk of "Sitting Still". I couldn't find any issues with Murmur, as this ended up being a surprisingly vibrant debut record. It was nice checking out R.E.M. from their humble beginnings.

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.

Really good. Nothing in particular to note. This is what I expected Radiohead to sound like (this is an REM compliment and a Radiohead insult)

Love this album! I was fortunate to see The Murmur Tressle before it was torn down in 2023.

Favs: Shaking Through, We Walk Liked! Didn’t love.

this is the 6th album im listening to. I think this album is great and the calm rock atmosphere is gives of is very nice to listen to, I dont think this album feels that different from most other soft rock albums i've listened to and is part of genre I enjoy. However there are definitly a few songs im gonna add to my playlist after listening to this song and even though i bashed it at the start it is something i would listen to on the daily and i enjoy it a lot. 81/100

Very REM-y. Like it, can see how Out of Time developed out of this. Hard to believe this is their first album!

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

R.E.M. is a remarkable band. There are also many songs by the band that I really like. I wasn't particularly impressed by this album. It was ok, but nothing more. It's not a long-lost gem. 3/5

Another boring band

2.8

I have other REM albums but not this one and I like it

i’m disappointed in this. i loved their hits so much so i figured i’d feel the same about this but i was wrong! still solid

for every REM song I like there's about five that I can do without. album starts out strong, Radio Free and Laughing being favorties. but it begins to turn into a slog halfway through, but I tire of Stipe's sustained vocals.

The beginning of a long career, put in solid foundation, Radio Free Europe is still a hit

This is intriguing. I've heard most of REMs music but for whatever reason this doesn't sound like REM. You can see the glimpses of their future self. Its interesting to see how they have evolved as a band. The drums are awesome on this. Just everything that hits that sweet spot. I really 4

Listening to this album is like listening to nothing... It's a murmur that mumbles instead of whispering something. It's bland and repetitive and, still, there's nothing. Nothing. I think I liked more the last album of R.E.M. I was assigned, and it wasn't of my like at all. But still it had something interesting, if I may say interesting for a R.E.M. album.

What I listened to was okay!

O.K.

Really erm mid (for me)

super mega lovely Fav song: Sitting Still

I mean, it's good rock, but the lyrics are utterly incomprehensible at times. I know Stipe is a poetic soul but at one point it's like he's simply saying whatever pops into his head at the time.

Compares to automatic for the people, this album is a bit less sonically diverse and the lyrics are a bit more cryptic. So I prefer the former. Still a great step forward from post punk.

I like it but it lacks standouts

Amazing band that took off with a brilliant record

I'm not a big fan, but found this to be an impressive debut album with a unique and cohesive sound that they've continued to refine over time. Interesting and odd lyrics, catchy songs, and a sound that's wholly their own.

I enjoyed it but never will be a big REM fan. 3.5, round down.

Not bad but not yet in full gear

I adore early R.E.M. and this is easily my favorite album of theirs. It's really hard for me to be objective about this album given my near 40 years of history with it. The recording, performance, and pacing are all near perfect as far as I'm concerned though. Nothing sounded like this when it was released. It was truly unique.

i love the jangle

Todavía no los reconozco

I was excited by the first song on the album, but then, meh. Pleasant enough to listen but nothing really memorable for me…

I really liked this album, though I'm more partial to their later catalog

Pleasing, would listen again but nothing amazing

Досить прохолодно ставлюсь до R.E.M. Визнаю, що гурт дуже впливовий та поважний, але музично вони трохи повз мене. Занадто в них якийсь нейтрально-виважений темперамент в музиці, який мені не імпонує. Зараз переслухавши це враження не можу сказати, що кудись ділось, але вже не так заважало. Приємний мікс джангл-попу та фольк-року з пост-панк інф'юзом. Місцями реально прикольний сонграйтінг. Можливо треба уважніше переслухати всю дискографію та переоцінити гурт для себе.

