Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Fun
Rock alternativo. Un par de megahits. Un 4.
Still sounds great. Went on a personal REM revival a couple of years and listened to a lot of their albums in their entirety. I do think it got better for them but this is still great and there's some proper Strathclyde University Union Level 8 classics in this album
An unfamiliar album of theirs, apart from a couple of tracks I don’t think I’ve ever listened to it. I always thought this was an early career retrospective, despite the fact I now realise the cover clearly states REM no 5 on it. The cover is dogshit and it’s not my fault. Glad to have finally heard it as it was excellent, a more polished affair than I was expecting.
It's the End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love were the two standout songs on this album but overall an easy listening album
Wow. This was really good. I like REM well enough but I didn’t expect to enjoy this album as much as I did.
Document by R.E.M. is a seminal album that solidified the band's status as one of the most influential and innovative acts in alternative rock. Released in 1987, it marked a turning point in their career as they transitioned from their underground roots to mainstream success. Overall, I would give this album a well-deserved rating of 4 out of 5. Right from the opening track, "Finest Worksong," Document grabs your attention with its energetic and politically charged sound. The album is filled with infectious hooks, thought-provoking lyrics, and the distinctive vocal stylings of Michael Stipe. Songs like "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love" became radio hits, showcasing R.E.M.'s ability to create memorable and accessible music without sacrificing their artistic integrity. One of the strengths of Document lies in the band's musical versatility. They effortlessly blend jangly guitar riffs, melodic basslines, and intricate drum patterns, creating a vibrant and dynamic sonic landscape. The album also features notable contributions from keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, Mike Mills, whose backing vocals and melodic touches add depth and texture to the songs. Lyrically, R.E.M. showcases their poetic and socially conscious approach. The album tackles a range of topics, from political and environmental concerns to personal introspection. Stipe's enigmatic and often cryptic lyrics allow listeners to interpret the songs in their own unique way, adding an element of intrigue and depth to the album. While Document is a remarkable album, it does have a few minor drawbacks. Some tracks, such as "King of Birds" and "Lightnin' Hopkins," may not resonate as strongly as the standout hits. However, even these songs display the band's commitment to experimentation and pushing boundaries within the alternative rock genre.
A great album, would be in my top 5 REM records. Although the first half is considerably better than the second in my opinion. It’s also cool that they do a Wire cover.
A wonderful turning point for REM due in large part to the production. While their previous sound was a tickle behind the ear (with under water vocals), this is a slap in the face and thank God! Not perfect but really fun and very listenable.
Album kicks off with one of my favorite REM songs. I love how this album sounds both present in 1987 but also ahead of its time in a lot of ways. This is the album that followed up their previous masterpiece album Life's Rich Pageant and solidified them as not just a good little band from Georgia, but one of the best American rock bands to come out of the 80's.
A solid REM record! I forgot about “King of Birds” and how much I love it!
En 1987 R.E.M. ya era un grupazo. Desde el "Finest worksong" y con las enormes "It's the end of the world as we know it" y "The one I love".
Not bad. Perhaps some of their other albums are bettter but overall it's very good.
Good. Relaxing.
Can confirm, the first song was not the finest worksong. I like this album! Many of the songs remind me of the tragically hip.
It's the end of the world as we know it!
Great, well rounded album. Good songs all around, generally energetic mood while listening to it. It has my favourite R.E.M song : The End Of The World As We Know It Standouts: The One I Love; Honourable Mention: Oddfellows Local 151.
Høy allsang-faktor, men også mye annet bra
Love R.E.M! I've had a few of their albums since the 80s/90s!
Nice rock with some kind of hypnotizing vocals. "It's the end of the world as we know it" is timeless classic that will be played in different radiostations until the end of the world.
Prima album.
Onmiskenbaar een R.E.M. album, met o.a. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" en "The One I Love". Lyrisch en muzikaal prima, maar verdient vooral lof aan de bovenvermelde nummers. leukste nummer: The One I Love Album introduceert de later kenmerkende R.E.M. mandoline.
I love REM. Never my first go to band but everything they do is sort of a warm blanket. This isn't my favorite of theirs, but it listed me up none the less.
