Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Distinctly R.E.M and I’m not a great fan but it was listenable with lots of familiar tracks. A passable 3*
Solid.
I respect R.E.M. Although they are not fully my kind of musicians, they kept their style throughout the years and delivered a lot of great compositions.
It's not a bad album, just never have been able to get into R.E.M.
This album was new to me even if some songs were not. Birds and snakes and aeroplanes, etc. I really love Michael Stipe's voice and the band's instrumentation and the general vibe on this album. Left of west and coming with in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck. Some of these songs live rent-free in my brain slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn. Locking in, uniforming, book burning, bloodletting. In general I liked the album, maybe except the two final songs. Light a candle, light a votive. Mountains sit in a line. Leonard Bernstein. It's a 3.5, rounded down to 3. Birthday party cheesecake jelly bean boom
Honestly, not too bad. "It's the End of the World As We Know It" was the worst song on there, but the rest were pretty OK! I'd say 3.5 stars, but I'm still in a bad mood from Beck, so I'll round down.
yeah sure
I like the songs well enough, but I feel like the last several of them just sound like The One I Love again and again
tell me why i didn't know "its the end of the world as we know it" was an REM song. either way, i love me a bit of dad rock.
My least favorite of the IRS years - feels like a band in transition that doesn't really find its new identity until Out of Time. End of the World As We Know It will always bring a smile to my face though.
All in all, a decent album and the source of two everlasting songs by them: "It's the End of the World as we Know It" and "The One I Love".
The album have good song, but none is better than The One I Love, this song is just so good, in every way, it is one the same veins as the albums, but it is significatly better i think. Musicaly this is some alternative rock, jangle pop, a bit like an american version of the Smiths, and this is a good thing. The album as a brighter side than the Smiths tho, more fun and with a cool vibe. Welcome to the occupation was one song that i enjoy, disturbance at the heron house too. Fireplace and kings of birds have very cool musicality and vocals performances Other than that i didn't find the album so cool or thta have struke me very hard, like i did not love it but i dont hate it either. But to be honnest The One i Love really ring the total up for me.
Okuuu. 7/10
Another R.E.M. album. Another album where two of the songs are bangers and the rest are forgettable. 5/10
consistently okay throughout, not my favorite
I’d like to give it a 3.5, but not a 4.
Proto-Incubus feel, I like
Always dubious about REM albums on account of their history. The singles were fine but the rest was a bit Meh. The algorythm threw up lots of better music from the period.
Couple good singles…the radio play they got. Michael Stipes voice is a little irritating if you have to listen to it for an entire album
I didn’t like that Strange cover.
I enjoyed the album about an average amount. For me, there were no tracks that I was eager to return to (although I did appreciate the Lenny name drop in "It's The End of the World as We Know It", the standout track of the record) but I can understand why it was influential and successful. Likely won't keep it in my rotation but it was a good way to start of my listening journey :)
I was previously familiar with End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love. They're the best two tracks on the album in my opinion. The rest of the album is fine, but nothing particularly special. Don't see myself coming back to listen to the full album very often, but the aforementioned songs are great.
Not what I expected the vocals to be? Like I know there popular songs but guess never realized it was R.E.M? More similar to Counting Crows than I thought, was expecting heavier/grungy, not as peppy. I like it, but maybe a little whiney at times. Listened in the car and a lot blended together. I like the guitars. Their bio mentions how R.E.M helped shift punk into alternative, I don't know if I can agree with that for this album specifically. Google categorizes them as "rock" and "folk" which i think is a bit closer. Top songs: Finest work song It's the end of the world
Some absolutely amazing songs on this. But the other less popular songs really blended together and did not do it for me. 3.5 is where I'd put it but I think I gotta go 3 since 4 should be reserved for no bad songs
Whenever an REM song comes on shuffle I’m never mad, but I’m also never particularly thrilled either. That’s how I felt about this album. They make perfectly good rock songs and this album is a fine crop of tunes. Good not great. Solid 3 Fav Songs: Finest Worksong One I Love It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Some classic songs on this album. Liked this more than the other one of theirs I’ve listened to on this list. 3.5/5 Might listen again
It's the End of the World As We Know it is a classic obviously, some other good songs here too. Feels like a 3.5.
Other than the radio hits, kind of unremarkable overall. Stipe's voice has never done it for me but he is a good lyricist. Hard to believe this was recorded in 1987.
Some good hits and local boys 151 was a great surprise
Its alright
Solid album. Good songs
ok but pretty forgettable other than The One I Love
The most consistent R.E.M. album, although without the heights of Automatic. 3 apocalypses out of 5 ☣️☣️☣️
Pretty good. Pretty boring. I like two songs quite a bit but probably a 3 overall.
A couple of amazing songs, a good sound, but it's not their best album for me.
3.5 I haven't listened to R.E.M. much beyond the greatest hits, but I was pleasantly surprised here. Pretty enjoyable all the way through and not as samey as I was expecting based on the little I knew before. Nice surprise sax in Fireplace and Indian sound in King Of Birds. Exhuming McCarthy is joining the obvious in the regular rotation.
R.E.M. De band met die grootse uitstraling, maar die toch altijd saaie brave muziek levert. Ook dit album gaat redelijk ongemerkt voorbij. Veel van hetzelfde. En als het dan toch wat uit de band vliegt, zoals The End of The World..., is het eigenlijk slechter. Ok, deze band is gewoon gespecialiseerd in saai en braaf. Houd het dan maar zo. Als het voorbij komt, luister ik het wel. Geloof niet dat ik het zelf zal opzetten.
2024-03-08...
It was a decent album. I knew a couple of songs. It was not particularly a strong album. The second half struggles. It is not a 3 but I will round up.