Люблю практично всю дискографію R.E.M., в кожній декаді свого існування вони примудрялись видати як мінімум один дуже сильний альбом й ще низку просто хороших. Дебютник теж доволі класний, є тут їх перший хіт Radio Free Europe і натяки на фірмовий стиль, який остаточно сформується трохи пізніше.

i was surprised to learn that r.e.m. is from athens, georgia because like a lot of alternative rock before the mid 90s or so, it reminds me a lot of the pacific northwest (or really anywhere up north). the whole album sounds really mysterious and haunted, like walking through a landscape similar to the forest on the album cover. even this early on, r.e.m. were setting themselves up to be one of the greatest alternative rock bands of all time. the whole album is surprisingly accessible; this is only "alternative" because of how different it sounded from journey or def leppard or other big rock bands at the time. the hook on "radio free europe" gives me life. favorite song: "mortal kiosk" overall: 9/10 (i have been getting a lot of really solid albums lately, starting to worry that might end soon)

Some really unique, funky bits. album art is cool but does not match the sound mood imo. love we walk, west of the fields

I thought i wasnt gonna enjoy this at first but its a really consistently good album. All the songs are catchy and have some really good guitar playing and i love the cryptic lyricism. 8/10 Favourite: Laughing Least Favourite: We Walk

I wish this was my first R.E.M. album from the list. I only knew them as "very important" and the subsequent albums go down lots of interesting rabbit holes but this album lays bare all of the wonderful musicianship. From a genre perspective, it is unbelievable that this album came out in 1983. I stopped trying to parse the lyrics and enjoyed the band.

Not heard this before but quite enjoyed, it’s not the level of the likes of Automatic for the People, this album feels quite subtle and understated in many ways and ended up listening twice to help appreciate it more. Solid but it feels like they are operating within themselves and I know there is more to come.

I really enjoy R.E.M. and appreciate that they have a certain mellow vibe to everything. But for me the mellow vibe was just too the same the entire time. I was hoping for some difference and to really connect but instead I just felt it was very surface level and never gave me anything that really pulled me in.

The debut of R.E.M.! (It's not their best album) For early R.E.M albums., I like Fables of the Reconstruction and Life's Rich Pageant. Radio Free Europe is the hit and probably the best song on the album. Fans might find a few deep cuts. I like Moral Kiosk and Sitting Still. Sometimes it's reassuring when a great band's first album kind of sucks. We all start somewhere.

R.E.M. is my favorite band of all time. Truly, they embody everything that I stand for, but I am NOT one of those insufferable R.E.M. fans who thinks they peaked with their first 5 albums, and everything from Green onward is shit. Nope. R.E.M. ascended persistently and confidently through 1998’s Up (and even 2001’s Reveal on good days) in my opinion, and were simply a great band out of the gate. That being said, I rarely listen to Murmur. It feels so underwhelming for all of the hype heaped upon it. I think R.E.M.’s debut 1982 EP Chronic Town is brilliant, so it’s not a case of the warm-up blues. I just don’t think Murmur is anywhere close to being their best album. It’s murky drudge at times, and when it shines, it’s not as brilliantly as later songs and records. Still, this is MY band, so I can’t call this total shit. That title goes to their entirely worthless 2004 album Around The Sun. I’m going with 3 1/2 stars here. So much better to come after this, but at the end of the day, Murmur is a valiant but mediocre full debut album.

I’ve never listened to this album and wasn’t familiar with any of the songs, so I listened three times in hopes of finding a deeper connection to it because I really like R.E.M. I love their unique sound but I didn’t love this album. It feels very much like them getting their feet wet with their debut, instead of coming out guns blazing. There wasn’t much that really grabbed me. I also didn’t understand what he was singing about most of the time.

Just not for me.

klasse!

Ein Frühwerk das gefällt und ich zwar auszugsweise kannte aber nicht alles. Zeigt das Potenzial von REM voll auf.

Excellent

Some folks in the group in Georgia are going to be pretty pleased with this one, and one folk in London already is. Always my favourite REM album, and it still sounds wonderful, with the added benefit of making me feel like I'm young again.

this album is basically the reason my wife moved to athens where we met, so 5/5. thanks REM! (…the album is also sooooo goooood)

Bored now

the unfortunate thing is that we had a better r.e.m. album earlier and now this sounds mid by comparison

It’s alright

Nostalgic, and not bad. It really doesn't sound as good as their other albums though.

