Reviews (page 12 of 15)
3.5
ok
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.
ya know just wasnt for me
Ми, не
Generally an overrated band
R.E.M. is a little too Gen X for my tastes but they're pretty fun.
I’ve never really delved into REM’s archives, but maybe I should have. They were a definite influence on my favourite band, The Tragically Hip. The sound of a “pop grunge” with a matching voice and excellent guitar work. A few stories thrown into the lyrics for good measure. A very solid 4+.
Some good upbeat rock and roll. "It's The End Of The World" and "The One I Love" are obviously amazing, but I really like "King of Birds" and "Oddfellows Local 151" as well.
The opening bars could be mistaken for Pearl Jam. REM are just coming to their peak by this album. Several standout tracks as well as the singles - I like it.
This album comes just before I really became an R.E.M. fan with their next two albums. "The One I Love" is certainly one of my top songs by them. I had never listened to this whole album before like the next two. So why didn't I like this more? It may be because I am feverish today, but I couldn't get into most of it, and I also really wasn't having that saxophone. And I may have transposed "Leonard Bernstein" and "Leonid Brezhnev" when trying to sing along to "End of the World." Both were mentioned, so I didn't feel too bad.
This is what I expected from an R.E.M. album. It was good, but not something that I really dug.
This is a very fine album indeed. Pretty melodies and Stipe's gorgeous voice make me weak in the knees a bit. Plus End of the World is my favorite way to end a karaoke party. Love it very much.
R.E.M. defined college radio when I was in college, and I was onboard! This was my first R.E.M. album and it has still got it! A terrific that brings terrific memories that still sounds terrific today!
it's got end of the world. it's rem. 4 stars
Rem - geht so, trotzdem interessant
Good, good rock, some songs were pretty forgettable tho.
I’ve always found it strange that REM achieved the massive success they did given their sound and the era they got big during—I’m not complaining! I love REM. But there is something to their sound that sounds so particular and niche for them to have become one of the biggest bands of the 80s/90s. I’m more familiar with their next three albums, (“Green,” “Out of Time,” and “Automatic for the People”), so this one feels more novel to me. Of course, the big hits (“…End of the World” and “The One I Love”) are genuine classics. I enjoyed most of the other songs too (although tracks 5 & 9 got slightly irritating) and I appreciate this earlier sound for the band. Side note- amazing that their fifth album is still an “early” album for them.
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.
One of my fav rem albums can hear them getting their sound ready for automatic.
This is good, though its a sound that is pretty played out to my ears.
Still not a fan of REM.
Strong album. I didn't like them when I was in high school. As my musical tastes have expanded I've grown to appreciate their music. This album reminds me of different times. Well worth a listen.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Oddfellows Local 151 & The One I Love bang. Can see this growing on me in the future.
Fantastic album.
This is the first time I’ve actually listened to a REM top to bottom. If I’m being honest I was always turned off by their terrible album covers (maybe a bold statement, but I stand by it). I gotta say, I immediately heard “the influence” so many people claim they have. Wild to think music like this was being made while Def Leppard was still out there making sure hair metal stayed somewhat relevant. I also love that REM is a Georgia band, within those jangly Electric guitars you can hear the influence of the weird south. There’s even a dulcimer and reference to lightning hopkins! Two of these tracks are radio classics, but the album works as a whole. I especially loved disturbance at the heron house and exhuming McCarthy. As well the cool jazz break in fireplace was really cool. This is definitely an album I’ll return to, and maybe It will teach me to not judge an album by its Cover.