I have a feeling that if this was the first R.E.M. album that I had heard I might have liked it a bit more than I did. Unfortunately I listened to Automatic For The People only 53 albums ago, and this does not live up to it. AFTP is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion, getting this after was a bit of a letdown. I actually re-listened to AFTP tonight because I was afraid I was over-rating it in my head compared to this, but no, that album is absolute fire. I think this album is perfectly fine overall, maybe even good. It's a bit less polished than AFTP, a little harder of a sound, maybe a bit more political thematically. My biggest gripe is that the sound is pretty consistent throughout to me, and very little stands out. The songs are mostly about the same pace, there isn't a whole lot that is really attention-catching overall. The one exception is the middle of the album. Song #6 is "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and then #7 is "The One I Love". These are two of R.E.M.'s better-known songs, and for good reason. They're both great, and they carry the album quite a bit for me. I think this is a classic 3.5 star rating album from me, I'm like mildly positive on it, so I'm going to make a gut call on which way to go. I do really like Michael Stipe's voice, and he's really great when he's either letting it loose a bit or doing something a bit softer like "Everybody Hurts". This album was a bit more middle of the road on average and I don't think showcased him as well. One thing I will give them is that this sounds a bit ahead of its time, so I'll give them credit for that. There was still a lot of synth nonsense going on at this time, and they managed to pull off a pretty approachable (early) alt rock album in '87 without falling into that trap, so good on them. Favorite song: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Other: Finest Worksong, Welcome To The Occupation, The One I Love, King Of Birds 3/4/24
Ni fu ni fa, REM és molt repetitiu. M'agrada l'estil però fins a cert punt. S'ha de dir que "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" és un temazo. Expected Lorenzo Rating: 3
Fine. Didn’t blow me away
Hitazos! Se me hizo largo al final; pero siempre es lindo escuchar a rem
Historic album with a sound that is already very recognizable.
R.E.M. sounds uniquely like themselves, always identifiable - particularly Stipe’s voice. Generally good songwriting here - some good lyrics, solid hooks, enjoyable music. Some fun, some tender, serious, silly, upbeat, slower. It shows nice range in the band. Couple of excellent songs, couple of misses. It’s a well made album and enjoyable listen, but I’m not sure if the album sticks with me long-term. I was grumpy on my first listen and thought that colored my view but a later revisiting didn’t change much.
This was frustrating for me. I went into this album really wanting to dig it, as I feel like so many of my favorite bands love R.E.M. and I have not dug much into their discography, and I had a hard time connecting with it. The songs I recognized, like "End of the World" and "One I Love" are good songs, but most of it just seemed like kind of run of the mill alt-rock. I wonder if it's a sort of "Seinfeld is unfunny" problem where so many people have copied these R.E.M. records that they lose a bit of their uniqueness? Idk. I can see myself eventually returning to this album/this band and loving it, and cursing at my past self, but for now this is only getting 3 stars.
I know this album well, but it's not one I would normally choose to listen to. It was nice to play it through, but once every couple of decades is enough for me. I'm going to give it 3 stars. Back in the late 1980s I had a friend who was a massive REM fan and this was really their last great album as far as he was concerned. The next album (Automatic for the People) drifted just a little too far from their roots into pure pop music and then there was a gradual decline. Some of the hits on this album remind me of the incredibly dodgy night club we all used to go to on a Friday night when they had their alt/ indie-rock theme and REM would feature alongside The Cure, The Smiths, The Pixies, and similar bands of that era. Heady times indeed.
Solid REM album
Decent album, great musicianship but it didn’t feel particularly stand out or impressive Stand out songs: Strange It’s the end of the world
Again another album I feel I should like more but it doesn’t feel new or special to me. Just a well rounded band with some classics. Stand out songs : It’s the end of the world as we know it The one I love Welcome to the occupation
Whatever
tres moyen
Okay - not my favourite. Some great songs though. Enjoyed the second half much more than 1st.
As a broader fan of R.E.M I thought I would like this more, but the only songs really worth re-visiting for me are the ones I already know (It's The End Of The World As We Know It and The One I Love), which are obviously great.
It rocks pretty ok if you are in the mood. 2nd track is smooth. Late 80s is all I gotta say. Cheesy fillers though. 6 and 7 are legendary but not quite my taste. I enjoyed 8 more than 6 tbh. Lyrical and technical wise, ok I guess. Some tracks can be listenable on a few occasions
Favorite tracks: "It's The End..." & "The One I Love."
Fun instrumentals, big hits, not crazy about the singer Michael Stipe.
A few good songs but overall not super memorable
Only a couple bangers imho
Bra skit!
Indie-Gitarrenrock, oder auch Alternative Rock, zwischen Headbanger und Pop, dieses Album ist die Vorstufe der Erfolge in den 90ern, gut, aber bei mir zumindest, kein Bedürfnis dieses Album ständig hören zu müssen
Primajima
End of the world was wel nice ofc maar kwam er niet heel erg in
Lightnin Hopkins could be a Chili Peps song.
It's music. Not great, not terrible. There's a couple of timeless classics on here.
This album is the sound of REM. Some of it is a bit bland but some of the tunes are just a great mix of awesome music.
Me gusta, pero me faltó algo más de emoción en la música, un poco de riffs más arriesgados o algún solo de guitarra.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a good mood but I liked it more than I thought I would.
More fond memories.
Oh shit, both It's The End of the World As We Know It, and The One I Love are on this album!
Never been a huge fan of REM and this is the first time I listen to this album all the way through. It definitely reminds me of the 80's and still has a couple of catchy tunes.
Boring honestly
Nice album with two outstanding good songs !
