Murmur

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

REM are really cool and they have great songs on this.

very REM

This is good but nothing gripping. It's very melodic, "catchy" songs, but nothing that really stands out. In context of being their first album this is excellent work, but more of a stepping stone to later success then anything I'd make note of here. Still an enjoyable listen for sure, just not something I'd flip on. Clean guitar sound, definitely more of an alt album, maybe a bit of Oasis influence. 3/5.

I've come to accept that REM just aren't for me and that's okay. Musically skilled as they are, Michael Stipe's vocals bother me so much that listening to them becomes a chore.

not bad

My second album by REM and I'm only about 12 albums into this. Fine album, pleasant to listen to but nothing special I thought. Not quite sure why it's raved about so much. Listened through somewhat inattentively but the only song, the best song was Harbourcoat which made me sit up and think I really like this. I then realised that track is off Reckoning as Spotify had gone on to play that afterwards. Somewhat disappointing and 3 out of 5

slow at times, but when its good its good

Not bad

Kind of repetitive, but good for a car ride. Easy songs to digest

I've never much liked REM, mostly because of Stipe's nasal mewling, but in the 90s I couldn't deny the greatness of some of their music. On a separate listening journey I caught one of their early albums - not this one - and it contained none of that 90s goodness. I wonder what this one has in store for me. The Low-fi nature actually helps the album, as Stipe's vocals are less at the forefront. Add to that he was still growing into his voice and trying to figure out what he wanted to sound like, so later bad decisions had not yet been made. Elsewhere, the songs feel very... Weak. That is my problem with much of those American early alternative music. It had no edge. Everything is nice, shaking hands, pat on the back, I'll just play this little jangly riff for a few seconds while looking ashamed that I ignored mummy's pleas to learn piano instead. This is especially noticeable in the choruses where you want a bit of welly to make the songs more impactful, it instead they trundle along sounding like a band consisting of your school teachers rather than someone grabbing the world by the throat. Now, there are nice melodies here, solid ideas, but it too often gives the impression of a debut album, of a band recording their early crappy songs before they had the ability and experience to write anything good. The drums are distractingly flaccid, We Walk is bad enough to almost bring the whole album down to a One Star, and too many choruses sound like the one before. In essence, it's a poor man's Pablo Honey.

как точка отсчета инди-рока - засчитываю

The album was not as good as the other R.E.M. album I’ve listened to but the project as a whole was solid.

This album feels like a gloomy summer day. In LA we call it "June Gloom". It's upbeat, but also has some weight to it. Good, easy listen all around.

Was wel oké maar niet mijn style

idk i don't have much to say about this one. the songs are nice and all but it's very generic 80's rock i feel,, i wasn't really impressed, nothing really stood out to me. decent songs but i probably won't listen again lol

There wasn't anything interesting. It wasn't horrible just nothing really notable

Good album, can feel repetitive at times. Maybe too long, but I chose to listen to the deluxe version, so that's on me.

It's okay Nothing for a playlist, but nothing to make me turn it off. 3

It was fine, middle of the road

Good album fairly samish Good vibe 👍 Background music

More highschool vibes.

Zelo hitro še eni R.E.M., tokrat njihov prvi album. Sm rekla nazadnje, da moram še enkrat dat šanso tistemu albumu, kar sploh še nism uspela nardit. Ampak glede na mojo prvo reakcijo, k sm dons vidla kaj me čaka, nism the biggest fan, na splošno. "Radio Free Europe" mi je poznan od prej, čist fletn komad. "Perfect Circle" mi je všeč, zveni velik drugače kot ostali komadi. Fak ej, ne vem. I want to like it more, but... Men je tok bland tole. Skor vse mi zveni isto. I guess z razlogom nikol nism padla v R.E.M. Niso zame.

I love the jingle jangle sound of R.E.M. thanks to the use of the Rickenbacker 360/12. I thought they were unique in a field of boring (imo) and unimaginative music cluttering up the airwaves in the 80s and 90s. Stipe could be a little pretentious and lyrically nonsensical, but that didn’t really matter. The music was/is unique and interesting. I admire the music but can’t say I was ever a real fan. I thought the majority of music at that time was unimaginative, at best, and a waste of time, at worst. So I didn’t listen to much of the current music. I missed some excellent music due to my pompous attitude.