Some good songs, but few of them have never been ones I would listen to.
-Album flows well -Decent production -See shades of later bands in this album, influencial - ages well
I'd do 3.5 if I could. But this was good.
Generally strong throughout with the big songs putting it over the top
Very impressed. Holds up well - really enjoyed listening to it walking the dog.
Good album
Consistent blend of alt rock and pop as they blew up into the mainstream
All the classic hallmarks of REM is here. The jangly guitars, the cryptic haunting wails from Michael Stipe.. this is 80s alternative at its best. Accessible yet sounds a bit underground like the best years of university. Second half feels a bit weak I find but the first half makes up for it and I found myself singing along to One I Love while vacuuming. Solid effort.
Highlights: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love, Oddfellows Local 151
Very enjoyable. Feels like Modest Mouse took some inspo in places. Will listen again for sure.
Fun through back! B+ album.
4.5 outstanding
Heerlijk, tijdloos album!
Helemaal top!
6th March 2023 Listened during the morning while working from home. Busy day working, dad and Seb round in the evening. Sounds like REM finding their sound and growing in to the influential band they will become
I had heard a few songs off this already. I enjoyed it and i'd like to get more into r.e.m., theyre pretty good. Songs that stood out to me, Finest Work Song, It's the end of the world as we know it, the one i love, Welcome to the occupation, Disturbance at the heron house, Strange
First impressions are vital in rock and pop music, which is why a decent album can usually be lifted immeasurably by a strong opener. A opening track is a mission statement for everything a band or artist stands for. It’s a signal of what you’re about to hear, a call to arms, a war cry. The stakes are never higher for the artist as they fight for an audience’s attention, set up stall and shoot for the sun. Many of 1987’s hit albums are frontloaded with a killer opener: Prince’s “Sign O’ The Times”, U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”, Guns n’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle”. But perhaps nobody does it better than R.E.M with “Finest Worksong.” Titanic, swaggering drums, two notes hammering away incessantly on the guitar, a quick bass fill. Then Michael Stipe’s first line, scorching through the noise: “The time to rise has been engaged”. Pay attention, everyone: R.E.M are no longer jangling in the sidelines of alternative rock. This was their first big brush with mainstream success, and it practically explodes from the speakers. From there, we go from strength to strength. “Welcome to the Occupation” is assured and moody, with some subtle organ adding body and depth. “Exhuming McCarthy” see-saws a happy-go-lucky melody from one key to the other with a playful malice. There’s a brilliant cover of Wire’s “Strange”, injecting it with even more finesse and energy than those criminally underrated British post-punks could muster. And “The One I Love” nails the art of the “is-it-sweet-or-is-it-sinister” love song, with a solid riff to boot. But there’s no use arguing: the glorious centrepiece is “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”. Frantic stream-of-consciousness lyrics, almost unintelligible, rattle over a rapid drum beat and a sparse rhythm guitar. We crescendo into a perfect chorus with a very well-measured counter-melody from Mike Mills. The apocalypse never sounded so enticing. In the last third or so, nothing quite matches up. The strong melodies dissipate a little, the lyrics become less focused, the song structures looser and more repetitive. But R.E.M have done all the heavy lifting: content to relax a little, they settle into serviceable alt-rock territory. There’s a soft-rock in 6/8 with a standout saxophone solo, and there’s a snare drum march with a taste of mandolin, which will later surface in a much more prominent role in 1991’s “Out of Time”. They’d reach greater heights after this, and perhaps had a more ardent cult following before it, but “Document” is a lively picture of R.E.M with the world at their feet, and only one way to go: the stratosphere.
Het iets meer rockwerk van de band. Zeker te appreciëren
Love the stories with each song.