I like the guy's voice

half listened

My relationship with R.E.M. is one I would describe as "complicated" and everyone in this group is probably sick of hearing about it (good thing none of them read these things anymore!) But the short version is: my early exposure to R.E.M. came mainly through MTV/radio and I was not impressed by any of it (though of course I would scream "Leonard Bernstein!" along with my friends.) I had friends who loved them, almost all of whom had been exposed to it by older siblings, so they had probably heard the old shit like this album. I did not discover this album until college and then it finally clicked for me. I loved this album and it was a key that unlocked the rest of R.E.M. for me. I still don't love everything they did, and would never describe them as one of my favorite bands, but I like R.E.M. now, thanks to Murmur. "Perfect Circle" may be my favorite R.E.M. song. And "Pilgrimage" and "Catapult" aren't far behind. I really like this album.

ALL-TIME FAVE.

Not bad! I always thought I didnt like REM but it turns out I just dont like losing my religion. I liked it.

6 Only half listened but some nice cool mellow and catchy rock n roll songs. Toby doesn’t like his voice though

The sound of a band that are going to make it but haven't yet. It's a bit raw, a bit short on songs but you can see looking back how they got from there to here. That said, whilst I've never been a great REM fan, this is a fairly nondescript album all over.

Solid rock album

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.

Muy buen disco debut, realmente marca un estilo en una época muy temprana para este tipo de rock. 8/10

45/1001 :: R.E.M. - Murmur Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 7.5 Fav Tracks: Radio Free Europe, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk I need more R.E.M. in my life. I don’t think this is their best album. It doesn’t have the highs and lows that other great R.E.M. albums have but it’s consistent AF. The pieces really fit together on this one. Everyone always talks about The Smiths VS The Cure but what if R.E.M. entered the chat? They have such a signature sound and frankly I think it gets better with time. Peter Buck is a masterful song writer and Michael Stipe’s singing is at such an early stage here but his pen is already strong. Moral Kisosk is such a great idea for a song.

New sound for the time, but all a bit dull

Not my style of music. All of the songs sounded very similar.

I had never listened to this album before, but it's exactly what I would expect from REM. They had a really strong and realized sound right from their first album.

moss

I've liked some REM that I've heard, but this album wasn't it. It was fine but nothing that I'd choose to listen to when I have other options.

it’s okay

This album changed everything for me. Radio Free Europe, in particular, was like a bolt of lightening when I first heard it - likely on MTV.

Of all the big bands that have had a seismic impact on the history of popular music, R.E.M. is probably the one I get the least. I've never gotten too much out of anything I've heard by them (except maybe "It's the End of the World" which, ya know, is fun), and although I don't HATE what I've heard, it just doesn't connect with me, like, at all. I find that upsetting because I absolutely love the indie/alternative music they massively inspired in the years following this album's release and SO many people worship this band. Even more upsetting? This album did nothing to change my views on them. I mean, it wasn't bad at all. I had some moments where I was pretty engaged and intrigued, but ultimately I remember almost nothing specific from any song. It's just sort of flat to me, even if the overall sound is kind of cool. Points for sounding way ahead of their time in 1982/83, and also not sounding dated at all during an era where almost everything sounded insanely of its time.

I’m a casual R.E.M. fan, so these songs were all new to me. No hits here.

R.E.M is a weird band to review. Clearly influential and this is a great debut album, but I don't find it's something I love hearing. This rating is more of a reflection on what I get from it vs what it may objectively be. High three low four. Of the list so far this is one of the harder ones to grade.

They probably influenced a lot of music I grew up on. My sister had their first 3 albums of the 1990s. I've never listened to this. The music on this album is like a nice solid rough cut two by four lumber that hasn't been planed or sanded. It's solid and reliable. A very strong, cohesive debut album. That being said I'm just at a place in life where I don't want to listen to Michael Stipe's vocals. Something about the music makes it hard for me to breath. This makes sense being here. They were such a huge influence on the Alternative rock sound of the 1990s.

No los conocía y lo disfruté bastante🕺🕺

Better than expected

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.

Crazy full length debut. Again, a band fully formed from their first album. How did they create such a unique and immediately identifiable sound? Not my favourite rem album but still great.

C'est 3,5 étoiles mais on arrondit à 4

3.49 étoiles écoutable. Chocolat sont meilleurs, y sont meilleurs meilleurs, y sont, y sont meilleurs qu'R.E.M.