Good, but not quite the vibe at the moment. Worth a relisten
It's an R.E.M album. It's OK. Played several times, it's a bit of a grower I think.
solo una canción se nota le faltaba un algo a esta banda para despegar
It hurts to say, but “The One I Love” and “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” carries this album on their backs. It’s a shame too because “The One I Love” is one of the most perfect songs to ever exist, and I wanted to fall in love with the rest of the album, but the rest never hits the same high for me as those two songs do. Sometimes the hits are the hits for a reason (and I’ve learned I have to be a bit pickier with rating these albums the further I get in). Will forever love Michael Stipe’s vocals though and I admire how political this album is. Solid 3.6/5 Fav Songs: The One I Love, It’s the End of the World As We Know It Least: Oddfellows Local 151
REM are by today's standards a dated band. However their fifth album Document feels relatively fresh and fun undercut with the angst of an alt rock band. Best: It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Worst: Oddfellows Local 151
Exhuming McCarthy is a catchy one I’ve never heard before. Ah, this album has End Of The World and The One I Love on it. Yep, those are pretty iconic. I'm completely sick of them, but this album makes sense to me. Definitely enjoying all the rest of their songs on here that never became hits. 3/5
Fireplace is slow and repetitive like country and is boring
Something about Michael Stipe’s voice has led me to not listen to a crazy amount of REM. That being said I think it works pretty well with the instrumentals on the first few songs. Nothing really crazy special but sounds like some solid alt rock. Exhuming McCarthy is the first song that really stands out to me. Especially that one baseline. Kinda rolled my eyes when End of the World came on but realized I’ve never really sat down primarily to listen. Such a happy toned sad song. Feel like “The One I Love” was on a rock band or guitar hero. Another one I’d probably like a lot more if I hadn’t heard it a million times before. Another solid baseline on Lightnin Hopkins. Oddfellows Local 151 has some gothic darkness to it that I love. Overall I really liked some part of this album and wish I could give it a 3.5, but I don’t see myself coming back to it much except Oddfellows.
Enjoyed it, but wasn't one of my favorites.
I have never been a lover of R.E.M, and this album didn’t change my mind. It was perfectly serviceable rock, but it didn’t blow me away at any point. ‘End of the world’ is a clear stand out and I liked a few other tracks, but I also found some tracks to be annoying. The back-up singer really took me out of a lot of the songs, his voice isn’t good. Nothing insulting overall, but no higher than a six, but I have to rate out of five so three seems the fairest.
Overall I like REMs sound but probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen. It's the end of the world as we know it was my favorite track from this album (and probably one of their more popular songs)
Two famous songs, the rest of the album was interesting
A nice album by a band "everybody" knows.
It was fine. A lot of repetitive tones. The back half of the album is the stronger half which feels strange from a flowing and capture perspective. Would love to give half stars as this would fall in the 3.5 line but can't give it the 4 so it's a 3.
Good but not great, liked a few on there but overall not the best
For me this as an exceptionally average album. I didn't particularly like or dislike anything.
Heard of R.E.M and the classic Everybody Hurts, not this album though. Alternative from 1987. Slightly recognise “it’s the end of the world…” but otherwise all a bit new to me. 3.
Another R.E.M. record. Like every other one on this list. I'm hearing it for the first time and it already feels so familiar. R.E.M. is truly part of the our musical conversation in the US. This album was fine, but didn't strike me as being particularly great.
R.E.M. finnst mér fín hljómsveit en hún hefur aldrei verið í neinu sérstöku uppáhaldi. Fín lög og allt það en smella samt ekki alveg við mig einhverra hluta vegna. Get alveg hlustað á þessa plötu en líklegri til að gera það með einu og einu lagi, frekar en heildarplötu sem ég gleymi fljótt.
Upbeat and feelgood, enjoyed probably 80% of the tracks. If I had to criticise it, it's a bit samey. I was never really able to get on board with Stipe's voice but the musicianship from the rest of the band is great - not particularly complex but effective.
The album was fine to listen to, but nothing stuck out to me. Good background music.
Another one that's fine, but not as deep as it thinks it is. "Strange" has a fun Mountain Goats vibe to the vocals, but lyrically is the same kinda meh as the rest. "It's the End of the World as we Know It and I Feel Fine" is the standout, very patter-song. And "Fireplace" is oddly compelling.
Non amo i REM. Comunque, prime tracce gradevoli e ancora fresche dopo quasi 40 anni. Poi un crescendo di sonorità anni 80 (con tanto di sax). Non lo ascolterò di nuovo, credo, anche se disconosco la qualità e la marcia in più dei REM
Slow start for me on this one with the first song. It got better as it went on. Had no idea this where It's the End of World came from.
I enjoyed the songs I knew but was overall bored with the other songs.
This one goes not per sé out but is laf. De eerste helft dan. The end of the world blijft okay Fireplace saxsolo is nice Tweede helft plaat experimenteler in instrumentatie en songstructuur===> vele malen beter dan eerste helft. Dit is duidelijk heel vaak nagedaan,soms toch ook beter.
Very much the REM-sound and feels very much of that time. Seems like Maritime was heavily influenced by their singing melodies.
not convinced
mixed bag of warbling welcome to the occupation strange the one i love
Finest Worksong It's The End Of The World As We Know It The One I Love
No me ha gustado mucho. Sólo It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Some great tunes on here. Not everything was amazing but a solid outing. A very concise album.
Mid
R.E.M. is a band I like but don’t love. Some good songs on the album, 3/5 for me.
Not a big fan of R.E.M., but this was listenable.
OK, but not my favorite R.E.M. album
It’s ok
As always with R.E.M. it manages to be boring and interesting at the same time
This one is a hard one for me to rate. It's undeniably a tight, well-produced record. REM is at the top of their game, and despite their best efforts, tracks just leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. I found Lightnin' Hopkins extremely grating on my ears. The verses of It's the End of the World plays in the tradition of Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues, but end up serving as a bridge to Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire. But it also has a few all time great REM tracks. Fav tracks: The One I Love, Disturbance at the Heron House, Finest Worksong
About time I fill my REM blindspot. I've really been deep sleeping on them! A solid album, nothing more nothing less.
could i write poetry to this? y
I'm one of those sickos who likes REM's 90s stuff more than their early stuff.
Average REM songs
High 6 - Low 7
3.5
Short and sweet. Two timeless hits and a bunch of late-80s activism language. Not for my time.
p566. 1987. 3.5 stars. Quality jangly 80s guitar with some great songs and quite a bit of filler. Not their best work - see Automatic For The People for that - but still good.
Generally an overrated band
Rem - geht so, trotzdem interessant
Good, good rock, some songs were pretty forgettable tho.
It’s really just fine. I feel pretty neutral about it. It’s good just not my kind of jam.
