Reviews (page 13 of 14)
Je ne comprend pas tant REM. Je comprend l'importance, mais je trouve ça... comment dire... plate.
Dull
4/10
😐
Didn’t click with me aside from ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’. I prefer other REM albums to this one but glad I listened through.
I have learned that R.E.M is more of a 'hits' band for me. I did not care much for this album. The album reminded me of They Might Be Giants, but without the enjoyment I get from listening to TMBG.
This may seem like a lie after being exposed as the resident REM hater, but I actually like this album more than other REM albums. The concept (I know Stipe hates that label) really impresses me every time I hear it. The lyrics are maybe the most impressive part. Okay, switching to hater mode. Michael Stipe’s vocals do absolutely nothing for me. Their singles are incredibly overplayed to the point where I can’t take a single second of “It’s the End…” anymore. “The One I Love” is a boring song with no redeeming qualities and I heard it once a day on FM radio growing up. I have listened to so many REM albums and all of my friends have told me they’ll fix me, but nothing works. If there were a band I wanted to love, it’s this one. Sadly they’re not a different band.
I don't attack this task on a daily basis. Sometimes a little list of a few days builds up and that has a massive sway on my desire to listen. There are certain bands that appear and my desire totally shrivels and goes into hibernation. It's taken me months to feel like tackling this album. They are very firmly in my Not For Me category. Having said that ... it's kind of fine. It would take some pretty hard nosed stubborness not to recognise the brilliance of "It's the End of the World ... " and "The One I Love". Still Not For Me ... but I recognise it.
Not their best by any means but a couple of good tracks
I heard Losing my religion by REM previously, and this song is super annoying for me. The guitar is very annoying, and the vocalist's timbre is also annoying to me. And this album has the same annoying guitar and main vocalist, so it's a pass from me. I'm giving it 2 stars because the album has energy, and I'm sure some people might find it good. Oh, and one more thought that I had in my head while listening to the album was: It feels like I'm at my classmate's house, and his dad forces us to listen to his band's music.
non è che sia chissà quanto male ma mi sono rotta di ascoltarlo
Meh, monotono
All the songs sound the same to me. I think the songwriting sucks too, they repeat themselves constantly. Don’t think the lead singer has a nice voice. Some of the instrumental parts are cool but doesn’t make up for the rest of it being pretty lacklustre. Wasn’t a very enjoyable experience overall
Oof
Generally good, just felt really generic
I've always loved the idea of REM. I keep expecting it to grab me by the balls but it never does. Apart from a few standout tracks this did nothing for me.
This felt pretty meh for me. I didn't hate it, but it was honestly pretty forgettable.
ujdzie, stare dziadki pierdza pod ta sama melodie, nuda
Wszystkie piosenki brzmią dla mnie tak samo. Gdyby ten album był jedzeniem, byłby rozgotowanym kurczakiem z przesolonym ryżem.
R.E.M. just doesn't do it for me.
2/3
Strange was a surprising favourite, a different side to the monotony of ‘that’ REM sound. They all sound the same. Still One I Love - you can’t deny that’s a classic My husband only just learnt that the Chelsi line is Fire not Paella haha
My second R.E.M. album in the space of a week. For me, this one is better than Murmur but not as good as Automatic For The People. None of them, however, are necessary to be heard before death.
Mais ou menos, gostei de algumas musicas mas em geral foi mais ou menos
Good
1. Finest Worksong - 6 It's not a bad song is but a bit repetitive, especially in the bridge. Instrumentally it's a solid track. Really enjoyable sound on it. 2. Welcome To The Occupation - 6 Standard R.E.M. sounding track. Vocals okay, instrumentally okay, lyrically okay, it's nothing phenomenal but nothing poor either. The melody and pace are the most enjoyable parts of the track. 3. Exhuming McCarthy - 5 It's okay. Starts instrumentally brilliantly but that quickly fades into a less enjoyable sound. Lyrics aren't anything inspiring. 4. Disturbance At The Heron House - 5 Exactly the same problems and critiques as the track before it. Guitar solo is very enjoyable on this track however. 5. Strange - 5 Vocally it sounds rather unpleasant but lyrically it's a lot of fun and instrumentally it's really enjoyable. It's just the grainy rather strained nature of the vocals that keeps this track from being a great one. Almost like a budget Oasis. 6. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - 10 The pace of the song and the quickness of the verses is what makes this track so fun. Absolutely legendary track. Lyrically brilliant. The best track on the album so far. 7. The One I Love - 3 Lyrically very boring, it's a completely forgettable track outside of the awesome guitar in the bridge. 8. Fireplace - 2 Even worse vocals and lyrics than The One I Love. Extremely repetitive and boring. The sax, while nice, feels immensely out of place on the track. 9. Lightnin' Hopkins - 2 Vocally very unenjoyable and lyrically not really anything great. Instrumentally the drums are brilliant but they're the only pleasant thing on the track. 10. King of Birds - 3 Lyrics are just rando and at times good, at times completely pointless. The drum is fantastic on this track but that's about it. Sounds like a Renaissance Faire track. 11. Oddfellows Local 151 - 5 Lyrically a lot better but vocally the sound is still unpleasant. Instrumentally a solid track and the guitars sound excellent. They really lead the track well. Average Rating: 4.73 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.36 Rounded Down: 2 Stars
#713. Do we really need four REM albums on this list? The answer is no. Unsurprisingly, I think this one sucks just as much as the other three. 2/5: shit.