Unremarkable but still cool

Michael stipe is bald and bisexual but that doesn’t mean he makes good music

Можно переслушать, вдруг найдется что-то

Take this album and play it for anyone who is not a super R.E.M. fan and I doubt that they would be able to tell you what it was Murmur. Still a good album but very much R.E.M. being R.E.M.

while this was better than i thought it was going to be, i can’t make out if i was bored by it or if i actually enjoyed parts of it…….. i guess another listen is on the horizon

7,5

A surprisingly modern-sounding album for 1983 - there's a lot of different vibes here, with elements of post-punk and new wave as well as the seeds of future 90s indie rock. To its credit, it also supremely ignores all the stupid gimmicks that were fashionable in the early 80s music industry. I find it intellectually interesting, but the music itself doesn't excite me that much. I enjoyed Michael Stipe's very peculiar voice, and the album as a whole kind of grew on me ; it was quite pleasant to listen as background music. However, no song really stood out or blew me away, and I'm not sure it will leave a lasting impression. A laudable effort, but not necessarily something I'll listen to again. 5/10

A suprising nice discovery.

I'm not a big R.E.M. fan, but I readily admit they have a recognizable sound and voice... but I didn't hear anything particularly memorable on this album.

Merry Christmas! I’ve always liked this album without really knowing why. Maybe it’s just my contrarian side. It feels like the more garage-rock, alternative face of R.E.M., far from the band’s smoother 90s period, when everything leaned more toward synths. The bass is great, and Michael Stipe sounds perfectly balanced between post-punk edge and pop ease. Like a good The Smiths, it grows on you slowly and then sticks. No real hit, nothing spectacular, it just works to me.

I liked this one quite a bit. I had never such early R.E.M. It's hard to describe, but it lacked the annoyance factor I feel listening to later R.E.M. music. I think that came from the saturation on MTV and local radio stations at the time. Too much Stipe is just too much Stipe.

Okay y'know what, I am starting to get on the hype train for R.E.M., especially after their very weird and one of a kind debut album Murmur. This album feels just as weird and off-center as their debut EP Chronic Town, but feels much more polished and clear in what exactly the band is trying to do. Lead singer Stipe doesn't feel as under his breath as he did before and I'd argue the writing is much more compelling on this project. It isn't anything I haven't heard before, but for the time when this was released it was pretty ahead of the curve. R.E.M. showcases a very charming and fun soundscape on this project that always leaves you wondering what is next for the band, but I don't ever feel they absolutely embody the sound they are crafting here. They always make a good showcase and never much more. Again take it with a grain of salt as this is their debut studio album but I really like how collected they feel right out of the gate. Excited to see what else this band cooks up as I am quite happy with what Murmur had to offer myself.

Not the best REM that I have heard and certainly not the worst

Actually enjoyed this album, I've never listened to this before, even though I'm familiar and like their hits. Some of the tracks were quite catchy, need to listen to the whole album again.

Listened to this on a very rainy drive home from work. 2.5/5

yeah, I enjoyed it, it was nice to have on in the background, nothing stuck out but I mean that in multiple ways. nothing was awful but nothing was amazing. i liked it! Laughing was probably my favorite.

Not bad but not particularly memorable

i thought this was fine. the R.E.M. songs i knew weren't on here, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. i enjoyed having this on, but nothing really jumped out to me to make me feel like i gotta listen to it again. i might in the future, but it's not begging for it.

The beginning really convinced me that I was not going to enjoy this album, but the second half really saved it for me. I think I’d need to give it a thorough redo sometime in order to have a completely accurate score.

There’s such joy in experiencing a new flavor of music, one that breaks the mold and defies labels, but is also fun to listen to. Delightful, complex weirdness: that’s what this REM debut is all about. For me, Murmur didn’t conjure that reaction of “woah, I don’t know what the heck this is but it rules” — since I’m in 2025, have heard REM’s other hits, and bands inspired by them. But Murmur is still good, and it did remind me how I’ve felt listening to other new, odd artists for the first time. I only got one cursory listen in for this record, so I plan to revisit and possibly bump this up a star.

