Reviews (page 12 of 14)
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
Almost a 2 is it weren't for some of the riffs and melodies. These guys do be winey!
Aside from a couple of well known songs, its ok.
Pues un disco de R.E.M. que no es malo pero no es el que trae los éxitos comerciales o las rolas más memorables. No significa que no me haya gustado, pero no le veo sentido en la lista. Leyendo un poco veo que es cuando empezaron a usar mandolina, pero pues tampoco creo que eso sea el detalle que lo haga un must. En fin, 3.5 que dejo en 3.
Funny I got it after their debut album... Defintly more to this album... From more interesting sonorities to also some songs are more "rememberable". Solid 3.5/5
Aika tyypillistä REMiä. Eli ihan hyviä biisejä ja mielenkiintosia yksityiskohtia muttei mitään erityisen mieleenpainuvaa. Paras biisi: The One I Love tai Oddfellows Local 151
okay, this is probably my first "objective" review. the best way I could describe this album is Southern Classic Rock with hints of Country? don't get me wrong, it's better and more listenable than a lot of other albums, but it doesn't really have the oomph for me. I guess I'm not really a fan of Country/non-electric stuff in general. no favorites this time, all of the songs kind of sound the same.
The crunchier, grittier side of R.E.M. Maybe not quite their stellar best, but an important and interesting part of their cannon. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Date listened: 25/10/22
I liked it at the beginning, but as i continued i really wanted to stop listening. it sounds like something my old fiction teacher would cry to while watching virgin suicides
REM has a signature sound and Michael Stipe has a unique voice. There is no song I’ve heard by them that I would mistake for another band. A lot of their songs are similar but not the same. I’m not their biggest fan but I like them well enough. The songs ‘It’s the End of the World..’ and ‘This One Goes…’ are ingrained in my memory because of constant airplay at the time and occasionally even now. Here are some thoughts on other songs on the album: I like the guitars in Exhuming McCarthy Strange - Solid. If you’re going to name a song after Lightnin’ Hopkins it should be better. Much better. King of Birds - My favorite on the album. Odd fellows Local - Love the rhythm of the drums and bass. Second favorite song.
This was nice to hear again, though it didn't make me eager to dive back in to their catalog. Guess I'm just sort of over them, though that's not the fault of this album. This was their new album when I first started listening and for the most part I think it holds up well. Nice big sound. I don't know that I ever need to heard End of the World again, but that's not their fault. Fireplace is still a banger. The last three tracks are weak, though. This is more of a 3.5 for me. I'd round up, except that Lifes Rich Pageant and Murmur are on here and those are better.
Sad but only like the really popular REM phase. I don't really like the jangle stuff and I find Stipe annoyingly oblique at times. The One I Love is a banger. Dont like the list song. Everything else is solid but unmemorable. Played it again when i realized Spotify had put it in shuffle mode. There is some guile in the album but hey....Classic 3
Very 90's. Mostly fun, some rambly bits
Prefs : Finest Worksong, Exhuming McCarthy, Strange, It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine), The One I Love, Fireplace Moins pref: Lightnin' Hopkins
Not too bad
I liked it. I didn’t love it. I liked it more than I didn’t though
Solid and unspectacular
Good album catchy, second song McCarthy really good. Nothing blew me away though
Like RHCP, REM has a distinctive sound that makes any song of theirs easily identifiable as belonging to their band. They do what they do well!
I had a little more hope for this album. It was good but the rest of the album didn't live up to It's the end of the world as we know it. Still a good listen and I do enjoy their sound but the rest of the songs were just alright.
The classics are good. Honestly some of the other songs just sounded repetitive or too similar sounding, I was hoping for some differences and more creativity. Still fairly solid.
didn’t totally finish but will go back to this one. it’s been saved.
3/5 Top Song: It’s the end of the world as we know it
Solid, but enjoyed the previous R.E.M. album more
Great album. You can tell they realized the direction of their sound early on.