The year is 1987, Iran-Contra affair, the Unabomber is at large, the first Starbucks outside of the US opens, Platoon wins Best Picture, and the Simpsons first appears on TV as a series of shorts. The world is still disillusioned by the Cold War and seems like a crazy, crazy time. Context is so important to enjoy this album because it really is a product of its time. Since it's release, the singles have dominated the airwaves to the point where the phrase "It's the End of the World as We Know It" is essentially synonymous with the band R.E.M. However, outside of "It's the End..." and "The One I Love," there is a different sound present. "Fireplace" loses a bit of the garage rock vibe and adopts a more jazz attitude as it calls for use to "throw the walls into the fireplace" to dance. The first half of the album presents a dark vision of the future, while the latter half is more hopeful. It's almost a shame that the two hits have performed so well because it's to the detriment of the rest of the songs included.
Not a huge fan of the lead singer. His voice is kind of abrasive.
Great album, never listed to REM outside of the radio hits but I love their sound and cannot believe they were mainly an 80s band. I think my favorite songs that were new to me were Fireplace and King of Birds.
Have never been a fan of REMs sound, have tried several times with murmur and automatic and sadly document was the same. Just don’t respond well to their jangle pop and cadence choices. Also I find Michael stipes voice annoying. The hits of this one are stand outs, everything else blended together. Just not for me.
I don't know, kinda boring
Not my go-to for REM, but good record overall.
Almost 4
Another banger from R.E.M
Poucas músicas legais
No había escuchado mucho más que Loosing my religion, el ressto suena parecido y no me gusta, no me cierra la nasalidad del cantante.
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
2/5 I don't think this really added anything to my life tbh. Chicken little song (End of the world) isn't as good as 8-year-old me remembers. It wasn't terrible per se. And i added two songs to the playlist, i reckon they will get skipped semi frequently.
Веома добар, допада ми се њихов стил иако нема неке дистинктивно генијалне песме на албуму. Концепцијски је веома пријатан за слушање. 9/10
Always forget I really like R.E.M.
Some of the earlier albums (Murmur, Reckoning and Life's Rich Pageant) I would rank higher than Document, but it's an important record for the band as it helped break the band more into the mainstream, for better or for worse. Hits such as, The One I Love and It's the End of the World...attracted attention on MTV and the band moved further away from their "indie-cred". This was the last album I deliberately bought, it's good, but there is more filler than their previous records and their music begins to lose their charm and uniqueness (the reason I started listening in the first place) after this album.
Great record and some serious hit singles. Really appreciated this listen.
Great album. Heard everywhere when I started college. Sometimes hard to determine if it's a good song or good memory
Highlights: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), Exhuming McCarthy. I only know of R.E.M.'s hits, so it was a fresh listen for me. It wasn't a boring listening experience, but it wasn't pleasant one either. The sax solo was an odd choice in Fireplace. Michael's voice was screeching while holding some notes (eg in Strange "riiieeeeeeghht"). Many of the songs sound similar to me. I might change my mind when I listen to Automatic For The People or Murmur. At least one R.E.M needs to be on this list. Document isn't it IMHO. Overall: 4/10
Every song sounded the same, and the sound isn’t particularly good. I recognized the 2 big hits on there. Nothing bad but definitely not a band I’d delve into their discography for.
Brilliant, one my favourite bands at the the top of their game. The guitar work is classic REM and one of the most unique sounds there is. The lyrics are enigmatic and intriguing, and the vocals are fun to belt out along with Michael. Released 36 years ago and still sounds fresher and more interesting than most of the rock music that's came since. FFIIIIIRRREEEEEEEEEEE!
This album has a consistent Americana indie jangle going on (kind of like Tom Petty twang meets the Smiths chime with some U2 bombast). The two huge (The One I Love & End of the World) hits are memorable anthems I'm still happy to hear after thousands of listens and the album tracks are all solid to great. Peter Buck has fantastic guitar sounds, inventive parts, and great hook. The rhythm section is tight and expressive. Michael Stipe's vocals are charismatic, earnestly open and his melodies catchy and engagingly overwrought. The songs are concise pop gems with a just right blend of power-pop bright energy and post-punk snarl. The production is flawless and it all sounds crisp, clear, and perfectly balanced. But for some reason despite liking every component of REM individually their albums have never really clicked with me. I put them on, sing along to the hits, and enjoy the rest in a kind of zoned out way. Favorites: Oddfellows, The One I Love, Occupation, Disturbance
Ebbs and flows from pop to heavy good balance quality tracks. 7/10
Love these guys
I know I enjoyed it, I remember listening, but I dont remember engaging. Its interesting but uncompelling background noise. Disappointed in my reaction to a group so many others like. I Guess they are not really for me. 2 stars.