Not for me

Out of the three I’ve heard, this is my favourite R.E.M album, it’s not as varied as green or Automatic for the people but more of a complete album experience with the songs being of similar quality throughout (good quality that is), it’s mostly very catchy guitar indie rock with jangly guitars and soft drums, it’s kind of like garage rock I guess but without the distortion and loud drums but it works really well and culminates in a great album. It’s also lifted by the great vocals and lyricism by Stripe who has a very unique voice which helps separate this band from others. Favourites: Radio free Europe, Laughing, talk about the passion, catapult, sitting still, 9-9 (probably my favourite), shaking through, we walk and west of the fields. Overall, 8/10.

This album being from 1983 is fucking crazy to me. R.E.M. came out swinging here.

I needed to warm up to this album before I started to love it. The first 4 tracks came and went unceremoniously. Then "Moral Kiosk" changed it all. I finally heard what I should have been hearing all along. After that song, pretty much every song on the album is just really good. Along with "Moral Kiosk," I will also choose "Catapult," and "We Walk" as standouts. I went back to listen to "Radio Free Europe" because it's the most popular song on the album and although I had a newfound appreciation for it, it still was not a favorite of mine. Overall, a really good album that I would absolutely come back to.

Nice alternative album, but a bit repetitive for me.

Boooooorrrrrriinnggggg

Enjoyed

Vale a lembrança de que esse disco surpreendeu no lançamento e foi importante para crescerem. Mas não considero a melhor fase da banda.

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

I liked it more than I thought I would given I only knew the first song. It sounds sparse compared to their slicker/more produced later stuff, but in a good way. 3.5

Abandoned this whole thing for some months but excited to be back! Don't know much about R.E.M., other than their most famous song, so this should be interesting. Expecting some nice 80's rock, which is (almost) never a bad thing! Looooove the guitar on this first track, really fun and catchy, everything's catchy actually. Great chorus too. Second track already starts off with a heavy contrast to the first one, but develops in the same jangle-pop sound. Not a bad thing, as I'm really digging it! I'm realizing this album is a perfect illustration of what the label "alternative rock" sounds like to me. The third track follows the same method of the first two, but with a less catchy result. Still good, just not as memorable in a first listen. Talk About The Passion is a nice song, maybe a bit repetitive, but it does build a nice atmosphere. Not mad at it. Kinda pretty actually. Moral Kiosk is a lot of fun! Everything works together really well. While I've liked the overall sound of the album so far, Perfect Circle is a welcome change. I'll need some more time with the lyrics, but it's a lovely moment. Catapult seems to be about reminiscing about childhood, the wheight of adulthood, etc. Manages to be fun and sad and, most importantly, relatable. Sitting Still, while still good, doesn't feel as memorable as past tracks. Love the vocals though. 9-9 comes at a point where the sound of the album (which relies heavily on repetition) becomes a bit too repetitive, so it just doesn't hit the same. If it showed up earlier in the tracklist, maybe the reaction would have been different. The same can be said for the next track. Not bad, but more of the same. We Walk is another shift in sound which, as has already been pointed out, is a good thing at this point. Really like the vocal delivery here (which has been mostly stellar). Last track's a bit less pop. The chorus manages to be extra catchy here. This was an extremely pleasent experience! Will need to pay more attention to lyrics in the future, but this first listen has certainly left a desire for others in the future. While the repetitive nature of the record does become a bit too much at the middle/towards the end, there's really not a bad moment here. While it is true that there's nothing here that could be considered out of the box for a rock record, it's still full of quality songs (which is what's most important). Lovely stuff! Byeeeeee

Fun but kind of repetitive. REM is one of those bands I understand the appeal of but don’t necessarily find appealing. All the same, I saw shocked to see how early this album was released, feels like it was 10 years ahead of its time.

Trevligt helt klart! Men tröttnade lite mot slutet

Knappt något som sticker ut, tråkigt :(

Helt okej

Blev egentligen inte så imponerad men samtidigt lyssnade jag på det igen direkt efter. Bra tecken!