Kinda just sounds like all the REM songs I've ever heard. There has never been a more REM sounding REM album.
3.5/5 Favoritas: - Welcome to the occupation - Strange - It's the end of the world as we know it - Lightnin' Hopkins
Solid album, hate their vocals
Not as good as the previous albums, the lyrics here are pretty repetitive and silly. Side A has some good songs tho. fav tracks: Finest Worksong, Exhuming Mccarthy, The one I love
Top 3: 1. Oddfellows Local 151 2. It's The End Of The World As We Know It 3. The One I Love
Production is awesome I love Exhuming McCarty. Really playful tones and groovy twists It's the end of the world is a classic vocals when he sings "Fire" on The One I Love are amazing Lightnin Hopkins is such a unique yet familiar rock piece. Very unique sounds being used in the forefront of the song. Decently bold King of Birds was cool but ended up sounding kind of drone-y to me near the end Bass work on Oddfellows is great. Drums work really well with this bass sound. And I like the Guitar's tendency to veer into distortion towards end of notes in parts of the song. 7/10
Great lead single, decent rest of album.
Interesting album. You can hear newer songs were definitely influenced by these earlier sounds.
One of the last REM albums before they really took off. Really don't like End of the World, although it was a huge hit for them - clever but annoying. The One I Love is a favorite of the REM catalog and Finest Worksong is strong from this album. Didn't really fully relate to the REM experience, but this album has a few strong songs, as most REM albums do.
What can I say. It's R.E.M. You pretty much get what you're expecting. This album has a few of my favourite R.E.M. songs on it so that was good listening.
This was R.E.M. that I wasn't too familiar with, other than the two in the middle which are part of the fabric of time. The rest kinda spanned the life of the band.
not bad. I don't dislike REM
A significant portion of my feelings about REM were shaped by the scene in Tommy Boy of them singing “It’s The End…” on the road-trip. Michael Stipe’s voice has been incepted into my brain. Overall I liked this album and if I kept listening it would keep growing on me. Also am I wrong in thinking REM is a proto-ska band? So much brass. Highlights: The One I Love, Exhuming McCarthy, sax solo in Fireplace.
didn't love or hate it. Like The One I Love, and shoutout for making a song called Exhuming McCarty probably about Reagan/Bush folks. Glad I didn't live through the 80s... For the poliitcs, and also because the music kinda bland.
Oldie, goodie, and yet not as exciting as i remember.
This music sounds pretty dated to me. It bounces between a 2 and 3 for me until It’s The End Of The World As We Know It and The One I Love pulled it just above the JBZ (Jeff Buckley Zone).
Just REM
It's a decent album. I never was a huge R.E.M. fan to begin with. Better than I expected, though.
Liked this better than most REM I've heard, but still it was just ok.
Solid album. Has a couple great songs and some good deep cuts. 3/5
I like a lot of R.E.M's music, but this isn't my favorite album.. It's not terrible, but it's not one I'd listen to again.
I know the big popular hits of theirs but I am less familiar with the rest of their work. I was very eager to check them out. Along with "its the end of the world", I have heard "the one i love". The third song that I really enjoyed that was previously unknown to me was "finest worksong". I'm excited to listen to more of their albums.
i missed the bit of their career where they were a bit different and interesting. for me they are very much entrenched in the middle of the road making music for stadiums full of people to sing along too. so listening to their earlier doesn't make me think of some small band playing stages to 1000 people, it just makes me think of the song getting soullessly repeated to a stadium. its fine i supposes. i won't be bothering to listen to it again.
Like crying at a funfair. Fun fact: Michael Stipe uses elephant dung to exfoliate his skin.
Reasonably Entertaining Music
my 4th or 5th favorite rem album. probably their 3rd or 4th best.
I've yet to understand the appeal of a band like R.E.M. Their lyrical content is always well thought out and relevant like this one. They definitely explore different styles and play with different timbres, but I guess the general rock vibe doesn't click. Even their singles don't do it for me which is a shame. I hope they click with me someday but this one unfortunately was only okay.
