Murmur

It was OK. Most of the songs sounded pretty similar. Radio Free Europe's good. Same way I seem to feel about most REM. I like a few songs, but mostly Michael Stipe's just a bit too earnest. Or something.

This one moved for me. Probably won't go back to it, but enjoyed it!

Less glitzy than the REM songs everyone knows but a brilliantly constructed album

Beaucoup plus energique que ce que je peux citer ou me rappeler pour REM.

it was not too bad.

One of my favorite albums ever. Their later stuff is still pretty great but this first one was just next level for me. Also the Chronic Town EP should be included listening with this. The album cover as well is one of my favorite ever-it’s amazing how making it black and white makes the Kudzu seem as ominous as it does to other plants. Also I went to UGA so obviously have a soft spot for this. 9th perfect rating so far after 583 albums Rating: 5.0

I'm def not a REM HATER per se, but this also didn't turn me into an REM lover - very hit or miss w/ some great tracks and some less attractive ones. Fun listen overall tho tbh, great twangy guitar new wave/post-punk with some cool song structure and production

I think the only REM song I knew before this was Night Swimming (which I LOVE), but so this was a pleasant surprise!!!!

I guess I have been sleeping on R.E.M all this time. I absolutely love the jangly guitar tones, and while the vocals aren’t my favorite, there’s a lot of fun tunes on display here.

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

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

Blind album, love the artist and I've clearly missed out on some good tunes. Great listen and some nice hits within. Would enjoy another listen for sure.

Decent. 3/5

3.5/5 A lot of the songs sounded the same, not much really jumped out to me.

Radio Free Europe 3.8 Pilgrimage 3.6 Laughing 3.5 Talk About the Passion 3.4 Moral Kiosk 3.3 Perfect Circle 3.1 Catapult 3.3 Sitting Still 3.2 9-9 3.4 Shaking Through 3.3 We Walk 3.2 West of the Fields 3.3 Score: 3.366666667

One of the best debut albums of the 80s and one of my favorite albums. I vascilate between Murmur and Reckoning as my favorite R.E.M. albums. So much to love here, Peter Buck's ringing guitar, lockstep rhythm section , Michael Stipe's mysterious lyrics and unique delivery and the perfect backing vocals from Mike Mills. This came as a shock to me when it arrived. No one else was doing pop music this accessible and accomplished. 5 stars

80s nostalgic vibe to it Songs so far are pleasant but nothing resonating yet Like energy of moral kiosk If I need some solid 80s music I'll definitely come here

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

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

a long long time coming 5/5....even some of the songs i didnt think i remembered popped vibrantly. there is something ab this record that is situated perfectly between an alien wilderness and a comforting home, maybe u Make a home out of the wilderness but its more like the wilderness felt like home all along in some unarticulatable way. idk if literally anyone else gets those types of feelings and images from this record, but i can point at the v least to the combination of cryptic and warm elements as a springboard for all kinds of potential effects. i basically have no idea what micheal stipe is trying to say at any point but im still filled with the unavoidable sense of "man. that guy knew exactly what he was talking about." i feel like im remembering this sentiment from somewhere (i cant recall exactly) but its kind of crazy this is a debut album too...ik they had an EP before this, but this still sounds like the kind of quietly confident and seasoned record u usually only get from an artist who's six or seven records deep into their discog. it doesnt clamor for ur attention, it just lets everything speak for itself. when i lie on the ground, the grass and moss will wrap me up in a blanket

Drifted by me a bit.

I’d this the third or fourth REM we’ve had? Definitely my favourite

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

This is a good album. Nothing spectacular, but good.

its really good, catchy and relaxing yippeeeeeee

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

Älskar den här. RADIO FREE EUROPE är en av mina all time favorites

thanks for spawning half of the music i love i guess

it was okay. some nice rock-y tunes. not much else.

Jangly, mysterious, cryptic, dance-able. The R.E.M debut shines with powerful and verbose lyrics that don't hide their influences. From American alternative bands to the post-punk British indie movement, this album is a beautiful statement of what indie/alternative music can achieve when the only motivation is creativity. A gem that I will cherish and definitively will be on my rotation for a while. The guitar intro of 9-9 is so avant-garde that feels like something released last year. What an album.

Gibt bessere Alben von REM

My appreciation for REM has not increased over 30 years. Hard pass.

Bit repetitive

Meh. Uninteresting. 2/5

Lo Fi quality Didn’t realize it was their first album Interesting as I had never listened to it

Third R.E.M album, third time to write, “Damn! Maybe I should start listening to R.E.M.” (maybe I’ll actually do it this time?)

REM was already popular when I “discovered” them my freshman year of high school. I hated them. This was when the automatic for the people album launched. Shiny happy people was awful. Stand was the most derivative thing I’d ever heard (as a young teenager). This album, however, was not bad. It embodies “college” rock.

Great debut from a band I often overlook. I'm not sure how influential this is, but given how big R.E.M. are, I'll take a guess and there weren't many bands doing this type of jangle pop back in '83. Another thing is there aren't many well known songs here but it still consistently very good. Key tracks: Radio Free Europe Pilgrimage Perfect Circle We Walk

Isn't this simply the same radio friendly beige song 12 times? Heard nothing to distinguish the changes in tracks, and nothing of note to talk about afterwards

I love me some jangly riffs, so naturally it’s the jangliest songs on Murmur I like the best. There’s something about a good jangle that syncs with my brainwaves just right. “Sitting Still” is a great example. You can track the guitar sound on Murmur directly to its influence on early-90s alternative (see The Cranberries, Gin Blossoms, etc.), and I love that. A few of the less jangly tracks fall a bit flat for me and sort of run together. Solid album though. 3.9/5

The second greatest American band, only behind the Beach Boys, and one of the strongest ever debut albums from anyone.

It was very chill, so much that it kinda made me sleepy, taking the murmur aspect to a whole level lol I was driving, too. Not helpful, but great for listening if trying to relax.

Recht geiles Album

Heard it before. Not my favourite R.E.M. album but it's R.E.M. so I cannot say a bad thing about them, it's still a good album. 3/5

A surprising good first album.