The first time I saw REM, they were opening for Joan Jett and The Police. They said they were going to play five songs and then leave. Which was a bit of a lie because they had six songs, five on the Chronic Town EP and the single, Radio Free Europe. Radio Free Europe, was well played on New Music (i.e. New Wave i.e. College i.e. Alternative) radio stations. It was a great song. The jangly guitars and esoteric lyrics, usually a liability, worked for REM, and the Cold War references resonated with young adults sick of the constant threat of nuclear annihilation. In any event, they were great. This is why all the cool kids were thrilled when Murmur came out. We thought that there would be a bunch of new songs in the vein of Radio Free Europe. Which was true! While not as fully formed as their next two records (some of th songs were a bit repetitive) Murmur was more REM goodness, especially Talk About The Passion, Catapult, and Pilgimage. Murmur was a good start to what would become an major band of the mid to late 1980s and into the 90s, before kind of falling off the cliff and into a see of their own self-importance.

Some songs my taste and some a wee bit less

Strong opinion but this does not belong on this list

Worth buying the LP. No standout tracks, background music. Great first album from these guys, can imagine why they got famous

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.

42 years old and this still sounds fresh. Great album.

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

Bit of a dirge

I just can't get into R.E.M. I liked this more than usual, but still it's not for me.

A pleasant, though not super exciting, album. It's very clear how Radiohead was influenced by this, as it's very similar to their early, pre-OK Computer sound, but it suits R.E.M. a lot more. A pretty album, though it can get a little same-y sometimes. Still, with a sound this good, same-y isn't necessarily bad, just not interesting enough to push it past a 3/5.

No me dice nada tbh

Bien pero nada memorable

No es mi álbum favorito de ellos pero no está mal Pilgrimage tiene ritmin guapo

not terribly engaging

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

Radio free Europe can’t go wrong but must of the album is a little underwhelming.

Not bad, I guess, but very low energy and kind of depressing. The lyrics are supposedly a stand out here and that's an aspect that definitely loses out for me when listening to these albums - I'm not necessarily able to pay close attention to them on a first listen so albums that have the lyrics as their main selling point don't stand out so much.

It’s nice. Maybe not something I would listen that often

Très bien. Est-ce que je réécouterais ? Je ne pense pas... 3,5/5

radio free europe- 4 pilgrimage- 4 laughing- 4 talk about the passion- 4 moral kiosk- 4 perfect circle- 4 catapult- 4 sitting still- 3 9-9- 4 shaking through- 4 we walk- 4 or 5 west of the fields- 4

Can someone coach Michael Stipe so he doeesn't murmurs the lyrics? my god at times it was [incomprehensible mumbles] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D9-491BbkMY

I guess they're called REM because this album put me to sleep!

I listened to Let's Active before I ever listened to a single R.E.M. record and I'm kinda glad I did. I love both!

ehh

such a good debut highlights: radio free europe, pilgrimage (aug 14 2024)

2,3/5

Murky, muddled, mumbling lyrics, jangly guitar, trifty, punctuated drums. Early 80s Augusta, GA goodness.

The debut from R.E.M. opens with "Radio Free Europe", which sets the tone and gives us a glimpse of what to expect on Murmur - jangly guitars, thumping but melodic and interesting bass lines, catchy choruses, and Stipe's cryptic lyrics delivered with a certain distance and murkiness. The rest of side A is just as strong as the opener. "Pilgrimage" carries on with more ambiguous lyrics ("Your luck, a two-headed cow"), followed by the moody "Laughing", the instantly memorable "Talk About the Passion", and the twitchy, guitar-driven "Moral Kiosk", which features some sharp, off-kilter post-punk riffing. The side closes with "Perfect Circle" which highlights the band's ability to build tension and release it in unexpected ways. On side B, Peter Buck pulls a page out of the Gang of Four or Minutemen playbook with his angular guitar work on "9-9". Only here, it’s filtered through his trademark clean, jangly tone. Other highlights here include "Sitting Still" and "West of the Fields". Murmur manages to perfectly bridge post-punk energy with accessible songwriting. While the musical ingredients were already there, R.E.M. combined them in a unique way, creating a distinct sound of their own, and would later inspire countless alternative rock bands in the 80s and 90s. Unlike many of their post-punk and new wave peers, R.E.M. carved out their own lane. The tracklist is very consistent and manages to keep the quality up all the way through, even if the first half feels a bit stronger. 4.5/5

It was fine

3.5. liked it more than yesterday!

4 out of 5. While not my favorite of theirs this is worth the listen.

this one builds up very nicely. i really like we walk. extra points for jeffy

Super original sound for a debut album with some great tunes. I didn’t get to listen to the whole thing but I think I may have before. Expect that the rating could rise with repeat listens.