Back to R.E.M. again. Blergh. I mean, Stipe's voice isn't too bad, and the three songs I knew were good. The one song with saxophone (!!), that was an interesting change of pace. But then there's just... Stipe. Maybe it isn't his voice. I mean, I listen to Neil Young and Ian Anderson and like them. They are just as nasal and whiny. But I just find Stipe so pretentious. And R.E.M. makes me think of 120 Minutes from MTV, and "oh, we're college rock. We're more ART." I don't know, it just somehow annoys me more. So the non-hits were a bit better than the last one, and the sax was a pleasant change of pace. But not enough to turn my loathing of Stipe around, sorry.
I think we all have one or two of those bands that a lot of other people like that for some reason just won't connect with you. This band is one of those for me. Not a fan of R.E.M at all. I bought this album decades ago mainly for the strength of the 3 singles thinking that I would enjoy the rest of it but most of the rest of the album except for the last track just bores me. "Oddfellows Local 151" is pretty solid song though. Based on these four songs I think I can round up a 2.5 to a 3.
Have played this several times, and, sadly, nothing is standing out beyond The One I Love and End of the World. I thought the lyrics might make me look more favourably on the album, but I can't say Stipe's songwriting does much for me - when it comes to radical lyrics, these don't stand comparison with say Drive By Truckers. in summary, a bit disappointed with Document
C'est correct comme on connait REM
Definitely rough around the edges (which are made of most of the album with the exception of the couple of excellent songs in the middle). But in hindsight, you can see where the greatness of later albums came from.
I liked the beginning of the album a lot. The songs starting and after It’s the End of the World As We Know It aren’t my taste. Favorite song: Welcome to the Occupation Least favorite song: It’s the End of the World As We Know It
not bad, two good tracks, classic rocking
Das ist ja mal gar nicht so gut gealtert. Gerade mal so drei Sterne, wegen It’s The End of The World und The One I Love. Die zweite Hälfte ist insgesamt stärker.
hva skal man si annet enn at dette er R.E.M og at akkurat sånn høres det ut. Gitarer og han fyren som synger. Her har man jo noen hits, men de andre er jo nokså i samme leia. Grei skuring. Jeg er digger det ikke, men syns det er nokså ok.
I owned this as a student - an investment in a CD, I kind of liked it then but it wasn't a favourite. Listening again, 3 good songs, the rest are less interesting
No honest person can look you dead in the eye and tell you that REM isn’t boring af …but that End Of The World song is fun
It’s not bad.
The One I Quite Like
Rating
Un bon album ave de bon hits 3.5
Great album, but I dont get why it's in the top. Certainly not the best from the band neither the most iconic.
I understand the influence this album had on 90s music and there's 2 or 3 very good songs, but I know R.E.M. and I think they made way better albums than this one.
Not heard this REM album apart from the singles. Not their best, by their high standards, but still good
The REM sound is developing nicely. Enjoyed this much more than their debut. The End of the World is a great song. Overall on a first listen good. I'm terrible at paying attention to lyrics mind so can't judge those.
Actually a 3.75.
A very good REM album, right in the sweet spot between indie and pop. 3 seems a bit harsh but it's definitely 1 below Automatic for the people
Other than the two I knew already (It’s the End of the World and The One I Love) didn’t really get into this.
This was alright.