Not my type of music

I think I like this more than Automatic For The People, which has already been served and reviewed here. However I care less.

REM are the godfathers of indie - Beloved of serious musos ( spelt serious but pronounced pretentious) Lots to like about this surprisingly well formed debut for their sound . Jangly and catchy, but not exactly memorable A couple of nice songs on an album that sounded more like Elvis Castelo than I would have thought . I don’t own any REM on vinyl, and this gives me no reason to change that so 3/5

Música de velho

In my opinion probably their 4th best album. I enjoyed it but moreso as background music maybe. Some great songs on their but not an album I would choose to listen to again.

Solid album, not my favorite one from REM though. I like the 2nd half more, starting with Catapult.

I like other albums more

Dug it at first, but got bored pretty quickly

Decent melodies, but a lot of the same on here. I can see why this would be a lot of peoples’ favorite, but I have a hard time rating this in my top tier.

Not bad, an enjoyable listen. I think I like the later stuff much better though.

Y'know, I love REM, and I loved a few of the tracks on here. The lyrics are fantastic, as is always the case for this band. That said, on the whole this wasn't sticking with me today, even after a couple of listens. Probably a 3.5.

This had the benefit of being a weekend album, which gave me time to play through it a few times and let it sink in. I think it would take this extra bit of investment to really appreciate it. It's definitely not an immediate top of the pops album. It's subtle. And a bit melancholy. The B side is weaker than the A side, but overall, it's still not bad.

Slightly off-kilter jangle-rock. Debut full-length from the band that's basically the godfather of college indie rock. Quality stuff, but I actually like their following release Reckoning better - the songs that stand out on that one really stand out more, I think. You can hear Byrds and maybe some Talking Heads and Elvis Costello influences here in places. Good grooves and pleasant but unconventional song structures. The interesting thing is that except for a few albums later in their career, their sound never strays too far from this formula. Not to say they didn't grow and experiment, but they seemed to always return to their roots and strengths. In all, a solid set of songs. Favorites: Radio Free Europe, Sitting Still

I’ve tried, but I just can’t get into R.E.M. I fully recognize the talent—Murmur is finely crafted, the musicianship is there, and the band’s influence is unquestionable. But even with all that, the sound still hits my ear as pop-polished in a way that doesn’t quite land for me. It’s not that they’re doing anything wrong; it’s more that their particular brand of “effortless” feels a little too effortless for my taste. I can admire it, but it doesn’t call to me.

Começa divertidinho já. Começou a ficar um pouco repetitivo e sem alma pra mim. Nada mais a comentar, bom, ok. 3*

Used to really like this, sounds a bit samey now

Pretty solid debut album that established their sound and gave ideas of the history that were to come. I didn't hear any catchy songs that I'd add to my favorites but it was a good experience.

I was expecting to love this, as it’s an album I’d not heard by a band I like, but it kind of passed me by. Pleasant but forgettable.

3/5

I like R.E.M. a lot, they were my favorite band in my teens, but, like, how many of their albums are on this list?

radio free europe is nostalgic. its ok lol 3/5

I listened to this album while out a stroll and i kind of forgot it was on. Not really sure if thats a good or a bad thing. Each song just kind of rolled into the next and there were very few stand out moments for me. I suppose it does need to be considered easy listening on that basis though! When i did lock in to the music, i found the songs catchy enough without being particularly exciting. Vocals have never really done it for me and the guitar sounds are okay but not really my cup of tea. I do think there is something to be said about the simple, melancholic nature of the songs and perhaps its one of those albums that needs another listen to fully appreciate. I think ill give it another spin. For now favourite track - Radio Free Europe. 7/10

Average. Nothing outstanding, pleasant background.

Tomek daje 3 z dużym minusem, tak jak to panie nauczycielki naciągają oceny w szkole. Zosia bez minusa!

Pleasant enough

Good

I like this. It's fine, good listening while I work.

Bleh 2.5/5

No complaints, guitar heavy alt rock, noticeably of the 80s

I like their later stuff a little more.

