Reviews (page 9 of 14)
New sound for the time, but all a bit dull
I've liked some REM that I've heard, but this album wasn't it. It was fine but nothing that I'd choose to listen to when I have other options.
it’s okay
Of all the big bands that have had a seismic impact on the history of popular music, R.E.M. is probably the one I get the least. I've never gotten too much out of anything I've heard by them (except maybe "It's the End of the World" which, ya know, is fun), and although I don't HATE what I've heard, it just doesn't connect with me, like, at all. I find that upsetting because I absolutely love the indie/alternative music they massively inspired in the years following this album's release and SO many people worship this band. Even more upsetting? This album did nothing to change my views on them. I mean, it wasn't bad at all. I had some moments where I was pretty engaged and intrigued, but ultimately I remember almost nothing specific from any song. It's just sort of flat to me, even if the overall sound is kind of cool. Points for sounding way ahead of their time in 1982/83, and also not sounding dated at all during an era where almost everything sounded insanely of its time.
I’m a casual R.E.M. fan, so these songs were all new to me. No hits here.
R.E.M is a weird band to review. Clearly influential and this is a great debut album, but I don't find it's something I love hearing. This rating is more of a reflection on what I get from it vs what it may objectively be. High three low four. Of the list so far this is one of the harder ones to grade.
No los conocía y lo disfruté bastante🕺🕺
Better than expected
3.49 étoiles écoutable. Chocolat sont meilleurs, y sont meilleurs meilleurs, y sont, y sont meilleurs qu'R.E.M.
Vale a lembrança de que esse disco surpreendeu no lançamento e foi importante para crescerem. Mas não considero a melhor fase da banda.
I liked it more than I thought I would given I only knew the first song. It sounds sparse compared to their slicker/more produced later stuff, but in a good way. 3.5
Fun but kind of repetitive. REM is one of those bands I understand the appeal of but don’t necessarily find appealing. All the same, I saw shocked to see how early this album was released, feels like it was 10 years ahead of its time.
Trevligt helt klart! Men tröttnade lite mot slutet
Helt okej
I just can't get into R.E.M. I liked this more than usual, but still it's not for me.
A pleasant, though not super exciting, album. It's very clear how Radiohead was influenced by this, as it's very similar to their early, pre-OK Computer sound, but it suits R.E.M. a lot more. A pretty album, though it can get a little same-y sometimes. Still, with a sound this good, same-y isn't necessarily bad, just not interesting enough to push it past a 3/5.
Bien pero nada memorable
No es mi álbum favorito de ellos pero no está mal Pilgrimage tiene ritmin guapo
not terribly engaging
Radio free Europe can’t go wrong but must of the album is a little underwhelming.
Not bad, I guess, but very low energy and kind of depressing. The lyrics are supposedly a stand out here and that's an aspect that definitely loses out for me when listening to these albums - I'm not necessarily able to pay close attention to them on a first listen so albums that have the lyrics as their main selling point don't stand out so much.
It’s nice. Maybe not something I would listen that often
Très bien. Est-ce que je réécouterais ? Je ne pense pas... 3,5/5
radio free europe- 4 pilgrimage- 4 laughing- 4 talk about the passion- 4 moral kiosk- 4 perfect circle- 4 catapult- 4 sitting still- 3 9-9- 4 shaking through- 4 we walk- 4 or 5 west of the fields- 4
Can someone coach Michael Stipe so he doeesn't murmurs the lyrics? my god at times it was [incomprehensible mumbles] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D9-491BbkMY
I guess they're called REM because this album put me to sleep!
3.5. liked it more than yesterday!
Really liked this messy album. To me, it seemed like there was a bit of a disconnect between the instrumentals and the vocals. Without the vocals, I loved this album. With the vocals, this was an REM album.
this may be the least objectionable REM i've heard to date. 2.5
that was most certainly an REM album
Early promise but kind of dull
Album is OK, but it's the epitome of generic dad rock. I feel like REM have better albums. Talk about the Passion is a nice song. Also like Moral Kiosk.
Utroligt hvor meget REM lyder som dem selv. Kendte ikke nogen af numrene, alligevel var det følesen af at have hørt et Greatest hits album. Så enten er REM total skabelon, elles er deres lyd bare lidt kedelig i mine øre.
6/10 Favorites: Laughing, Perfect Circle
I don't think I'm much of an REM fan, I should be, they check a lot of boxes and yet listening to them I find myself trailing off and doing anything but listening to them! They have a few songs that are okay but I lose interest quickly.
Solid but doesn’t grab my attention at all.