The two monster songs on this are, well, monsters. I surprisingly don't have an REM song I play on guitar. I considered playing "The One I Love". It's a catchy tune and so easy to play but I just can't sing songs that are so mean. I read that bf/gf's will ask DJs to dedicate this song to their better half when they are having a huggy bear / kissy-face moment. I understand that the song is even played at funerals. I guess a lot of people get a nice warm feeling from the title and the first two stanzas so they ignore the third stanza. I considered playing "It's the end of the World . . .". It's also easy to play on guitar but nailing lyrics is too daunting. The lyrics are great and the pace is intense. It's funny that the lyrics are basically finished after 2 1/2 minutes but they just keep singing the chorus for another 1 1/2 minutes rather than ending the song. I guess they had what would normally be four minutes worth of lyrics but just decided to sing them in 2 1/2 minutes so may as well keep it a four minute song, lol. Michael Stipe must have a blast singing it live especially seeing audience after audience try (and fail) to sing the lyrics at his pace.
REM are a tough one for me to judge. Their radio hits throughout the nineties were far better than the other mega bands and I appreciate that, especially with the amount of time I was spending in rental cars in places like Calgary. Still, I wasn't rushing to buy their albums, especially after their lyrics became audible. In this case, I like the 2 hits, particularly The End of the World, with its sense of humor. The other songs are solid, my favourite being Oddfellows, maybe because it's just slightly outside of the REM musical boundaries.
Quite liked this - not very familiar with REM but would happily listen again or others
Classic REM. Great album, but provide not their best.
Good
Good fun cheesy music
Not the most consistent R.E.M album but each side is bookended with fantastic songs and Exhuming McCarthy also shines. Lots of stuff here to enjoy even if they've done some of it better elsewhere
I reviewed most of the songs individually. I liked the album as the whole, but it wasn’t anything crazy IMO. Just several solid songs in a row. Finest Worksong Good classic rockish song with “your finest hour” getting repeated like a billion times. Also glockenspiel 😍 Welcome to the Occupation country vibes??? Anti-govt I think. Anti-work very much so. Big fan I think. Exhuming McCarthy more anti-establishment stuff and general rock talking about the corporatization of America. Disturbance at the Heron House A story about a protest at Heron House, whatever that may be. It’s not very detailed but it is what it is. Talking about craziness too. Need to google some context for this later. Strange Talking of a weird occurrence. I think something bad because of the line “keep your eyes glued to the floor”. Makes me think dictatorship. It’s the End of the World as We Know It banger song, but also a song about the current issues in the 1980s that talks about the apathy related to the slow destruction/changing of both the planet and humanity as the world is reshaped by globalization and industry. The One I Love goofy ahh love song… never mind it’s about civil disobedience.
pretty good. nothing special, but i like REM
One of the soundtrack of my youth
Enjoyed this! Was more "rock" sounding than I remembered - great guitar tones! I still have no idea what most of the songs are about, but maybe I'll pay closer attention next time.
The first 4 tracks sound just a bit samey, but from there the album really gets interesting. The 2 big singles, The One I Love & It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, still shine after all these tears. And Lightnin’ Hopkins & King Of Birds both embellish Side 2, as do the horns on Fireplace. Not their best, but pretty good, nonetheless.
Interesante álbum con hermosas bass-lines y riffs de guitarras. El side one te presenta con letras cargadas de crítica a la América de los '80s lo cual se aprecia y por otro lado el side two es bastante más relajado en ese aspecto, centrándose en otras cosas, que tampoco está mal. En general todos los temas son buenos y me gustaron, siendo Welcome To The Occupation, ITEOTWAWKI(AIFF) y Oddfellows Local 151 mis temas favoritos.
не случилось ярких любовей на этой пластинке, хоть и хорошо
very very good. i really should listen to more rem, it pairs quite nicely with some of my other playlists. it paired really well w the smashing pumpkins and some pearl jam that i queued.
geggjuð
Document has the one hit, a sharp corner which ties the sculpture together. Before End of the World, convention elevated; After, something slightly more dangerous but utterly absorbing. On balance, it feels like a deserved breakout, just on the right side of good.
This is the kind of music that you can imagine hearing live just based on the record. I love the guitars.
Leuke popmuziek. Ik vind "Exhuming McCarthy" een leuk liedje, maar ook "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" en "The One I Love" staan op dit album. ****
Sits right there between a 3 and a 4...
The beginnings of a great band
A super collection of songs here, summing up the energy and great i die sound of the early R.E.M. before going mainstream
Good album top to bottom.