Not bad REM album.

nice, not super interesting though?

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

Like the vibes but a lot of the songs sound the same.

Lots of memories of being in the car, there's some wonderful tracks on here but you can see they're finding their feet with this one. Melodies are starting to form here of what we know to be classic REM.

Назва дебютного альбому R.E.M. перекладається як «бормотання». І вона, насправді, дуже гарно описує те чим є цей альбом, та що є його головною «фішкою». Дійсно унікальна, «містичність, вокалу Michael Stipe у поєднанні із, фолко-пост-панковими гітарними партіями - справді вирізняє альбом серед робіт інших гуртів, що грали подібну музику у ті часи. В кінці кінців це ледь не найкраща робота, у такому жанрі як #junglepop, що фактично «канонізує» його звучання. Але попри усі лаври, що має цей альбом, та попри те, що він має величезний вплив на розвиток такого жанру як #alternativerock Сказати, що він мені «прямо дуже сильно» подобається, я не можу. Адже після того як я почув інші #junglepop гурти, такі як The Smiths та The Stone Roses - дебютник R.E.M. виглядає для мене «бліднуватим», та навіть трооохи нудненьким) І справжні R.E.M «розкриються» для мене «майже через десять років». Та Automatic For The People (1992) стане одним із найулюбленіших альбомів у альтернативному року… але це вже зовсім інша історія

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

Not my forte. For the time it was released, I can see why it would’ve been a big deal. Not my crowd. Meh 🫤

it's quite a coincidence the recommendation of rem's murmur the same day david lynch dies.

Boy, I didn't think I was an REM hater, I like their hits, but I don't know about this one. Didn't really connect with any song, and nothing stood out. I dunno, missed the mark for me

On this listen, it sounds more like a debut; not quite as polished as later. Still pretty good though and Radio Free Europe is still a classic.

Joyita new wave, 4 estrellas

I love R.E.M. but didn't enjoy this album that much. There weren't any stand-out songs. They have so many better tracks imo.

Nicht remarkable

More cheesy REM

Poor man's Paisley Underground

This album introduces the REM sound. But they refine that sound in later albums. It’s a good effort, but here they sound like a very interesting and talented bar band that hasn’t yet figured out what its point is.

Acho que ouvirei mais vezes. Começa bem com Radio Free Europe, mas depois não me pega mais. Mas dá para ouvir os anos 80 nas músicas. Acho que seria uma banda para observar.

Crisp and fresh, sensitive, but with an edge. High minded lyrics that might take me a lot more listening, some creative interpretation, or just letting go of the need to decode them. Good stuff, though. It was fun to go in reverse with this band as my entry point was Document.

R.E.M. brought the heat. What a sick album.

I know that many people worship this album. Back in the day, this was always held up as the best REM album before they went “too commercial”. But I’m thinking that adding some melody and a an occasional burst of energy was not a bad thing for them to learn. This album is a mood. And a tone. Just one. For 44 minutes. Great start, because they had found their own sound, and that in itself is very important, but not their best in my opinion.

Fav song: Laughing I've always really loved the way R.E.M albums sound. They have this summertime dryness to the production. I also adore the way Michael Stipe sings, his voice is amazing. One of the greats for sure. I'd have given this album a 5 stars but I don't think any of the songs really massively stuck out as killers to me, but the R.E.M vibe alone deserves a 4 at least.

I like R.E.M. from what I know of them, but this didn't really do much for me. Sure, it was good, but nothing special I don't think.

too long

I don't think I've listened to this first album but it was good, even for their first effort.

Stabil debut men inte i närheten av vad som skulle komma.

Good soft rock to listen to. It is not a type of music I see myself actively coming back to listen but it is a good album. Some highlights for me included: Perfect Circles, Shaking Through, and West on the Fields.

I enjoyed this, more than Alice in chains, once again not my normal thing but definitely closer to it

this album made me feel nothing one way or another so its a 2/5 from me

meh

Been a while since I’ve listened to REM, and because my experience with them was prior to listening to so much other music I can now both appreciate this sound, but also hear many of their influences especially that jangly sound I sought out so much as a kid (thanks to J Marr mainly).

★★★★½

vibey but bland

I found myself not really being able to get into this album. I typically love R.E.M. whenever I hear them, but would often find myself not paying attention to the album. Underwhelming.

Enjoyed it. Standout songs: Talk about the passion 9-9 We Walk

It’s great but there are SOME songs I think are kind of mediocre.

Catapult and 9-9 kinda rock. I expected early REM to sound more different. Kicking it up a point for being their debut album. If Chronic Town covers just as much ground, consider Murmur kicked back down a point. Murmur is an REM album: it's pretty good and at least one of the songs rocks. REM: REM. (⌐■_■)

Always knew I had it in me to be an REM guy. This list is giving me the pretence to do it.

I left it on in the background so i didn't get to listen to it fully, but what I did hear I liked. Overall melodies and guitar riffs sounded good.

Interesting sound, but not particularly memorable.

Nothing special.

+++ 9-9 --- pilgrimage not much to say about this one. its fine background music but when i pay attention it just makes me want to listen to depeche mode or tmbg instead.

I don’t mind some of the REM that I’ve heard, but I don’t think I’ve yet to be blown away by them. Their music is usually catchy and nothing inoffensive to my ears, but also doesn’t really wow me. Today’s album keeps this formula. It is absolutely ok. I enjoyed having it on while working, but nothing really made my ears prick up. It’s fairly generic pop rock, and probably my least favourite album of REM. That’s not to say it’s bad though, as it is fine. #rem #murmur #albumreview #musicisitgoodthough #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie #poprock #janglepop #altrock

not my type. pretty 80s though.

Hj

Made me oddly nostalgic fory old college roommates.

Good listen. Can hear the early start to the music that made them so famous.

A good debut filled with the seeds of their future success.

У меня нет желания продолжать это слушать. Послевкусие неприятное. Radiohead гораздо интереснее в плане музыки.

This band is just meh for me. I guess at the time it stood out given what was dominating the charts then, but it just doesn’t do much for me now.