This is complicated because I didn't like it at first, but then listened to the live versions and liked them much more.
okayyyyy
Non mi dice molto
I was pleased with this album. I always assume REM to be sad depressing and monotone, but this one was great to work along to because it kept me awake and paying attention.
Sympa mais oubliable
I like this group, but the only song I recognized was the first one. Still enjoyed it.
Didn’t have any of their biggest hits and the album was fairly nondescript.
i liked radio free europe
Not too bad. Not too interesting. Pretty much exactly what I expect from rem
Pretty solid. Classic REM sound
A little too repetitive for me but still a solid 3
REM is in interesting band. Some really corny songs. Some really self important nonsense a then some really great rock songs. I like them this was a little too indie - it reminds me of high school girls in the 80s that wore doc martins.
Would do well in an 80s brit rock playlist (despite the band being American), but it also wouldn’t stand out at all. Easy to listen to and boring go hand in hand
It was really strange reading the Apple Music description of this album after listening to it. Direct quote; “R.E.M. was an oddball group—even among fans of oddball music.” Apple Music and I must have listened to completely different albums because nothing about this album seemed oddballish to me at all. In fact, to me, this sounds almost completely opposite. I guess that’s not an actual review of the album but rather a commentary on the discourse surrounding this album, but overall this was just an alright listen.
God I hate REM, mostly because of shiny happy people, what a shit song. But this album, looking at it objectively and not as an rem album, is kind of Ok. It doesn't sound like the 80s, the bass lines are good, there are some interesting drums and guitars going on. And then Michael stipe ruins it with his voice. REM is not for me, but this was kind of Ok, a begrudging 3 stars
I like rem but Stipe’s singing and lyrics are not to my taste. Green is the better album anyway.
Ok overall. Relatively chill rock that rides the line between boring and interesting too well. 3/5
Me gusto, pero siento que hay mejores, de ellos, tambien teniendo en cuenta que es su primer album
Not their best, but good
Early OG indie music. Not my favorite REM album but flowed through it.
Good listen!
I just could not connect - kept losing interest although I do like later albums. But nothing stayed with me or ignited any passion.
I like REM’s voice, i just don’t know how long I could
I’ve been listening to REM more lately and slime them but didn’t know this album. Some decent songs but I like other albums better. They were way ahead of their time.
This was pretty bland to me - it didn't feel like there was a lot of energy behind what I heard/nothing jumped out to me in particular. I was surprised to see the acclaim it garnered. I feel this is another case of I just didn't "get" it.
I wanted to love it more, but I couldn't.
Classic REM sound. Early in their development.
Fabulous sounds
Enjoyed much more than i was expecting. Can see how they influenced lots of soft rock band I like such as The Lemonheads. Not a huge fan of REM but this was an enjoyable listen
Like it 3/5
nice
Would have loved them if I was in college in the 80’s, great music to lie in bed and listen to while having a mental crisis.
Not bad; just kinda classic rock almost.
I super indifferent about this whole album. It really just felt like background music the whole time. Didn’t hate it but never need to listen to it again.
I didn’t dislike it but I just couldn’t get into it
Honestly surprised I liked this one. REM has never been high on my list. Losing My Religion, Everybody Hurts, and Man on the Moon are immediate station changes for me, but this was pleasant enough. 2.5 ⭐️ rounding up for the unexpected enjoyment.
3.5 stars. Not bad - can definitely see this as "alternative" when you look at the landscape of 1983's music.
90's AF
A little too garage-y.
This sounds very early 80s and very early 90s all at the same time? Somehow Stipe's voice sounds younger in their 90s stuff (with which I'm more familiar). Enjoyable, probably won't listen to it again. REM was founded in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, a school that once had Justin Fields in their QB room, but he transferred to Ohio State after some of the UGA baseball players called him an n-word. Kirby Smart eat shit O-H Brœthers.
This was … fine?
Really good album - I enjoy the early REM catalog. Radio Free Europe is such a great song. It’s a good snapshot of the potential and a framework for everything to come. Great bass sound, jangling guitar work, muffled, indecipherable lyrics… Good but not quite there yet. This is a 3.5 star for sure.
I am not a great fan but a few of their tracks on this album got my attention.
really really nice to listen to. but kinda boring. idk
Blasé… and I say this while zooted. So that makes my 4 a 3.
A little boring but ok.
Enjoyed this one more than Automatic For The People. Must admit I listened somewhat peripherally; I was playing Minecraft
R.E.M back at it again with a kind of mid rock album
I listened to this several times, simply because I liked how it sounded. There in lies the downside of this album, it sounds terrific but non of the songs are particularly rememberable.
