Murmur

I'm a casual fan of REM really and more likely to listen to their peak 90s stuff than their earlier output. It's decent and you can hear the ingredients that would go onto make them ultra successful. I understand their influence in the 80s in the alternative rock scene at a time where hair metal and hard rock was the dominant genre in that sphere but I don't really think of this as essential on a musical level, knowing what follows it.

Dece.

It's still good and it still smells like the summer of 1983

very dad music but i fuck with that so no real complaints here

murmur murmur murmur

Pilgrimage 9-9 We Walk

cool, no se si le cacho tanto la vibe

nice indie tunes, more raw than their late work

It's ok, I've never really got into REM. I think I once owned this but never actually listened to it.

buenos arpegios pero bien fome el disco

Maybe ahead of it's time, but nothing stood out to me on this album

A decent album. REM always tends to sound the same though. Also, this was the album I got on the day my first child was born so I’m going to give it an extra star just in case my sleep delirium has made me overly critical.

A pretty likeable jangly album. Not a lot that I absolutely loved, but I definitely didn't hate any of it.

1st one good

It was ok, enjoyable sound but nothing particularly stuck out. May revisit later.

OK, I like this album but maybe a big part of it is nostalgia. I think the prominent basslines and just generally strong rhythm section sets this apart from being a generic jangly guitar band. There are only a few songs that stick with me though. If it's enjoyable in the moment but doesn't leave anything behind, that takes away from my appreciation. I like REM's early stuff, but it's pretty weak compared to Life's Rich Pageant or Document where I think they locked in together and the vocal lines were more powerful. I'm not as much of a fan of the more wistful moods represented on this album. Essential listen: no Desert island disc: no

Completely and utterly bland. Didn't notice a single song.

As with most REM fairly boring and repetitive. However, I don't hate it and I can see the appeal?

I don’t think I feel anyway in particular about this album. It’s pleasantly forgettable, in that I won’t mind it playing in the background. But it’s not exactly getting me to move or feel a certain way.

Way better than that other one I had to listen to! Strong 6

Not bad, not exceptional either, good as a background music while you're doing house chores 🙌

No fav song

I liked the first song...

Radio Free Europe shows REM's post-punk, almost new-wave side more clearly. It could almost be a Blondie track! The whole album doesn't quite have that sound that sets REM apart yet. There are jangly guitars, strings and Stipes distinctive vocals, but it just lacks something. Best track - Talk About the Passion 3 stars - bit disappointed. I expect more from REM in terms of hooks and intensity.

Agree with the majority. It's okay: nothing standout, nothing especially bad. Doesn't really do anything for me but probably a good debut. Went on a bit and sounds like Costello on downers.

Fairly good album. Unfortunately find the main singers voice so annoying:(

Good debut but their really strong stuff is later

I hadn't heard this album in its entirety yet. There were only a couple songs that I recognized, and the rest didn't really stand out. I can see how this album could grow on me with more listens for sure.

Nich so meins aber kann ich trotzdem irgendwie appreciaten

some good alt rock

J'ai réécouté Murmur, le tout premier album de R.E.M. sorti en 1983, et après avoir essayé de percer le mystère des marmonnements de Michael Stipe, mon verdict est tombé. Ce sera un 3 sur 5 ni plus ni moins, et c'est exactement la même note que celle que j'ai attribuée à Green. Avant de me lapider pour hérésie, restons calmes, respirons un coup et regardons les choses en face de manière objective. Nous sommes en 1983, une époque où la synthpop britannique commence à saturer les ondes et où le rock américain cherche désespérément un second souffle après l'explosion punk et le dégonflage de la New Wave. C'est dans ce paysage qu'arrive ce quatuor d'Athens, Géorgie, avec sous le bras un disque qui va poser les fondations de ce qu'on appellera plus tard le college rock. Le groupe refuse les gros synthés pour revenir à des guitares claires, des lignes de basse bondissantes et une voix qui refuse obstinément d'articuler. C’est charmant sur le papier, c'est historique dans l'impact, mais est-ce que cela en fait un chef-d'œuvre absolu de bout en bout ? Pour moi, Murmur reste un bon album, indéniablement doté de très bons titres qui justifient sa place dans l'histoire, mais il souffre aussi de gros morceaux de faiblesse qui laissent au final un sentiment profondément mitigé. C'est le type même de disque qui oscille constamment entre le coup de génie brut et la redondance absolue, me donnant parfois l'impression d'écouter le même morceau folk-rock. Un disque charnière, certes, mais bancal. Le grand point fort de ce disque, c'est cette alchimie immédiate entre la guitare Rickenbacker de Peter Buck, qui jangle comme si sa vie en dépendait, et la section rythmique impeccable de Mike Mills et Bill Berry. Dès le morceau d'ouverture, la fameuse version réenregistrée de "Radio Free Europe", on prend une claque d'énergie brute. Le refrain est d'une efficacité redoutable, la basse est d'une fluidité incroyable et la batterie pousse le tout vers l'avant sans jamais faiblir. C'est le paroxysme de leur style primitif, une décharge de pop urgente qui donne envie de prendre sa voiture et de rouler sans but précis. L'autre immense réussite qui me hante à chaque écoute, c'est évidemment "Talk About the Passion". Là, le groupe touche à une forme de mélancolie lumineuse absolument parfaite. La voix de Stipe se fait plus caressante, les arpèges de Buck s'envolent et l'équilibre général montre ce que le rock alternatif américain pouvait offrir de meilleur : de l'émotion pure, sans fioritures grandiloquentes ni solos de guitare interminables de métalleux permanentés. Rien que pour ces fulgurances, l'album mérite qu'on s'y arrête et justifie qu'on l'écoute encore aujourd'hui. Le travail des producteurs Mitch Easter et Don Dixon mérite aussi d'être salué sur ces grands moments. Ils ont réussi à capter une atmosphère unique, mystérieuse, presque pastorale, qui tranche radicalement avec les productions hyper-compressées de 1983. Le son est boisé, organique, un peu crasseux sur les bords mais toujours chaleureux. La voix de Stipe est mixée en retrait, presque comme un instrument supplémentaire, ce qui renforce cette sensation de murmure ésotérique qui a donné son titre à l'album. C'est poétique, c'est intrigant, et sur les trois ou quatre meilleurs morceaux de la galette, ça fonctionne à merveille. Mais voilà, une fois qu'on a enlevé ces quelques hymnes incontournables, qu'est-ce qu'il reste ? C'est là que le disque commence à montrer ses limites et que mon enthousiasme s'effondre gentiment. Aller droit au but, c'est aussi admettre que la seconde moitié de l'album s'embourbe dans des structures ultra-répétitives. À force de vouloir imposer leur marque de fabrique à tout prix, les morceaux finissent par tous se ressembler. On retrouve inlassablement le même tempo moyen, les mêmes arpèges en boucle et les mêmes mélodies de basse qui tentent désespérément de meubler le vide intersidéral de certaines compositions. Certains titres font office de pur remplissage et me laissent totalement de marbre. Les mélodies s'essoufflent, le dynamisme s'estompe et on sombre rapidement dans une sorte de folk-rock léthargique qui manque cruellement de hargne. Le refus systématique de Stipe d'articuler ses textes, si séduisant sur les morceaux rythmés, devient ici franchement agaçant. Quand le morceau est faible, ce chant marmonné n'est plus un mystère poétique, c'est juste un mec qui donne l'impression d'avoir oublié ses paroles ou d'avoir abusé des calmants avant d'entrer en cabine. C'est mou, c'est flou, et ça plombe le rythme global du disque de manière impardonnable. Cette alternance constante entre le très bon et le franchement dispensable crée une frustration terrible. On passe d'un morceau qui vous dresse les poils sur les bras à une piste suivante qui s'écoute d'une oreille distraite. C'est ce manque flagrant de cohérence qualitative qui m'empêche de crier au génie et qui me pousse à ramener ce disque à sa juste valeur : un premier essai prometteur, rempli de promesses d'avenir, mais encore englué dans les approximations de la jeunesse. Murmur est le jumeau spirituel de Green dans ma discographie personnelle de R.E.M., d'où cette note identique de 3 sur 5. Dans les deux cas, on fait face au même syndrome : le groupe est capable d'écrire des classiques absolus de la pop alternative, mais s'avère foutrement incapable de maintenir ce niveau d'excellence sur la longueur d'un album complet. Là où Green péchera plus tard par une production parfois trop propre et des expérimentations à la mandoline un peu faciles, Murmur pèche par son excès inverse, une uniformité monotone qui fatigue sur la durée. Ne vous méprenez pas, j'aime ce disque pour ce qu'il représente et pour les quelques pépites qu'il contient. Il a ouvert la voie à toute une génération de groupes indépendants et a prouvé qu'on pouvait faire du rock aux États-Unis sans céder aux sirènes du commerce de masse ou du hard rock de stade. C'est un disque important, historique mais l'importance historique n'a jamais sauvé les morceaux faibles d'un album du saut de piste systématique. Un bon album, donc, mais certainement pas le messie que la critique officielle tente de vous vendre depuis quarante ans. À écouter pour sa sève primitive, mais en gardant la télécommande à portée de main.