Alternative Rock / post-punk. Not in my guilty pleasure

Just okay. Not really my type of music, but it would have been when I was younger. I can see why it was on this list.

The lyrics don’t make sense sometimes but this album is pure vibes overall. Melancholic with a pinch of hope.

Unremarkable like a murmur. :/ A mellow album.

Good sounding, kind of basic instrumentation with low key vocals, kind of random lyrics. But very consistent idea in the songs.

Few bands accomplished more with such moderate talent, or got more mileage out of relatively simple hooks and the most basic of melodies and harmonies. A testament to the work ethic and vision and chemistry of four uniquely (if modestly) skilled folks making distinctive music to their own inimitable specs. (Well they were imitable, it would turn out, but to excellent effect and the distinct benefit of millions of listeners down the years, largely because they created something so necessary and relatable.) “Radio Free Europe” is a clarion call – was then, and resonates just as clearly and powerfully now. The affecting “Laughing” and liltingly, lovely “Perfect Circle” are side 1 highlights. “Shaking Thru” sets up a strong close with “We Walk” (more lilting, though waltzier this time) and the driving “West of the Field” that let everyone know there was more to come. But “Sitting Still” … one can barely speak to the depth of the emotion it summons … one of those all-time-life songs … of world-historical importance in one’s own world, as it were (of which more below). There is a certain element of inexplicability to all great works of art – and Murmur has it (not just talking about Stipe’s lyrics or vocals, either). Ultimately, this works entirely better than any involved party had a right to expect. For context, one recognizes the seeming slightness of a few cuts and has always found “Catapult” annoying to a fairly significant degree. And one can make a case that Reckoning is a straight-up superior record – with notably crisper production, a touch more polish and confidence (certainly it belongs on this list, as does Fables). But being first matters – and this was first, solidifying the new category/sub-genre of college rock (a milieu in which one would spend vast, vast hours, 1988-1992, in nearby ATL). But let’s be clear, this is off-the-charts originality and few bands would deliver at such scale and consistency. They paid off the promise of jangle first made by the Byrds decades before. They brought light and earnestness where the Velvets brought darkness and self-consciousness. Accolades are all deserved – one of best-ever debuts, top 100 (or 50 or 20) of ‘80s; beating out U2 War, Police Synchronicity and Thriller (for feck’s sake) for Rolling Stone album of the year in ‘83 is critical prescience at its best and unconventionally wise, too. All for such a modest record, really. So one rounds up REM being the band one quite literally grew up with and has seen more than any others, on every tour from Murmur to (at least) Monster, having seen them in amusement parks (with Fixx and Flock of Seagulls [who opened for whom?]), small gyms (D. Boon’s last show, in Dec ‘85, Charlotte, NC) for last show of Fables tour (when Stipe might still put a paper bag on his head) and then outdoor amphitheater (B’ham) for opening show of Life’s Rich Pageant tour that next fall, amazing Thanksgiving weekend shows at the Fox in Atlanta for four or five years running in college years. More importantly to be reminded of the soul work this music can do, reminding us of our own identities across long stretches of time: to wit, listening to “Sitting Still” for the first time in years, in late middle age, on a winter day, the record having shown up on this list, when life is very much too much on one’s mind, could scarcely be more soothing or solaceful, offering elevation and inspiration – and not just warm blanket of memory, but looking forward, too. But it’s the great reaching out at the end, the promise of connectivity – ”I can hear you / can you hear me?”, an all-time closing lyric [seek the Reckoning tour videos on YouTube) – prompting one to hope and optimism and trust in the future and bringing the best of oneself to all relationships and all life’s complications – just as did 40+ years ago when life being too much with one had a different valence and flavor. Still, kudzu and Rickenbackers forever!

Easy listening but nothing stood out.

As always, I don't have much to add. Decent album, good background noise.

Pretty solid, somewhat similar across the board, but doesn't get boring. Instrumentation is pleasant. Very easy to listen to.

Nothing stood out to me as really great

I'm pretty convinced that every R.E.M song let alone album sounds the same.

Meh

I totally understand why this is on the list, but admittedly it is far from my favorite R.E.M. album. It's expected to be a little rough as it's their first full length album, but they hit their stride so strongly with later albums that this really pales in comparison. "Radio Free Europe" and "We Walk" are my favorite songs on the album, but most of it is pretty middling. Not terrible and good for a debut, but R.E.M. gets so much better over the years.

Murmur is an album that you will likely not remember many songs from but they are all good. I imagine it would hold more weight hearing it in 1983. It influenced literally all the music after it that I love. It might have invented indie. 7.8/10

Favourite songs: Radio Free Europe, Catapult, 9-9, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk, Laughing, West of the Fields, We Walk Least favourite songs: Perfect Circle 4/5

isch no okay, aber nöd weltbewegend…

Starts off great but not one of their best - still a bit raw

Radio Free Europe Talk About the Passion Sitting Still

R.e.m. is one of my favourite bands, but being born in the early eighties, it is the nineties version of the band i fell in love with. I have listened to some of the older stuff, but I think this is the first time in ages i listen to this record from start to finish, and I think it is a brilliant piece of poprock. R.e.m. is in some ways the indierock version of Madonna, in the sense that they seemed to always incorporate the sound of the age the records were release, and at the same time sound like themselves. One of few bands that kept going for decades, without ever releasing a weak record.

I think I might have some unpopular opinions about this one since it’s REM. I had never listened to this record and I don’t think I knew any of the songs before. My main beef with this album is that it was kinda boring. A lot of the songs just had the same repeating 4 bars over and over and there was very little to no variation of instrumentation or vocals. The songwriting was fine but nothing mind blowing. I honestly was pretty stoked for an REM album and then I just ended being bored by it.

This was okay. I really love REMs sound. It’s chill, moving, and consistent. I love how it can be low key it can be, but then also have such a big sound. I guess I’m mostly just describing what I like about the band and not really this album. I don’t have a lot to say about it. It hit all of those keys features that I mentioned, but then it just kind of repeats them over and over again. It’s not super varied like other albums, so it was hard for me to really love it.