Really enjoyed this 80s rock album. I imagined early REM being mumbling and airy fairy music, but it’s as good as Out of Time and more fun, but not as high-brow as Autimatic for the People. Very good!
Is this peak REM? It just might be.
Holt mich sehr ab! Die Stimme ist der Hammer.
Pretty damn good
This one goes out to the band I love All killer no filler. Not my favorite band of all time but I'm never mad when they're on.
A band squarely in transition. Without two tracks this would sit deeply in the lineage of the first four albums, while perhaps introducing a slightly heavier sound. There is a small town wierdness that pervades tracks like Oddfellows Local 151 and Disturbance at the Heron House. But then there's two tracks that mark the absolute point at which world domination became a possiblity. REM at this point were the ultimate slow-burners: five albums in and their final form was only just emerging.
This kind of early 60s rock and roll just doesn't do anything for me really. I appreciate the cultural significance but I wouldn't ever seek out listening to it.
classic college album. Not as good as I remembered, but still very solid.
The One I Love es la mejor. Ya encontraron el sonido que en los 90s los hará exitosísimos, les falta pulirlo y lo harán en el Green para llegar al Out Of Time. Esto se nota, pues este álbum les da su primer disco de platino. 3.5 Estrellas que subo a 4.
Again a great album by REM, I think even better than the previous one, 2 days in a row 4.5/5
Cool
Listened Before? Y Oh yeah. REM at their early best. This album has been in my semi-regular rotation since the 90s, so nothing really new for me here but it was a pleasure to listen to it again. Added to Library? Was already there! Songs added to playlist: It's the End of the World as we Know It, Oddfellows Local 151
I forgot how much I loved this album. Every song is interesting and stands on its own. I would have given this a five star rating but Michael Stipes vocals can get a bit tiring. Great song progressions and prodiction. There is always a lot of nuances to the instrumentation and sound scape.
Front to back excellent. Straightforward song structures but solid playing that makes each a great platform for the many voice Stipes' brings: Sing-songy King of Birds; punk-y Strange; darkness of Welcome to the Occupation-- an earworm around every corner. The popular songs are great, if overplayed. But the lesser known tracks make it great - I still sing Oddfellows Local 151 when I drive past a firehouse with kids in the car -- they don't know what or why but it makes me feel good.
1987 R.E.M. Classic
Album no.100 on the list! I somehow made it to 10%. Just couple years more and we're done with it. This is a second R.E.M. album on this list, and this time we have one of the earlier records - "Document" from 1987. It's already fifth album in their discography, which is very surprising to me, I always thought of R.E.M. as a more recent band. But nevertheless, when comparing this album with previously rated "Automatic For The People", I definitely prefer the older tracks. Their style is very unique and has put a mark on every record they produced, but "Document" has, in my opinion, better mix of melancholic melody, exalted lyrics and, at times, happy and uplifting vocals. The best example is "This is the End of the World (as we know it)". Great song, which works well on many layers - as a political statement, as an entertaining single and as a bit more sophisticated instrumental theme. Other great song from the album is "The One I Love", which is another successful single and is very pleasant to listen to. In general, R.E.M. music is not the most complicated or hard to execute, but when they hit it right, it's a really cohesive and fun music, and they definitely found the right tone for this album.
Classic Michael Stipend
Ja mislim da mi je ovo njihov najdraži
Prvo, posjedujem ga na vinylu. Čim čujem ovaj album ili Fables of the Reconstruction - sjetim se odlaska u Fordu ka prvom poslu u Starom Petrovom Selu. Nekako me smirivalo s obzirom kakav sam bio. Uglavnom, tu je nastala ljubav prema R.E.M.u. Općenito stvarno odličan album. Zamisli ti to, prvih 5 albuma i ostane im to najbolje ikad, još bi dodao Automatic for the People kasnije što su napravili, ali u osamdesetima su bombardirali sa jebenim albumima - kao Smithsi (ali mi nisu u tom levelu kvalitete potpunog albuma). Jače od čet'ri zvjezdice for sure.
Cool and chill
Masse bra, men de er ikkje heilt på topp ennå
It’s a great album that I’ve actually, surprisingly, never listened to. It sounds cohesive without all the songs sounding too “samey”. I like it a lot. It has two songs on it that I know super well. Never knew they were from the same album! Like the other songs I’d never heard. Will defs listen again. “King of Birds” is a high point.