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Shaking Through, Talk About The Passion Pretty middle of the road, but I can definitely understand how R.E.M. paved the way for the alternative rock scene to really take off. There's not much else to say. It's wholly cromulent.

I love REM but this album is very mellow. I like it, but do not love it. I will hold them to a high standard and rank this as a 3.5 but on the three side.

Same melody song after song

Do conder myself an R.E.M. fan but I am a fan of this alblum

Another solid offering from R.E.M. - I don't think the highs on this one quite reached the highs of Green for me, but this album was much more consistent throughout.

Not a single song stood out to me as being a 5/5 HOWEVER this was some very good listening and I certainly didn’t dislike any of it. I’m thinking a 3.5 for now. Might go back and listen one day and bump it up to 4.

R.E.M. still isn't making my favourites list or anything, but this is a MUCH better showcase of their style than Green was. Quite a fun listen, and with all the sauce I expected from the band that brought us Losing My Religion. High 3 for me, could be a 4 on a good day. Standouts: Laughing • 9-9 • Shaking Through • We Walk

crazy

Yup. That sure is REM

Is R.E.M the best band of all time? I’ve certainly heard it said, and by some pretty well considered music lovers too. There’s a whole lot of “what qualifies a band…” kind of questions we’d need to ask and answer first, and honestly could you imagine anything being any more tedious than that? Murmur is full of thoughtfully crafted, patiently simmering pop songs that recalls the art rock of Velvet Underground as much as it does the angular, angsty thrust of the Wire of “Reuters” or even Orange Juice. It also anticipates a lot of what’s to follow in the 80s, perhaps most thrillingly The Smiths – close contemporaries I’ve always thought of as quasi-equivalents (I doubt I’d be alone in calling REM the American Smiths). “Radio Free Europe” is the sort of romping pop punk that’d get a room moving no matter what; “Laughing” is a meditative, oneiric drone punctuated by stabs of lively arpeggio and bright bass; “Perfect Circle” houses a gloriously honeycomb ostinato and features the most quintessentially Michael Stipe sounding Michael Stipe on this record (imagine getting to know your voice, finding its strength and then realising it’s that voice); “Shaking Through” has an almost sophistipop angle about it, in a very pleasing way; “West of the Fields” is a very, very good slice of upright art pop with an undulating chorus that lingers in the back of the mind long after the album’s issued its last murmur. Would the best band in the world have a debut album this cohesive, convincing and clever? Maybe. They’d also have to follow it up with a succession of increasingly more focussed pop rock masterpieces, though. Can’t wait to see how they go.

Love REM. This isn't my absolute favourite, but it's in the era I love.

Founders of the North American Jangle. Album starts with a bang with Radio Free Europe. Then....the rest of the album feels like they forgot what they were trying to say. Not sure what happened there. The rest of the album is flat as a pancake.

Pretty good, but also nothing spectacular. Nothing about this album really pops for me, and there are better REM records.

Easy listening for music snobs. This album, along with their next few, is far better than their 90s slop, and it's a shame they'll be remembered for the latter. That being said, while their sound, writing, and production was original and innovative in 1983, it's been done a million times since by a million other bands. That's a testament to REM's influence, but influence alone doesn't carry an album for me. Listening to Murmur, I was reminded of one of my favorite bands from the same era, one that also featured a unique and charismatic singer floating over bittersweet riffs on a jangly guitar. But The Smiths had a personality. There was dark humor, pathos, unrequited love, shifting English politics. Listening to this and REMs other college radio albums, I can't really tell what they're about or what they're wanting the listener to take away from the experience. Maybe it's just positive vibes and an hour of good company. Which is about all I got from this.

I don't really get REM

Fine, my least favorite of the REM offerings.

I really enjoyed the bell line in pilgrimage. Other than that the album was pretty generic and didn't push me towards anything else.

Alt rock

My first impression of REM. Clearly ahead of its time. It’s got a great sound but the songs all sort of run together, especially through the middle. We’ll see how the other albums measure up; it’ll at least be interesting to see how this band progresses with time. 3/5

About what I expected. Not bad, not great.