I know understand why I’ve heard some of these songs way more than others….
One of my favorite bands from the late 80s/early 90s era. I should listen to them more outside of just their singles. High energy album with some thoughtful lyrics. A lot of what I like about simple rock.
This is good, though its a sound that is pretty played out to my ears.
Not a huge fan of the lead singer. His voice is kind of abrasive.
I don't know, kinda boring
Another banger from R.E.M
Poucas músicas legais
Alan lämpeämään tälle bändille enemmän. Minun mielestä tähänastisista levyistä paras kokonaisuus. Sopiva menevä mutta alavireinen tunnelma muutamilla hyvillä hittibiiseillä. 3/5
Jää kauas Murmurin taiasta ja bändillä on muitakin parempia levyjä. Mutta hyvä tämäkin, varma kolme.
Tässäkin taas hittirocklevy. Ihan toimivaa, ainakin niiden hittien osalta, mut kokonaisuutena ehkä vähän laimea. 3/5
Good not great
Great record and some serious hit singles. Really appreciated this listen.
Great start. I love the riff and syncopated drum part. Man is the master bus SLAMMED with reverb though. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love" are both absolute bangers, and the former is definitely one of the most well known pop rock songs of all time. But the rest of the album lacks really far behind those two. It's like R.E.M. have two modes- one that makes incredibly catchy rock songs, and another that makes really just "mid" level songs. This is a hard rate for me. I didn't particularly love any tracks besides those two that I mentioned, and usually when an album on this list is like that, I give it a 2-3 out of 5. But those two stand out tracks are just so good that alone they would be a 4. I think a 3 is the most fair compromise for me here.
Mostly not into it
Af 80er postpunk at være er det ikke helt mærkeligt nok til at være interessant, men der er en del fede numre alligevel. Huskede den som bedre
R.E.M. har aldrig helt fanget mig. Den her plade er lidt for soft-core, på rock skalaen til at jeg sådan helt kan nyde den. Men "It's The End of the world as we know it" er en objektiv mega banger.
Feel like REM steadily got less interesting over time. Loved their debut, liked their follow ups, but by now it sounds like they've run out of ideas. Still a good album, just definitely not a great one like their earlier stuff.
Gemiddeld plaatje Its the end of the world as we know it is wel echt lekker
Laat me je een scene schetsen, je ligt zondag ochtend in bed met een chick en het begint ergens naar toe te gaan. Jullie zijn 10 minuten bezig en ineens herinnert ze zich 'Shit ik zou met m'n moeder gaan lunchen!'. Haar kleren schieten aan en ze is binnen no-time de deur uit. Dat is de muziek van R.E.M; Wel leuk! Maar geen climax 'it's the end of the world as we know it' is wel echt een banger tho
3.5/5
i think i liked Murmur better overall but this was a generally good album
Similar to the other two R.E.M. albums I've gotten so far (and I can only imagine there's more) this album didn't leave too much of an impression on me. That isn't to say it's bad, it's just most definitely R.E.M, and that's the only way I can seem to describe it. If you like R.E.M. that's a good thing, but for me it just means that even though each of these albums sound somewhat different, they still blend into one homogenized glob.
I love REM, including this album! It has a couple classic REM songs, which remind me of car trips with my parents growing up. II think "End of the World" deserves a 5/5, but the rest of the album is a 3/5
Wasn't really jiving with it until End of the World came on. Most the songs were still not really my cup of tea, but easy to see how REM were so influential.
This album is just alright to me, I didn't mind most of the songs. I found that his voice was a little too nasally and high pitched for me. It seemed like the songs got better as album went on. I didn't mind "The One I love" and "It's the end of the world". These songs are the best of the album in my opinion but they're still not perfect. King of birds has some good moments but still could be better. I like his voice more in this song than any other song here. I wish I could give this rating more granularity, because I believe it deserves a 2.7 stars.
its the end of the world was great otherwise just good.
Good
It's like easy listening alternative rock It also feels like the malcolm in the middle soundtrack
Man, makes me think about high school. Dude named Matt King was a big REM fan. Gives me an honor roll music vibe. Album is good. Still stands up. lol. . .the song that autoplayed after the album as God's Country by U2. Funny cause I was in a play with Matt called God's Country back in the day.
Not sure why this is a must listen but it’s got a few good tracks
I know they know what they are doing and play their instruments well and the singer can sing and they clearly write music they care about. I just can't get into them. I feel like it's I'm missing something more than them. I can't think of myself ever wanting to put this on.
An okay alternative rock album
Het is niet een album die echt veel impact op mij maakt dat ik er nog een keer naar wil luisteren. Meer achtergrond bandje in een kroeg vibes
Really solid, upbeat album. Relatively unremarkable but very typical of what I would expect as a layman REM fan. Good to work to.
OK. A couple of well-worn classics. Not sure that I'd put this album on repeat.
P boring
REM gaining full momentum
Good, not my kinda music
Only getting a 3 due to the bangers.
Better than expected but still not an REM fan It's the end of the world as we know it is a classic Enjoyed The one I love and Oddfellows
I thought I would enjoy this more but the non-hit songs were underwhelming. The best of the songs that weren’t radio songs in my opinion is Lightnin’ Hopkins
If somebody took the band members of Pearl Jam and neutered them this is what I'd imagine their album to be. 2.5
I must admit that REM has always been a 'avoid at all costs' type band. I was familiar with their more well known tracks, and even like a couple of them, but the thought of a whole album was daunting. However, I was pleasantly surprised and after a couple of tracks found myself quite enjoying it. There were a few tracks that felt very similar, but overall a positive experience.
AAAND I FEEL FIIINEEEE
Didn’t make it through it, but what I listened to was decent.
I didn't realize I didn't l like Michael Stipe's voice that much. Some songs I was okay with, like the most famous song and The One I Love, but other songs it was grating. Overall though I enjoy the instrumental.