60
Not exactly my first REM record, I think that was Fables, but the first one I actually heard. I have incredibly distinct sense memories of hearing The One I Love on the radio in 1987, but didn’t hear End of the World until sometime in the early 90s, maybe part of a video collection or MTV revue around the release of Out of Time; the ramshackle video made them seem all the more underground/poor/relatable. On balance, however, I’ve never enjoyed Document as much as I always thought I would, at least based on their earlier and later material. It very much sounds like their first big reach to the rafters, not dissimilar from their contemporaries The Smiths and U2 or even INXS and Depeche Mode doing roughly the same either that year or just a few prior. That’s not a criticism, it’s fun to hear big sounding records and songs, just, Finest Worksong is not as compelling as what they would arrive at only a year or so later on Green. My sense is they were still trying to bridge their quieter or subdued material (even the upbeat stuff) to arena rock and just hadn’t put it together yet. Moreover, it’s still a question to me if that was ever the right guise for their talents, given the superlative efforts on Out of Time and Automatic vs the good, but not great material produced for Monster and Hi-Fi (which I love).
middle of the road, probably wouldn't listen to again
I don’t get the fuss over REM
I was pleasantly surprised by the first REM album I got... which was their debut album. It was almost as if it was the lack of "REM-ness" that resulted in the positive reaction. So, in contrast, this one was very REM-y and therefore, not great, Bob.
possibly not bad but I don't like it
Not my jam for sure.
Demasiado convencional para mis oídos curiosos y mi hambre de escuchar algo con carácter que me llene.
Det är inte uselt, med det är trist. Här finns ingen låt som jag vill höra igen. Inga melodier som sticker ut. Väldigt grå produktion.
Not for me
Ah yes, recognised the Losing My Religion singer. It's interesting how I didn't recognise him when we had R.E.M. the last time It was fine, not that interesting but listenable
I was surprised to see this come up today - this is my third from REM and I don't feel like they need three albums on this list. Clearly this album is included because of End of the World and The One I Love. There would be no reason include this record if not for those two songs. I do really like End of the World, that's a fabulous song. But listening to these three albums has made me decide that I don't really like REM. I think a lot of it might be the way that Michael Stipe sings. They just aren't my thing and I hope this is the last one from them in my remaining 550 albums. 2/5
I hate REM
It's fine. REM not my favorite, but perfectly cromulent 90's radio fodder
Maybe I’d like this more if I were a dad.
2.1/not very engaging. best song is a meme for a reason
just another (tedious) REM album. Highlight is "Fireplace" with the addition of sax.
I recognize a few of these songs. I do find that a lot of the songs have a similar vibe to them and listening to them one after the other is a little boring. I do not hate this at all but it isn't something I would pick to listen to myself.
I'm not getting R.E.M.. This is the second album by them I've listened to and I think I get them less than before. The lyrics are somewhat engaging and there will be a stray melody here and there that connects with me, but I'm not finding much to latch on to.
Besides two bangers it’s very mediocre
Takie se. 2/5
I've never cared for REM. Michael Stipe's voice just does not appeal to me.
This album should be repurposed as a coaster.
I heard if you play each studio album by REM over the first season of Friends in order it lines up like Dark Side of the Moon played over Wizard of Oz.
https://i.ibb.co/Z4FkQLX/52dc430aac8b.jpg
Not my favourite REM album. A bit bland really.
Aside from one of their most iconic songs, this album was a bit of a snooze fest for me.
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It //
Meh
I have come to terms with my R.E.M. situation. I get it now. Well.. not it... i mean me. I get me now. I just hate the man's voice. It does matter if he's singing an indie rock classic or a politically charged deep cut, i don't care for the man's voice. I tried. I really did. I've been trying for 20 years. His voice just doesn't click for me. Its annoying. I don't want to listen to him spew out his own version of we didn't start the fire. It's just plain annoying. I'm done with this band.
not for me
Meh
It was decent
This is my third REM album and I always find a new way to hate them. At first I hated them because they were an inaudible mess and they gave me the sense that they thought they were better than me. Now, I hate them for the opposite reason. They sold out to make a generic rock album. At least before I hated them but they were principled assholes. Now they sold out who they were and it's just sad. It's not even that this was even really that bad of an album, but they came into this one with so much history and they just threw it all away to sell out. Maybe I can't be pleased. Maybe this band was never meant to be loved.