Game changer. Totally changed the way I listened to music. All timer

First listen a 3, probably because it was unfamiliar after the opener Radio Free Europe. Second listen a 4. Super easy to listen to - I've always enjoyed Michael Stipe's voice, so that made it quickly familiar even with only one listen under my belt.

Would listen to the album again. I like R.E.M

I guess I like R.E.M. now! Solid album.

REM....what can I say, such an important band for me. Lifes Rich Pageant is on my top 10 influential albums. my brother owned this album, so we listened to it non stop. every song is memorable and excellent. I cannot fault this album. What a sensational debut. A plethora of notable songs. Radio Free Europe, shaking through and pilgrimage are the standouts for me. I do need to own a copy. Easy 5 stars

Really liked this messy album. To me, it seemed like there was a bit of a disconnect between the instrumentals and the vocals. Without the vocals, I loved this album. With the vocals, this was an REM album.

I think i have Singles Expectation Disease with R.E.M.. Every time I listen to an R.E.M. album I'm waiting for it to become an R.E.M. album and most of them never do and it's disappointing.

this may be the least objectionable REM i've heard to date. 2.5

that was most certainly an REM album

I can name 5 better REM albums easily.

Big banger

Just somehow never got that into it.

Early promise but kind of dull

komm bei REM nicht rein...

Murmur good

Album is OK, but it's the epitome of generic dad rock. I feel like REM have better albums. Talk about the Passion is a nice song. Also like Moral Kiosk.

Utroligt hvor meget REM lyder som dem selv. Kendte ikke nogen af numrene, alligevel var det følesen af at have hørt et Greatest hits album. Så enten er REM total skabelon, elles er deres lyd bare lidt kedelig i mine øre.

R.E.M. er bare godt

6/10 Favorites: Laughing, Perfect Circle

Solid album. Nothing very out of the ordinary about it for me, but just a bunch of good songs. R.E.M.’s one of the bands this project’s got me more interested in so I was glad to listen to this one. 7/10 for me. However, I will note that this album is a bit unremarkablefor me, so much that I just realized a while after this listenthrough that I already listened to this album a few months back and I completely forget about it.

Fuck rating albums. Just let me listen.

Folk rock hits harder in your 30s, music to chill to

This album is so great. I liked every song. The riffs and the rhythm of the drums make the album so pleasant to listen to. I might have to go buy this album on vinyl.

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.

R.E.M. has been presented to be as the best thing since sliced bread so many times that I can't take them seriously. I get it, man on the moon, blah blah blah. Illogically, the lead singer's voice is just annoying. I'll try to give them a fair shake, look at the rating for that. The review is for snark. Pilgrimage-why does the drum sound like a nasty cough Laughing-never knew laughter could be so plain and repetitive Talk About The Passion-Sunday Service at church? Perfect Circle-I know there's a melody line here, but his singing makes it sound ridiculously monotone

I'm a UGA alum. I'm required to give this a 5! 5/5 #113

light to decent 8

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

I don't think I'm much of an REM fan, I should be, they check a lot of boxes and yet listening to them I find myself trailing off and doing anything but listening to them! They have a few songs that are okay but I lose interest quickly.

Takes me back to a particular time and place. Love this record!

I had somehow never heard this one before, despite listening to a lot of R.E.M., but it lived up to the hype. This is an easy must listen.

Fantastic tunes. Great sound the band had

Solid but doesn’t grab my attention at all.

This is complicated because I didn't like it at first, but then listened to the live versions and liked them much more.

It's not even in my top three REM albums and it's still phenomenal

Very good, I tried to listen to all of their stuff once in order and didn't get further than the 2nd album, I think because I was just listening to this and that one until I got bored.

okayyyyy

Non mi dice molto

I like REM, but this one was pretty mid.

I was pleased with this album. I always assume REM to be sad depressing and monotone, but this one was great to work along to because it kept me awake and paying attention.