I love this album.
I don’t often think about the craft of rock but I think about it when listening to R.E.M. sometimes. They released a lot of excellent music and even if I don’t love it the way I love my favorite bands, I’m always impressed. They knew their craft and they always had a lot of ideas. Most of this album is strong from a melody perspective and the band fleshes out each song with great playing and interesting details. And the lyrics are smart. A lot of lyrics seem to be focused on criticizing politics. “It’s the End of the World…” and “The One I Love” are great songs and two of R.E.M.‘s best. They show off the band’s range too. They could be playful and fun, or dramatic and melancholy. I was impressed by the range of this album in general.
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.
Arguably the best record in an incredible career. The hits are on here, but "Exhuming McCarthy" is one of the best political songs they ever wrote, "King of Birds" one of the most beautiful, and the Wire cover "Strange" was about as hard as they ever rocked.
Well. I guess R.E.M. wasn't overhyped. The two singles are still the ones that do it most for me, but I also really enjoyed the vibes of "King of Birds" and "Strange." The album is somewhat homogenous to me but that might be because I don't listen to much of the genre. Solid listen!
Mostly not into it
1 good song
A classic indie/alternative album, but not exactly my cup of tea. I love a few R.E.M. songs, and a couple are on this album, but the rest are just pretty good to okay.
Konečne niečo počúvateľné. Nice
drønkedelig og alle sangene lød ens :/ hader michael stipes stemme
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.
”Rem is great” -Bingus Gaming 11/8/2023, good album!
Gemiddeld plaatje Its the end of the world as we know it is wel echt lekker
Zanger heeft een mooie stem, voelde af en toe buiten tempo.
erg lekker weg te luisteren. weer een andere vorm van rock ontdekt
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 feel like R.E.M. is one of the most known bands that no one ever listens to. Like no one ever says REM is their favorite band and other than a small handful of their popular songs they are never mentioned. So far the album is very basic rock with predictable chord progression and leading. The singer has a very distinct voice and the band has a distinct sound as well; the moment one of their songs comes on, you instantly know it's REM, which is kinda rare to have that kind of consistency, but that can also be a bad thing. Giving the score I pretty much expected to give before even pressing play.
Classic REM, good stuff.
I feel like this was very progressive at the time, but it’s hard for me not to hear the singles in each song.
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
Boy does this sound good to me. This album sounds like the perfect bridge from U2’s earnest social consciousness of the 80s to the disillusionment of 90s grunge. The depth of REM felt like it finally put the nail in the coffin of self-indulgent 80s arena rock. Love the background vocals from the B-52s lead singer Kate Pierson (better known for her accompaniment on Shiny Happy People). Most songs were hits. Glad to discover King of Birds through this review. It’s the End of the World As We Know It is timeless. We all knew all the words at the time (or at least we thought we did). Feeling…Pretty… PSYCHED.
This album was so boring! I was bored from minute 1, I was briefly lulled from sleep for "It's The End of The World As We Know It," and I soon drifted back to sleep. I listened two full times and barely noticed a thing! The offensively vague, against-the-system lyrics insult your intelligence after more than a few seconds of critical listening. The entire sound is super flat and boring. I really don't like the vocalist's delivery. Listening all the way through an R.E.M. album is exactly the kind of thing I knew I would be signing up for by doing the 1001 Albums Generator. So it has come and gone. There's always tomorrow. 2/5
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.