2/3- Still not a huge RE
Rock fm managed to play all their famous songs without actually teaching the audience that they are playing those songs
I don’t hate it, but really not my thing
I couldn't get into the vocals, and the production on the first few tracks felt lacklustre to me. I feel like the theme in this record was consistent throughout the tracks. I liked the latter half of the tracks more, but marginal at best. Favourite Track(s): It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love Least Favourite Track(s): Finest Worksong, Strange
i like the sax solo on fireplace other than that this did nothing for me
Supremely mid
Dont like rem
Two good songs w/mucho filler
OK but didn't grab me that I must relisten to it. Has The One I Love on so still an all-timer for memories of Guitar Hero alone. Favourite Tracks - It's The End of the World / One I Love / Lightnin Hopkins
Ugh
Of its era I feel. It hasn't aged well generally. I wouldn't listen a 2nd time. The well known tracks that emerged from this album have their own resonance.
Meh.
A 2.5, it is easy listening and reminded me of a Tony Hawk soundtrack.
eh, ko proto-grindej, glazba načelno dobra i gdjegdje super, al glas mi nije neš
Arg 80er. Bin leider kein Boomer. Wär ich 50 und würde mit meinen Homies in ner Kneipe Billiard spielen würde, würde es safe fetzen
is chill aber nichts außergewöhnliches, kann man machen
Aikas tylsää settiä. Lyhyestä kuvaus kaunis.
I've never been the biggest R.E.M. fan, and I'm 100% sure the reasons as to why come from personal preference. Maybe it's the genre of the music in general, or a vocalist I don't entirely like. But I gave this album the benefit of the doubt. It's not bad, it's just not fantastic. The band has some bangers, and I'll admit that. The chorus on And I Feel Fine is freaking amazing, even if the rest of the song is.. Not great. The only issue is that R.E.M. is nowhere near an album artist. They have a tendency of just placing songs where they want to, and not really caring if it ruins the album experience because the songs before were pretty good. And that's what ruins this album for me, how it can change from some undeniable bops (like Strange, for example) to the blandest and unmemorable last four songs I've heard in a while. They're not fun, they're not memorable, and they should've been replaced. Or at least put somewhere else in the tracklist so it ended on at least a higher note? Some of the ideas weren't exactly there either. I've already mentioned And I Feel Fine, but the fast-paced energy just kind of feels like a jumbled up acoustic version of We Didn't Start the Fire (which is a killer song, tbf). The One I Love honestly did have a cool idea though. It sounds like a love song on the surface, and I was even in the middle of saying something along the lines of: "aww, what a cute love song" when I was rudely interrupted by "FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEE." It's honestly really good. That's about it. That's the end. That's the end of this review. Love you <3
Was ok.
I’ve never been a huge fan of R.E.M and unfortunately this didn’t change my opinion. It’s not bad by any means, but just not for me
Kinda just background music for me, didn't really do much or catch my attention
Meh. All sounded the same. likely won't revisit.
2 stars
Not my favourite set of tracks of theirs. The One I Love is very good and a few others caught my ear though.
Don't like REM. Never have, no matter how many times I tried. Listening to this again did not change my mind. I liked tracks 1, 6, 7 and (maybe?) 9.
I expected them to be more of my thing than THIS. I knew they were goofy but didn't expect mediocrity too.
This is objectively a better album than 2/5 but speaking solely from personal preference, was just not doing it for me apart from a couple exceptions.
I enjoyed the A side, but B side mehhh. I’ve heard a lot about REM and was curious to what their sound was, particularly because of the era of music they became popular in. Aka I’m not a huge 80’s music fan. I just feel that in the scope of music, this style just doesn’t stand the test of time. The one I love was an enjoyable song, and the A side has some good writing but I don’t think I’ll revisit this much.
Not bad per-se, but nothing really spoke to me and it felt pretty boring. The sax in "Fireplace" was cool at least. Overall though nothing special.
Having an irritating sounding singer who over-enunciates his american twang constantly and loading all of your decent stuff at the very end is not a good way to build goodwill with me as a listener. The accent thing really irks me, I wasn’t a fan of it with The Flaming Lips vocals and I certainly didn’t like it on that one Regatta De Blanc song
Well this somehow gave me two R.E.M. albums back to back and this one feels worse than the previous, so...
I try to give every album on here a fair listen, even when I am familiar with the band's music and not a huge fan. REM is definitely one of those bands that I don't hate, but I don't exactly like. Sure, they have a few good songs, but they're overall sound, mainly Michael Stipe just doesn't do it for me. Document, as it turns out, is a pretty decent album. It's much better than I expected. But, by the end, I just wanted it to be over.
Not bad at all. Not sure I’ll ever go back to it. But it’s listenable. Even if it starts to overstay it’s welcome for me halfway after “It’s the End of the World…” That might just be my least favorite song on here, which is funny because I think it’s their most famous, but that’s when it starts losing me. Their style gives way to a lot of songs that sound samey and that styles becomes grating for me after this song.