Good album

R.E.M. are soo underrated. Loved this album. 🤩❤️

I've had two R.E.M. albums in the space of a week, it all sounds the same really. This one was shorter and felt more refined, so it can have an extra star.

12/20/24. Solid R.E.M., first time listening to their debut. Just consistent songwriting.

Did enjoy as much as I thought I would. A little mundane and monotonous. His voice became annoying after awhile

r.e.m. a staple in my listening rotation since this album! a precursor of the versatility and cleverness and harmonies of these guys it is very hard to say anything negative for them

Not my favorite REM album.

Another case of first song/first album that is an absolute mission statement. And then they just don't let up - until track 10. The journey is an absolute master class. The excellence of the song writing is matched only by the extraordinary production which constantly surprises and shines a unique light that separated them from all corners of their generation. They filtered through the past and laid the tracks that so many traveled on for the next 40 years. Always a treat to revisit.

Good stuff

I wasn't going to give it a 1 until i read all the comments praising it... guys, we are not on the same plane of existence. I'll be real this is pretty boring repetitive and whiny. An absolute void of musicality. And each new song pissed me off more and more, just fuck these guys for real

R.E.M.'s album cover for Murmur presents a striking visual that encapsulates the essence of the band's debut. The artwork features an overgrown field of kudzu, symbolizing decay and mystery, which aligns well with the album's themes of longing and introspection. The sepia tones and washed-out images evoke a sense of nostalgia and abandonment. However, while the aesthetic is intriguing, it may come off as too understated for some, lacking the boldness often associated with 1980s album art. Overall, Murmur's cover is a compelling representation of R.E.M.'s artistic vision but leaves room for a more vibrant interpretation. Album artworks rated: 12/1001 Music's alright.

I've liked R.E.M. for a long time but I somehow just saw Murmur as Radio Free Europe and a bunch of other songs. I'm a lot more familiar with the major label stuff of the 90s but more fool me as I've now had this on rotation for days and it's stacked with quality songs that draw you in with catchy hooks left, right and centre. Michael Stipe has an excellent way of harmonising his vocal melodies with the guitar lines and it hits my ears in just the right way. I was strongly considering giving this a 5 in the end but I know the best is yet to come for R.E.M. as they perfected their sound and got even more consistent in the years that follows. For a debut though, it's an outstanding record.

Enjoyable album with a pretty narrow range. I imagine it'll be rewarding on repeat listens, but the first time through it just sounded pretty same-y throughout.

It's R.E.M. Every single song on every single album sounds exactly the same. It's fine for 1 song. An album of R.E.M. is way too much.

R.E.M. is typically what I don't listen to, but this album was actually quite nice. Has all the ambient and melancholic-esque sounds that one can expect from this group, but it also has some nice, uplifting sounds as well. The instrumentation and vocals pair well together and it's not too bad.

A groundbreaking gem of a debut. Paved the way for just about every 'indie' rock band.

Another album I haven't heard for a long time but a good reminder of how good it is. Still prefer Automatic for the People but this is very close to 5* for me. Fav tracks: Radio Free Europe, Catapult, Moral Kiosk

Naast de jangley stem zijn de gitaren de grote blikvangers in de 'jangle pop' scene. Dat laat dit album horen. Hij staat bol van de interessante gitaarloopjes en catchy riffs, die voor mij erg veel weg hebben van het werk van de artsy hardcore-punkers van die tijd, Minutemen. Ook Gang of Four is op dat vlak niet ver weg. Ze zijn hoekig, maar hier en daar ook best wel jazzy. Ik heb me op en top vermaakt met deze plaat, die perfect balanceert tussen positieve energie en melancholie. Het einde komt niet helemaal mee met het waanzinnige niveau van de eerste 7 nummers, maar zelfs de mindere nummers hebben iets aandoenlijks. Peak early indie rock dit. 8,5/10 Highlights: Radio Free Europe Pilgrimage Perfect Circle Catapult

Dit is zo'n steengoed debuut. Als je de rock-wereld betreed met de eerste 10 seconden van Radio Free Europe heb je meteen je eigen plekje veroverd. Want zo moet R.E.M. destijds geklonken hebben: uniek en met een geheel eigen sound. Vooral door dat jangly gitaarspel van Buck. Catapult is daarin echt de uitblinker. De tweede helft van het album haalt niet het niveau van de eerste, waardoor het als geheel nog beter kon (en werd) in hun carrière. Maar de unieke toon is gezet. 8/10 Highlights Radio Free Europe Pilgrimage Catapult

This one seemed pretty good. Will I listen to again: 50%

...

shaking through and we walk ate rest of it put me into rem sleep

One of those albums where you either dig the style or not. Except "Radio Free Europe", just didn't do much for me personally.

Bro two R.E.M. albums in a row, seriously? This is a real solid debut, better than I remember even. Similar to AFTP I would give this 3 and a half stars if I could except this time I think I'm gonna round down. At first I wanted to give this a higher rating but by the second half I was definitely over it. unrelated but I really like this album cover for some reason. The imagery and type look really cozy. It's the kind of album cover that's so good it makes me wish I enjoyed the music attached to it more ya know? Favorite track: Radio Free Europe

Great band and album

Not yet the indie/college rock superpower they would become by the 80's end, Murmur is very strong start. Presumably named after Michael Stipe's tendency to murmur or mumble the lyrics. There's a certain innocence and charm to Stipe's timidity, plus it lends a certain amount of mystery to the songs already cryptic lyrics. Post-punk moodiness is there, but there's an overwhelming optimism bubbling beneath the surface, ready to burst free. The front half is stacked: "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage", "Laughing", "Talk About the Passion", and the plaintive "Perfect Circle" closing out the front half. The back half is very much the same. Strong , driving, southern dreams interpreted by a warbling Stipe. On "Shaking Through", it just occurred to me that R.E.M. may have been strongly influenced by Fleetwood Mac, and that's ok!

Laughing // Perfect Lights // 2.5/5

80s rock perfection.