Better than Green, for sure. R.E.M. is still bland to me tho.

Initially was very into it but became a bit background noisy...nothing jumped out at me

Best song up front, Radio Free Europe is an easy ear-worm for me. The rest of the album is interesting, but not outstanding. That one song put this album on the map, from my perspective.

its was nice but wasnt that good 5/10

I've never listened to REM longer than a single song at a time. This was a neat experience. They're quite varied but they suffer from distinctive singer vocals so lots of the songs sound similar despite there being a good chunk of variety here.

I was initially excited when I saw R.E.M., but this album didn’t do it for me.

There’s a really interesting strain of music peaking out this time from Stipe’s monotone voice. I particularly liked Perfect Circle (shades of nightswimming, especially once you know the inspiration) and Shaking Through. I’ll call this 3.5 rounded down to 3.

Not bad but I’ve always struggled with Michael Stipe’s voice and some of their production choices.

Good/5

Reminds me of my freshman year of college. I wasn't that into Michael Stipe's mostly indecipherable whining then (hated it because my suitemates were blasting it all the time), and though I appreciate the jangly guitar now, still not a fan.

Herhalend Prima achtergrond

Prefer their more mature sound

Standouts 9-9

Enjoyment: 6 Replayability: 7 Cohesion: 5 Flow/Pacing: 6 Artistic Merit: 5 Weighted Average: 5.95 Review: I have only listened to a few R.E.M. songs in the past, so this was the first time I've listened to an entire album of theirs. If they're as good as this one, I'm looking forward to more. Liked Song(s): Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Catapult, 9-9 Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes

Radio Free Europe is the keeper. Fresh, raw early REM sound from the era of the Chronic Town EP and Wolves,Lower and Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) and stylistically skews towards XTC. On par is the slower number Talk About the Passion which presages the musicality of their later work.

Not much to say REM is often very bland , no bangers on this album.

Quite enjoyed this and was tapping my foot a few times, surprised this was their debut, very assured sound considering

Surprised that REM has 4 albums in the project and I’m just getting my first one at #907. This was good, but very similar to their overall sound elsewhere and lacking in any big hits. Overall 3.25/5 we’ll see how their others fare

This held my attention better than the previous R.E.M. album we listened to. Some of these songs are definitely catchy, and there are some interesting harmonies in addition to the sharp for I mentioned on the first track. I think it deserves a stronger three than the other one.

this is the most I've enjoyed REM, but it's not that much. the singer's voice is devoid of expression. it's very 80s sounding I think "Laughing" is the first song I like by them. I see all the talking points: tight rhythm section, tasteful bass and supporting vocals, weird lyrics, etc. But I don't feel it. The rhythms are too straight. I suspect I would feel differently if I hadn't grown up with all the alt-rock that followed them

it’s upbeat and jangly, but just okay overall

chill but good.

Cool album, some songs with pretty daring instrumentals and other that feel like nirvana ripped them. Not what i was expecting at all !

It’s ok, but nothing special - it’s easy listening to REM

Give a band credit where credit is due. This is a sign to stick to what you like to do because it’ll eventually work out. This came out in 1983? 1983?!? Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes (Luke’s favorite) came out the same year as this. How can I call this ahead of its time if it’s carving the time ahead of itself!

Reminds me of Nirvana but more pleasant, not as anxious or guttural. Imagine how surprised I was when I found out this came out 10 years before Nevermind.

Mumbly baritone Romantic poetry in Elmer's glue (ingredients: nuthin but sticky sticky guitar & bass). Could listen to this shit for hours. 1983...are you sure you don't mean 2003? I hear the unborn spirit of Cobain too (did not expect this). Listened two times through while strolling, and then realized I was majorly lost and over two miles from home...pressed play for a third time without thinking.

Decent album from a legendary band. Starts off instantly recognizable, and then there's a bunch of tracks that aren't in the R.E.M. greatest hits rotation, but are a solid offering nonetheless.