80s init Eh
I’ve never been able to get into R.E.M. and this record doesn’t help. The music is mediocre and the vocals are piercing at best. R.E.M. and Dave Matthews Band can be canceled together.
Oho, tämähän oli pop-levy! Mutta tylsä. Synkeemmällö REMillä on paremmat biisit, iskevämmät. Tää tuntuu joltain hairahdukselta. Mut ihan ok kuunnella kuitenkin.
Keskiosan hittituokio vääristää levyn jättämää mielikuvaa. Muut osuudet eivät herätä innostusta, eikä Wire-coveri mielestäni oikein toimi.
nope
just some rock, not even drive me. not a song what hooked me. dropped.
Indie guitar rock. A couple of good tunes here (as we know), but overall a bit ploddy and one-dimensional for me. Not a fan of Stipe's voice, either, which doesn't help. And one star less for that turgid cover of 'Strange'.
This album is… interesting. I am sure that this album could have gone without being on the “1001 albums to listen to before you die”, as it’s not anything special from what I’ve heard from R.E.M. I had to give this album multiple repeeps to actually get a favourite because I like… forgot it. All I can remember from the album is the part where he says “monkey monkey monkey” LMAOOO. I really hope their other albums are better, esp with the 18 million monthly. Fav song: fireplace
Found out that I don’t really understand the political landscape of the 1980s or am a big fan of 1980s based on this album and the album by tears for fears.
Oh R.E.M… again…
eh its fine. nothing that wowed me
Was excited to hear this as I’m a fan of their later out of time and automatic for the people albums . Unfortunately this album didn’t really click with me and i added just a song or two … a low 2
It was alright. I don’t really like the main singer’s voice that much, which is a shame because I liked the instrumentals.
Not a fan. Not a hater.
Middling. I am nostalgic for the hit on this album it played out of this guitar toy i had when i was a kid so that was nice.
Mid - thought it sounded all quite samey. Sort of like a more boring Greenday
yuh
Nothing really stood out to me that much besides the big hits.
45mins in, I realised I was listening to the 2hr special edition. I was not going to start again.
Not a fan. It’s the end of the world… wasn’t enough to save it.
Extremely mediocre and forgettable. I never liked R.E.M.
I don't love the sound. The only way I can describe it is "goat rock" like the animal, but I don't even think that makes sense to me. There are a couple of really big hits and important songs on the album though, and that takes it out of "I don't like this" to "this is tolerable" for me. It's like, bland rock. Not all of the songs, but there are a lot of moments that are the musical equivalent of cooking chicken with no seasoning. It's fine. The good songs help it out a lot. I'd suggest just listening to the middle of the album and saving yourself ~20 minutes. Favorite Song(s): It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
Wow this album was somehow really jarring listening to this right after Talking Heads. I've always been hit or miss with R.E.M.'s more popular songs. On this album I do like "It's The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)", but the rest of it really wasn't my thing.
Eh, I don’t usually mind unconventional or non traditional vocals, but something about Michael Stipe’s voice annoys me. I know that’s not a very good reason to dislike a group, but it is what it is. At least the album is only 39 minutes long.
Not a huge fan, but I listened alll the way through and heard some good stuff.
What have I done to deserve yet another R.E.M. album?! 2 ⭐️
Mid zzzzzzzz
In my opinion DOCUMENT is the first R.E.M. album that held together over the course of the whole album in terms of performance, instrumentation, and songwriting. Also the first R.E.M. album to have some bangers in the form of "It's End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) and "The One I Love". Outside those two songs the album is pretty meh.
Few good songs but a bit bland to be honest m. Not my cup of tea
Ordinary
Painfully american.
Ich mochte die Stimme des Sängers noch nie. Ansonsten gute Aufnahme und Klang.
Annoying voice
Repetitive, a little boring and monotonous. Thought I would have enjoyed it more.
It's a perfectly okay album for background noise. The singer is as unimaginative as the rest of the band, with the exception of one song with a sitar. Singer also has a tenuous relationship with timing, forces lines into awkward places, and had an obsession with the word "walking". It's a mainstay in 80% of songs. Singer very rarely lets the band do anything interesting by almost constantly singing, leaving very little space. "End of the world as we know it", ironically, was good though, it was fun, the harmonies were great, and it was an overall enjoyable listen.
I dunno about this list we have listened to 100 rem albums and 0 the offspring albums
Liked it less than Automatic for the People. Boring album
I think my favourite R.E.M song is on the album, but the rest of it is boring as hell
This is the third REM album I’ve listened to on this list. First one (Automatic For The People) thought was brilliant, the second (Murmur) did nothing for me and was very forgettable. This is more a murmur album. I do quite like The zone I love though.