Who needs any Byrds' albums on this list when we have this master piece of jangly indie pop. Opaque lyrics and transluscent music add up to make a fuzzy little gem of of an album. Best Tracks: Radio Free Europe; Talk About the Passion; Catapult

I felt similarly to this album as I did for the Pet Shop Boys album. It was a'ight. There were a few songs I kind of liked, but nothing really stood out to me. It's one of those albums that'd be good to have on as background music. It's a chill album overall and I managed to yoink a few songs from it for the mega playlist I'm building from this album generator.

Listening to this album reminded me of decomposing leaves on the floor in a park after heavy rain. Favourite track: Pilgrimage.

Iconic album

enjoyed this album, have an iconic sound, no songs too distinctive but overall liked.

Meh

Great album. Definitely not my favorite by them, but I do think it is better than some of the other albums with the bigger hits like "Automatic for the People."

Mid 3/5

A good background album; I like REM's vibes.

OK I guess, but a little forgettable compared to later records.

A pleasant listen. The jangly guitar contrasts with the introspective bass and vocals. Pretty abstract but also eminently listenable.

Very good album from R.E.M.

Great album

Some songs in this album were enjoyable to listen to, but some were pretty boring and not my taste.

Idk how I feel about the album cover. The album itself was solid, similar in vibes to Automatic Stop for me, but not as good. High 4.

I enjoyed this

5/10 - Rem but boring this time.

My dad really likes REM, but he never played any of their earlier stuff. This might be the best REM stuff I've heard though. Really liked it

All the songs seem to run together and I didn’t vibe with the first half. However the second half of the album does pick up and get better. This album requires you to be in a certain mood to fully understand and enjoy it, and it really strikes a chord when it does hit. The musicianship is excellent though and the guitars sound fantastic.

It was ok. Wanted to get into it, forgettable.

First heard radio free Europe in a tape my dad had in old motorhome he had

Pulled out the Vinyl for this one, cooled down the beers, and let Hank (son) hear what pure unadulterated rock n roll sounds like. Thoroughly enjoyed it, as I do every time. Not a song on this I don’t love. Perfect.

Michael Stipe is in the same tier as Billy Corgan for me as vocalists who you can't explain why they are so listenable but their voice just makes you want to pay attention. This album doesn't have a ton of "hits" ('Sitting Still' was my favorite) but is really listenable as an album and one I'd revisit. DRUM GUY CORNER: I always hype good drumming/tone when I hear it...this album is all about the guitar/bass sound. Guitar is really forward and bright and the bass does all sorts of grumbled sometimes muted lines but the interplay of those two things + Stipe make all the things. I imagine you could pull out the drums and almost all of these songs would have the same life.

This one was a staple in my house growing up. Parents were big time REM fans. Hard for me to listen to this objectively. First thing that I noticed this time through was the bass, and shocking I didn’t think of this before. It’s way up in the mix, in some cases the intro to the song, treble up and used more like a guitar or piano are used. The bass/drums are in a way what really creates this REM sound and then everything else on top of that. Big fan of this album. There really isn’t a bad song on here. Production is also pretty great. I may just have Steely Dan on my mind, but REM is the Steely Dan of alt/indie music? Very ambitious/serious and setting the bar a generation musicians.

Every song is a 3 but the album is a 2

Loved this album. The first five tracks are hits in my opinion - talk about the passion and moral kiosk were my favorites The next few tracks were interesting enough, but nothing super sticky. This is probably where my only negative feedback comes from. The drums began to sound really non inventive and just your standard 4/4, hi hat, snare drum sound with basic fills. 9-9 is a bad song 😂 All in all, this album was fantastic. The vocals harmonies were always on point and each song had the identity of REM. I can’t believe this came out in 1983. My brain cant compute how this was coming out alongside Poison, Motley Crue and Guns N Roses… it sounds so much more like 90s rock

Probably somewhere in my top 25 or so bands, especially from this time period and genre, though until last year for some reason hadn’t gone all the way through Murmur. Definitely a little more raw and less melodic than the rest of their catalogue - but an amazing debut. Stipe is an all time front man, love him as a singer and lyricist. Buck is a totally underrated and unconventional guitarist, and agree I love the mix on the bass on this album especially.

A step further in their musical development giving larger hints to what they would eventually evolve into

Great debut from the indie band that wrote the soundtrack to my high school and college life. Will never not love this. Right in the 4/5 line for me.

Starts off with a decent song then afterwards you get hit with one forgettable song after another. The majority of this album felt very one-note. I had to fight my sleep demon every time the next song played. This was quite unfortunate listen. Top 1: Radio Free Europe The rest of the album is mid 2.50/5

The band’s DNA is fully present in their debut album but somehow for me they’ve always mostly been a band for singles rather than albums. I’ll listen to it happily enough but wouldn’t reach for it or any of the songs here, so more of a 3 than a 4.

One of my all time fav songs by R.E.M. is radio free Europe. Great harmonies, musicianship, and lyrics. All of these traits are what they gave the world. This album gave us hints of what was to come. Enjoyable album.

Quite boring. Do we really need to listen to 4 albums from them before we die?

Listen soon

Nice indie rock. Seemed easily forgettable though

Decent, need another listen. Just a plain 3

Klasse!

REM ist so unterschätzt irgendwie, Radio Free Europe ist ein Banger

6/10 I like REM and this album isn't bad, just isn't as good as they would get later 11-25-2024

Uno de los mejores grupos delos 80. Buen album

Meh

murmurhash(bushi

Good! Classic!

3 - a lot of these have like one good song, and I know REM is a popular band but a lot of this does nothing, some great instrumentation throughout though

I like R.E.M. but haven't heard many of these songs. I enjoyed the album. I didn't realize it was their debut.