I always thought R.E.M. were a good band, but I know there are many who consider them to be one of the all-time *great* bands. Their Spotify bio says they ‘marked the point when post-punk turned into alternative rock’, and I guess that’s key to their importance - they helped invent a style of music that was well-established by the time I first heard them, probably at some point in the late 90s. Anyways, this album has a good muscular sound and there’s a tangible sense of purpose about it all, but it doesn't seem like they had reached their peak from a songwriting perspective. The two big singles in the middle are a cut above; most of the other tracks are perfectly fine but far less memorable (Exhuming McCarthy and Fireplace also stood out to me, to be fair). I’m looking forward to some of their more celebrated records popping up, and seeing if they can convince me of R.E.M.’s greatness.
Pretty good! It's The End Of The World As We Know It is my favourite track.
Нууу Норм. Хз, Меня не зацепили рифы и вокал и текста. Было норм, но не более
3+, из рема топ-1 для меня (мож потому что я плохо помню грин)
Not my favorite REM album by far. Good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
3.5
I know a handful of REM songs, but this was surprisingly somewhat heavier rock then I imagined from them. Overall it's a pretty solid 90s alternative rock album, it's weird that the best way for me to describe it is straightforward, but that's how it feels. There's little variety, but it's still rock solid. Still really enjoy the manic lyrics and sound on It's the End of the World As We Know It, and The One I Love is strong too. Stripe's vocals in particular were quite good on this record.
Incredibly boring 2 song intro. Really had to work to reel me back in before the hits start rolling later on. Mid album is strong with end of the world and the one I love being obvious classics. Remains solid through the back half.
It was alright. 6.5/10. Some bangers. Some weird ones but the weird ones weren’t weird enough and I don’t know what we are talking about. Homelessness? Working, Reagan and Mcarthy. Fuck if I know.
I don’t enjoy REM. Boring background rock. This album has a couple of decent singles which saves it from being a 2. The one I love is possibly the best REM song, and that about the only good thing I can say.
Premier jour
I don't think I've ever paid that much attention to the release date of this album, but I was genuinely surprised to find the year 1987. This HAS to be a jumping off point for 90s alternative, without a doubt. It sounds so much like the 90s that it hurts. I'm not overly familiar with them, but R.E.M. does a good job on this album of being eclectic but in an orderly way. There are strange vocals, strange instrumentals, strange tempos, strange lyrics. Things are unique, there's a lot of versatility from song to song, but there's also decent production behind this album. In any case, this is the sound I associate with R.E.M.
Competent, very much of its time. Poetic and literary in the way that Stipe was famous for, tight and exactly appropriate in the way the rest of the band has always been. Overall, a somewhat dark and menacing tone here, despite the manic exuberance of "The End of the World As We Know It". I always find R.E.M. missing some kind of emotional release, whether it's Peter Buck's relatively mild overdrive sound or just a tendency for the band to end songs without harmonic resolution. I feel that R.E.M. build their work to the edge of catharsis and then leave me without release. An important stone in the grand building of Rock & Roll, but not one I'll frequently return to.
Some good songs I know in this one like 'It's the End of the World as We Know it(And I feel fine)'
Honestly I was expecting a little more from this album because a i’ve heard a lot about it. It was just a little underwhelming in my opinion and the voice dragged a little. I cant decide between 2 and a 3 but I feel I will give the benefit of the doubt and round up- I like some of their other albums too.
Mixed feelings on this one - as a teen I hated this album and although I've long-ago shed any negative feelings about them and have vastly changing/different musical preferences, it's still occasionally hard for me to escape how much I hated e.g. "It's The End Of The World..." (I still don't like it). A lot was made about how on this album you could finally hear Michael Stipe's lyrics/vocals and while true and while change is good and right and keeps things from getting stale ... what happens when you end up liking the previous sound more? I feel like they lost a lot (all?) of their mystery with this record. Is it fair to compare a band to itself? I don't even know nor really care - I mean, "Finest Worksong" is - while not in any way complex - a good powerful album opener and was a worthy hit. But whether I compare it to earlier (or later! "Automatic For the People" would come out 5 years later and ended up being my favourite REM album) or not, I just don't connect much with this album. I don't know, it's always sounded a little ... goofy, maybe? Not in terms of the mix which is clear and powerful, but the songwriting/melodies. I'm heavily-coloured by "End of the World" I'm sure but maybe I just missed their more subdued cuts punctuated with arpeggios. In all it still ends up just sort of passing me by, like I play the record and it's nice but I'm still hungry after listening. Too much MSG. OK honestly it'd be hard to give this anything less than a 3 - acknowledging how impactful this album was while also recognizing the talent needed to put together even simple melodies/construction. Also there's a lot of shit out there and it's not worth beefing about an average melodic college rock record when Lou Reed records exist. 5/10 3 stars.
There's a couple of catchy tracks on this, but I can't help but get the feeling that if you didn't like REM at the time, it's unlikely that you'll learn to enjoy REM after discovering them later.
I'm a fan of this album, but I've listened to it for 20 years and know the songs well. The first half has the stronger, more accessible material- End of the World, One I Love and Exhuming McCarthy are the highlights. The last few tracks are more droning and repetitive.
I appreciate the work here. Two of the biggest nineties songs are on here. But it’s not for me.
