Document

5

Interesting that this is the one that finally broke Stipe and Company through. Maybe listeners were just yearning for fire. R.E.M are forever on my list of Top 5 all-time favorite bands. Sometimes they're even number one on the list. Personally, I rank Murmur, Automatic for the People, Reckoning, and Fables of the Reconstruction ahead of this one. It's their first album produced by Scott Litt, and to my ears, the first full album where Stipe's vocals are firmly front and center - no more trying to decipher what Michael was singing about (and R.E.M. famously never printed their lyrics in liner notes, at least not until "Up" and Bill Berry retired). It still allowed for an ironic misheard lyric during "End Of The World". I know I wasn't alone in thinking he sang "no beer" instead of "no fear" (and frankly, I prefer "Uh oh, this means no beer"). The band's secret sauce has always been Mike Mills' backup vocals, which are also prominently displayed here. I love his "Time I spent some time alone" refrain on "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". That song provides a better history lesson than Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" ever did. It made me want to learn more about Lenny Bruce, Lester Bangs, book burning, and cheesecake. Mills' backup vocals shine on every track, "Lightnin' Hopkins" in particular. That's my favorite track on the album. First appearance of a saxophone on an R.E.M. album. It shows up at the end of "Fireplace". Maybe Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe knew fire was the key to finally crack the Top 10 (it seems fire is mentioned on at least half the songs). This is the album (along with Automatic For The People) that rewards repeat listening. Go for the 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition, so you can keep listening to their Work Tour show from the Netherlands in support of this classic album. Everyone should hear the live version of "So. Central Rain" on that edition before they die.

5

I was rather devoted to this band in the 80s and into the early 90s. Always loved their style. Stipe is a heck of a lyricist and I like his voice. I'm still a huge Mike Mills fan. Bill Berry is so solid. I don't recall seeing or hearing Peter Buck's name in any discussions about great rock guitarists, and I think that's a shame. To me, one of the clearest hallmarks of a rare and special guitarist is I can tell who it is as soon as they start playing, and Peter Buck is in that small group of guitarists with a true signature sound. I am not interested in someone's shredding ability, hyperspeed, or whatever...I want to hear your unique voice, regardless of instrument. Love these guys and this is a strong album.

5

As if the star rating didn't say it already, this was a dramatically more enjoyable experience than listening to "Automatic For The People." While I struggled between a 4 and 5 on this one, this represents REM at it's peak, IMO, so it gets the 5. It's the most benevolent blend of Michael Stipe — you can understand the words he's using, but I still don't know what he's taking about, and he's painting just outside the lines of his range and sweet spot as a vocalist. The pacing of the album is excellent, paring REM at its most playful (End Of The World) with its most earnest (The One I Love) — at least on this album — and it all works really well. It's also the band at its best in terms of sharing vocal duties. Whoever produced this did a good job with the talents of the band members. Bill Berry's drums sound great (love the gated bass drum on "Lightnin' Hopkins"), Michael Mills is used to his best effect, Peter Buck has loads of different guitar sounds going on — good stuff. This, for me, is where everything coalesced and it never got better for the band.

Cannot stand R.E.M.

5

England was slow to catch on to the REM thing, and I feel I sort of missed the boat because of that. If they had caught me late 80s/ early 90s, at my most impressionable I think I'd be a total fanatic. They are really good. I know most of the songs here, but had no idea these were from 87. I feel my youth was robbed of REM. Love it.

4

I've heard 2 songs from this but never bothered with 80s REM on the whole, so kinda interested to see if this grabs me. First song is pretty cool, kinda heavier rock than I expected. The rest is really good, this is a great album. 4/5 easy. Would give it 5 but Michael Stipe hates Australia so gotta chip him for that lol.

4

While not exactly my usual cup of tea, you have to recognize that this is definitely a well made album, even by today's standards. Timeless songwriting and production value that still holds up, even having been produced in the midst of mid-80's big synth/reverb fads. classic, for sure and glad I was made to listen to it again

2

Has some solid songs, but REM doesn’t always do it for me.

5

Athens' finest. Been a big fan of REM thru my dad. First time I've sat down and listened to Document though. Lot of great ideas on here that make for a truly monumental alternative rock record. Favorites tracks: "Exhuming McCarthy", "Strange", "Finest Worksong"

4

Good album. Singles are stellar. Lots of great tracks sounding more 90s than 80s. Solid album front to back

5

No thanks

5

Really enjoyable listen. Learned from Reames that your pronounce every letter when saying the band name.