R.E.M. a toujours été très économe de ses effets, et ça se voit dès ce premier album, où l'identité est forte et ne témoigne pas d'emprunts évidents à d'autres groupes

Holy shit this took a few listens to click and when it did it REALLY did. I had this down as a 3/5 on first listen. I never listened to early R.E.M. until now, despite knowing how important they were and all that just because I found their big hits from the 90s to be really whiny and annoying. I think there was a Seinfeld effect thing happening where so many bands took from this sound that the original is not as exciting to me but I gave it a second chance and it got really good. Sometimes it reminds me of Wire and sometimes it reminds me of Crowded House. There's some really great bass lines in here. The opening bass line in Pilgrimage that is played on bass, piano and vibraphone at the same time is insane. I like it a lot I guess it really is just more mellow and melodic post-punk which is exactly what alternative rock basically is lol

Gotta love that 80s sound especially when it’s done well

I am not that familiar with R.E.M and looking at the track list on this album it has none of the big hitters are on it. I am looking forward to seeing what this album is all about. It was OK, A 3/5. Musically it was very tight. You can hear that R.E.M guitar sound forming and there is some brilliant piano on this. I feel the album lacks a killer song that you remember it for though. Favourite song: Radio free Europe Least favourite: All songs were OK to good, nothing is bad. Album artwork: Cool cover

9.0/10. Debut album "Pilgrimage" "Laughing" "Moral Kiosk" "Catapult" "Sitting Still" "9–9" "Radio Free Europe"/"Talk About the Passion"/"Perfect Circle"/"Shaking Through"/"We Walk" "West of the Fields"

The only song I knew was the opener “radio free Europe”. I would have probably enjoyed this tour. All these songs sound songs on this album sound kind of the same. I love the bass lines. Shaking through is a great track. I don’t know if I would be a n a hurry to hear this again.

REM is/has always been one of the most important bands for me. I grew up in the mid-90s, so albums like Automatic for the People and Monster were crucial for me. But my sister grew up in the 80s where the IRS records held greater sway. Thanks to her I was able to experience this band across time and get a sense of their development over time. For me this band never lost what made them them, even if they lagged later in their career. When you hear an album like this one you can hear the band’s resonance across time. I love every song on this album, just like I do almost all of their work.

Pretty boring.

better than the last r.e.m. album i heard, that's for sure

I was in high school when this album came out it's just as good as the first time I listened to it!

I expected more from REM but this did nothing for me

Songs i know: none i think Songs i like: none i think Weird album this one, not a bad one but a bit samey. Deffo a vibes thing because I've never been a fan of REM really, seem like the Coldplay of the 80s in the sense that everyone knows who they are but can't remember which song it is they know and which album it was.

I can see why people call this jangle pop. It’s very jangly. Rickenbacker must have made some serious bunce off Peter Buck over the years. Given this came out in the 80’s, it still sounds pretty contemporary and isn’t as vastly different from the later REM stuff as I thought. Some excellent melodies and Stipe has always been a fantastic, if idiosyncratic, singer. There are elements here of what they’d later become; you can extrapolate tracks like Talk About the Passion right through to your Losing My Religions, etc. Strong album, not my favourite of theirs by a long stretch but much better than I remember from listening to it previously. This would be a dead on a 3.5 for me, but as we can’t give half marks I’m gonna have to get off the fence. 3/5

Interesting album this. When I really got into REM back in the day there was a whole period of releases that I'd never heard of (pretty much everything pre-Green) that I enjoyed delving into and hearing their sound change. Not many bands that hit their commercial stride and superstardom on their 7th album. Fair play. Anyway, I quite like this album. It's small, jangly and well indie but you can hear the potential of what they would go on to achieve. This is their Pablo Honey. Standouts: Radio Free Europe Pilgrimage Moral Kiosk Shaking Through Low Points: Quite a few songs passed me but nothing I thought was terrible. Just a nice breezy flow through the whole album, even if a lot of it sounds the same. It did outstay its welcome slightly and lack of hooks make it all a bit forgettable. We Walk was a bit of weird one I guess if I had to pick one. Sounds like a song from a Funnybones book. Always wonder what the Day 1 REM diehards feel about them becoming probably the biggest rock band in the world in the early 90s. Sellouts...

Firstly, I didn’t realise that R.E.M. had been around that long, secondly this album doesn’t sound like I’d expect an album from the early 80’s to sound, it sounds much more like a 90’s album, yet in the same way doesn’t feel old. I can imagine this album would have been an influence for bands that come later influencing that alternative late 80s and early 90s sound in the US. I think the album sounds well produced and has some really good moments. I enjoyed the opening track Radio Free Europe (the only one I had previously heard), 9-9, Catapult and Shaking Through. I will probably listen to this album again. It made the drive home on a dark winters Friday night while stuck in traffic enjoyable so it’s got something going for it.

Nice album. Nothing special but an enjoyable listen. The album was about as remarkable as this review

Decent R.E.M but not great R.E.M. For me, they've done much better albums.

Me enteré que no es su mejor disco a mi parece espectacular. El tema final, me parece desalentador y lleno de esperanza a partes iguales.

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 😢🪦🩶 Production: 🧏‍♂️📏💩 Music: 🤷‍♂️🤢💤 Rating: 💤/5

Absolutely love We Walk as a song. It is so simple and yet something about it tickles me just right -- glad to have listened to this album just for this one song. Never was a huge R.E.M. fan growing up and hearing them on the radio, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album and the rest on the list. Maybe this is growing up? In any event I found this one to be more hit than miss without any of the major hits that were present throughout my youth. For me this leaned a bit more post-punk across the board (9-9, Pilgrimage) with several songs tapping a vibe similar to The Police. All around solid and will be back. 4 / 5

Nothing crazy on this one. REM is fairly middle of the road for me as is. Catapult and Shaking Through were some of my favorites as they had a unique sound to them. The singers voice is fairly recognizable without being overly good or bad.

Pretty non-offensive early alternative rock. The singer of REM is very unique and I like his singing style. Just looked back and this is pretty much the exact same as my review to their last album

I'm not sure I know any of these R.E.M. songs at first glance. Pretty solid listen. Nothing really stood out a whole bunch to me. I feel like I should like R.E.M. more than I do. High 3.

Fun album. Laughing being the standout track. I just hate how every song is essentially the same drum beat

Yeah, easily their best. This record pretty much defined college radio in the 1980s.

surprisingly, this is the first time I wouldn't consider something from R.E.M. to be horrible

beautiful

Brilliant album, not one that I am too familiar with. Great to hear REM when they were raw!