Don’t mind REM but never been keen on this album . three great songs and the rest washes over me. 2.5
This is the side of REM I don't like. Smug and whiney. The End of the World as we Know it is the epitome of both. The B side is able to shine once they slow down and turn down the preachinga notch.
outside of Peter Buck's guitar work, I just really don't like REM's sound. I really don't like Stipe's vocals. so again, 1 star that gets a 1 star boost because of Peter Buck's guitar work.
Liked Songs: One I love/Welcome to the occupation Hated Songs: End of the world as we know it wouldn't really choose to listen to it again if I had the choice
worst voice in the world strikes again
Ay :( Se me ha hecho super largo, ha habido un montón de canciones que no me han gustado y encima con el calor que hace no me pegaba nada. Menos mal que estaba la de "Its the end of the world" porque si no sí que habría sido the end of my world
REM probably hit a little harder if you were alive and tuned into american current events when this album came out. Like...these songs are well-written (at least mostly), but are performed in a pretty bland way (outside of the obvious hit singles). REM on the whole, not just this album, feels like a settled agreement or compromise by the radio listeners at large. Nothing is done outright BADLY, but nothing is that good to my ears.
Ol..but hardly noticed it in the background. Would never buy it!
1. uuork zong - 1 2. occupation - 1.5 3. mccarthy - 1 4. heron - 1 5. ztrange - 1 6. the uuorld - 1.5 7. the one - 2 8. fire place - 1 9. hopkinz - 1 10. birdz - 1 11. local - 2
Not bad, bit jazzy in parts.
R.E.M. is already pretty average, and this felt like all their filler in one place. There's absolutely nothing special about this album
Okay
There's an REM sound from the late 80's/early 90's that is unmistakable. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) is the best REM song. Upbeat with an edge, with only the slightest hint of whining. It's a very "teenager-y" song. Followed by The One I Love which is one of my least favorite REM songs or at least their popular songs. This is better than Murmur, more rock, less new wave. I can understand why this album was popular, situated in time amidst hair bands and prior to grunge. Lightnin' Hopkins has a great bassline.
I hated this less than I hate Automatic for the People. Two tracks stood out but the rest was so boring that I kept having to stop and start again. So now my Spotify thinks I love REM… and I really don’t. Finest Worksong is especially hateful.
This is one of those albums which you have to see as a cultural artifact, because it's bizarre to think at one time this was one of the most popular bands in the world.
Another review wrapped it up perfectly, could not like it with my heart, only my head.
Initial familiarity 2/11 I was never a big REM fan though I do enjoy most of their hits/singles enough so that I could make a pretty solid mix CD, they're just not a band i've ever really felt compelled to seek out any full albums. This one isn't doing much to change that opinion. It's decent enough but ultimately fails to really capture my interest. Favs: End of the World..., One I Love
This might be my least favorite R.E.M. album, or at least my least favorite of their more acclaimed albums. They do have some good material, some of the songs are catchy like “The One I Love” and “It’s the End of the World as We Know It”, and I do like “Finest Worksong”’s funk-infused aesthetic, but the rest of the album just doesn’t appeal to me. I’m not a fan of Michael Stipe’s voice, despite his admittedly solid songwriting, and I think he registers at far too much of a whine pretty much throughout all of Document.
That voice has always killed me.
I don’t like his voice, but I do like some of their songs. Unfortunately, this album is more miss than hit for me. I find it pretty samey outside End of the World and the use of saxophone on Fireplace.
Don't get the hype and also find stipes voice very annoying.
Found this very underwhelming
Just a little bit average guitar rock. Starting to feel like limiting to one album per artist would have been a good idea. That said there's a couple of bangers in the middle.
I really struggle to hear past Stipe's voice.
Weird rock. It’s fine, bit folky 2/3***
Yep that’s an rem album
2.5
I'm not a fan of REM. This album is in line with my level of interest. Other than the singles "It's the End of the World as we Know it..." and "The One I Love," I find it very boring. I know there's a drummer in there, but the "feel" is very drum machine.
End of the World is genuinely great, although all the rest of... kinda meh. Didn't previously understand this was from 1987--it sounds way ahead of its time.
This is maybe one of the most booooring and annoying album i've ever listened to in my life. i hate rem
2/5 If I didn't have a slight inclination to re-listen to this album in hopes to find SOMETHING interesting, I'd rate it 1/5. I found this album to lack substance. Considering this album served to "document" the political/economical state of affairs of its time, I'd deem this a great failure. This album also tends to dry up very quickly in-terms of instrumental intrigue. The musicianship is average and the only risk-taking I heard was the sparse inclusion of a saxophone.
A little bit of REM here and there is great but listening to a full album of a monotonous voice is a little bit much
Just not my thing
About passable but kind of annoying if too loud.
Something about it doesn't hit with me. Not sure what you call this genre but it's in some weird middle ground I don't really like. Will I listen to again: 0%
Cannot stand their vocals
Not really my thing, but “Its the End Of the World As We Know It” is a classic and my favorite. We listened driving on the turnpike and maybe it wasn't the right setting for it. I was sleepy.