It would be fun to track the evolution of Michael Stipe's vocals ... from the early albums, through Document and Green in the middle, to R.E.M.'s albums from the 90s. Maybe 1001 will give me that opportunity.
You don't have to go far through my previous reviews to see I am a big R.E.M. fan. I consider this album to be one of my favorites by them, definitely more so than Green. This is one of the first albums where the actual political lyrics of R.E.M. can be understood and are less veiled. This album is a reaction to Reagan-ism in the 80's, but like most of their political music, it's more referenced rather than have the listener beaten over the head with it. Fantastic album that incorporates horns into the R.E.M. sound and "King of Birds" is one of my favorite underrated songs. This album has two hits on it, both of which have been played incessantly, but those are far from the best songs on "Document."
some great songs in here, whole band sounds good throughout. slightly faltered at the end but It's The End Of The World and The One I Love are both exceptional
Pretty good. A few duds. It's so hard to say when REM were at their best, this is close.
Ripper of an album
Know R.E.M. is popular but I'm not actually sure how familiar I am with their music. Standard rock sound. Strongly dislike the "harmonization" or whatever you'd call it at the beginning of Welcome to the Occupation. It's the End...is a great song and a classic for a reason. Same with The One I Love. Also don't care for Oddfellows Local 151. I enjoyed King of Birds. Overall a really mixed experience for me. Some songs I liked, some fine, some I really didn't like.
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.
R.E.M. is fun and this album is fun. It's older than I realized. Of course End of the World and The One I Love are great. I don't get many of the pop culture or political references but it seems like it's the end of the world as we know it every year so still relevant.
weak
its the end of the world was great otherwise just good.
Solid early R.E.M. - would say there’s some skippable tracks, hence the 4 stars. But enjoyable and would listen straight through again.
Good
Da ga meg lite
Great album. Lots of good tunes.
A classic rem album, still great for an easy weekend
It's like easy listening alternative rock It also feels like the malcolm in the middle soundtrack
Meh 2.5
Couple of good songs
if only I had a ping of beer whilst listing to this, fuvking classic pub music
Strangely it gave me big Decemberists vibes
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.
Feel guilty having given prince a 5 star for an album with 4 hits but a few fillers. Admittedly open and closing track on purple rain are stonking. However with Document we have a gold standard 5 star classic. Start to finish every track matters on this album. This is the kind of classic that you can hold any other against.
Not sure why this is a must listen but it’s got a few good tracks
i love rem and don't care who knows it. this album might be their best work of the 80s (though i've listened to green more) and it's just fun and well-done all the way through. finest worksong is a great opener and it just stays high from there. i know probably 95% of the words to it's the end of the world as we know it (and i feel fine) so i may not be an unbiased judge of character here. anyway this album is great, five stars. favorites: all of it but if i have to pick a few, finest worksong, welcome to the occupation, exhuming mccarthy, ...end of the world..., the one i love
Songs Known - It's the end of the world as we know it, the one I love I didn't think highly of this album. Seems like standard 90's rock music considering it was in the 80's(87) maybe it pioneered the genre but noting apart from the known songs really grabbed my attention. 1.5
First REM album and first LP I bought classic. Michael Stipe has such a beautiful voice, that to me is the main draw of this band. But they also have a discreet inventive streak that only sounds old hat because they literally influenced everything I heard since. Should ask the boys about them.
Hey, that's pretty good
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.
You're sharpening stones walking on coals To improve your business acumen Sharpening stones walking on coals To improve your business acumen. Something about the R.E.M sound can be repetitive, but they have made many stand out singles over the years and "It's the End of the World as We Know It" and "The One I Love" are right up there. I feel like I should be keeping a saxophone count across the 1001 albums.
It all blends together minus the title tracks. Good, not great.