7/10 Great Start Pre Winter

Not my favorite REM album but there is a whole different scale for REM. I thought the first half was better than the second. But for a debut, it was pretty remarkable.

Typisch melodramatisch REM. Niet bijzonder maar ook niet slecht.

Hasn't heard this one before. Was quite enjoyable

The quintessential 90s sound. Which is pretty impressive for 1983 but it’s still grating in large doses.

Amazing debut album!

Unintelligible lyrics but good tempo/music throughout.

I could see this albulm growing on me. Fav song: Talk About The Passion

1st track sounds like old Eve 6. I liked it. Kind of mid, but I bet it was awesome and different when it was released.

I like rem, I didn’t when I was younger. But I didn’t know anything then.

Early REM is so good. Just an arty college rock at its best.

Great debut. 8/10.

Good album, didn't stand out in any way to me though.

It's not the album from them that I'm most familiar with, but it's a very recognizable sound.

Another REM. this ones a classic

Competent late 80s indie, may have been groundbreaking at the time but difficult to see now 3*

Shame it wasn’t as popular as their other albums

Fantastic, I don’t think I’ve heard most of this before

I remember being impressed by “Automatic For The People,” but this album just kind of passed over me without leaving much of an impression. A little too same-y. You can definitely hear the influence this had on future indie bands, though. Favorite track: 9-9 Least favorite track: We Walk

This was fine but didn’t tickle my fancy. My favorite was “Catapult”

One of my favorite REM albums.

I've never been an R.E.M. fan, so this wasn't a great listen. The stand-out here was 'Catapult', which I actually went back at the end and played again. The rest may have been good for '83, but as a first time listen I didn't hear anything that changed my opinion of the band. Average at best.

pretty decent

Comforting

Songs I liked the most: Radio Free Europe, Moral Kiosk and We Walk Songs I disliked: None Actual rating: 4.5 stars, would listen to again

I feel like this one is worth coming back to!

For REMs debut before a long running career, it's amazing how much of their sound was pretty developed at this point. Of course they evolved their style later to be a bit more poppy at times, and it's fair to say Murmur doesn't have many big anthems that would've contributed to them becoming stadium fillers, but it's extremely accomplished. The jangly guitars and Stipe's vocal style which are their signatures are definitely here. The lyrics are very obscure and every song is interesting, he certainly doesn't write in clichés. There's just something inherently listenable about these tracks for me, they bounce along with a groove I find very addictive. I can see why this kind of alt-rock wouldn't be for everyone but I'm a fan and it's a great debut so 5*

Huh, I guess that’s an album you could listen to.

The rythmic guitar and the raspy vocals make this a unique experience and gives a feeling of melancholy only post-punk/new wave can give you. The lyrics are shrouded in mysticism and need not hold much meaning. A good listen if you feel dreadful, but it might break your mind trying to understand the lyrics.

I really enjoyed this record in a way that I didn't expect to. Previous to this, I don't think I'd say that I was a fan of R.E.M but this record combines both post punk and jangle pop together in a very pleasing way.

Having owned the Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, I somehow never collected any of their albums, despite being an album sort of person (shocking I know). Imagine my surprise to find five albums I had no idea existed until a few years ago. This is the pick of them, incredibly fresh for 1983 and easily one of their best. Really wanted to give this a big five, but it's a high four - only one R.E.M. album reaches that level.

4+ Stars (12/15)

I think that this was really excellent. It's crazy that this came out in 1983 considering how good it sounds and how much stuff in the 90s clearly took inspiration. The instrumentation is really simple and the vocals are bare and the whole thing sounds really good and moody. Awesome album cover as well. Favorite tracks are perfect circles and West of the Fields.

I think this album is on here because REM were such an influential band to so many acts that would come later and this is the first real definition of their sound. I don’t think it’s their best album but it’s still a great one. To think this came out in 1983 is crazy; it sounds right out of the early 90s, probably because so many bands releasing music then grew up listening to this. I’ve always had a gripe with the way Stipe sings. His lyrics are sometimes confusing which is fine, it’s the way he pulls his words together and sings with a disaffected drawl vs when he talks. In any case, he stuck with it and it’s part of their songs now. The rest of the composition has their own distinct way of doing things. The guitar never uses too much distortion, and the bass is really clever, using the whole fretboard in every song. It’s that kind of stuff that makes REM who they are - 4 distinct parts that are really more than the sum. This album in particular has a much more upbeat tone than some of their later stuff. The opener, “radio free Europe” sets the speed and feel for the rest of the album. The only stinker in here I think is “Catapult” which is almost too pop for me even though this album is very much guitar pop. This is a foundational rock album for the music to come in the following decades. It could come out today and still be relevant.

I always liked REM after being introduced to them through Independence Day. This album is poppier than Losing My Religion, more serious than Shiney Happy People, and lacks the energy of It's the End of the World. I liked it. I equate REM with the early 90's but looking back at the discography there is a big hit of 80's new wave and goth rock here. I might have to throw on a best of REM.

more enjoyable second half... kind of a nothing album though.

Dull

Great record. I was introduced to REM by a colleague in the M&S IT department, back in 1986.

Not bad, but not good either. Never been an REM fan and still ain't

Radio Free Europe is one of my favorite REM songs but the rest of the album kind of blurs together. Not a bad album by any stretch but I prefer Document and Fables of the Reconstruction to Murmur

r.e.m.'s debut album is a little different compared to their most known discography, instead of the usual quiet rock their debut is akin to dreamy alt pop rock like the police. i honestly think a lot of this material is better than their most popular songs... maybe it's just me, but i would give this one a listen if you're looking for really solid 80s alt rock.

Ja. Geht. Ein ganz schön leises Album.

I love parts of their catalog but they are quite uneven. This is not one of their better efforts.

tem uns riffs que dão pro gasto, umas viradinhas pro refrão que funcionam, mas no geral é chato.

na wikipedia tá falando que o album chamou atenção pelo som pouco usual. que doidera. enfim, se forçar, desce. mas deve ser uma das bandas de jangle pop que eu menos botei fé na minha vida, credo

Kelvollista. Kerran kuunteli.