Muy bueno, pero sí senti uqe me gustan otros más de rem

As minimal as a band can really get. You've got your drums, guitar, bass, vocal and some piano. It's very raw, but not in a visceral way, but in a pure and unadulterated way. The music itself is quite light and jangly, with very melodic basslines, and some nice vocal harmonies. In many ways the album lives up to its title, 'Murmur.' There is nothing special about the production at all and that gives it a very humble sound. If anyone has ever played in a band in high school or something, you'll know how bad that can sound. This album kind of has that sound where your entire band is 100% on top form and actually sounds good for a change. The big difference is that this is for the entire album, and not just those 10 or so seconds. This makes the album sound quite relatable. You wish your band sounded as good as this even if it's not your prefered style or the perfect, polished, virtuoso artists you love. R.E.M.'s Murmur is a testament to the importance of getting the basics down; it's what you could sound like if you simply stopped making excuses and actually practiced. It was a pleasant listen, jangley and fun, but nothing really stood out. 3/5

Jangle jangle

tal vez en los 80s esto era innovador, pero ya no màs 3.6

It was alright

I like the unique vocal sound of r.e.m. I knew some stuff from the band but nothing of this album. Nothing off this album was immediately catchy as other stuff they'd be known for

Despite putting It's The End Of The World As We Know It as my senior yearbook quote, I honestly am not that big of a fan of R.E.M. They're fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with them. I just don't feel that strongly about them. Murmur didn't change that. Radio Free Europe was solid, and I don't think there was anything else here that caught my attention, good or bad.

Not my favourite REM work but a decent listen

3.5/5

It was fine. Nothing too exciting about it.

Нууу норм

It’s ok as a background

3/5 meh

Veldig uinspirerende

Bättre än förväntat. Jag tänkte ge 1/2 men det blir 3. Fortfarande inte min smak, men kul upplevelse. Lite mesiga låtar bara.

not as good as automatic for the people but still pretty fine.

Just a little something to take the edge off after a few disappointing ones. Once upon a time, this was what “indie” and “college rock” sounded like. When I went to college it sounded like Dispatch. I'd take this any day. The thing of course, though, is this is their first. The production sounds like a few college kids instead of the commercial juggernaut they would become. The songs are fine but they haven't yet really become REM. One might argue that happens at Document. But still, lower-fidelity or not, Radio Free Europe still has glimmers of all of it. The harmonies, the jungle, the Michael Stipe style of song craft. I don't know that this is important outside of the fact that any album REM debuted with would be important because they themselves are important, but it's a proper genesis album, something that arrives less than fully formed but with lots of promise, and what it lacks in the big songs it makes up for by being consistent, which isn't always REM's forte. I'm kinda surprises how often the sound and production of this feels like early Meat Puppets or Flaming Lips, bands that were coming up at around the same time but probably wouldn't have crossed paths often. Obviously REM has always been doing something a bit more tuneful and normative, but I was surprised to hear shades of that at all. Again, no idea if this would be as charming to a newbie to REM as it is to someone who can trace what's going on here to those huge albums at the turn of the next decade, but I think a 3* is fair.

The seeds of what REM would grow to become are here and plain to see, but it maybe doesn’t match their highest highs for my tastes. Wouldn’t begrudge anyone saying this was their favourite of their work though. More of their unique sound starts creeping in towards the back end of the album, and I’d personally prefer to put this at a 3.5 if I could.

I have no idea what they are singing about, but perhaps neither do they. Decent album but I feel better and more consistent was to come...

This is good because it's REM but unfortunately it's another victim of this band having far, far greater albums that deserve a spot on this list and makes me think this one, which is... Fine, probably could have been cut so another artist could get a spot and bring some variety to this list.

Not my fav

this one surprised me. kind of classic punk vibes but chill? considering i only know of their most famous tracks which i hate, i was not looking forward to this but it was decently enjoyable.

Listened

Project 1001 #2 R.E.M - Murmur Pre thoughts - I know of R.E.M obviously but again never fully sat down with an album. I like the song Losing My Religion. Is it like that? Post thoughts - I think if really enjoy this if I found it earlier in life. It’s a good album. Just, lacking a bit of creativity for my modern ears.

AGAIN?! Okay. Well, I guess this gives me a chance to give REM another go and see if it was just an off day yesterday or if the band isn't really for me. Nice, rollicking album I liked more at first listen than Automatic for the People, but kind of ended up liking Automatic more on the second. The tracks slightly blur into each other, and I'm even more at a loss as to what they're going on about but the vibes are great. REM feel like the kind of band I'd enjoy hearing on a playlist at a house party, or on a road trip. And then gradually become more and more familiar with them, go over the song lyrics in my head and develop attachments to little moments in particular songs. But they're not an instant classic with me. Standout tracks: Talk About the Passion, Sitting Still, West of the Fields. I don't know, they slightly blurred into each other for me.

This album won Rolling Stone's award for Best Album of the Year in 1983 over Thriller, War and Synchnonicity. I find that very surprising because I always see R.E.M. as being somewhat peripheral to the major trends in music. While Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots were taking over the airwaves, R.E.M. was just off to the side singing about Kenneth. I don't think I had even heard any of the songs off Murmur before this project. Album of the year? Anyway, maybe it is a testament to the influence of this album that it just sounds so normal over 40 years later. I like the trademark harmonies but I prefer R.E.M. after they got a bit weirder.

Fairly dull, but inoffensive.

307/1089 much preferred this over Automatic for the People fave: West of the Fields 62/100

Enjoyed this one more than I did the last REM album on this list, although I felt like it did get pretty same-y in the back half.

The album blasts off with radio free Europe and then the rest is just a bit meandering. Sometimes stipes voice is lost in the mix. Deliberately or not this takes away from the experience a bit. However the overall feeling is that there is something worth pursuing.

Another time I had a whole thing wrote out, but lost it. Gotta remember to keep saving as I type. Long story short, instruments and lyrics were often great, but there are a few times the song feel outside of my expectations in a negative direction; biggest example is the vibraphone sections in "Pilgrimage" not capitalizing on the tension it built and fizzling out towards the chorus each time. This happened on more than a couple of occasions, but there are songs I still enjoyed: "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage" (yeah, I still liked it), "Talk about the Passions", "Moral Kiosk", "Shaking Through".

This one was good, but didn't stand out in the same way Green did for me. The songs didn't have a ton of differentiation, and the vocals aren't quite as refined. To be fair I was also a little distracted while listening, so I may need to revisit it at some point. 3/5 from me.

Losing my religion is one of my dad's favourite songs

A strong offering that serves as the groups breakout but far from their best

nada mal pero no me vuelve loco

Enjoyable listen, hard to be mad at jangly guitars.

I enjoyed it. Vocals were a little bit cobain-y. I keep on getting surprised by the album choice from the artists. A lot of the time I would assume that it would be a different album from that artist.