I like it
Very solid album, got a couple big hits of course. Appreciated a couple of the lesser played ones like “Exhuming McCarthy” and “King of Birds,” but you can’t beat the classics. Favorite song: The One I Love. 7/10
An okay alternative rock album
Been loving this since 1987
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
Good songs: Welcome to occupation, it's The end of the world, The One I love
Really solid, upbeat album. Relatively unremarkable but very typical of what I would expect as a layman REM fan. Good to work to.
an album that incapsulates a time period. Musically it is top notch too.
Pretty excellent. A nice bridge between the early college rock and the subsequent proto alternative rock of Automatic or Monster.
OK. A couple of well-worn classics. Not sure that I'd put this album on repeat.
Don’t listen to REM much anymore but am always overjoyed when I do. Remember listening to this on my sisters bedroom in the late 80s. A Truly subversive rollicking rock band
P boring
More rock-y then their hits. Reminded me of pearl jam and I like pearl jam a lot
Great instrumentals, but the singer's voice has always sounded grating to me.
REM gaining full momentum
Good, not my kinda music
Only getting a 3 due to the bangers.
That's just a great album. No wonder this put them on the map. You can hear the shades of what would become "Automatic For The People" in the corners of "Document" and I'm here for it. Is it their best work? No. But it's hella good anyway. It seems somewhat unfair to judge an album by that band's later works but I'm going to. This is great, but "Automatic" exists. And so "Document" gets 4 stars.
I place R.E.M. with college music, presenting new ideas that are often old ideas, or ideas that need further threshing out, offered to intelligent young people as new thinking, often implying the foolishness of old thinking, with an underlying air of superior intellect. This album's lyrics may be real poetry---like poetry night at the coffee house poetry---the kind that seems to me pretentious, non-congruent thought, presented in the most ostentatious sequence and cadence possible. That said, it's possible that my opinion lacks depth, and my distaste is really an undeveloped palate. The music seems average and fully carried by Stipe's vocals.
Great very 90s and some classics on there.
Really digging this. I'm only halfway through and it feels like 4 stars. In this case, all the songs are good, I'm not just pulling up my overall rating based on the big hit(s).
This album perfectly captures living under Bush era politics and the beginnings of alt-rock. Peter Buck has such a unique sound that guitarists are still trying to replicate. I never noticed the punk and proto-punk influences before on the band's sound, but I should have. A solid album from start to finish.
Primo college rock, slow start into a strong middle and end, It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) continues to be a truly great song
No idea what happened with the first song on this album, that shit was so mid. The rest of this album is fantastic, it reminds me a lot of the stuff my dad would listen to when I was a kid. By this time this is for sure rock/alt rock, but this album still feels very country to me in some way at least at the start. Sounds great, halfway though and I’m not getting tired of it yet Previously I haven’t been in love with the singers voice whenever I heard R.E.M in passing but I’m actually enjoying it quite a bit, especially in the context of the album. I’m not in love with fireplace, but the brass solos and instrumental breaks are fantastic A little lull towards the end but the last few songs picked up for sure. King of Birds and Oddfellows have been really engaging Great album easy 8/10 with those last few songs, not always quite my thing but very solid
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
End of the World, Finest Worksong, One I Love
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
4+
Fun
I affirmatively dislike REM as a general principle, and Stipe's voice specifically. And yet it is clearly part of my subconscious because I am surprised that an album I could not name is part of my musical background. More moving/relevant/resonant than I would have otherwise expected.
If somebody took the band members of Pearl Jam and neutered them this is what I'd imagine their album to be. 2.5
Not sure why this REM album is on the list. Although it is a good album, I can name 5 REM album better than Document.
It was, in fact, him in the corner
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
2 stars cause end of the world as we know it is a great song. Couldn’t finish the rest of this album
Really enjoyed this one. Great production, songwriting, and music.
blah
Not my cup of tea. Good length.
Two decent songs. Nothing more. Nasally.
Didn’t make it through it, but what I listened to was decent.
It was there
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.
41/100
Nostalgic, classic
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.