6.5/10 This was nice but not great - clearly a very good band, but finding their sound still. Lots of REM-ness but with more of a raw edge than later stuff. Best: 9-9
Honestly sounds like the same song over and over. Don't get me wrong. It's a good and easy listening song, but still. The same song over and over. Radio Free Europe is a bop though.
I've not heard these early R.E.M. records at all, I think. No idea what to expect, outside of "80's college radio music". I noticed that since it's friday and lots of new music is released, I couldn't wait to be done with this album and move on, so I just did. It's not bad as far as music goes, not as whiney and nasal as the music of latter day Mike Stipe. Just didn't raise any feels, at all.
There will never be the time where I'll say "ok I'll go and listen to a whole R.E.M. Album now" yeah it's ok.
I somewhat enjoy it, but it all just mixes together, it doesn't feel super distinct to listen to.
I can see why this was an influential album. It's one of those albums where I wouldn't be mad about it playing, but I also wouldn't seek it out by any means.
REM debut.
Didn’t like this one as much, kind of all blended together and nothing really stood out. Good background music
Ihan jeba
Like early U2 but more dull
albumi muiden joukossa.. indiekö... ei ole..
Leuke sound maar wel vrij eentonig. En duidelijk wat gedageerd.
So far my favorite REM I've listened to
For an album which desn't get a tonne of views, I really enjoyed it
I liked this one. Sounds like a road trip in the summer with mocktails. It was nothing really special, but it was quite enjoyable to listen to
I love Out of stone and Automatic for the People, and think Monster is OK, but that was my range of REM. I had tried Green and didn’t think much of it, so wasn’t expecting a lot of this - and wasn’t surprised initially. It starts off slow and mediocre, but as it goes on it really improves and the second half of the album is really good. A definite surprise, and a pleasant one.
Random thoughts: * Listened to this passively on a Saturday morning. * Radio Free Europe is a great opening track. * The rest of it sounded a bit drone-y and similar. Nothing caught my attention. * I'm probably a more of the REM hits-only guy.
Saw an album by R.E.M. for the early 80s and got super excited. But nothing overly memorable 40 years later. I imagine this was pretty ground breaking and different at the time, but didn't really hold my attention.
One, I hope this list stops trying to make me like REM. Two, this is my third REM album....and I kind of like it. Mission accomplished I guess. My selections have been reverse chronological and this one is the best by far. It sounds fresher and more urgent that anything that followed it. Such is the case with many a debut. I also like the production a little more. It packs more punch, particularly the drums. The whole things seems more on point and to the point.
Enjoyable listen, ahead of the curve with great riffs, didn’t pay much attention as was working through it. 6.5/10.
Good old rock. Interesting lyrics.
Mmmblm wzm mmmk.
It doesn’t have any of the catchiness of R.E.M.’s hits but it’s still pretty good.
Decent.
REM doing REM I suppose. I’ve never been a fan, and this hasn’t changed that. It was ok to have on, but I’ll never look for it again.
2nd day in a row I feel a whole lot of nothing for an album. This one I should like more for sure though. Well the 2nd to last track was very good no I guess it's more than nothing. Surprised though
Kurant nok, dette. Litt kjedelig innimellom eller?
Første R.E.M plata før de fant lyden sin, flere elementer her som videreutvikles på senere utgivelser, men for å være førsteutgivelse så havner denne midt på.
There’s no mistaking Michael Stipe’s vocals. Don’t know about my religion , but I was definitely losing something here. Just warming up for their real breakout album I guess.
I love REM, but this one just didn't hit for me.
Every time I hear Michael Stipe sing, it immediately makes me think of Gord Downie. There absolutely needs to be some Tragically Hip on this list! That would be a hard choice between Day for Night, Road Apples, and/or Fully Completely. Anyways, I enjoyed this R.E.M. album and have no major complaints. I'm feeling a solid 3-stars from me. Favourite tracks: Radio Free Europe, Talk About the Passion, Moral Kiosk, 9-9
bizarre mais j'aime bien
Its definitely REM
Repetitive. Cohesive, but a lot sounded very similar. Catchy choruses. Pleasant to listen to but not the most memorable.
7/10. R.E.M. is a great band. This is a pleasant listen, but I didn't find it very memorable.
This reminds me of the soundtrack of a coming of age movie, like Juno. I feel like I'm supposed to be listening to this with the music blasting, on my bed staring at the ceiling, smoking. Or maybe no smoking but dancing on the bed. Getting dexy's midnight runners vibe.
This has been my least favorite of the 4 REM albums I’ve been prescribed so far. I can tell that they didn’t sound like anything else at the time, and points for that, but nothing catches me in particular. The only track I find myself coming back to is “We Walk”, which is a bizarre outlier that manages to capture something not represented on the rest of the album.