I think this album was pretty much what I expected. I'm glad to listen to more R.E.M. and see what their sound is like beyond the hits. I enjoyed the album. My favourite song is The One I Love.
You know, I liked this more than Out of Time
Super solid. Best track: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
C'est bon du R.E.M.!
I don’t think I’ve ever given R.E.M. the time of day but I love their sound.
I liked this album alot even if its kinda wordy in some sections. Im starting to think 1980s post punk scene is one of my go to genres now
Some of my favorites were non this album! Really enjoyed it!
Enjoy me some REM. Super solid album.
3,5/5 poppig aber nicht zu sehr Happy Energetisch Nett 80er rock Leicht heavy Gitarre Pop voice Chillig Kann man auf jedenfall machen Kann man gut anderen vorspielen Ziemlich konstant ohne viel Abwechslung
I liked it a lot but the early tunes were a bit less memorable to me mostly because u have already heard a couple R.E.M albums however it elevated from a very good record to a fantastic one at the midway point when "its the end of the world as we know it", probably my favourite on the record, plays, ending side one. One of my favourite things about the album is the band energy that gives even the filler tunes an essential feel. Also the production was was great great, and their first album with Scott Litt. Also the guitar was really good
Really cool relaxing
Excellent album
I didn't have a lot to say about this one, but it was consistently good 4/5
Heard it before?: yes, I think this is my 3rd listen Enjoy it?: yes! The songwriting and power in this is fantastic, a common theme with REM Favourite song: Track 6 - It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Need to listen to more R.E.M. Pretty cool album.
good shit
REM is cool and this is a great project
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. Great song off this album, as well as "the one I love" good examples of early 90s alternative rock.
Yes thanks. What a great album.
It's one of the albums out of R.E.M's incredible productive era, 6 albums in 6 years. And this one falls in between the other two great albums Life's Rich Pageant and Green. But where the other two albums are a bit more stable in their quality, does Document have some of the best and worst songs of this period on them. It starts incredibly strong with "Finest Worksong" and "Welcome To The Occupation". It goes down a bit with "Strange" and "Exhuming McCarthy" then picks up immensely with It's The End Of The World As We Know It," "The One I Love" and mostly "Fireplace." Then "Lightning Hopkins" pushes the album down again. It might not be a perfect album, but it's and album I will always listen to with a lot of pleasure. 4,5*
Didn’t know this album before - just End of the World as We Know it and to the one I love. Stronger start of album than end.
Guess I had a lot of preconceived notions about REM. Enjoyed this considerably more than I thought I would. Even the non-hits have depth and appeal. This is kinda like the anti-U2 album. I can understand how they got famous and why now.
Love all the old classics, didn't hear a lot that I hadn't listened to extensively here in the past. There was the one exception though, loved 'Oddfellows Local 151' which is a song that if not new to me I've not often heard!! Great track. Solid album, great band. I recall partying in Athens and hearing the locals down there rave about what great guys they are. Always amplifies a band in my opinion if they're good people.
I spent most of my high school years trying to avoid R.E.M. because that's what all the yuppie kids listened to. However, there's really no hiding from their jingles. It wasn't until college that I actually started appreciating Stipe's vocals and the music of R.E.M. Though less refined and poppy than their later releases like Green, OoT, and AFTP, it's good and perhaps underappreciated. You can't deny the Finest Work Song and certainly End of the World which is really the album of the 20th century. Document seems like one of those transitionary albums that introduces college rock into the mainstream leading the way for more artsy bands of the late 80's and early 90's.
I am coming to realize that R.E.M. might be the most consistent band of the 1980s? Going back a few hundred albums to review “Document” after listening to “Murmur,” I’m now excited to dig into “Green” and “Automatic For The People” when they arrive. The hits here, deservedly so, are “It’s the End of the World and We Know It” and “One I Love,” but under the radar it’s the opener and closer that not just bookend but carry this album. “Finest Workhorse” and “Oddfellows Local 151” are less heralded but set the tone for an album without a weak spot.