The songs I recognized were good, but overall it was pretty mid. Listening immediately after Cowboy Carter did not help its case. 4.8/10
Auch langweilig.
Not for me
Outside of the two everyone knows, this is dead boring
Nobody needs to hear FOUR R.E.M. albums before they die. NOBODY. Stop it
few bangers, rest rubbish
Я любил эту группу когда-то [давно]. И этого альбома в моем их исследовании не значилось. На самом деле очевидно почему: по большей части этот звучит как бездушный филлер вокруг двух с половиной отличных песен. Как бы грустно это не звучало. Лучшая песня - It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
Aside from a couple finer moments to pull out of this mixed bag of tracks, this REM album ends up falling in the same vein as the group’s other safe and often boring “dad rock“ albums.
They're ok
I always thought I liked R.E.M., but now I am questioning that. Maybe only in small doses. I struggled immensely with the singer's voice in this album. 2/5
Cool
Half of the songs sounded like the intro to the Big Bang theory, their style sounded very dated to me.
REM was one of the last bands that developed organically and not as some sort of Frankenstein assembled in a label’s office. They have some excellent work to their credit and some of it is on this album; but they couldn’t just entertain they had to preach and they’re such a bunch of hypocritical whiners listening to them becomes intolerable. Good riddance.
Not my type of music but giving it a try
I hate REM
Pretty mid older rock.
Hits are hits, but otherwise it's like pretty boring
Da ga meg lite
Zeikerig
Geen Losing my religion? Nu al bagger! Nee dit album ken ik natuurlijk niet, en buiten de grootste R.E.M. hits zijn ze voor mij ook onbekend. Het album is voor mij dan ook grotendeels generieke rock. Ik word er niet warm of koud van. It's the end of the world as we know it(And I feel fine) doet niet alleen een poging om de langste titel ooit te zijn, maar doorbreekt het album met iets meer fun. Daarna kom ik er achter dat The One I love ook een grote hit was! Nice! Helaas is voor mij de rest echt best wel saai. FAVO: It;s the end of the world as we know it, The one I love
There's something about REMs vocals that sound cheesy to me. A couple of songs I recognized, but pretty boring honestly. The last song was a pretty lame song to end the whole thing on. Seemed like this album had some doom & gloom themes to it that I didn't really jive with. Was disappointed in this one.
Pois nin tan mal, houbo algunha canción que me gustou pero nada destacable a verdade. Lévase un 5.5/10.0
Meh
I like his voice. Some songs I recognize. Overall not very memorable
I listened. I fast forwarded. I remember. I am not a huge fan.
I only really liked three songs on the album. And those were always overplayed on the radio (Finest Worksong…). Not my favorite REM album.
Tandy Scale Rating: 2.75 Best Songs: It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, The One I Love Foot Notes: I’d say this one has hits and misses some really good hits and then a lot of filler songs Would I Listen Again: Some songs yes
Document: R.E.M #5 review It's the end of the world as we know it but this album will never end. 1: Finest Worksong: This song has some great guitar riffs, and some amazing sounding drums. This song has a great 90s rock sound. 6/10 2: Welcome to the Occupation: This song continues from the last song, and still has a great 90s rock sound. I have read that it is about American intervention in Central America. The only complaint I have with this song, is that it's a little to short. 5/10 3: Exhuming McCarthy: This song has a different sound than the previous two songs, it feels like it has a bit of a twang to it, but I could be wrong. There are some very interesting instruments in this one. This song is from the title and lyrics, clearly about McCarthyism. I don't have much more to say, another solid 6/10. 4: Disturbance At The Heron House: I have no idea what more I can say about this album, it's 90s alt rock, the lyrics don't have a ton for me to go into like I did in my Kid A review, and the songs are pretty similar, this song nets a 6/10. 5: Strange: Despite what the title says, this song is another 90s alt rock song from a 90s alt rock band. They say there's something going on that wasn't here before, but this song feels like we're hearing stuff we've already seen in this album. 5/10 6: It's The End Of The World As We Know It: I really like this one, the lyrics have a stream of consciousness feeling, which if you can't tell, is very similar to what I'm going for with these reviews. This song has the singer rambling about things, and it overall just sounds really good to my ears. 7/10 7: The One I Love: This one seems like a love song from the outset, but that's not what it is at all. This song feels like it's from the perspective of a person who views their partner as something to occupy their time. 5/10 8: Fireplace: This song definitely exists. I have nothing to say about this one. I do not particularly like this one, but I don't hate it. 5/10, perfectly avera 9: Lightnin' Hopkins: This song feels like a shock ;) since this song feels much flashier than the rest of the songs on the album, with the almost choir sounding background vocals, and the quick and snappy pace of the song. 6/10 10: King Of Birds: This song feels like something that would be played in a marching band, with the rolling drums. Other than the rolling drums though, this song feels the same, this album is starting to drag on imo. 4/10 11: Oddfellows Local 151: There's nothing here for me to talk about here. I am tired of 90s alt rock. This album is starting to annoy me, every song feels the same. I was beginning to get tired of this sound at track 5. I'm so glad this album is over now. Time for the overall part. 4/10 Overall: This album is exhausting. This album is only 36 minutes, but it feels like its so much longer. This album has a few good songs, but I cannot earnestly reccomend it as most of the album sounds the same. The reason the base scores for the album slowly got lower throughout the review is that this album was starting to grate on me, with every song feeling the same except for 2 songs that are actually good. 4/10, just listen to the highlights, this one feels so long. Highlights: It's The End Of The World As We Know It. Lightin' Hopkins. Lowlights: Fireplace, King Of Birds, Oddfellows Local 151.