1001 Albums Generator Day 4 My knowledge of REM is pretty limited: I like Murmur, prefer Reckoning, I have Green and find parts of it quite irritating, but otherwise I mostly think of them as a good singles band. Knowing that they love Wire, and cover them on this album, I wonder if the title is a reference to Document & Eyewitness; an acknowledgement that these songs are based on secondhand reportage rather than personal experience. Predictably, I wasn't keen on their version of Strange as it sounds bombastic and loses the creeping dread of the original. However, I suppose it was more appropriate to the "morning in America" period that its appearance masks the fear and violence within. Exhuming McCarthy is one I'd been looking forward to hearing. It's a stiff Motown pastiche with a really funny refrain that made me think of management self-help books and team bonding away-days ("you're sharpening stones, walking on coal, to improve your business acumen"). I also like the sampled speech and typewriter. I don't think I've previously given REM enough credit for how funny they can be. For example, The End of the World is We Didn't Start the Fire, in a style that pre-empted (and maybe influenced) They Might Be Giants. I always thought of Michael as really serious and a bit pompous, when he's obviously just shy. I get that myself, so I should have known better. There are a lot of references to fire in the lyrics, which is apparently alluded to on the sleeve. At the risk of sounding like the bit on AllMusic where it lists 'themes' and always includes "guys' night out," that made me think of illumination, anger, destruction, knowledge and the Prometheus myth. However, the late 80s production and Michael's often oblique lyrics leave me cold. On my first listen, I was enthusiastic, but by the second I'd had enough of his brittle, keening voice and tendency to write half of a good melodic phrase and then run it into the ground rather than develop it. As a rule, I prefer their more open, jangly songs, where my favourite elements (Peter's melodies and Mike and Bill's vocal harmonies) have room to shine and there's less of a sense of going nowhere fast. Having said that, I get the feeling this one is a slow burner and I need to give it a bit more air.
Decent
"It's the End of the World as We Know It" is a catchy tune, but the rest of the album pretty much blends together.
oke maar ik had er wel veel meer van verwacht
It's surprising this is from 1987 not 1997, what a pioneering sound. Clearly inspiring for the grunge alternative scene that followed, you can hear the tendrils this type of album left for artists to come. I didn't realize It's The End of the World wasn't a Great Big Sea original. I'm partial to their sped up, more manic cover.
3.2 - good listen. A couple hits here - “The One I Love” “it’s the end of the world”. Stripe’s voice is always a classic.
Alt art rock. Pleasant enough
It was alright
Love the bassline on the end of first worksong, welcome to the occupation is fun and singable, and of course there's it's the end of the world as we know it. I didn't even know that song was on this album and probably wouldn't have thought to look at this one
Very solid. Absolutely can understand why for some people it's R.E.M.'s best work but I still think Automatic for the People is their best album. Very overtly political.
Great band
I prefer some later R.E.M. albums
The end of the world is one of my favourite REM tracks, but the rest is just average REM
Nice music, solid songwriting, reminds me of me youth.
There's something about REM that just gets on my nerves, though I can't pinpoint it. This was everywhere when I was studying, maybe that's it?
Yeah, s'alright if you're into that kind of thing.
I can't remember when Michael Stipe's persona started to annoy me. I tried to put that aside and enjoy the album. Good songwriting, good tunes, good bass, solid tracks. Close to giving it a 4, but Stipe still annoys me.
It's alright, some songs stand out but most of it, just not for me.
i remember this being a huge deal when it was current. and yet again, at the time, i just couldn't bring myself to care about it. michael's voice - while rich in character - has always just kind of grated on me after a while. back then, it was a less nuanced discussion: rem was not punk rock, and therefore of no interest. anyway, listening now, i still feel like i'm supposed to like this - supposed to find some genius buried in the lyrics, some hidden swing in peter's guitar, or in bill & mike's rhythm - but it just feels flat to me. it's just kinda late-80's rock & roll, which is fine, but it doesn't move the earth under me. everything being Right. On. The. Beat, track after track, just makes it feel so...white. that said, i've always liked worksong, and king of birds has a vibe i really enjoy - so that's been a nice surprise.
Not overly familiar of REM outside of a few songs. Never listened to this album. Decent.
not good, not bad
Not bad, some really good tracks I remember from way back. Most familiar was It's the end of the world and The one I love.