REM is another band I know enough about, and like we’ll enough, but haven’t owned any of their albums. Probably should given how much I like Tragically Hip and the comparisons people make about these bands. This album is really good. Every song on the run from the start is so solid, up until The One I Love. Then. It looses steam a little bit and peters out to finish. But overall still really fun. Looking forward to listening to more of their albums now
A fantastic album where I think REM found their voice for their subsequent albums.
Liked this a fair bit, "Strange" and "The End of the World" were really good.
I’ll be real, I think they probably peaked with Murmur, but this has some incredible rock music as well. “The One I Love” is an all-time hit for a reason. There’s a couple of skips depending on my mood, but I definitely intend to keep this in my collection for a good while. B+
Standout Tracks: Finest Worksong, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love, Fireplace, Oddfellows Local 151
This album gets a boost by being constantly played in my home growing up. Songs like "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I love" are all time classics. The rest of the album is honestly a little bland, but the memories give it the extra point boost. An all time favorite!
Very decent album that exceeded my expectations.
My birth year. I remember my dad listening to this in the truck, along with rush and dead can dance and Peter Gabriel.
4.75
Late 80s alt delight
Although I know some REM albums very well, for this one but not this one; here just know the hits. Of which there are many. After giving it a listen through I have no problem saying I like REM. This is a strong album. Not perfection, but lots here to like.
I don't think I've ever listened to this album, just the hit singles (The One I Love is still a classic). Not as good as when they hit their peak in the early 90's but still a solid album. Great energy, great guitar work, great lyrics. It's worth digging into the non-singles. If you like edgy plus Neil Young-like political & contemporary commentary, check out Welcome to the Opposition, King of Birds, or Oddfellows Local 151. If you want more up-tempo rock, check out Disturbance at the Heron House. If you want a bit of both, check out Exhuming McCarthy. I also really like their up-tempo version of Wire's Strange. And for a cool up-tempo version of ...End of the World... check out Canadian band Great Big Sea. This album is definitely the beginning of their upswing.
The “big” songs off this album are fantastic: Finest Worksong, It’s the End of the World as We Know It, and The One I Love are classics for a reason. The non-hit songs on side one sound formulaic - similar guitar sound, bass line, drum beat, vocal style. It’s a good formula, don’t get me wrong, but very repetitive. The exception is Strange, but that makes sense since it’s a cover (originally by Wire). Side two gets a little less formulaic, but I don't find it all that memorable (except The One I Love, of course). Giving it a 4 because the greats are great, but not a 5 due to the fact that the others just aren't sticking with me as well.
R.E.M. at their loosest, most confident and most fun. Great mix of tunes, “A Finest Worksong” is an awesome opener (banged live, too), “Exhuming McCarthy” a boisterous blast and “King of Birds” a beautiful toning down toward the end. I’ve never loved the hits as much as others, though “The One I Love” holds up as a lean, classic. I have a long history with the band so hard to stay objective, but this record still sounds bold and fresh and fun, and continued R.E.M.’s hot streak that lasted well over the decade, a run that holds its own against that of any other band, ever.
This album is a wonderfully produced college rock/alternative rock statement piece. The signature arpeggiated guitars and Michael Stipe’s distinctive voice are at the forefront here. Stipe’s lyrics are insightful, sarcastic, funny, and rank among some of the best. REM is certainly influenced by new wave, but I wouldn’t group them in with that genre. They really do have a unique sound that can be heard in later alternative bands especially within grunge.
Another fine collection of R.E.M. songs. Maybe the first album where Michael Stipes vocals are NOT unintelligible hilighting what a fine lyricist he is. Side 1 is particularly strong with not a weak song of the bunch, plus huge personal props for including a Wire cover (is this the first time they include a cover song?). Side 1 ends and Side 2 begins with the two hits, which are both excellent songs. After The One I Love, we get our first run of less than stellar songs in Fireplace and Lightnin' Hopkins. (It's weird and a little jarring hearing a sax in an R.E.M. song). The album ends on a particularly strong note with Odfellows Local 151. Not quite up to the standards of Murmer or Reckoning, but a damn fine album in it's own right. 4.5 🌟
Another solid REM album, way better than my expectations.