I don't like R.E.M. me thinks
Still probably my least favorite of the IRS era, so much of it feels underwritten, or like a one-note predecessor to Monster. "Welcome to the Occupation", "Exhuming McCarthy", and "Oddfellow Local 151" still rule though.
2.0 The hits are the hits, and the rest stinks
somehow more repetitive and boring than murmur. no point in this album being here if murmur exists Significant 30/82 Liked 14/82 Added 4/82
Bit too boring apart from 2 songs
Not the most entertaining album, it kinda trudges along until we get to İts the end of the world. Then it just trudges along again. The lyricisms are clever and insightful but the music itself isn't very engaging.
Not really a fan of his voice
ya know just wasnt for me
Ми, не
Still not a fan of REM.
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.
Almost 4
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.
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.
Ebbs and flows from pop to heavy good balance quality tracks. 7/10
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.
1 good song
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.
I feel like this was very progressive at the time, but it’s hard for me not to hear the singles in each song.
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
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.
Da ga meg lite
Meh 2.5
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.
Great instrumentals, but the singer's voice has always sounded grating to me.
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.
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.
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.
2 stars cause end of the world as we know it is a great song. Couldn’t finish the rest of this album
Not my cup of tea. Good length.
It was there
41/100
Who listens to creed anymore
Still early days and only listened one time through. Found it a bit whiney
Det beste med det er at det ligner på pearl jam
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.
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...
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.
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.
Rem
Album was okay, two good songs rest isn't my vibe
I dont like rem
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.
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.
nay nay not for me
I usually regard R.E.M highly but this was a very weak album from them. It's The End Of The World As We Know It is a popular song that you're guaranteed to have a heard before, but apart from that it's not very exciting.
Way back in 2008 I managed to get access to the beta version of Spotify. I actually went back to confirm that the second song I ever added to a playlist was was "It's the end of the world as we know it" (the first being "Are we friends electric). Needless to say this song was nostalgic for me although from a time long after its first release. A time where I suddenly could listen to basically anything i wanted, the song title felt very fitting. Other than that song I didn't feel this album that much. Maybe not in the mood or something but nothing interested my in particular except the hits. Overall an ok album but not that memorable to me.
the song that i liked the most was “lightnin’ hopkins”. it has heavy guitar. fast. almost sounds punk. in other words, it sounds nothing like REM. i literally didn’t really like any other song. this tells you everything you need to know about my opinion of this band. all the songs on this album (with that notable exception) sound the same. and michael stipe has a whiny voice. annoyingly so. as with the last REM album i listened to for this project, not a fan.
A few decent songs, and a couple that are immediately recognizable. Overall fine
0 funk, 0 stars
Never really liked them, especially in their heyday when they were hard to avoid. They just sound bland to me. Like eating toast with nothing on it.
A couple classics on here, but laughing at the shortest wiki entry I've ever seen. Nothing about this album tells me it should be on this list, even if I enjoy End of the World and One I Love. Not sure what qualified this one to be on here, but probably the same criteria as the others that shouldn't be on here.
The One I Love is a pretty good track but the rest is seriously meh. Musically fine but the vocalist is not for me.
This album is perfect for doing laps in the swimming pool, mostly because you would only hear short bits at a time. I actually had high expectations for this one. Document my feelings as “disappointed”. I didn’t find a ton of variety on the record, which was partly due to Michael Stipe’s vocals, which the more the listen to them the more they become just strange. This band is better in radio doses…one (finest work)song at a time. The only reason they get two stars if for This is the End of …. Which now that I think about it isn’t even that great of a song. Chalk this one up as one that I do NOT love. FFIIIIIRRRRREEEE!
"It's the end of the world as we know it" and "strange" are pretty good.
Mir ist aufgefallen das Rock nicht so mein Ding ist. Also ich finde es nicht schlecht aber keine Ahnung.
Meh. I like this band but this album only has two good songs. Jammed right in the middle of some pretty boring stuff.
Interesting mix of 80s and 90s style. Personally I was not a fan. Didn’t enjoy the voice of the singer. I did enjoy the oddfellows song though.