A classic. So much good songs here.
Who listens to creed anymore
Still early days and only listened one time through. Found it a bit whiney
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.
R.E.M. No. 5. Document is a snapshot of a band transitioning from indie rock darlings to unlikely global hit makers. Although they seem to have approached the brink with their increasingly accessible musicality, they ultimately did not sacrifice their morals and overall being. They may go on to make zeitgeist defining and, to most fans, better records in the future but if you want to catch a glimpse of how R.E.M. became the band casual fans know them as, start here.
Good rock album
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.
Great album amazing songs
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
A milestone album for a major band of the 80s and 90s. "Document" is the album when R.E.M. fully hit their stride. It shows a maturity in sound and approach. This is the band's breakthrough album. It transformed them from university alternative rock outfit to mainstream hitmakers that would be in the ascendency for a decade. It is also one of the most complete LPs in the R.E.M. catalogue, including a handful of tracks that would become signature singles rounded out with solid songs.
Det beste med det er at det ligner på pearl jam
Takes me back.
in general, i don't care much for r.e.m.! i think they're overplayed on the radio (which they don't dictate), but more than that, the lead singer's voice is drone-y and uninteresting (i don't know why he held the note at the end of "king of birds"; alas, one of life's great mysteries). despite this, listening to r.e.m.'s document taught me more of their alternative rock presence. their two big hits off this album are more rock than alternative to my ears, but the rest of the album has that alternative feel. this album is definitely something for emo teenagers--i mean, one of their biggest hits from this album is "it's the end of the world as we know it," and nothing screams more emo teenagers than that. for what it's worth, the instrumentation was very solid and allowed the album to be cohesive.
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.
Loved this album since it first came out
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.
i thought the album only had one bop, but i was proved wrong
Good album, showed me more R.E.M songs than I've heard before. Though I did recognise and still love It's The End of The World as We Know It.
Some good songs I know in this one like 'It's the End of the World as We Know it(And I feel fine)'
Sign of things to come
Possibly peak R.E.M., although it’s a broad, flat peak. Definitely one of my favorites.
It's the End of the World As We Know It is the only song I knew/recognized. Sounds out of place...maybe because I know it and don't know any other song. Overall the rest of the album isn't really my taste but I like It's the End...
Favourite tracks: finest work song; it's the end of the world as we know it; strange; the one I love; fireplace
lovit!
Great album
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.
Lightnin' Hopkins alone sells the album.
'Finest Worksong', 'Welcome To The Occupation', 'Disturbance At The Heron House', 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It', 'The One I Love', and 'Oddfellows Local 151'. Stipe at his most political and a well-deserved international breakthrough.
Document is there to prove that R.E.M. is not all inaudible, absurd lyrics and jangly guitars. Okay, the guitar is still pretty jangly, but the lyrics are political and clear as day!
REM is always quality listening
Album #: 258 first impressions: another REM? This one might be less inscrutible since it has eome of the songs of theirs I know. after listening through: ok i get the appeal of this band to those of a certain age (Gen X, I guess?) post-reading reviews/wiki: i guess people really like this one, huh? recommended for: fans of jangly guitars and angsty but not *too* angsty vocals and lyrics
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.
Definitive late 80s indie pop. Best in class for this kind of thing. Soul and dance beats, funky bass lines, jangly guitar, interlacing melodies, bookish lyrics. A lot of indie disco floor fillers here.
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.
Great album. Starts a little slowly but really picks up speed toward the middle. Very much an early grunge album before ‘grunge’ was used to describe music. 9/10
I appreciate the work here. Two of the biggest nineties songs are on here. But it’s not for me.
I didn’t like it, I’m usually into the genre but this album just didn’t wow me. I don’t even remember anything while listening to it.
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?
Excellent old favorite.
Not for me. Noisy and aimless without doing anything valuable. Whenever it comes together to do something interesting it says "fuck that" and goes off on something else.