Thought this was a super nice work day vibe. Liked it more than I expected too 3+

More like a 3.5. I don’t know if I was just in the right mood for Dad Rock but I really enjoyed it

Another good one from R.E.M.

This album made me go and lower the rating I gave the other R.E.M. album. It’s just so much better to me. Almost almost a 4. Most every song was either a 3 or a 4 on it’s own. Season: Late Spring Favorite Song: Radio Free Europe

I am sorry, I had higher expectations of this. All songs are pretty much the same. Radio Free Europe was at least a bit more energetic.

Really a 3.5: I appreciate why it was innovative at the time and I like REM, but could never drum up strong feelings for them beyond a few of their stronger songs.

This guy's voice is incredible. This album is such a vibe. Or do I thought- Sort of ambled along towards the end and when I woke up again it was finished.

For me the perfect "wakeup-album" -everything sounds similar, but in a good way -songs aren't complex -uplifting

This almost earned a 4 from me, but the songs all sound just a bit too similar. By the last song I was glad it was over, which is a sign that an album can’t be higher than a 3.

Me gusto! Pero no me attapo

Just okay, the lyrics don’t do it for me. I like impressionistic lyrics but not so much these.

alright, like other albums by them better 3 stars

sorry guys I think I might just not be an R.E.M. person. On first listen at least (which is all I got in yesterday) this was nice enough but nothing stood out to me.

Somehow my first time listening to an REM album! Really enjoyed it. 3.5 upon first listen but I could see myself getting way more into it

aw beans. im not cracker™️ but we push forth. you hear all this rah rah about REM inventing the concept of indie/alt rock (some of its true but it's a little. overEmphasized) and you listen to this and realize who they're biting right down to the Hook. pun intended. get off his Peter. mcGangbang of Four more like it. it's a debut. they get to original ideas eventually. not here. but eventually. still good jangle. 3.5-4.1. (related but unrelated) god. please tell me there's a Stephen Hague produced bootleg of catapult in the wild. i'm sure he was a dick to you guys but fucks sake. have a bit of synth in there. and a chorus. (it exists. it's lowk PEAK {maybe dial it down a bit on the chorus and dial in the synth patch. [them american boys in the comments like "rem sounds timeless!!! like they could've been a band in the 60s!!!" Buddy. i can pinpoint the exact boroughs of Manchester/NYC they're aping] it's a demo for a reason. must've been the principle.}) (actually related) 9-9 gives me a fucking aneurysm. we jump from closer era joy division intro to bright verses to a police ass chorus to a smiths type bridge. alright guys. we got it. bisexual ass song.

R.E.M. was certainly one of the most influential pop-rock bands of the ’80s and ’90s. In my view, however, that doesn’t justify having five albums by Michael Stipe & Co. on this list—especially since R.E.M.’s approach has remained virtually unchanged over the years. Their debut “Murmur” sounds a bit like Dire Straits without Mark Knopfler trying their hand at a new wave sound. Fortunately, this nightmare isn’t real, but the thought experiment clearly shows that we’re dealing with something rather half-baked here. Bottom line: it’s nice to know, but not essential. One R.E.M. album (or two, for that matter) would have been enough.

It's nice. I liked shaking through, we walk and west of fields

Prima achtergrondmuziek.

It was ok. Some good tracks at the start but it started to feel a bit samey towards the end. It's a 3/5. It was ok. Not great and not bad. Better than bad.

Мур мур мур

Great album. I really loved listening to it. Great melodies, really round album. I didn't quite remember something: the London Calling song I knew, and the other songs are quite like it. I have to say, though, it didn't really catch me necessarily.

Unexciting, inoffensive and absolutely fine

5/4 Pretty good

dieses album erinnert mich bissle an the smiths find ich aber nicht schlimm fave songs pilgrimage talk abt the passion west of the fields grad fertig gehört w[rde persönlich sagen mid

meh

You can feel them still trying to figure out the REM sound It's all over the place - in a good and interesting way - and there's clear references to the Cure and the Clash

Less refined and mature than the REM to come, a glare of moody post-punk inflected indie that I enjoyed way more than I thought I would.

I like Michael Stipe's voice and I generally like the rhythms and compositions of R.E.M songs. The lyrics are always a bit stream of consciousness scattered for me though so I just try not to pay attention to them.

It's definitely the best out of all the (too many) R.E.M. albums I got. Still not good enough lol

La banda no me parece mala, de hecho ya había escuchado un álbum de ellos. Me encanta que experimentan con diferentes ritmos. Pero no me pareció nada demasiado innovador...

Not what I'd expect from R.E.M., but enjoyable. 3.5

As my cello-playing professor said: nice guys, okay musicians. It's fine, songs kind of blur

There are much better REM albums

For whatever sets of reasons, in spite of many fine individual recordings, I was always eh? About REM

Favorite Track: Radio Free Europe

I'm enjoying it - nothing really jumps out as bad or good to me but like their sound a lot.

Great stuff! R.E.M.s one of my favourite bands, and to finally get to.listem to their debut gives me another perspective on them. On the edge of a 4, but they've got so much greater stuff coming

Remember when you couldn't understand half of Michael Stipe's lyrics? This is that. So reminiscent of my college years. After listening to this today, I can't get "Radio Free Europe" out of my head. That's definitely the first R.E.M. song I was ever aware of.

Overall solid. Don’t like it as much as some of their later stuff

Like 2nd half more than 1st. But all are at least interesting. Good album. Not the best REM, but up there.

Ta bueno, chill. Sin críticas pero sin like.

Buen disco, REM es una banda que para mí está un poco infravalorada, creo que es un disco regular sin muchos puntos altos ni bajos, me gusta harto el sonido de la batería y el bajo, la voz simple en la producción pero con mucha emocionalidad. Creo que es un 3, sin tantas cosas que destacar Canción favorita laughing sin duda

Never piqued my interest. OK, just not my thing I guess.

Lowkey elusive.

Miles away from their biggest hits, R.E.M.'s debut is dense and enigmatic. Jangly guitars abound, and lyrics are cryptic or indecipherable. The album somehow manages to be both tight, with those guitars taking up nearly every second and often changing melodies, and loose, with verses and choruses that blend together and feel ready to fall apart. There are some great songs here. "Radio Free Europe" deserves its status as a highpoint for the band, "Catapult" has a catchy hook, and I love the urgency on "West of the Fields." At other times the songs blur together with their similar sounds or feel too loose; the chorus of "Moral Kiosk" is almost a chorus deconstructed, reduced to vocalizations instead of words. I like how fresh and free this is, but I find myself wishing for more well-defined songs and memorable moments.