Voting of personal preference
Two big hits on this album, but can't help but feel that's what's carrying the whole album. Intro track was solid and track 6 & 7 are obviously classics but the rest of the album felt pretty flat for me.
3 1/2
Meh
eh, it’s okay, 6/10 I’m not a big fan of that country/rock sound that was big in the 90s although I will give this album credit for being ahead of its time, using one of the most popular genres of the 90s a decade early is impressive I just don’t like the genre R.E.M. does have some other cool stuff tho
Bit patchy but very nostalgic.
I sometimes roll my eyes at R.E.M., not so much that they're bad just that I never really saw the greatness so many others talk about. This was a pleasant enough listen, even the big hit that was played on repeat on the radio back in the day
Too simple musically for me ofcourse a couple of hits on here, but not my cup of tea
Liked the vibe. Multiple songs had me bopping, but I didn't end up bookmarking any.
Two great classics and a bunch of forgettable songs.
Ik zou er zelf niet naar luisteren
michael stripe's voice really does sounds like a spoon huh. i liked REM a bunch as a teenager, which is not REM's fault, but if they could avoid that in future i'd appreciate it. fav track: exhuming maccartney
Had two amazing songs on it, and the rest was ok.
Few good songs, rest meh
Finest Worksong, End of the World, and The One I Love are sort of the tentpoles of this one. And there's good stuff here and there, but mostly there's just the indie REM vibe that works for me. I can have it on in the background and not want to turn it off.
5.5
It was definitely an R.E.M album
This is not a front to back, beginning to end type of record for me.
solid(?)
Gutes rem Album! Ich weiß, das Frühwerk etc… aber ich finde bei dem das spätere Werk tatsächlich etwas besser
I appreciate many of these songs but REM never gets me too excited.
I want to like R.E.M., but the execution/style just feels a bit flat to me. I like the themes, but it's played too direct. It's The End of the World is a good track though. Kind of the times though.
So very 90's. Which must have been groundbreaking in '87!
It was cool to listen to a full album by these guys. They have a pretty interesting sound. I liked the listen for what it was and can see why it made this list.
Not my type of music.
Good REM album with two popular songs on it…couple other songs were real good but with other REM albums songs all seem the same
The album that launched R.E.M into the mainstream. Two of their biggest hits are on this album, and the rest of the songs compliment the big sounds and heavy guitar punch. The lyrics are weird, the humor is goofy, but the music is so fun.
the ONLY reason this gets a 3 instead of a 2 is because of Its the End of the World. Otherwise, i didnt really enjoy the album a whole lot
Je pense qu'il est bon de rappeler de temps à autre à quel point le système de notation sur 5 est pitoyable, Robert.
yea, i mean it's REM, it's good, and I appreciate it more at this age, but it's still REM
quite jangly and 80s ofc, not sure the few songs I heard did much for me as I wandered around - giving Noah's dad the benefit of the doubt and will say it's a decent band / record
c'est tres sympa, 3/5
I don't know, I wanted to like it, but I just didn't.
false
Listened to these guys before, and never loved or hated them. I quite enjoyed revisiting this. I like the slightly odd songwriting, which is tamed into a conventional song structure. The music is fine, but can go quickly from feeling energetic and elastic to feeling quite dreary. I'm not a massive fan of the singer's voice. Final track, "Oddfellows Local 151" is possibly the best track, unexpectedly. Never really noticed that song before. They probably belong on the list as a seminal alt-rock band, but it's a 3 from me.
I love some R.E.M songs but I perhaps don't rate them as high as others. I haven't worked out why yet. This album is the same with some absolute classics amongst more mundane numbers.
high hopes for this one. eh disappointing. 3 barely, basically a 2.
Loud, ok
dad rok
Perusvahvaa suorittamista. Joskus aikoinaan taisi olla R.E.M.:n kokoelmalevy mp3:ina ja tuli kulutettua nuo hitit aika puhki. Ihan ok kamaa tuo muukin tuotanto kuulosti olevan, ei tällä ihan kuuhun mennä, mutta kolmosta tarjotaan.