After starting this I'm often left wondering about pop/rock albums that frustrate me by leading off with a mid or challenging opening track - why not bring the house down immediately like this album does? That bass in "Radio Free Europe" is everything [and is a/the sneaky weapon on this entire album] - it drives the entire killer opening track, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Mysterious and haunting while maintaining strong melodies throughout, I really like this early period R.E.M. Sparse and a little weird in that boxy early 80s way you know when you hear it - might be the band's best album and one of the better debut albums by anyone. Personal faves: "Radio Free Europe" "Moral Kiosk" and "9-9" 9/10 5 stars.

Pretty fkn boring. No songs I really liked

Sympa mais oubliable

Enjoyed this one

Ironically, I’m an R.E.M. fan but have never really listened to this album. Knew Radio Free Europe and still love that tune, but enjoyed the rest of the album too. No real standouts for me, but worthy of a play while I work.

I like this group, but the only song I recognized was the first one. Still enjoyed it.

Didn’t have any of their biggest hits and the album was fairly nondescript.

i liked radio free europe

Not too bad. Not too interesting. Pretty much exactly what I expect from rem

звучит клево, но бэнгеров не обнаружено.

A bunch of unusual sounds all coming together to make an iconic record.

Pretty solid. Classic REM sound

A little too repetitive for me but still a solid 3

A formidable debut which I suspect could and should grow on me; the good kind of jangly post-punk stuff and maybe among the best music I didn't know existed when I was 9. Hooowever. Today, here and now, I can't say that it didn't somewhat bore me. Still, "Murmur" is another notch towards my respect and appreciation for R.E.M. this project made me understand - and I've already paid my dues in my recent three ratings for their albums. I think this one sits where math will do it justice: (4+4+5)/3

A great album. The start of an amazing journey.

REM is in interesting band. Some really corny songs. Some really self important nonsense a then some really great rock songs. I like them this was a little too indie - it reminds me of high school girls in the 80s that wore doc martins.

Would do well in an 80s brit rock playlist (despite the band being American), but it also wouldn’t stand out at all. Easy to listen to and boring go hand in hand

Good album, although I felt it got a bit slow at times but otherwise quite a nice listen

I love this album. Probably heard it first around 1987. So, at 14. Who knew I would work in the building that housed the namesake of the first track. It’s a fantastic debut. One of those timeless classics.

It was really strange reading the Apple Music description of this album after listening to it. Direct quote; “R.E.M. was an oddball group—even among fans of oddball music.” Apple Music and I must have listened to completely different albums because nothing about this album seemed oddballish to me at all. In fact, to me, this sounds almost completely opposite. I guess that’s not an actual review of the album but rather a commentary on the discourse surrounding this album, but overall this was just an alright listen.

It’s wild that this album is older than I am. Very solid, and very different than anything that was out around then.

God I hate REM, mostly because of shiny happy people, what a shit song. But this album, looking at it objectively and not as an rem album, is kind of Ok. It doesn't sound like the 80s, the bass lines are good, there are some interesting drums and guitars going on. And then Michael stipe ruins it with his voice. REM is not for me, but this was kind of Ok, a begrudging 3 stars

I like rem but Stipe’s singing and lyrics are not to my taste. Green is the better album anyway.

Murmur is exactly what it says on the tin. Critics have fallen over themselves for decades to praise this record, singling out Stipe's lyrics for special attention. I mean listen to this piece of critical onanism from Jonathan Gregg in Record; he describes Murmur as "a splendid little film noir of an album, austere but rich in implication." But, as my mate Dave (hi Dave!) once said: "I used to think Michael Stipe wrote good lyrics until I actually heard what he was singing." I argue that Stipe's singing is best understood as impressionistic strings of sounds. They aren't cryptic ciphers with great depths of profound meaning. They are a hazy backdrop onto which the listener can project their own meanings and insights (which is why critics all think the lyrics are oh so clever; they are simply preening at their own reflections). The band, however, are pretty great, channeling the Byrds and Beatles and little bit of folk punk into the absolute template for college rock for the next decade. Special mention to Mike Mills, whose bass and other instruments anchor the arrangements, and whose backing singing is wonderful. The album is not well recorded, but I like the resulting aesthetic. This record would have been woeful if some cigar-chomping A&R man had dragged them down to Criteria Studios in Miami to spend six months doing bumps of coke, overdubbing synthesizers and polishing their masterpiece -- that came a few albums later. Much better we ended up with this, one of the pivotal documents (no pun intended) of alternative rock. Personally, I lean more towards Husker Du, but I reckon every share house I lived in during the 1980s and early 90s had a copy of this album.