REM is a tough band for me to rate. Mainly because our local bar in college, Waldo's, seem to play their music on a constant loop and I grew to really dislike hearing their music. However, as time passed I grew to appreciate some of their stuff. I'd have to say my favorite song from these guys is song #1, Finest Worksong. Oddly enough, this is the song I most associate with Waldo's. Disliked liked at the time for being overplayed, very much appreciated these days and brings back some great (and not so great) memories from my college days. There are a couple other solid tunes like It's The End Of The World and The One I love. But I have to admit, I still dislike hearing The One I Love to this day. Can't say there was anything terrible about this album, but I though the rest of the album was relatively mediocre. The biggest surprise that brought a smile to my face was hearing Strange. Strange is a song of the debut album from a band called Wire. Great song, although I felt the REM cover was just OK. The album, Pink Flag is a great album and I recommend listening. Now that I'm thinking about it, I have a feeling we may see this album on this list. Anyway, back to REM. They're OK. I do have a few tunes downloaded, but I wouldn't consider them one of my favorites. But whenever I hear them, I usually think of Waldo's. My beautiful girlfriend who became my wife. It was at Waldo's when I got out of line, Mindy punched me in face, then drilled me a second time, "in case I didn't feel the first." Goddamn I married a great woman!! Decent album overall. Great memories of better times for sure. I'll give this a 3.5, but score a 3. Not quite enough to get to the 4 level. 3
R.E.M. is a lot like Supertramp to me. I vehemently disliked them both when I was younger but grew to appreciate them. This is actually the first time I've heard an R.E.M album all the way through. Previously I had grown fond of their Greatest Hits album with the moon on the cover. As for Document though I think there are some interesting tracks here especially in the back half. I was getting a little annoyed when 'We Didn't Start the 90s Fire' came on and the album was saved by the Guitar Hero World Tour song. The main thing that struck me was the layering and harmonies. I know R.E.M were a big influence on Brand New and I can really hear it on this one. All in all there are some new songs I've found on this album. I will listen to those and maybe the album again, for sure. 3
3.5 Look, I like R.E.M. and all, but is this really an all-time great album? Obviously It’s the End of World As We Know It and The One I Love are fantastic tunes and put the band on the map, but for the most part this kind of just feels like a blended mesh of R.E.M. at their most okay. Admittedly, there are a couple hidden gems sprinkled in here - the album opens with what might very well be its best track in the aptly titled Finest Worksong - but unfortunately everything starts running together very quickly after that with the following handful of songs. Shoutout to the group for covering Wire, and while I want to give them credit for putting a new spin on Strange, it kind of just boils down to exactly what you would imagine an R.E.M. cover of a punk song to sound like rather than anything particularly noteworthy or great. From there, once you’re through the hits, it’s pretty clear the best the album has to offer is over, and it feels like you’re left stuck with the group’s B material. The closing track Oddfellows Local 151 is decent enough, but I don’t think there’s anything about the three preceding it that would make me want to come back to them (though I did find Stipe’s delivery of “Crazy, crazy world” stuck in my head after listening, so do with that what you will). Not a great album in my opinion, but it does have some great songs, and I don’t think I could go lower than a 3.5 for those alone. It’s hard for me not to think of Tommy Boy while listening to End of the World, and it always puts a smile on my face when I do. You ever notice every time a name is mentioned in the song they have the initials L.B.? What’s up with that?
I liked this
It was okay, doubt I’ll listen to it again though.
Just ok.
Did not know the BNL’s end of the world as we know it was a REM cover, so that’s cool. Loved like maybe 3 songs on this album.
Track 1 - Finest Worksong Pixies-esque opening guitar riff, pounding drums, slight country twang to the vocals, sounds like natural harmonics behind the guitar riff, nice harmonies, lovely instrumental play out, decent opener 6.8/10 Track 2 - Welcome To The Occupation Contrast to the opener, light breezy acoustic guitar opening, sounds like a nirvana riff but twangier, softer and slower, simple drums, still very country like vocals, nice song 7/10 It went rlly weird and deleted the rest so I can’t be bothered to write it all out again , but I’d rate the album a 7, too many mediocre songs, not rlly my thing
About what i expected, REM being REM. Welcome to the Occupation is a good song, reminiscent of The Smiths. Not a bad album.
Not bad.
I’ve started this 3 times. It’s fine and I’m whelmed
A medium album from the most medium band of all time. There's nothing wrong with medium, by the way. Three stars.
Good album 3.4
Political lyrics. Some jam band-y parts. Interesting layering of vocals. Songs were solid but not overly exciting. Overall didn’t like it AS much as I thought I would.
"It's the End of the World..." and "The One I Love" are great tracks. The rest of the album's decent. Call it 3.5.
Not my favourite R.E.M. album, but it's definitely got a few of my favourite R.E.M. songs on it.
Þessi er alveg 50/50 í mínum huga. Frábær og óáhugaverð.
Cool, great harmonies. Just not my cup of tea.
Didn’t know this album but very distinctive REM! Some good songs.
a lot to like here but i simply have never liked michael stipe's voice. sorry mike!
Its good and has some classics hits but I wasn't in a rush to listen again.
Not a great start to this project, but I’m sure I might’ve liked it better on a different day. Overall, songs very much sounded the same and weren’t up my alley. Recognized a few and that was cool ig
Not bad at all
Definitely better than the other REM album I listened to. Solid rock album.
Easy to listen to. Great vocals and calming rhythm to the music. Good background music
Not their best work, but really good and full of an urgency and intensity that isn't as prevalent in later albums
I'm not much of an REM fan. That said, this album has its moments.
I find that with R.E.M. their songs are either mediocre or absolute bangers. I knew going into this album their were two certified bangers. It's the End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love, with the former being my favourite song by them. I found the first four songs to fall into the mediocre category but starting with the track Strange and, with the song Fireplace, I found the rest of the tracks to be bangers. I was prepared to only give this album only two stars but because of the strong finish I upped it to three stars. I still think that anyone who says the Beatles are boring is probably pretty boring themselves and Michael Stipe has been quoted as saying exactly that. Michael, when yoy make an album as incredible as Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road, you can talk trash. Until then you should shut up and listen.