The last of their great ones in my opinion.
4.5/5. Very solid. Nicely draws the line between heady lyricism and catchy, jangly pop-rock. Also very predictive of 90s bands like Lemonheads and Gin Blossoms
Yeah baby
Solid 80s rock with lyrics that will make you want to sing along and rebel
Pretty good! I'm not huge into Alt-Rock, but I'm glad I checked this out. I will say that I think "King of Birds" would have been a waaay better song to end on than "Oddfellows Local 151". I was unsure about whether to give it three or four stars, but "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a classic, and tipped it over the edge for me.
Really good, enjoyed this a lot
Ég er í góðu skapi í dag og þessi ágæta plata hjálpar til við það. Enginn R.E.M. aðdáandi í sjálfu sér, en ég gæti þessa oftar.
I always think of REM as a 90s band but with this album firmly in the 80s you can see how heavily they influenced the alt rock of the 90s and beyond. Great stuff
Its good and a unique enough sound, but not overly great outside of the one or two big tracks.
Great old REM! ‘It’s the end of the world as we know it…’
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: It’s the end of the world, The one I love
A band I'd always meant to listen to more, but never found the time to. The album starts off fire with 'Finest Worksong' and keeps on rocking from there. I think I actually like the other songs on the album more than 'It's the End of the World,' which is still a certified banger.
Another fine collection of R.E.M. songs. Maybe the first album where Michael Stipes vocals are NOT unintelligible hilighting what a fine lyricist he is. Side 1 is particularly strong with not a weak song of the bunch, plus huge personal props for including a Wire cover (is this the first time they include a cover song?). Side 1 ends and Side 2 begins with the two hits, which are both excellent songs. After The One I Love, we get our first run of less than stellar songs in Fireplace and Lightnin' Hopkins. (It's weird and a little jarring hearing a sax in an R.E.M. song). The album ends on a particularly strong note with Odfellows Local 151. Not quite up to the standards of Murmer or Reckoning, but a damn fine album in it's own right. 4.5 🌟
4/5. From start to finish, it is packed with great songs. I know this album well. Love it.
A bit shocking that this album came out a year later than Slippery When Wet, Look What the Cat Dragged In and the same year as Girls, Girls, Girls. When viewing from that perspective, I have a lot more respect for the album as a whole. REM was pushing a new sound onto the airways, and if you listen hard enough, the tinges of 80s synth retro can be heard within a mellow rock album. Maybe not the most ground breaking album of 1987, but considering the noise around them, a noble effort at creating a new sound of the moment. Maybe with more makeup, blaring guitar solos and lyrics about girls they would have had more than 2 singles come off of this album...?
Rem makes another good album. Idk if it’s as good as the last one I got but end of the world as we know it is still a banger
Thought this was superb, particularly the first half. 3 songs added to my playlist.
Love it
This album is the seed of much that came after. Hootie? Gin Blossoms? Toad the Wet Sprocket? The Wallflowers? I can't help but hear all of them here. Stipe's lyrics would make a radical professor proud and leave a weird, straight A student radicalized. If I hadn't been in kindergarten, it would have been a lot of fun to be in university in 1987 and playing this tape over and over for my roommates. They would all sing It's the End of The World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) or The One I Love, then leave me to finish out the rest of the album while I draw my first anti-Reagan sign. There is something raw in this that fits college radio but not in a way that should be dismissed. It's like walking into a library with people studying in various corners--some stressed over exams and others flirting with someone too busy explaining the importance of a too-often-quoted philosopher--and you feel fine.
Oof. This album is a very specific time and place feels. High School junior year. I think it was the start of my "I prefer their earlier stuff" conception.
8/10 Best Song - It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)
It’s rem but without the hits. Not bad. Had end of the world and the one I love
One of their finest. Standouts: It's the End of the World, The One I Love, Finest Worksong, Fireplace. Really every song is memorable. 4/5
As godfathers of the alternative rock sound, I've been meaning to delve beyond the singles forever. And while there aren't really absolute bangers beyond the well known ones here, there's enough going on in each song that meant I was into this all the way through. I wasn't about all the clamour over listening to thematic songs when the pandemic started, but listening to It's The End Of The World... at this point, with all we've been through, and still are, was a bit of a moment. With it being the pre-CD age, it has a typical structure of a particularly strong first half, and I think I'll return to that regularly, with The One I Love added on for good measure. Shout out to the sound of the drums, majorly satisfying to my ears. Every member of the band's sound is iconic actually.