My first REM. Album was decent- definitely established a signature sound that was unique for the time. The songs did start to sound a little one note to me though. Overall- good albun
It’s like really good elevator music. 7.9/10
To my knowledge the 2nd R.E.M album I’ve done so far. This is a little better then Out of Time, tho not my much. A chill rock album never hurts anyone, esp one with a cool bass player
Of all the R.E.M. albums you could listen to, this is certainly one of them. I like how all the wiki descriptions are like "turns out this song is super vague and nobody knew what it was about... if it was even about anything at all". A real English major album. I found it very comforting background noise, kind of like a Steely Dan for moms without kids (me). But none of the songs stood out to me as ones I'd want to hear again and again, even though I guess there's a chance that could change if I listened more. The album cover is interesting. Highlights: 'Laughing', 'We Walk'
The first track had me hooked, but then it completely lost me. It's a shame as there are some wonderful ingredients here. I can certainly hear the influence on a number of later bands.
Listened in the background
Strange that a debut album is this mellow, given R.E.M.'s later arc. I enjoy their more driving songs a lot more, although this album holds up after 40 years.
REM isn't bad, but I've also never quite understood the hype. 3.5/5
Serviceable. I think whatever it is R.E.M. are trying just doesn't speak to me like it does others
Couple of classics on this, the rest is solid….
Very easy to listen to, but no single track stands out to me.
Kind of boring, but nothing particularly bad. Just okay.
definitely not their best album but you see the backbone of a good indie rock band
3.5 stars. I wish you could give .5 stars
Ehh. Didn't really grip me.
Eh, not my favorite.
Excellent album, not a personal fave but still excellent
Decent alternative rock album. A few good songs, most of them felt the same, but never bad.
It's a cheerful album and good bass, but it's pretty monotonous. 6.5 out of 10.
60/100
This is a good album
I have heard a lot of R.E.M., and even the best tracks have a hint of boring. Just not for me.
Good album
Rock, 1983 -> 3
Mostly makes me think of how I could be listening to a Replacements album instead. Probably giving them the benefit of the doubt since I know they're REM, but stuff that came later did it better. As usual, probably like a bomb exploded when this came out, it does feel about 10 years ahead of its time.
No thoughts whatsoever
Not the best slap
Pretty good, if not a little dull in some places
03/03/25 As with all REM albums, they are non offensive.
3rd REM album but I am still not really buying what they are throwing down. I actually like a couple of their apparantly post peak albums - Monster and Up - but just not engaging with this earlier folky Rock sound..
Defines the reason I always considered REM to be a boy “meh”. No stand out tracks, no absolute duffers. Very twee and uninteresting. Middle of the road as it gets.
not my fave collection of REM music, still good. First song reminds me of a John Hughes coming of age movie
Debut album of a band which influenced the rock world with the following albums. Some of their later typical song structures are audible.
Nothing much to say, it's a solid play in the background rock album
Good, but as with all REM, forgettable
a másik két album sokkaljobb volt ennél sztem
For their first proper album, I thought this was decent. Some real nice songs and a very enjoyable listen
I mean its REM and you can hear that. But no single track jumps out like hits from their later work. Not something I will listen to again.
Once of those tracks that I enjoy but in a background kind of way.
Was ok, but wouldn't listen to again
hm, ganz ok. Nothing special
Ich mag REM, netter Indie Rock. Für 4 Sterne reicht es aber nicht
Great melodies and performance, but overall, not my thing
6/10
It's fine, have discovered I don't particularly like his voice
Rare case of a band who I enjoy their later stuff better. Never realized how much Michael Stipe sounded like Morrissey with an American accent.
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.
it was not too bad.
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
Drifted by me a bit.
I’d this the third or fourth REM we’ve had? Definitely my favourite
This is a good album. Nothing spectacular, but good.
its really good, catchy and relaxing yippeeeeeee
thanks for spawning half of the music i love i guess
it was okay. some nice rock-y tunes. not much else.
Gibt bessere Alben von REM
Bit repetitive
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.
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
Not bad REM album.
Like the vibes but a lot of the songs sound the same.
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
Not my forte. For the time it was released, I can see why it would’ve been a big deal. Not my crowd. Meh 🫤
Nicht remarkable
More cheesy REM
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.
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.
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.
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
meh
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.
Nothing special.
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
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.
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.
As always, I don't have much to add. Decent album, good background noise.
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
Starts off great but not one of their best - still a bit raw
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.
Good 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.
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.
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.
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.
...
Laughing // Perfect Lights // 2.5/5
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.