That's great It starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes An aeroplane Lenny Bruce is not afraid Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn World serves its own needs, don't misserve your own needs Feed it off an aux, speak, grunt, no, strength The ladder starts to clatter with fear fight, down, height Wire in a fire, representing seven games And a government for hire and a combat site Left of west and coming in a hurry with the Furies Breathing down your neck Team by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped Look at that low playing, fine, then Uh-oh, overflow, population, common food But it'll do, save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed Dummy with the rapture and the revered in the right, right You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light Feeling pretty psyched It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it And I feel fine Six o'clock, TV hour, don't get caught in foreign tower Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn Lock him in uniform, book burning, blood letting Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate Light a candle, light a votive, step down, step down Watch your heel crush, crushed, uh-oh, this means No fear, cavalier renegade steer clear A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives And I decline It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine (I feel fine) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine The other night I dreamt of knives, continental drift divide Mountains sit in a line, Leonard Bernstein Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, vermouth You symbiotic, patriotic, slam but neck Right? Right It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) It's the end of the world as we know it (It's time I had some time alone) And I feel fine
Lyrics are fun, voice fits the style. Poorly mixed at times, but it never gets too bad
just some Guy™️ vibes
Fave tracks: Exhuming McCarthy, Disturbance at the heron house, It’s the end of the world, the one i love, fireplace, king of birds I enjoyed this album but wasn’t wowed 3/5
Better highs than on Green, but overall still the same. A lot of songs don't stand out but it's enjoyable rock nonetheless. Highlights: Finest Worksong, It's The End Of The World As We Know It, The One I Love
Me gusta más el lado A
Album #1 Serviceable dad rock. Its not that its bad but it just doesn't have that many memorable riffs or melodies for me (except for "Its The End Of The World As We Know It"). Also have never been a fan of Michael Stipe's vocals before I listened to a full R.E.M. album, and I'm still not a fan after listening to this thing for at least 3 times. I appreciate how the album doesn't overstay its welcome and held the runtime just under 40 minutes. There was some cool experimentation on tracks such as "Fireplace" with the horns (although sometimes they felt a bit out of place on the track) and "King of Birds" brought in a dulcimer which gave it a bit of a folk rock feel. In conclusion I feel pretty neutral about “Document” It’s kinda just a standard alt-rock album I can throw on in the background and enjoy without second thought. Favorite track: It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
There are way better albums of theirs
Not my typical listen, nice change of musical "energy". Love the instruments and the vocals on it. Pleased to find that this album birthed the classic "It's the end of the world as we know it".
I used to really enjoy REM, but now I find them pretty dull. Some good songs, but nothing I would purposely seek out.
A couple great songs. The rest is ok.
Escuta inteiro, nada super memorável
Not a huge REM fan. They have some decent songs tho.
Meh, this is okay, but Stipe's voice gets a little tedious. There are some good songs on here, but stuff like Exhuming McCarthy, could do without.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected for sure. Some surprising bite to the political themes. ITEOTWAWKI(AIFF) slaps, but it's one of those songs that I heard too much as a child so I have trouble listening.
Pretty good 80s progressive rock/punk type thing. Sometimes a bit repetitive
Not bad.
No me convenció. Es bastante repetitivo y, muchas veces suena mal. Fuera de Welcome to The Occupation no hay mucho qué salvar, especialmente Fireplace, que es una completa porquería. Le doy 3 por ser escuchable en general, pero no está ni cerca del 4.
I don't like REM but I get why this album is here
3. Enjoyable enough, but not something I would pick for myself.
Ok. Better than Murmur anyway
Newfound appreciation for the two chart hits, which I haven’t listened to closely, perhaps ever. They deserve their enormous (over?)exposure. But the rest is… just okay.
Really enjoyable sound and listen. Slightly lacking in hits and variety to receive a higher score
Not their best work but still decent.
Better than the last REM album I had but still not massively memorable
Could've sworn we had an album from R.E.M. previously, but I think this our first. Believe it or not, I think there are three other REM albums on here, and none of them are the album including "Losing My Religion," which makes absolutely no sense to me. A couple recognizable classics on here like "End of the World" and "The One I Love," so I understand the inclusion. I do like REM, Michael Stipe has such a distinct, powerful voice. Such a haunting quality to it. I'll save my ire for the other REM albums that are on here (instead of Out of Time). Favorite tracks: The One I Love, Oddfellows Local 151, Welcome to the Occupation, End of the World As We Know It. Album art: No idea what I'm looking at here. It's cool though. 3.5/5
Some great tracks here, even the ‘filler’ is pretty decent. 3.5 stars.
Can’t stand his voice
I can appreciate this album, but R.E.M. was never really my thing. This album sounds very "of its time." But It's The End of the World is a good song! Middle of the road album for me.
What is it about alternative rock (late -80s to 90s) that I just can't get into? These are well written songs, some of them very catchy, good lyrics, but they just don't pull me in and want to come back to. Is it the production / mix? The guitars and base are so jangly and pushed back, I can't hear anything unique. I think there was a reason why I knew about R.E.M. growing up but still would rather listen to 70s and 60s rock (Zeppelin, Beatles). I gained more respect to REM from this album, but it isn't going to be revisited much I expect. I don't think this is a REM issue, more the entire area. I wonder if covers of these songs with different production, would fair better.
The music is solid. This comes down to how much Michael Stipe moaning can you handle?
WTF is happening in this album artwork. Am I seeing a glitch??? Is this a classified album? I liked the album fine. Some decent Americana and classic songs served up here.
Pretty typical alternative rock throughout. I definitely enjoyed it more than I assumed I would. I don't really like the singer's voice but the musicians are decently talented. It's the End of the World has such a catchy chorus, not surprising it's so famous. Overall better than expected but nothing to write home about.
I don’t like his voice
A bit eh
Not mind-blowing but pleasant enough
solid dad rock
Eig ziemlich gut gemacht aber die Stimme hat iwie was cringes. 6/10
the good and the bad of REM’s fifth record Document are easily encapsulated by one song: “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”, a fist-pumping pop-rock hit that stands out from the rest of the album as a highlight. the song (and, by consequence, the rest of the record) is pure fun — the lyrics are humorous and stuffed with pop culture references that wield in making points about larger society. there’s a rawness to the sound, sure, however that doesn’t mean it isn’t groovy enough to get your feet tapping. but goodness the album as a whole is so steeped in the style and lore of its era that it unfortunately doesn’t transcend into timelessness. this here is a record that was released in the 80s, and there’s no escaping that — whereas their later work (particularly the masterful Automatic For the People) managed to overcome the constraints of time, Document just sounds dated, and that sonic disconnect is deeply prevalent now, almost 40 years later. it’s not a bad record by any definition, but it doesn’t amount to much than just a relic.
There were a few songs I didn't especially like but most I liked quite a bit.