5

Da bomb dot com

5

So many good songs

5

Another great collection of songs!

5

This was a meaningful album for me

5

New goodeeeeez

5

Great, a pleasure to listen to. I've heard a Best Of from REM quite a few times, but this was the first time I listened to a full album of theirs. I don't think there wasn't a single song on it that wasn't very good.

5

Their finest hour

5

I think there is a strong case for this album being their best.

5

Totally awesome.

5

I think this may be R.E.M.'s finest album. It's the perfect blend of their early rawness and later more pop-sounding music. A masterpiece. 5 stars.

5

Reminded me of how great REM was and I never even heard these songs before, except End of the World.

5

Oh I already know this album. Fantastic

5

Loved this album, REMs best work

5

What an impact this made on me as an innocent teenager! REM came to me from another planet where I started to think about Jingoism and Realpolitik. Plus the prevalent dark southern funky groove. I was also mesmerized by the winding, braiding lyrical loops... "They've gathered up the cages, the cages and courageous, The followers of chaos out of control." "Throw the walls into the fireplace." "...point to point. Point observation, children carry reservations" .. and so on. Not sure what the scientific designation might be. But I'm sure Scott & Scott on “R U Talkin’ R.E.M. RE: ME?" ripped into that topic at some point in-between recursive episode bits.

5

Knew a couple wasn’t too shabby for a nice easy mornings listen

5

Classic brilliant REM (but I'm biased - I saw the Green tour live back in ooh 1989?)

5

Classic work from a great band

5

Great Album First time listening loved hearing song from the past. Besides the more well known songs also enjoyed Strange and Oddfellows Lodge 151.

5

Awesome

5

great

5

The REM most people remember. I grew up to this album. The perfect mix of mysticism, poetry and a little politics. And oh that guitar. LEONARD BERNSTEIN!

5

I used to think that Michael Stipe was the best thing about R.E.M., but now I think R.E.M. is the best thing about R.E.M. The band works so seamlessly and enthusiastically together. It feels like their friendship and deep collaboration lends itself to an optimism in the music. Long live R.E.M.

5

This album was a solid fixture in my brain when I was 16 years old. The first time I drove on my own to a concert was to see R.E.M., in support of this album in the fall of '87. I listened to Document constantly in those days, so it means a great deal to me and is tied to so many memories. But it's also just a great album to listen to, even now. Every song is engaging and memorable. Document was the album that first brought R.E.M. into the mainstream spotlight in a major way. The quality of the album is terrific, with the band going for a tighter, more accessible musical style than on their earlier albums. The cryptic/quasi-political/frequently confounding/strangely whimsical lyrics are a deal breaker for some, but they shouldn't be. This is really an excellent album from one of the most uncompromising bands in rock, playing at their peak. They also opened the door to broader success for a lot of alternative bands with this album, and I'm forever grateful for that. Fave Songs (All songs, in order from most to least favorite): Welcome to the Occupation, Oddfellows Local 151, The One I Love, King of Birds, Finest Worksong, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), Lightnin' Hopkins, Disturbance at the Heron House, Exhuming McCarthy, Fireplace, Strange

5

My favourite REM album, and I still think it's their best.

5

Overall not completely amazing but this gets 5 stars for the fact that "The One I Love" and "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" are so perfect.

5

Enjoyed WAY more than I thought I would, I was kind of expecting weird weenie rock and got sick jams and great production.

5

Great album!

5

Excelente

5

We'll, it has one of my favourite songs ever on it, and the One I Love too. Don't know the rest going in. I know people say REM were a huge influence on bands after them. I never quite got it, but the tracks that aren't the above are basically every American band from the first half of the 90s. And I finally get the REM leading to Radiohead thing. I'd give it a four as an album. But a five for influence. As that'd be 4.5, I'm not going to be mean, and I'm going to round it up. Side note... I'd completely forgotten that REM were a four piece originally!

5

FIRE

5

The 5th REM album was the first one I knew. They had a streak of 8+ five-star albums...

5

This is a record slightly ahead of it’s time. Feeling like Sub Pop Seattle circa 1992 except five years early. This album also has my favorite R.E.M. track on it. A simply excellent display from a hall of fame band.

5

+ Its the end of the world as we know it + The one I love

5

A classic and a favourite. Glad to have a reason to listen again!