Best songs: it’s the end of the world One I love Good songs: disturbance at heron house Overall: great instrumentals, repetitive at times, terrible singing voice. Lyrics kinda suck 4.5/10
It was ok has like two songs on it. That I think are a few of the more popular R.E.M tracks
Buuuuuuuu
Meh. Whiny nerd rock.
80’er rock, noget af det er okay, men ikke lige min kop te generelt
I like REM, a lot, but I didn't recognize many songs on this album. It sounded good, but nothing stuck with me. I'm hoping for more from them in the future.
Dimery has his moments, four REM albums in the list but not Reckoning/Fables of the ReconstructionRecontruction of the Fable/Life's Rich Pageant? Document is treading water, so much of this could have appeared in the earlier stuff, you can tell they are bored. Oddfellows and Welcome to the Occupation are wonderful, REM at their best, but the rest is paint by numbers stuff. And no I don't like the biggies, The One I Love and The End of the World, in fact the latter gives me the shits. This is not their finest hour.
Bruh I keep bamboozling myself because all these albums start out alright but fall off so hard and then I'm second guessing myself. This is can't be put on the same pedestal with some of the other 3s I've been giving. I like R.E.M. a lot though. Give them a year or two, they’ll come around.
Just not that good. REM is also not my music. Had potential but really didn’t do much for me.
The whole album is held up by “It’s the end of the world as we know it”
Eh found it kinda blah
mid
I like REM but I have to say, this record is just not getting me there. Aside from End of The World, none of the songs are very interesting compositionally or even lyrically. The track about "business acumen" was just so flat and dumb. I'm only halfway through, hopefully there's an uptick on the back half... So the back half was better instrumentally. The songs felt more varied, even though the lyrics were still pretty blah (looking at Fireplace specifically). The closer was good: moody, simmering, dark. Overall not my favorite REM by a huge stretch.
TIL just because it's called "college rock" doesn't mean it's suitable to listen to while doing lab exercises.
:|
2/5. An interesting rock album with some standouts but probably not going to visit much later.
Worth listening to, lyrically thought provoking and great song writing. Tho personally I do not enjoy most of micheal stipes voice, I find it testing and distracting, personally. Songs like “the one I love” is great but overplayed and the vocals stand out to much in a way I can’t enjoy repeated listening. “End of the world” stands out as different from the rest of the album. Could be perfect to other ears. Also the guitar tone sounds so similar to what they do for the next ten years it sounds like this album could have come out in 1995
Eeh, pass. Good production, don’t like the lead singers voice
niet zo heel interessant uiteindelijk
Not particularly fond of his voice. Some songs feel like they have similar melody. Did enjoy several songs.
Couple of good songs. Not great overall.
Album does nothing for me, just overall meh
Was not really into it
C’est correct, sans plus. C’est plutôt générique comme album
Je n'accroche pas tant à R.E.M. On dirait que c'est le genre de band qu'il fallait être là à l'époque pour vraiment apprécier le travail qu'ils font par rapport à ce qui se faisait. J'aime quelques pièces, mais pas aucun album en entier à date. Comme ici, It's The End Of The World As We Know It est une pièce importante de cet album que j'aime beaucoup. The One I Love aussi est importante pour le groupe, mais elle ne me rejoint pas. Je reconnais l'importance du groupe pour le rock alternatif, je reconnais que ça semble différent pour 1986 et je crois que cet album a sa place dans cette liste, mais je n'ai pas envie de courir me le procurer ou même d'y revenir.
Lame besides the 2 tracks that anyone ever hears anymore.
MID. End of the world is my soft spot tho
I don’t wanna hear what they have to say I just wanna dance. Sounds like the one I love 11 times in a row
Enjoyable. I'll look more in to a-ha but wasn't my favorite. Take on Me is a classic still, but other than that, decent album.
no!
Fine. 2.5/5. Had some more out less memorable tunes. Enjoyed the alt country mixed with indie vibes. Otherwise feel no reason to revisit.
Disco un tanto flojo de un gran grupo. Tranquilo de escuchar y bien elaborado
Meh
Did not listen
R.E.M. is one of those bands I hear about all the time but have never listened to, and I see why. This whole album sounds like the hits they'd play on the indie rock public radio station of the era. Some is worth listening to, but on the whole it feels like inoffensive alt music. || Spotify following this album up with The Police immediately after only confirmed my thoughts.
I just don't really like rem very much
Decent songs but not my jam- feel too on the nose
I feel that giving it 2 stars might be a bit harsh, but at the same time I thought it was really boring overall, save for one or two songs. They've done much better before and after that album so it's a bit surprising to see this one here.
The one I love was the only interesting song on this album. I can't believe it's on this list
They're just not my bag, baby.
This was good, but not spectacular. Two songs I knew before (It's The End Of The World As We Know It and The One I Love), both I like. Nothing else really stood out - although Exhuming McCarthy was a fun listen for the lyrics. Would I turn this off if it was on in the background? Probably not. Will I ever think, "you know what, I really want to listen to Document right now"? Probably not.
Okay