Easily R.E.M.'s most vibrant, upbeat album and one I had largely never heard before (though it contains my favorite track of the band's in 'One I Love'). Appreciated the changeup in rhythms from the somewhat slow pace the band usually favors for faster, more energetic, and alive arrangements. Not sure too many tracks stuck with me after an initial listen outside the mega-popular singles, but definitely a welcome listen after my last few R.E.M. outings on the list.
Reasonably Enjoyable Music.
Album was okay, really enjoyed the instrumentals, but the vocals ruined it for me. Exhuming McCarthy sounds like its straight from some commercial
Klasyczny REM, "It's the end of the world ..." spoko, reszta jakoś mi nie podeszła.
Liked the last song best, can't quite get over his voice
They were fine- decent beats, but not my taste.
Meneer Stipe en kornuiten slagen er niet in om, afgezien van die paar pareltjes, mij echt te boeien met dit album. Vervelend hoofd heeft ie ook, maar dat terzijde.
This has a couple of their biggest hits but the rest of the album fails to impress
God damn Your Finest Worksong feels like it lasts forever. End of the world is a classic, but listening to this album made me realise I don't enjoy REM as much as I thought I did
Klinkt goed maar is enigszins saai
I always forget how much I enjoy REM. High 3.
YEAH! REM! Can you really go wrong with REM? I wonder if people actually know ALL the lyrics to ITEOTWAWKI...great song though. Michael Stipe's voice is so irreplicable. What a pleasure it must have been to hear him in the studio. I can absolutely hear where their influence has passed down from this record. King Of Birds - I love the sound of the Dulcimer. Very Trashcans! Notable Songs - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Lightnin' Hopkins 6/10 - it's a good album but I know there are better REM records than this one.
only a 3 as I like (know) their other albums more good stuff none the less
No me ha gustado mucho. Sólo It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
3.5 stars. Exhumimg McCarthy is the hidden gem here for me
A few great songs on here then a lot of dad/country rock sounding songs 3/5
Better than their debut
I'm kind of shocked I didn't hate this. The singles are overplayed garbo, but there are a couple of decent deep cuts on here that make up for them.
I think I said in some previous R.E.M. review that my interest peaks at Life's Rich Pageant, but hearing this for the first time in years, I was reminded I listened to this album a whole lot over the course of three years or so, back in my cassette days. And it's pretty rocking to be honest. I'm not convinced most of the lyrics aren't nonsense, if high-toned and intellectual sounding nonsense. And it marks to me the turning point to the mostly serious R.E.M., whimsy pretty much evicted from the music, and not to the better.
Everyone in my family sings along in the car with "It's the End of The World As We Know It" when it comes on the radio. The singles from this album (End of the World, The One I Love, and Finest Worksong) are probably three of the best rock songs that REM ever released. The rest of the album is pretty good, with fair tunes, although the lyrics teeter on the border between opaque and nonsensical. At least they are not bone-headedly dumb (like the Def Leppard record that I reviewed yesterday). This was the first of REM's string of albums with producer Scott Litt that were their most commercially and critically successful. He took their previously muddy production aesthetic and cleaned it up. Nothing revolutionary; clear production, muscular guitars and drums, and mixing the vocals further towards the front. The more focused approach made it evidently clear that REM were a pretty tight and accessible rock band, capable of mainstream success and radio play. It's no surprise that Nirvana's record company later asked Litt to mix some tracks from In Utero to make them more appealing for radio play. REM have enough depth that you didn't feel like an idiot listening to them even though their lyrics are more impressionistic than literal. Maybe that allows the listener more scope to project their own meaning onto the canvas?. It does leave them open to misinterpretation (The One I Love is a stalker anthem commonly mistaken for a love song), or just puzzled listeners (I mean, what the hell do the words of Lightnin' Hopkins mean?). A better-than-average album, with three or four standout tracks.
Buen disco, divertido de escuchar. Musical y sonoramente no muy variado. Bastante típico de su época, sin llegar a ser icónico como otras obras de su momento.
Primero que escucho del grupo. Siempre los tenía como "esa banda de los 80s que los boomers conocen mínimo un tema porque tiene varios hitasos". Pero es mucho más que eso, si este es su primer (o de los primeros) album va por buen camino a que me guste en general la banda. 8/10
Yeah, was alright
It was a 90’s journey but apart from the singles I didn’t feel I “got” it
7/10
I've listened to most of these songs again. While influential, the ones I hadn't heard didn't really catch my attention.
musically this album checks all of the boxes. great melodies, riffs, and lyrics. but for some reason it's just not doing it for me. i think it's michael stipe's voice. i'm definitely not denying that this is one of the best albums of its time.
After listening to this album, I have reason to believe that the members of R.E.M are 9-5 blue collar workers. Album wasn’t bad. Reminded me of vermont
1/5- Getting ready for work and after work
Ok every now and then
Good but I wouldn't go out of my way to ever listen.
definitely feel like I'd really love this band if I spent more time with them. Can definitely tell this was an inspiration for bands that would come in the 90s.
Solid overall. Nothing stood out to me as being particularly great or notable, will need to re-listen to verify the rating later.
Meh.
Not my favourite REM album but a worthy effort with some excellent tracks, including the seminal "It's The End of the World As We Know It".
REM is okay. No song stuck out in particular but it was good. Maybe listening through it a few more times I would appreciate it better
good 3/5
Favourite song: Welcome to the Occupation
Ihan hauskaa rallattelua.
Diissentti rokkipläjäys
Absolutely solid. There is clever, songwriting and good melodies. They are a distinctive band. However, this did not make me want to revisit their back catalogue. The album definitely still stands up and is perfectly listenable. You don’t have to listen to this at home though, because somewhere you go this week there will always be an REM track playing.
Every once in a while I think that maybe I should dive into the R.E.M. catalog and then I listen to an album and decide that I’ve pretty much got the gist
- Listened to this before - Good, but not as good as REM's best - Fav songs: Exhuming McCarthy, It's the End of the World As We Know It, Dusturbance at the Heron House