Esperaba que me gustase más siendo REM
Good cruising music with a couple of hits. Nothing spectacular.
I can't get into REM, as much as I've tried. However I enjoyed bits of this. The guitar sounds are good. The Wire cover does not work
"It's the end of the world as we know it" & "The one I live" is on this album. 7/10.
Schon gut
A couple classics, but would probably require additional listens to grow on me
Kind of background music for me, nothing that sticks in my mind or raises emotions, but not bad either
Nice
Not my sex.
Was never a huge fan of R.E.M or bands from their era. I always thought their sound was just really boring, especially the lead singer's voice. I just can't enjoy them the way I do other bands. I can't call them bad, but I certainly don't like them either.
Great album, marking a big step forward for REM. Contains the landmark song End of the World which helped to combine rap and pop music.
This album is better than the last REM album I got
Lekker albumpje van REM, goede rock
Quite average rock
A few classics
Turhahko levy turhahkolta bändiltä. Remillä on joitain ihan ok biisejä mutta harva niistä on osunut tälle levylle. Kakkosen ja kolmosen välimaastossa keikutaan, mutta menköön kolmosena tällä kertaa.
I really love REM, however I did not love this album, felt like it was a delivery system for the two main singles on the album
"the end of the world as we know it" album Solid flow, solid singles, decent album (not an amazing album either though) 3/5 leaning towards 3.5
2 gode hits, alt i alt lettere tungt album.
A few goods, but nothing mind-blowing.
Fine, run of the mill R.E.M. It’s kinda crazy how mid or non important they feel as a whole while still having multiple generational hits that everyone knows
Album slaps
6.5-7/10
Decent album, unfortunately my two fav tracks remained two I already knew: end of the world as we know it & the one i love, these three stars are basically from those two tracks alone
Just another subpar alt-rock album. Not something I would choose to listen to. To me, it is average. Nothing stood out to me.
Dont love it, but pretty good. Welcome to the Occupation is fantastic. Closer to a 3.5
It was ok.... just standard REM!
favs: strange the one i love king of birds oddfellows local 151 rating 1.8/5
That’s not the first thing that springs to mind when I think of music from the 1980s, but of course it is :-) Two stars...
Singing very annoying
698/1001 2026.09.09 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
No me gustó casi pero no quiere decir que sea malo
Kinda ass ngl but it did have the end of the world as we know it
Meh
Fine college rock? I can't help but think that most REM songs sound the same.
I mean there's some descent songs, highly influential album prob, yadda yadda but it feels very poppy and forgettable aside for the lead single and an occasional moment, everything blends together too much and it feels like it's designed for casual listening in a cheap way, better then U2 ig
Alternative rock and jangle pop built from chiming guitars, driving drums, melodic bass, and Michael Stipe's distinctive vocals feels like being pulled into a fast-moving conversation where everyone is speaking in clever fragments and I am constantly trying to catch the thread. There is energy and character in the music, but the cryptic lyrics and tightly wound arrangements leave me more like an observer than a participant Most of the time. The album has plenty of momentum and memorable ideas, yet its restless, slightly opaque character creates a certain distance for me.Best and Most Well known Song for me is "The one I Love".
Some redeeming qualities to this album: the guitar tones are crisp, and there an occasional sax riff. Other than then that I can’t stand his voice
I can’t stand his voice
only its the end at the world as we know it, andthe one i love; the rest is garbage
Finished the album… R.E.M. suffers Nickelback syndrome for me… nasally singer, repetitive melody, great sound production but not songs that move me in any way.
Not my cup of tea. Liked the first song “ finest worksong” a little bit though
It has two good songs I guess (you can probably guess which ones). Unremarkable otherwise.
no me gustp
eh, i guess? not too good, to be honest. sounds like something i'd listen on the radio when i'm driving down a lonely road.