Meh
Mid 3/5
A good background album; I like REM's vibes.
Some songs in this album were enjoyable to listen to, but some were pretty boring and not my taste.
5/10 - Rem but boring this time.
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?
Nice indie rock. Seemed easily forgettable though
Decent, need another listen. Just a plain 3
6/10 I like REM and this album isn't bad, just isn't as good as they would get later 11-25-2024
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 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
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.
better than the last r.e.m. album i heard, that's for sure
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
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.
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
surprisingly, this is the first time I wouldn't consider something from R.E.M. to be horrible
Typisch melodramatisch REM. Niet bijzonder maar ook niet slecht.
The quintessential 90s sound. Which is pretty impressive for 1983 but it’s still grating in large doses.
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.
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.
Competent late 80s indie, may have been groundbreaking at the time but difficult to see now 3*
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”
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.
Dull
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
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.
Kelvollista. Kerran kuunteli.
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.
Nice this one. Early REM is good REM. Mind you, late REM isn't too shabby either.
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!
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
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
Enjoy their music. Good band. Unique sound and songs.
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
Didn't love or hate. Definitely not their best stuff
Ставаше, минимум като радио музика
It's intriguing to listen to from a 'what did guitar music sound like *before* this?' point of view, but I'd wager the people who rate this R.E.M's best album are looking at it only from that point of view. The songs are fine but largely unmemorable, so I have to assume it's the album's (impressively fully-formed and cohesive) sound that got people salivating when it came out. 2.5 / 3
Murmur was yet another album that doesn't do anything insanely amazing but for what it is, its really solid. The album was a bit slow at the beginning but picked up by track 3. The tracks during that period of time were not exactly anything extraordinary but they were still solid fun tracks that i did enjoy. The vocals were not super special either but fit the music pretty well. This is a solid album but i genuinely don't really know what else to say about it other than just calling it a good album. Best Song: We Walk Worst Song: Radio Free Europe
What a debut from one of the GOATs.
I liked it enough, I never really listened to R.E.M. at length before there were a couple songs that I felt just flowed into each other that could be good or bad but I just thought it was okay. Overall I was happy to have the experience with more R.E.M. songs
Good album, sounds unique for other albums I've heard from that time period
Het is 1983, maar het klinkt al meteen als REM. Altijd knap als je je eigen geluid kunt uitvinden, daar niet van, maar niets op deze plaat springt verder boven het gemiddelde uit. 'Altijd kwaliteit gaat ook vervelen', zullen we maar zeggen.
Wat een onzin om nu weer een R.E.M. album tegen te komen. Moet ik mijzelf weer gaan herhalen. Dit album lijkt nog iets minder de R.E.M. handtekening te dragen, maar is net zo vergeetbaar als de rest.
Debuutalbums, fan van! Ik heb al eerder uitgelegd welke albums ze van REM hadden moeten selecteren, dus dat ga ik niet nog een keer overdoen. We horen al wel iets van het specifieke REM geluid doorsijpelen op dit album, maar het moet zich duidelijk nog meer ontwikkelen. Wat wel knap is, is dat het totaal niet klinkt als een plaat uit 1983. Geen synthesizers, drumcomputers en andere overdadig bombastische poespas. Ook geen zeurende zanger. Gewoon prima muziek. Het zijn alleen wel een beetje niemendalletjes, dus ik blijf ook na een tweede keer luisteren ergens hangen tussen een 3 en een 4. En omdat ik weet hoeveel beter REM kan zijn, neig ik naar een vergeetbare 3. Want er blijft simpelweg weinig van hangen. Aan de andere kant hoor ik dit veel liever dan 90% vd albums uit deze lijst. Ik ga het raten naar stijl: op de schaal van REM is dit niet hun beste materiaal. Dus toch die 3.
well there sure are better REM albums (i havent hear a full one), this one isnt bad but also isnt much.
It's allright
5/10…College Rock / alternative Rock
do you remember me im that face you always see
I really like his vocals and the bass sounds but I wouldn't listen to this album in my free time. Or maybe I would, I'm 50/50 on if I like it or if I don't.
i don't like the first album because the lyrics doesn't really sound good to me I would say though the instruments do sound good but the rest isn't good
1st song- I didn't like it because it doesn't make sense at all. 2nd song- its ok but I like it because it sound so good
I don't like most of the instrumentals the lyrics are ok. i give this album a 4/10
Excited to see R.E.M. show up today for the album of the day. They are as college jam as college jam gets, especially considering this was there first studio album. This was the first time listening to one of their albums. I liked songs like "Moral Kiosk"
3/5
Just didn't love it. Nothing stuck out.