Excellent REM album
I liked this
It was okay, doubt I’ll listen to it again though.
Consistent good.
Now this is more like it.
Rem
I like REM a lot and the albums two hits are great. Most of the rest didn't do it for me though. The first track was great!
surprised at how much i enjoyed this— at least a dozen bands come to mind that borrowed from this one specifically too.
Groovier than I expected. Definitely has air band potential.
Not sure if I'd listened to this entire album before. It was a good one.
Great album
Thank god it’s about time I got some REM on this list and it’s my favourite album of theirs!!! It’s the End of the World As We Know It always makes me jump around like I’ve got a live weasel in my pants. I also try to sing along and only succeed at shouting “Leonard Bernstein” at the appropriate moment. That’s joy, kids. This album sparks joy.
Just ok.
Album was okay, two good songs rest isn't my vibe
Uno de los mejores álbumes de los próceres del “rock alternativo”. Con un sonido pulido que toma estéticas del Jangle Pop y el Punk, la banda demuestra por qué se estableció como uno de los actos más importantes del indie, y una de las leyendas más grandes de la música contemporánea hasta la fecha.
First five songs were just average, then we get the two hits (End of the World and The One I Love), which are great. Then the rest was pretty good with the exception of the last song, which was kind of a dud. A low 4/5.
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.
Went into it expecting a solid 4, got won over even more by the lyricism and extra guitar work the whole way through. Is it possible REM has multiple 5-star albums?! I think this is one for sure and I know for a fact this isn’t my favorite record of theirs!
HL: “End of the World”, “The One I Love”, “Finest Worksong”, “Strange”, “King of Birds” July 22, 2023 REM #3 Was thinking that, if I didn’t vibe to this album at least I’d have “The One I Love”. Well then again, REM haven’t yet steered me wrong
I dont like rem
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.
Dullsville. Seriously boring and uninspired.
I don't quite like this as much as I remember liking it; it's actually kind of boring. End of the World is overplayed. The sax in it Fireplace is a decent change of pace. Lightnin' Hopkins is pretty bad, especially Stipes' vocals.
people don't talk about r.e.m. too much nowadays, even though they were "really big." i posit that this is because they are a deeply mediocre band and their music was never that good in the first place. two.
Not bad.
I’ve started this 3 times. It’s fine and I’m whelmed
This album is pure dad rock to me, I think something about the vocals just puts it over the top. An appropriate amount of jammy parts and some big hits spread through
The hits are great, everything else is good. Might need to dive into this band
This album is terrific. Loved the opening track.
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
Had a few classic songs I knew and enjoy. I like their sound and vibes a lot.
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.
Great album i digg it
"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.
There are some good songs and a couple of songs that were just alright. 3.5 stars
Not my favourite R.E.M. album, but it's definitely got a few of my favourite R.E.M. songs on it.
From the opening strains of the guitar, you know you're in for some solid rock genius. Definitely a top-25 rock album of all time. Every tune is good, the lyrics are great, and Mike Mills' backup vocals and harmonies are highly underrated as perfecting the overall sound of the band. Too many great songs to mention, but I'll just add that "The One I Love" is *not* the love song many of us thought it was. Oh, and I believe it was around this time that Rolling Stone proclaimed the band as "America's Best Rock and Roll Band."
A good album with a few noteworthy songs that I'll listen to again, as an album it was fun but I won't be back.
This album ruled. Really fun to listen, really interesting instrumentals, and the perfect voice to go with the subject matter and style. It is really funny to listen to "It's the End of the World as We Know It" from 1987 and compare it to today, when the world is considerably more warped then anybody could have imagined back then. Favorite track: The One I Love
Nice and rock, with hit smash 'It's The End Of The World', very apt for this day and age.
Þessi er alveg 50/50 í mínum huga. Frábær og óáhugaverð.