I was a late arrival to REM because when they first hit my girlfriend hated them. She said they were unattractive and even worse, they mumbled their lyrics. Years later I worked at a record store where my boss Pete once shared a nightclub urinal with guitarist Peter Buck and took the opportunity to tell him "I can play everything you ever wrote!" to which Buck replied, as he was (likely hurriedly and possibly prematurely) zipping his pants, "I'm sure you can." Once I did listen with open ears I fell hard. I would say from their debut EP Chronic Town to this, their first album and the next two albums are golden. There are many great live bootlegs of them around this time now available on YouTube. Pretty much any show you can find from 1982-1985 is going to be lightning in a bottle. Things start to get hit or miss after that, in my view. Peter Buck is a criminally underappreciated guitar player. His chiming riffs are to me the essence of what makes REM great and basically formed the backbone of what 80s jangly college radio sounded like. Pete my boss taught me the guitar parts to many of the songs on the early REM records and I learned a lot about the guitar and songwriting both from that experience. If lyrics are important to you, you will probably find REM a frustrating listen. I have no idea what Michael Stipe is singing, and I'm not convinced he is, either. I think he's more into the sounds of the lyrics than their meaning, like as if Mick Jagger sang lead for The Cocteau Twins. Some of my respected songwriter friends feel this is a copout, to make songs with nonsensical lyrics. Hence my girlfriend's "mumbler" complaint. And she was right about their looks, too. One more thing that's important. In high school in uptight mid 80s Connecticut, the first step toward coming out of the closet was wearing either an REM or a Smiths t-shirt to school. But one friend of a friend was a fan of both bands and it felt like a bridge too far and I think maybe he screwed himself by doing that because all I can say is that I've never once seen him with a love interest in the forty years I've known him since. Poor guy!

Like a few other bands in this collection, I have a hard time being fair or objective to REM, largely because a guy I knew (and thoroughly despised) in college was such a fanboy of this whiny-sounding college-town band. But the upside of this is that I really haven't heard much of REM beyond what played on the radio way back when, so nearly all of this album is new to me (except "Radio free Europe", and also has the benefit of being a debut album, when they hadn't quite honed the somewhat smug and whiny sound that I (unfairly) associate with them. On the other hand, given that there are four REM albums in this collection, I'm not really sure why this album was included, except for perhaps the fact that this is the first album for the world to hear REM's fairly distinctive sound and style. It seems like a fine album overall, and I enjoyed "Moral Circle" and "9-9" in particular. And I know it's not fair to rate them down simply because the project's editors decided to inundate us with a band that I happen to have an irrational dislike for.

Props for their distinctive sound and I do like Radio Free Europe. But songs like Catapult and West of the Fields are annoying and I sort of wish they'd shut up.

To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed, though I have always liked the opening song, "Radio Free Europe". The other tracks are actually too Indie for me.

Classic REM. 4

Another great debut album!

I’m sorry there’s no way I’ve had 3+ REM albums a quarter of the way through this list. Not happening. Wish I could veto but I’m in too deep at this point. Even more unfortunately, the music itself does nothing to prove its placement on this list. Outside of the rare almost catchy hook, this album offers nothing. Not memorable, not descriptive, not unique. I’m so sad about this. Have to give it a 1.

Dull as dishwater I’m afraid.

Группа очень нравится, но на этом дебютном альбоме ни один трек не полюбился.

Nice this one. Early REM is good REM. Mind you, late REM isn't too shabby either.

4.5 - Loved this album. I feel like REM hadn't truly found their voice and it really feels like they were a little self conscious in a quite charming way. Reserved but a hint of what they become.

Remurmur remurmur the firth of novermbuh 3.7/5

Probably my favorite R.E.M. album. This is what I listened to as a kid on vacation in a shitty cd player. The last song on the album “West of fields” is my favorite song by them and a few others on this album are pretty close. There are a few songs that I kind of tune out or would skip but overall love this album. 9/10

I think REM has better albums

esperava mais, confesso, ainda mais por falarem ser o melhor álbum deles. Mas para debut, é muito memorável

Good album. I can’t believe it’s 42 years old!

My least favorite R.E.M. album that I've heard so far

Really enjoyable well recorded, intelligent rock music. Liked it a lot

I think R.E.M. is becoming my new Elvis Costello, where I like quite a lot of their music but somehow feel like I'm still not getting something. There are some really fantastic songs here, but sadly also others that I wasn't very fond of. But I still mostly really like this record

I know I was too young for this when it came out and so i missed it, but I feel a little cheated of all the years I could have enjoyed it

Ok. I love some of their later songs, but this one has not captured my attention. I don't mind listening to it, but would not go back intentionally.

Meh

Bill Berry is a damn drum god

3.5

I was having a difficult day so I ended up only listening to this on repeat and you know what? I didn't hate it. Thank you rem

Not for me.

Not the best REM album, but Laughing is such a good song

Great album. Can never go wrong with some REM

I've always had a soft spot for REMs early output. Their debut album Murmur is classic REM. *Heard before.

I enjoyed this album over Automatic for the people. I feel like this album better represents the bands range while still having the same REM feel at the core of each song. I dig it and will definitely return to it in the future

Trying to get into it but finding it difficult. There are some catchy parts for sure but also many boring parts. I'll just settle in the middle and consider it decent. I got into it more towards the end. Highlights: Radio Free Europe Laughing Sitting Still

Rem sure sounds alot like the tragically hip. No Canadians we'll never understand their impact.

Enjoy their music. Good band. Unique sound and songs.

LP

I liked this a lot, even more than Document. As a debut, this stands out very strongly against the early 80s and makes sense that they are as influential as they are. We Walk has a really fun riff that is bops hard and was probably my favorite here, but I enjoyed Pilgrimage and Shaking Through a lot as well.

R.E.M. are a super important band for some reason. I don't understand why. This is just ok, I suppose maybe you had to be there or maybe the oversaturation of knockoff wannabe R.E.Ms in the last 30 years has ruined the original. Important but not exactly great 7/10

Not bad! Has all the ingredients of many of their later hits but missing a bit in the execution.