Liked Catapult and liked some of the riffs in 9-9. Decent vibe overall

Not a memorable album, at least for R.E.M. standards, but not bad at all. 7/10

I really like R.E.M. but I didn't really enjoyed this album. Not that it's a bad album. It has a couple of good tracks on it. But also some boring ones. 3/5

I can really see how people like or even love this. This was my first ever listen and I didn't find it particularly striking but it is certainly competent. Looking forward to hearing more R.E.M. on this list. 3.5/5

Rate: 7/10

Ahead of its time, and inspirational to a lot of artists. Sadly, it falls a bit flat and overdone now.

Overall Rating - 3.17/5 (6.33/10). R.E.M. has a very distinctive sound, and you can tell that this is the early days of creating that distinctive sound. This definitely fills the role on the list of "Not the best album, but an album you need to hear because it's the start of something unique and great."

3/5. A nice slice of jangle-pop and college rock. Was an easygoing and pleasant listen, I personally preferred the tracks that leaned a little more post-punky like the opener “radio free Europe” but it was all solid, just not the most interesting or exciting album for me personally.

Radio Free Europe. Fuck yes. The rest? Ok. Amazing I wasn't even a teenager when this came out.

ive only heard rem's later stuff so it's interesting to finally listen to their debut album. i think "radio free europe" is the strongest track here but after that it unfortunately kinda sinks down to being pretty mid. it's far from being bad but it's another of those albums where the tracks are sometimes a bit samey, mostly near the start, and the album structure suffers for it. it picks up a bit more in the middle, i like the more intricate drumming on "moral kiosk", and "perfect circle" pulls the energy down hard enough afterwards to hold my attention, but for the back half, although there's more variety, nothing other than "sitting still" really stood out as particularly amazing. i did enjoy the barely-intelligible yelling in the chorus of "shaking through" quite a lot tho. yeah idk it's just kinda fine i guess. another album i'd put on as background noise, then drop what i'm doing for the standout tracks.. although in this case the standout track is the first track so. maybe not...

1001 albums to hear before you can't even murmur 74# Wasn't giving this much praise cause im not from the 80s so i dont have an immense love for R.E.M. and never quite heard them, unless it's the Losing my religion and that is a great song. I'll have the same discourse that I did for Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town. This is quite the surprise firstly for being their debut, and secondly for thinking this would be another rock album from the 80s with a lot of recognition but almost nothing to show, it isn't. Fun throughout, i understand the older generations rants about today's music. Too repetitive, too restrained, too produced, too.. commercialized. Great Hooks, cool riffs. It's just not my type of vibe I delve into inside the rock scene. wow some experimentation on the ninth track 9-9, one of the highlights. It's more unpredictable, and dynamic than the rest. For me it sounds like something i've heard before. Surprised but not impressed. Bruce is leading the way on the 80s run.

Perfect circle

Better than Coldplay

Almost a 4 for me, but I'll settle for 3. Always enjoy R.E.M..

It was OK, didn't grab me really at any point.

Not for me for now atleast but the best karaoke songs

r.e.m isn’t bad, just forgettable.

First time listening to this, and i enjoyed through every song. Really good intro to the alternative rock. Track that i liked: Pilgrimage Rating for me is 13 of 20.

I really liked this one. I don't know how to describe this album besides cozy. It's a nice escape from the stresses of the world. However I’m not sure if this album is going to stick with me yet.

easy listening. Hard to place in their timeline. Not sure if there is something unique about this one that their other albums don't also have. But again, great sounds (if not the same sound).

Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Very Good - Another R.E.M. album! I know this is usually considered one of their best but I have never gotten around to listening to it. After a couple tracks it seems like it's pretty standard stuff for them, but I like this better than some of the later albums. I would say this is clearly better than Green actually. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

Lacking the standout songs for me but I like the sound of it

this album reminds me of something you'd listen to while on a hike to motivate you to keep going, which i like. I did find it a bit boring but overall i liked it! my favorite song was 'we walk' ♡

Not my kind of thing, but I didn't hate it

The sounds made me feel strong emotions at some points, but overall I was kind of uninterested in this album. I wouldn't call it bad by any means, though. Just kind of average.

Decent first album, their later work is where R.E.M. really shines though

was never a fan of R.E.M.'s tinny production and nasally vocalist but not a bad album. no real standout tracks but definitely pleasant to listen to. may revisit?

no me encantó el álbum; pero si la banda

Good. ★★★

Pretty good but not quite good enough to hook and reel me in. 3.5

its an okish album, i think the reason its here its because it was releaed in 1983, such sound wa unheard of

Meget eddie vedder-agtigt, hyggeligt nok. Ville dog nok ikke komme tilbage

I just had Green recently, and I have the same problem I had with Green. The album starts exciting, but the lack of dynamics and putting the mellow song after mellow song closer to the end of an album kinda ruins the vibe for me.

Distinctly R.E.M. I understand it's significance, but I prefer their later more polished sound.

I listened to this years and years ago, in my early twenties, as someone looking to get into more alternative music and away from Korn, Sepultura and punk stuff. I hated it then. It's grown on me since and I can appreciate that it's the sound of a great band starting on their journey. It's jangly guitar sounds are appropriate for the early 80s post punk scene. A lot of the songs do sound very similar, with chord changes and dynamics that don't very much from track to track. They get better.

Didn't catch a word he said but it's R.E.M. what ya gonna do?

Leur 1er album. Ils étaient vus comme des pionniers à cette époque, car ils faisaient un son que personne avait jamais entendu, du alt rock. Pour ma part, c'est bien bon. Le tout s'écoute bien, sans qu'il y ait de chansons super commerciales ou sur lesquelles je capote. On est entre le 3 et le 4.

still dont like his voice but the music is nice enough

The Good: This won’t be loud! It’ll be a… The Bad: Realizing that murmur isn’t what I thought it would be… The Ugly: getting murmured without consent! So, here we are… listening to R.E.M.’s maiden voyage… it’s nice… it’s not too intrusive… it’s like a murmur, but not… I was never aware of REM, until they just blew up with Loosing My Religion… but I’ve mentioned that already in my previous murmuring for that other REM album that is on this list which does not include Loosing My Religion… Do I feel better having listened to this? Not really… Do I feel worse having listened to this? Not really either… So, let’s call it a 3, click the vote button and hope for something illuminating… not something that’s a murmur… 3*

The album was fine, nothing crazy. I enjoyed parts of it. Seems they do have a track record with a lot of popular songs, I never knew the name of the band before now.

Me recordó a nirvana. Buenas canciones pero ninguna me facinó

There’s something appealing in how it avoids being too direct. Still, it feels more like a starting point than a fully developed statement.