Not too enthralling for me

I'm sure it's good, but didn't stand out from other indie rock

R.E.M. are such a part of the fabric of my musical life that I can't be impartial. I don't universally love everything they do, but they got me through some hard times, and for that reason alone anything I hear them I feel a certain affection and gratitude. Murmur is good enough. Like lots of albums, it peters out toward the end a bit. It's more a document for me than a direct emotional tie. I'm not sure I get why the wiki places them in relation to punk other than needing to differentiate them from bigger rock acts. I don't hear the animus of punk nor the scrappiness, and the compositions feel too tight. But whatevs.

Was eagerly awaiting a new album and saw R.E.M pop up and was immediately disappointed; an audibly sigh. Thinking to myself, alright let's plow our way through this. First track pops up, Radio Free Europe. Was pleasantly surprised by the jangly guitar and upbeat vibe of the track and tight composition Pilgrimage, Laughing, Talk About Passion were kinda let downs. Went right back to the mindset at the beginning before playing this album. This is just a whinny band for the dorks of the 90's Moral Kiosk kicks in, back to that jangly guitar tone, with fun, catchy harmonies. Perfect Circle, eh, alright it's doing it's thing. Catapult, second favorite track on the album. Back to that jangly guitar tone, tight drumming and the funniest harmonies on the album. Catchiest thing on the album. What a fun track. Sitting Still is solid. 9-9, my personal favorite on this album. Dark, gloomy, bass is just riffing. Sticks out as a artistic endeavor on this album. They should be proud of that track. West of Fields is a great closer. Does the fun jangly guitar with a pinch of what 9-9 is all about. Dark, gloomy, tight drumming. What a debut! Glad this medium made me listen to it with a different ear because at the beginning wasn't expecting much but there's a lot of heart, energy and tight compositions. Enjoyed the back end of the album more than the first half. Wish they would do more of the jangly guitar. Favorite songs: Catapult, Moral Kiosk and 9-9 3/5 stars

Nette Musik, die während der Arbeit im Hintergrund vor sich her dudeln kann.

Homogener als "Automatic For The People", teils schon so ausgefeilt, dass ich echt gestaunt hab, dass das ein Debüt ist. Michael Stipe ist noch nicht in seiner finalen Form und ist im Mix auch weiter hinten. Das Album hat für mich einen angenehmen Charme. Konstant gut, aber für mich nie überragend.

Endelig et REM album der ikke er lort

It surely is an R.E.M. album.

Very middle of the road indie rock album. A fine example of an album that I’m going to listen to for 1 day, and immediately forget about the next. This was good, but nothing particularly stood out. As far as first albums go, it’s really good though. I know that a ton of people absolutely love this band, so for that reason I have a fun opportunity to see how they evolved over time. I am largely unfamiliar with R.E.M., but this was a pretty good start. Again, it wasn’t amazing, but it was still pretty good as a whole. Nice little peaceful album to get me through the long day, served its purpose. Never really grabbed me, but hooked me enough to let me still feel actively engaged in the music. Love the singers voice, even if this album was a bit too light for my liking as a whole in most places. At least it was easy to listen to. Another very middle of the road 3.5/5 on this one. I really liked the energy and funky guitar playing in “Moral Kiosk”. Easily my favorite song on the album. That one was really fun and ear wormy.

R.E.M. is a solid band for me, but I can't really say they are better than background radio music. They don't give me the certain emotions they clearly invoke in other people.

Enjoyed the album. A smooth sound, and its very interesting to hear the similarities to more modern indie rock albums. None of the songs really stood out, but overall a good listen

J'ai pas vibé du tout et je l'ai écouté 2 fois. Je reconnais certains trucs intéressants proto-grunge dont Catapult qui vont définitivement influencer des bands comme Pearl Jam. Ça peut aussi très bien se mettre en ambiance en repeinturant son railing, ce que j'ai fait, mais sans plus.

Generally fine but nothing that blew me away

Very early in their career. Can hear the seeds of what they will become, but nothing really stood out to me. Not a bad album, far from their best. Decemt middle of the road fare.

Some good, some forgettable.