Great. First record I got for this challenge was Automatic for the People. That's boring. This is a lot better. A lot. Favorite song: The One I Love
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!
Solid band. Enjoyed so much of it.
Its good and has some classics hits but I wasn't in a rush to listen again.
Muito bom
guess i'm an REM fan now
Brilliant, groundbreaking stuff
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
Solid album.
Not bad at all
This is an album of REM before they sold themselves out to pure commercialism and totally annoying songs like Shiny Happy People. The opening track, Finest Worksong, is by far the lead track of the album, with a couple of overplayed but decent tracks End of the World and The One I love. REM have always seemed to be marmite group, you either love them or hate them, not much in between, although personally I like a lot if thei early stuff like this album from the late 80s, before it all got away from th in the 90s.
Definitely better than the other REM album I listened to. Solid rock album.
Surprised I didn't enjoy this. It seems like it's trying too hard to be interesting/funky, and none of the tracks (outside the hit single) really spoke to me.
Easy to listen to. Great vocals and calming rhythm to the music. Good background music
A strong album by R.E.M let down by it's second half. Standouts lie in Finest Worksong, Welcome To The Occupation, Exhuming McCarthy, and Disturbance At The Heron House.
My first introduction to R.E.M. was the album after this one: Green. But over time I've gotten to know most of their catalogue. Document is one of their records I've now spent a substantial amount of my R.E.M. time with. It's not my favorite or their best, but it's very good. It's just deep enough, catchy enough, rocking enough, and something surprising enough to keep me coming back. It has a few too many tracks like Exhuming McCarthy and Lightning Hopkins that don't hold up quite as well as you'd want on the one hand, and yet it has all-time greats like It's the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine), The One I Love, and Finest Worksong on the other hand. Solid record from a band who had even better things in store for us. Four stars.
It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) is one of those songs where I think I dislike it more than I actually do. In fact, it is actually pretty good. Oh, and the rest of the album is great too.
Interesting album. I don't mind listening to REM and It's The End Of The World... and The One I Love are great tracks. I feel like I need to give the rest of the album a bit more time.
I've heard the big singles from this, of course, but don't believe I've listened to the album before. It sure does sound like a specific point in time - I guess due to a combination of R.E.M. dominating the airwaves for a while, and influencing a bunch of other people to sound like them? Fave track - "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is an absolute bop - if anything it's even better than I remember! Also enjoyed "Oddfellows Local 151"...
Early doors R.E.M. Brings back a lot of great memories of when I was first getting into them. Document is definitely one of the best from the “IRS Years” before they switched record companies over to Warner.
I’m familiar with their big hits so thought this would be a good listen and it was.
I enjoyed this! I am actually not that familiar with REM beyond some of the biggest hits, so glad to listen to this
Never listened to REM, but I liked this!
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.
Pretty good from REM
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.
Great album, includes two of my favourite R.E.M. tracks "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love".
Je suis une pute à riffs (intro). Si j'aime le riff d'intro, je suis un vendu à la toune. Très bon album, des bonnes chansons de radio que je connaissais, mais pas le titre et d'autres déjà entendues plus des beaux sons.
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
Really good album but not their pinnacle which came prior.
Listen To Me........ Love how prominent and well recorded the drums are on this. Not only a great album musically but also production wise. Document came out when I was in college and and when I had just broken up with my high school girlfriend. The One I Love hit just right at the time for sure, such a bitter song. 5/5
A very good album by a very good band.
Document No. 5! I love, love, love R.E.M. up to and including Monster, and then i just...... Don't. Luckily, this is one of their best albums and it is amazing 😁 5 / 5 stars.
3.9 Great!!!!! faves: oldfellows local 151, the one I love, the end of the world
A solid album! Not everything here was really that interesting to me, but there was some great rock here. Favourite: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
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
Just amazing to listen to. The non-singles are as good as the singles.
Fun
Rock alternativo. Un par de megahits. Un 4.
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)