Kinda peaceful, kinda boring Likes: Laughing; Catapult; Sitting Still

this guy really murmurs fav song: Radio Free Europe

Gave 4 stars to the others. I get this is their debut but falls a little flat to me.

Was alright. Just a little boring and compared to other work by REM.

I took a break from copyediting a book about the video game Doom to go on a cool, overcast walk and listen to this album. Discovering a strong passion and respect for R.E.M. has been one of my favorite revelations of the list so far, which left me feeling a little deflated after listening to Murmur. By all accounts this is still a very good album, with good songwriting and technically proficient instrumentals. There's just not a lot of movement during the songs; some of them wind up feeling a little stuck in place by the time they end. This is bolstered by the fact that Murmur is a lot softer than the later R.E.M. albums I've enjoyed so much, and it has less of their distinctive character too. While there are certainly highlights, this album sounds a like first step towards something greater. Highlights: Talk About The Passion, Catapult, We Walk

Achja Rem - war schon okay...

Not their best album, as far as I'm concerned. It sounds nice, of course, they are great musicians, but some songs were too similar to each other, none of them surprised me, as it happens with other REM songs. 3/5

Album No. 0201 on my list. I’m a huge fan of R.E.M.’s biggest hits, but I never really broadened my knowledge about their music. I don’t know why to be honest. I know their 90s albums pretty well, but never got to their 80s stuff. Except for “Radio Free Europe”, “Murmur” was a completely new thing to me. And quite frankly, I found it solid, but nothing more. Coming from the aforementioned big hits, I was even a bit disappointed. Of course, the band was just finding its style at the time and “Murmur” does have certain qualities: it’s artsy, it’s interesting, it’s raw. But I just found that the quality of the songs themselves was not as high as expected. I dunno, maybe my taste is to mainstream-oriented, maybe the whole thing was too cryptic. Not a bad album, but also not a huge favorite. I get that this has probably been very influential, and maybe I’d rate it higher at a later stage, but for now it’s just solid an nothing more to me. Will add the aforementioned “Radio Free Europe” to my playlist, as well as “Pilgrimage”, and “Talk About The Passion”. 3/5 Stars.

I don't think this would be the R.E.M. album I would put on this list, but I assume a stronger one is coming. Still enjoyable, just not excellent. It was better on the second listen.

Tengo un recopilatorio en CD de cuando se empezaron a hacer populares en Europa que trae las mejores canciones de este disco y que me he guardado igualmente: Radio Free Europe, Talk about the passion y Perfect circle. El resto también interesantes.

No es de mi estilo

Pleasant to listen to. No bops though.

Never listened to early REM, it's pretty interesting how much their sound is already fully formed on this album. Definitely not my favourite flavour of 'alt-rock' (it's too conventional for my tastes), and the songwriting here is miles away from their later output (an unfair comparison as they'd go on to write some truly era-defining songs). This is still a good enough listen, though it's a bit samey and at its worst, a bit dull. But it's interesting to hear where it all started for one of the most important rock bands of the last half-century.

Another group that I understand is important, but when I actually listen to it it does nothing for me. I think I sometimes suffer from "oh, this again". I want to hear new, different things and when a million garage bands have copied a band like this, it's not new or different to me. In 1983 it was probably a revelation, but in 2026 it's elevator music.

While not as good as the previous R.E.M album I listened to on this generator, I still thought this was quite good. If I were to have one complaint about it, it's that it was little bit inconsistent. While mostly strong, there were a couple tracks that I just really couldn't get into. It was clean. It was fun. It was just missing something. This being said, this is R.E.M's debut album so I really can't give them too much flack for that. Really solid.

Not a fan of this album but I respect what they do.

Mer upptempo och gladare än the verve. Välbehövligt efter Harrisons gnällfest. Men inget som riktigt fastnar heller. 3.5 vill jag ge

Favorite track(s): Radio Free Europe, Laughing, Moral Kiosk

interesting sounds cant make much sense of the words perhaps its supposed to be dream like?

I liked shaking thorugh

As a big fan of indie music generally, I thought I’d enjoy this album more than I did. The music itself is fine & relatively enjoyable, but for me it really blended into the background and nothing stood out as particularly brilliant or inspired. Sitting Still & 9-9 were the true high points of the album for me - the rest of it all merging into one relatively middle-of-the-road track-list. There’s nothing “bad” whatsoever here, it just doesn’t fill me with joy or a desire to listen to any of it again.

Prior to this, the albums generator had set me up with Automatic For The People, which was its own middle-of-the-road experience for me. Not very memorable, now some months later. This debut compares similarly, but with this release I 'get it.' Each participant brings something unique to the sound, the music builds because the sounds clash elegantly. I would definitely consider that essence of rock. It's a little folk-y with the acoustics, it's a little whiny with the vocals, I'm sure it's the perfect sound for a lot of people, but I can live without this. 2.9/5

I like R.E.M. a lot, but their debut has never been particularly interesting to me other than as a foretaste of what was to come.

Good chill rainy day music.

There's more than surface-level stuff going on here but I'm confronted with something that has always happened with REM: I love several singles ('Man on the Moon', 'Great Beyond', 'Shiny Happy People') but their deep cuts just don't land for me. As a big Tragically Hip fan, this is an American band that they're often compared favourably to. I may just find everyone but Michael Stipe a little bit boring. They're an important band in the canon of the late 20th century (ugh that's my childhood I'm summarizing), so you should check this out. You may also find it boring, though. 3/5 -- probably good music for someone else.

I thought I would hate this, but I enjoyed the listen. I didn't feel that I actively engaged or resonated, but it was nice

An album I have heard but never did buy. Sounds like early R.E.M., which is cool! But I do think I prefer middle-era REM, doesn't do much for me. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No 59/238 (24%) Will I get:

Alright so I'm currently 4 tracks in... is every song on this album going to be this repetitive? Well kinda. I'm usually a debut album kinda guy but this was just ok.

Washed over me

I still dont get REM. I can see the value: its nice jangly, indie guitar with good lyrics and some obvious indviduality. But it still just slips by without much that makes my heart race

It's alright, but not my favorite R.E.M. album. Feels like this is before they hit their stride.