Too american
1.5 rlly
Divorced dad rock 2: Electric boogaloo If this played right after the Soundgarden album, I probably would have noticed only halfway through. There’s a song in the middle thats kinda nice, the other ones arent my jam though.
This album, to me, is truly nothing special. Perhaps it's because i've heard many R.E.M songs before as they are quite the popular band. Yet for me I think it's a more simple reasons. This album does not emotional stimulate me in any way and neither does it interest or intrigue me with good vocals, production, instrumentals, being experimental, etc. This album is quite simply boring to me.
Sobrevalorado, además de los sencillos los discos de REM siempre suenan planos.
ok
Its not for me
I dont like his voice
Fine? I guess. Kinda boring, but some songs were alright.
The talent and quality of composition are evident, it just doesn't register with me at all. Maybe I need more of REM of both kinds
where are the hoooooooks update track 7/11: i used to rinse the one i love on guitar hero, +1 star
#mid
Found it to be boring for the most point. Some interesting tracks
sounds they might be giants-y. Korie sondgeroth told me I would like this album. the rest blends together kinda
Wat een ongelooflijk zeikalbum. Degelijke politiek maar op de meest oninteresant prekerige manier gebracht.
It’s alright but nothing special, found it a bit boring
5/10 Dont have much to say Just wasnt very good
Not as bad as I thought it was gonna be, and I actually knew more songs than I expected to. Still not an REM fan.
all the songs sound the same and theyre all boring
Less familiar with this than later stuff. A bit muted for me
Two ok songs.
ainda aprendendo a gostar de rock ou seja la qual seja o gênero desse album, mas achei a vibe legalzinha e tem letras interessantes.
Not feeling this. Sounds to me like generic indie and I don't why it's here. These are all starting to sound a bit samey now. Hope we get something that isn't rock soon. Dropping 1.5 song of the way in
idk there's a couple good bits but it mostly feels like background music for a teen drama or something
It's R.E.M. ... it all blends together at some point. 2.75 rounded down to 2.
Remmiähän se remmi taas oli. Mutta muuta en kuuntelusta muista, eli aikalailla taustamusamaista.
not my style unfrtunately
Fairly meh album except for the odd hits that don't very much feel like the rest of the album
Forgettable
langweilig
i feel very divided by this album. partially i appreciate how political it is and straight-forward, but on the other hand, i didn’t really enjoy these tracks. i don’t know if i’m not mistaken but the music sometimes resembled something on the edge of rock and country (or folk i don’t know). i found these influences interesting but they really didn’t feel like they fit here. however, i was wondering whether that was genuinely intentional to strengthen the critique of the stereotypical view of america
There are two just-about 'tuneful songs here (End if the world, Welcome the the Occupation). Stipe's nasal whine becomes tiresome after a few tracks. Heavy-going. Earnest.
R.E.M has always been mid imo, and this album confirms it. Dimery, is this the best you could do?
Alright if you like REM. The one I love being the most known track. All the same style and content really.
Was it the worst album, no. Was the best album, no. Would I actively put it on again no. But I wouldn't ask someone to turn it off if they out it on. The whole album was just one sound. Except It's the end of the world as we know it. I also think that is why it is the most played song of the album because it sounds a bit different from the rest.
Bang average
Not my favourite REM album, couple of decent tunes
I didn’t like this, I thought the singing was whiney and too similar throughout the album there wasn’t much variation. However I do appreciate the lyricism (in places) and instrumentals. It’s the end of the world as we know it
Bearable. 90s grunge dad music is not my sound me thinks
If this was an English paper and its first few songs were its "Thesis Statement" this album would have failed remarkably. There is nothing about the first 5 songs of this album that get me to care about the rest of it. I will give this album the benefit of the doubt with 2 stars because I didn't even try with the second half; but "The End of the World as we Know it" is the only redeemable song here. Like I said 2 stars because it wasn't outright insulting on the ears but there is just no reason for me to care at all about this album