5

I enjoyed this one a lot.

5

Just something I really like about the sound of REM. The guitars, Michael Stipe's voice, always a good time

5

In an era of repetitive and generic post punk new wave, these guys were doing something so unique and original and timeless, aging better than the biggest groups of the 80s. Michael’s voice is such a tool in the songwriting of the group and the quality production, guitar riffs, melodies, underrated harmonies, make this a perfect album.

5

a classic for me, me enjoy

5

Never listened to this before but I loved it. Dark and gloomy with very jangly guitars. Hits and deep tracks were great. And 1987 is the best year.

5

movimento rápido dos olhos

5

Classic!

5

What an absolute treat 80's R.E.M. is! Yes yes yes yes yes!! They are at the peak of their alt rock niche here, doing some of their very best work. Their fundamentally unique R.E.M. sound thrums through every note of every song so joyfully. I love all the tracks, can't pick a favourite. It's a perfect R.E.M. album. If you wanted to know who this band really is, all radio hits aside, this is the album to get deep into. It's just so bloody goddamn GOOD. Endlessly listenable because of that peppy playful instrumentation layered within the subtly moody and contemplative lyrics. There's just as much to enjoy when listening from the shallow end of the pool as there is when plumbing the depths. That's the best thing about R.E.M. - you can listen and find something interesting to consider or toy with on every level.

5

Rem

5

Yes

5

One of my favorites from the 80s.

5

A brilliant album, among their finest.

5

Love me some REM.

5

I knew this album anyway, although hadn't listened to it for a long time. Lovely blast from the past.

5

Ohh this R.E.M. album I really enjoyed. It sounded great. Maybe I like the earlier stuff than the later album that I got.

5

love it

5

Jangly masterpiece

5

Excellent

5

Brilliant, with a few tracks that are even better than that! It's the end of the world ... and To the one I love are stone cold classics. Also features the shortest review of another artist's album - " 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants' leaves me cold" - obviously not a fan of Oasis's later work

5

Know this album! Quite good. Probably their third or fourth best record.

5

baita som

5

Ich mag R.E.M. - 5/5

5

It's the End of the World as We Know It is is a gem of a song but the rest of the album is pretty damn good too

5

A classic!

5

Psst. Hey, you! Yes, you! Let me tell you a secret. Please don't tell anyone. Even though I consider myself a big rock fan, until today I haven't listened to any R.E.M. album yet. I know their songs mainly because of various radio stations. Alright. What about the "Document" album? I liked it. I appreciated that it felt homogeneous, and created a whole. 4.5/5

5

Liked every single song on this record. A strong album overall, and probably the best I've heard from them.

5

If I had to pick a single REM album to recommend, this is probably the one. It's a high point of a stellar career.

5

Brilliant. Michael Stipe manages to fit so much emotion in his vocals and the music is very catchy.

5

Solid album

5

This is a fucking great album! I was familiar with the big two singles, of course, but from start to finish this is just fantastic. "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" may be overplayed and joked about too often, but it's just a beastly good tune. I think the final two songs are my favourite, but I feel like my favourites may dance around this album with every listen. Also, I don't know how it took me this long in my life to make the connection that R.E.M. and The Tragically Hip are like poetry rock cousins. It definitely would have been interesting to have Stipe and Downie collaborate.

5

I have to begin by saying that I am a MASSIVE R.E.M. fan. Their first FIVE (!) albums before this are all perfect. Like seriously, there is no sign of weakness in FIVE albums. Insane. Even though I feel that this is the first R.E.M. album with any slight lack of perfection, it’s still amazing and deserves a full count of stars. I mean, it has two stone cold classics that aren’t even the best songs on the album. Who can complain?

5

This is an all timer. Reminds me of high school. Also, great writing.