On their 1983 debut, Murmur, R.E.M. arrive not with a bang but a haze—a humid, half-glimpsed transmission from the edges of college radio. Built on the momentum of relentless touring and the cult promise of their early singles, the record leans into a murky production style that both obscures and enhances its appeal. At first, that swampy mix can feel like a barrier, but it gradually reveals itself as part of the album’s mystique, turning even the most immediate hooks into something elusive. The rerecorded “Radio Free Europe” opens things with a familiar jangle and a catchy chorus, though the clattery drum sound distracts, while “Pilgrimage” and “Laughing” showcase a band already confident in its melodic instincts—especially in the latter’s quietly propulsive bass work from Mike Mills. Much of Murmur’s character comes from guitarist Peter Buck, whose chiming, jangly tone defines tracks like “Moral Kiosk” and threads through the album like a signature. “Talk About the Passion” stands as quintessential early R.E.M.—earnest, enigmatic, and just accessible enough to hint at broader appeal—while “Catapult” delivers tight harmonies, a buoyant bassline, and a shout-along chorus that feels tailor-made for small clubs. “Sitting Still” rides strong guitar interplay, and “9-9” shifts into a twitchier, almost new wave rhythm, even if its vocals and drums get buried in the mix. The band stretches its palette with “Perfect Circle,” a piano-led departure that adds a reflective dimension, though “Shaking Through” feels comparatively slight. Still, even the album’s weaker moments contribute to its atmosphere. By the time the playful “We Walk” and the driving “West of the Fields” close things out, Murmur has firmly established R.E.M. as a band already in command of its sound. Like Chronic Town, it captures them fully formed yet deliberately obscured—a debut that draws you in slowly, its secrets unfolding with each listen.

Enjoyed this album, tracks seem sort of repetitive upon first listening. Need to listen more to fully grasp the lyrics. Otherwise sounds like standard REM sound.

I've no doubt it was an important album for the time and had an impact but I just found it monotonous. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

Too album, but one I rarely play. I prefer Green, but for a debut, it's solid. Nothing particularly standout but a fine way to spend 40 minutes.

Murmur sounds great but there are no standout bangers. Minimalist production choices make it an anomaly for the mid 1980s, but Stipe has yet to develop his melodic chops.

Gas

It was fine I guess. I don't think there's any songs I'll be coming back for. Sounds like they had their iconic sound right from the beginning though which is pretty cool.

75

Another quite dull REM record I’m afraid. Wanted to like this more.

ok but not as good as monster

Good voice, pretty basic

Eh. Middle ground. It wasn’t bad or anything great

R.E.M. is just one of those bands that I have never thought was that great. That said, I did kind of like this album. Much like the early sounds of Live on Mental Jewelry and Toad The Wet Sprocket on Pale, there is an unrefined, less produced sound on this record which I quite like. They aren't the overwrought R.E.M. that they will ultimately become. It's more stripped down, less quirky, which makes it better than a lot of their later stuff. To be sure, this is far from a cover-to-cover listen, and not much more than an average album to my ear. But there was enough here to take it for a spin. 3-stars.

Мне не очень нравится голос солиста. Гитарные партии напоминают the cure.

I'll be honest, I expected to like this more than I did. I was unfamiliar with the album, and it starts off so strong but the rest of the album didn't blow me away. Maybe I'll change my mind on that within time. That being said - I liked a fair deal of it. Favourites: Radio Free Europe Pilgrimage 9-9

It was gentle and positive, although my highlight is A Perfect Circle.

Pretty good. I don't like Michael Stipe's voice very much, but I can tell it influenced so many singers like Gord Downey and bands like 54-40.

Ålreit dette, høres ut som REM ja.

Ikkje frelst, men var jo ganske chill å høyre på. Føler at 2 blir for strengt, så da gir eg 3.

It's R.E.M., all right. Seems they've had a distinctive sound from the start. Nothing here stood out to me; it sounded like a list of album tracks. Not bad, not great either.

Unmistakable REM sound, I enjoyed the instrumentation on this record, but the mix made the vocals sound a little bit muddy. Personally I enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first, the stand out song for me was Shaking Through. Overall this is a decent debut album but it didn’t blow me away. 3.5/5

This album sounds like a murmur when you compare it to the heights of R.E.M. , which is fine but nothing really stands out.

Musically it is a very solid album, but I just really dislike the singer's voice. I cannot help it, it is just very annoying to me in any song by the band. I wish I could ignore it, but it is dragging this rating back. 3/5

Fun album. Pretty nice to dance to. Nothing special.

this was decent

Ok, just nothing special

As often between R.E.M. and me it's a meeting that could have been but that wasn't. Although 9-9 almost deserve a star of its own. Favorite songs: Pilgrimage ; Moral Kiosk ; 9-9

похоже на пиксис

I love some later REM - Drive, The One I Love, The Great Beyond, Kenneth, E Bow - so it was disappointing to find this didn't connect. Some nice jangly indie pop, but it lacks the bite of the smiths, the danceability of the Stone Roses...after Radio Free Europe, the whole thing blends into a mush. It's not awful, and you see some hints of later ideas. Probably just scrapes a 3 on historical interest.

Would actually tend towards a 4 but I'm setting a high bar. Good replayability, easy to listen to. 3.5.

Jájá, fínt háskóla-nýbylgjurokk, en ekkert sem grípur fast og ég veit ekki alveg af hverju platan er á þessum lista.

piola, algunas buenas

The rollercoaster ride that is R.E.M. continues. There is the euphoric airtime, and then there are the halting brakes. Then, there are the the banked turns. This album is a banked turn. It's not bad, but far from the euphoric features of a coaster. Favorite Track: "Talk About The Passion".

3.0

Not sure that I'm a huge REM guy. Ready for a genre switch from rock

Decent, had some fun groove, but not really my style.

Neither loved nor hated.

Not much I can really say, Radio Free Europe is one of the best openers on a band's debut album, but other than that, a lot of the songs just seemed to blend together

Did not love it but I do like R.E.M.

Not the best REM record but a pretty good one.

Aldrig lyssnat på denna förut. Enda låten jag kommer ihåg att jag hört är Radio Free Europe. Det låter mycket åttiotal och jag tycker att senare REM är bättre men detta är början på något som ska bli större. Michael Stipes röst är fantastisk.

I like REM generally. I don’t know if it was just my mood or what, but this album didn’t grab me in any way. It was fine, but nothing stood out and I found myself zoning out and forgetting I was even listening to something. 3.5/5 I guess.

Great listen and was neat going to the debut album. "Radio Free Europe" was the star song and a great nominee for Album 1 Song 1. This established their sound and set the table for some incredible albums. I got to see REM's 40th anniversary of EP 'Chronic Town' with Mike Mills (bass) & Peter Buck (guitar) special guests Chris & Rich Robinson from Black Crowes, Darius Rucker, Fred Armisen, Puddles the Clown and more. David Cross emceed & went off on the crowd for the Braves moving to Cobb haha.

I like REM. This album was just sort of meh.