4.5

Ok overall. Relatively chill rock that rides the line between boring and interesting too well. 3/5

Phenomenal album listened to it way before i did the 1001 records its class

Me gusto, pero siento que hay mejores, de ellos, tambien teniendo en cuenta que es su primer album

Not their best, but good

Early OG indie music. Not my favorite REM album but flowed through it.

Solid indie rock from an influential band.

This album is great!!

Good listen!

I fuckin love REM

Buenisimo

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"

Hard (impossible?) to write about Murmur in 2025 without considering the subsequent R.E.M. catalogue. It was a kid musician's dream--imitating the guitar runs and mystic singing after endless tape rewinding. It still felt like true underground. We walked (we thought) into cool. Though we can argue endlessly now about if they eventually sold out, sold out then came back, lost it, never lost it, ad infinitum, our love then feels justified. The first leg of a brilliant marathon..

I just could not connect - kept losing interest although I do like later albums. But nothing stayed with me or ignited any passion.

This is an album I've spun countless times — though perhaps never after the year 2000. I discovered R.E.M. right when they launched, went bananas over the band's first five albums (and the Chronic Town EP) and then totally soured on Green and all that came after, save a few singles. This record was something of a revelation when it landed, the first "indie" band to make a splash nationwide, though I can't quite classify what it was that was so anti-establishment about it. You just knew it when you heard it. I thought this listen would instantly transport me to high school — my band played a couple of tunes off this album (I made up all the words because who knows what the hell Stipe was saying — I consciously didn't have the lyrics scrolling on this listen because I don't think we're supposed to know). So... this was fun, but not a time machine. I liked it, but didn't feel like new truths were revealed. At the end of the day, I preferred Fables, Pageant, and Document, and probably still do. But I was glad to see this pop up, it's a worthy inclusion, and while I'd argue it's not the best of R.E.M.'s early work, all the elements are there. It's a more complete album than I remember. But you could already hear future Michael Stipe taking himself way too seriously. Peter Buck, too (though his guitar work is great). Thank god for Mills and Berry.

What a great trip down memory lane. This thing holds up well, and it brought me back to the senior year of high school (the album had been out for eight years before I discovered it). It was cool to finally have access to the lyrics. So that's what he was saying all this time? (Not sure it helped my understanding all that much, but it was nice to read along.) This is one of those albums that made an enormous impression on me at just the right time in my life. It must have been years before I could *stop* singing like Michael Stipe. And as much as I loved Peter Buck's guitar, I think Mike Mills' bass playing had a bigger impact on me. That tone still sounds so great. Just about every song hits its mark, though 9-9 is still my favorite of the bunch. Lifes Rich Pageant might be a better album, but I don't know. This one's pretty special.

Even though the album might make more sense to be named, "Mumble," I just love REM. All of their eras in fact. But what a wild journey it was to hear something so fresh. And boy did they come out strong.

Fun and danceable.

Album 805 of 1089 R.E.M. -Murmur (1983) Rating : 4.5 / 5 Awesome debut album from one of my favorite bands. Only take half a point off because they have others I like more. Great songs, great sound...love the jangly guitars. They don't put out much I don't enjoy.

One of the best debuts of all time and remains my favorite REM album.

I've listened to this so many times I've lost count. Pretty good.

I like REM’s voice, i just don’t know how long I could

I’ve been listening to REM more lately and slime them but didn’t know this album. Some decent songs but I like other albums better. They were way ahead of their time.

Murmur is by far my favorite R.E.M. album. This one played endlessly during college and beyond. My favorite lines from my two favorite songs: A perfect circle of acquaintances and friends. We could gather, throw a fit.

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.

Added to Playlist, enjoying the instrumental and vibes

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

This was pretty bland to me - it didn't feel like there was a lot of energy behind what I heard/nothing jumped out to me in particular. I was surprised to see the acclaim it garnered. I feel this is another case of I just didn't "get" it.

I wanted to love it more, but I couldn't.

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

Classic REM sound. Early in their development.

Fabulous sounds

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.

Enjoyed much more than i was expecting. Can see how they influenced lots of soft rock band I like such as The Lemonheads. Not a huge fan of REM but this was an enjoyable listen