5

A great record from top to bottom from a band that was growing ever more confident and both toughening and loosening up their sound. In positioning as a more traditional rock band, R.E.M. also expanded and enhanced their sound, with consistently strong and interesting results. The songs are all substantive, whether oriented toward the fun and crowd-pleasing or darker notes. Trusting himself, Stipe is all in on every song. “Finest Worksong” was/is a great opener, both in recorded and live forms (suiting the bigger arenas where R.E.M. had landed and where they delivered awesome shows on this tour ). “Exhuming McCarthy” just bangs while “Occupation” and “Heron House” and “Oddfellows” are shadowy and edgy. “Lightnin’ Hopkins” rips and burns. “King of Birds” is lovely and haunting. The hits were/are hits for a reason and show the range of creativity here – "End of the World" is the aural equivalent of the cover of "Sgt. Pepper's" and awfully good fun in a mod-psychedelia sort of way. "One I Love" has never been a particular fave, but its classic simplicity packs contained power and demonstrates that they could deliver in the most straightforward ways, as well as in sprawling, outre, and even flat-out weird modes. Full disclosure: one's a total R.E.M. homer, having grown up in Georgia in the same generation, seen a bunch of shows across several tours, starting in bars and gyms with Reckoning tour. Their last several records leave one fully unmoved (so one's not totally unobjective), but one puts their first five (or even 10) records, very much including Document up against any other band’s on an all-time list. 4.5/5

5

Just amazing to listen to. The non-singles are as good as the singles.

5

Document No. 5! I love, love, love R.E.M. up to and including Monster, and then i just...... Don't. Luckily, this is one of their best albums and it is amazing 😁 5 / 5 stars.

5

Listen To Me........ Love how prominent and well recorded the drums are on this. Not only a great album musically but also production wise. Document came out when I was in college and and when I had just broken up with my high school girlfriend. The One I Love hit just right at the time for sure, such a bitter song. 5/5

5

Great album, includes two of my favourite R.E.M. tracks "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love".

5

Early doors R.E.M. Brings back a lot of great memories of when I was first getting into them. Document is definitely one of the best from the “IRS Years” before they switched record companies over to Warner.

5

Solid album.

5

Muito bom

5

This album ruled. Really fun to listen, really interesting instrumentals, and the perfect voice to go with the subject matter and style. It is really funny to listen to "It's the End of the World as We Know It" from 1987 and compare it to today, when the world is considerably more warped then anybody could have imagined back then. Favorite track: The One I Love

5

From the opening strains of the guitar, you know you're in for some solid rock genius. Definitely a top-25 rock album of all time. Every tune is good, the lyrics are great, and Mike Mills' backup vocals and harmonies are highly underrated as perfecting the overall sound of the band. Too many great songs to mention, but I'll just add that "The One I Love" is *not* the love song many of us thought it was. Oh, and I believe it was around this time that Rolling Stone proclaimed the band as "America's Best Rock and Roll Band."

5

HL: “End of the World”, “The One I Love”, “Finest Worksong”, “Strange”, “King of Birds” July 22, 2023 REM #3 Was thinking that, if I didn’t vibe to this album at least I’d have “The One I Love”. Well then again, REM haven’t yet steered me wrong

5

Went into it expecting a solid 4, got won over even more by the lyricism and extra guitar work the whole way through. Is it possible REM has multiple 5-star albums?! I think this is one for sure and I know for a fact this isn’t my favorite record of theirs!

5

Uno de los mejores álbumes de los próceres del “rock alternativo”. Con un sonido pulido que toma estéticas del Jangle Pop y el Punk, la banda demuestra por qué se estableció como uno de los actos más importantes del indie, y una de las leyendas más grandes de la música contemporánea hasta la fecha.

5

Thank god it’s about time I got some REM on this list and it’s my favourite album of theirs!!! It’s the End of the World As We Know It always makes me jump around like I’ve got a live weasel in my pants. I also try to sing along and only succeed at shouting “Leonard Bernstein” at the appropriate moment. That’s joy, kids. This album sparks joy.

5

Excellent REM album

5

Great album. Starts a little slowly but really picks up speed toward the middle. Very much an early grunge album before ‘grunge’ was used to describe music. 9/10

5

Definitive late 80s indie pop. Best in class for this kind of thing. Soul and dance beats, funky bass lines, jangly guitar, interlacing melodies, bookish lyrics. A lot of indie disco floor fillers here.

5

Document is there to prove that R.E.M. is not all inaudible, absurd lyrics and jangly guitars. Okay, the guitar is still pretty jangly, but the lyrics are political and clear as day!

5

'Finest Worksong', 'Welcome To The Occupation', 'Disturbance At The Heron House', 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It', 'The One I Love', and 'Oddfellows Local 151'. Stipe at his most political and a well-deserved international breakthrough.

5

Possibly peak R.E.M., although it’s a broad, flat peak. Definitely one of my favorites.

5

i thought the album only had one bop, but i was proved wrong

5

Loved this album since it first came out