I like the voice. Very melancholic. A bit boring

forgettable

This didn't leave much of an impression on me beyond it always being interesting to see where a band started from before they produced their best work. Based on the reviews I'd like to revisit it, but I haven't gotten around to that yet so sticking with my original impression of 3/5

Tätä ei oo tullut aiemmin kuunneltua, vaikka bändin suosituimpia levyjä löytyy omasta hyllystä. Tää oli ihan hyvä ja ok biisejä. Soitto on R.E.M.-levyillä aina hyvää.

Non lo comprerei però le prime tre tracce e sitting still sono molto belle. Ha delle influenze doorsiane in qualche canzone ma sembra un album indie cantato da una voce anziana. Molte canzoni piacevoli

pretty alright. I'm an R.E.M. Hater though so still not great

Fine, nothing revolutionary

REM has never resonated with me and this album was the same. There is just something about their sound and songwriting that is incredibly flat to me. They have a recognizable sound and it's impressive that their first album is so sure of itself.

Normalito, del monton, del monton bueno.

Hello 80s!

I love me some REM, but this was a bit too slow and scattered for my tastes. You can really tell that this is their debut work, it hadn't quite "clicked" yet. It's still ok though!

écouté d’une oreille distraite entre des albums de Ghost. Pas pire. 3.5 ♡: Laughing, Catapult, Shaking Through

I do appreciate REM, but I wouldn't have put this album in my Top 5 REM albums let alone the T1001 playlist. Respectable listener counts on Spotify for every track, with the classic "Radio Free Europe" clicking in at 25M. That's the only real radio friendly song, or greatest hit, on the album though. The rest are enjoyable tracks but probably stuff a true REMmy would choose. I've listened to the entire album before but the other above average tracks include "Talk About The Passion" (9M), "Pilgrimage" (3.1M), "We Walk" (1.7M) & "Shaking Through" (1.8M). None of the tracks on the album shine like "RFE" though. "Perfect Circle" and "Laughing" are boring. I'd add that some of these tracks sound like rough drafts, not really complete or polished, maybe just immature compared to latter works. I'd give this 3 stars if I were feeling generous, but this is more likely a 2.5-2.75 range album, just not enough meat on the bone to justify more.

Interesting to hear such early REM! It was a nice album, but to my ear they didn’t quite have the strong melodies yet that I associate with them. Some of their songs sound a bit like the Cure. Pretty good!

Had never listened this one before, some good tunes, but also some forgettable stretches for me. Nice to hear the evolution of REM but doubt I’d pick this one up again to listen to. Still an enjoyable listen though.

Good stuff. I think this one runs together a bit for me, but I really liked hearing it again.

60% is not good, 40% is great, nothing crazy new for its time, I'm not the biggest fan of Michael's voice, and the whole album isn't very connected.

Lovely but not great

Good album, not their best in my opinion but still good

Murmur is a solid debut from REM. Start strong with Radio Free Europe, runs steady through the middle, all songs are good although some are pretty similar. No skippers. Strong finish with We Walk and Wedt Of The Fields. We enjoyed the listen. L = (2.5*s) A typical, good REM album J = (2.8*s) These guys improve with age and experience.

We got a darker, more indy rock R.E.M on this record and I like it. Stipe and Co have not honed in their unique style yet on this debut but it still has some originality and appeal. "Laughing" is top track. I think we are getting a bit to much of the band from the list but none of the albums are bad. Murmur gets 3.14 stars.

As much as I'm an R.E.M. fan I really don't think Murmur belongs on this list. It pales compares to their future albums, and for me their early work doesn't exemplify anything special like what they grew into. For the most part its just a forgettable alternative rock album. I'm a little surprised how critically acclaimed it was at release because it does little to impress me compared to their other albums nowadays. Understandably, debut albums tend to carry a lot more weight as you get a look at a band/artist at the start of their career. Maybe Murmur is looked upon a great debut that paved the way for them to become as huge as they were at the peak of their career. Saying it's not as good as their other work is hard to hold against them as its still a decent album, it just doesn't wow me like the rest of their catalog. 2.68 stars

La pâte REM est bien présente dés leur premier album.

𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘳 is the quintessential jangly debut — hazy, melodic, and wrapped in Michael Stipe’s famously indistinct vocals. The guitars shimmer in that unmistakable Southern college-rock way, and the songs drift by with a gentle, low-key charm. It’s an important starting point for R.E.M., but its subtlety also means it doesn’t always leave a strong impression on me. Pleasant, foundational, but not quite gripping.

The REM vibes are there on their first release.

Solid debut. Good mixing, some really good songs. However, 12 songs is a little bit tiring, considering the band's signature style of composition.

OK...but not remarkable

This was interesting because of how unlike a rem album it sounds. It’s like they hadn’t found their sound yet but still knew what to do.

Quite liked the sound of this overall. A couple songs stood out, particularly Perfect Circle.

Good, upbeat

I’ve tried to get into this album. Meh 🤷‍♂️

Always knew REM for the hits and fully understood their role as an innovator in the indie music sphere, but never listened to a full album of theirs. It was fine. "Radio Free Europe" is a bop, but everything after that doesn't do much to move the needle for me. Not bad, but not great either.

Average at best, great bumpin in the background

Disc 1 is better

i liked this and would listen again but there were no real standouts that i would immediately go back to but it made me want to check out other stuff by them so more like 3.75

es que no puedo decir que es malo, pero como que medio aburrido me pareció, las canciones son como mucho de lo mismo y es como rocksito tranqui, como que no va tanto pero igual tampoco fue como difícil de escuchar, eso sí al final ya como que no le preste atención

It was a pretty okay album. They’ve had better.

I can't believe they used Swamp Thing's house as the cover.

Sorry, this is going to be a lazy review. There's nothing here that I found overly compelling in either direction. This is another record on the stack of post-punk new wave records on this list. The sound has a little more pop music sparkle and shimmer than the Echo And The Bunnymen record I listened to a few days ago, and certainly more than either Joy Division record, but not as ethereal as U2. I wish I could get into it because it’s exactly the kinda thing I should be into. I can even hear the seeds of the Counting Crows in this record, which should have me really enthusiastic. "Radio Free Europe" is the identifiable the hit here, but it's not a song I've ever had strong feelings about. R.E.M. is hugely influential and I respect their place in rock & roll history, but I just can't make myself care.

Normal, el bajo increible pero la voz se me hizo repetitiva

Sparse and it gets kinda spooky. It also gets kinda boring.

-this is probably my second favorite R.E.M. album so far (Automatic For The People still winning). there’s something i like about the atmosphere, idk it’s a little moodier than most of their later stuff -before this it had been a minute since i last listened to anything by R.E.M. but i think i have a decent sample of their discog to go off now -Favorites: Radio Free Europe, Moral Kiosk, 9-9