Solid album.
Fresh sounds when compared from the other albums that I have been listening to. A significant statement against the man, political. - critical of US involvement in South American affairs... look up banana wars. Fireplace has a sleek Jazz rift - overall pretty cool but a bit too polarizing for everyday listening in my opinion.
Great album, great band which I think are actually very underrated in the U.K..
REM always satisfies just not always my go to
Some songs sound like they should be on a country album, and not on an album of one of the greatest rock bands. However, the tracks that made up for it were my jam, so this events out to 4/5 stars.
idk rem is fine
Nice
3.75
One of the good albums of the 80's. It certainly marked a turning point in the band's career with more consistency and maturity in the compositions and arrangements.
Gut, aber die Stipe Stimme nervt manchmal bisl
3.5 stars rounded up
R.E.M wat een een discografie damn
Obviously I’ve heard a few REM songs before this but I’m definitely going to have to listen through the rest of there music after this. They have a very distinct sound and it’s just great. It’s the End of the World As we Know it, is just a classic. Not big fan of Fireplace but rest of the album is very good.
Really enjoyed this album! Early garage rock but it's still bangs. Obviously knew the big ones and enjoyed hearing the hidden gems.
A great listen. I was somewhat familiar with R.E.M before but hadn't listened to a full album before, and I enjoyed every song. Easily 4.5/5 Favourite songs: It's the end of the world as we know it, The one i love, Lightning hopkins
Pretty good!!
A good solid 4. Strong instrumentals and I suspect there’s some clever lyrics going on if I put a bit more effort in. But apart from the awesome energy of End Of The World there’s no thing very exciting or out standing.
This was a great listen, a few hits and the rest were great too.
Document is the album that introduced me to R.E.M. as a 13 year old in 1987. "The One I Love", "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "Finest Worksong" belong to their best songs. To me the album has always sounded a bit more open and straightforward than the albums preceding it. Like the band was finding its ground.
Pretty darn good stuff, Maynard.
This feels very quintessential REM. I think if you love REM you'll love this album and if not, you won't. I don't really have any strong feelings one way or the other, but can recognize the musicality of this work, so I'll pump it up by one star.
The album that transitioned REM's jangle pop to rougher guitar riffs that would influence alt rock of the 90s. Vocals are clear, you can finally hear what he's saying. Album overall pretty good. Pretty coherent and full of great tracks. I'd say that there are more really good tracks on this album than any other except maybe Murmur or Automatic. The first two songs do great at establishing their new sound. I love the synths, drumming, vocals, and solo in "Exhuming McCarthy." "Disturbance of the Heron House" is a perfect blend of their old jangle and newer harder sounds. Skipping "Strange," you have the two classic songs everyone knows. Main downside is some songs kinda suck. "Strange" is a Wire cover, and it's a little too busy and fast-paced for either Wire or REM fans to like. None of the songs after "The One I Love" grab my attention, and I feel like stopping the album after that. "Fireplace" has a nice synth and jazz solo, but it's so out of place. I like the psychedelic jangly sound in "King of Birds," but not much else to offer. "Oddfellows Local 151" pretty decent. Favorites: Exhuming McCartney, It's the End of the World
A solid album with a few of their biggest hits. Not too long, just some classic jangle pop.
Oddfellows Local 151 is one of my favourite REM songs. “A fiery statement, and its memorable melodies and riffs are made all the more indelible by its righteous anger.”
I don't love the whole album, but it's got plenty of parts to enjoy
better than i was expecting. got great late 80s post punk instrumentation
Document might be one of their BEST ALBUMS, and as much as I like it, you’ve already heard at least one LP from the list. Nevertheless, you pretty much have to be familiar with “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”. (8/10) FT: It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), King of Birds, The One I loveL
Much better than Murmur - this was the R.E.M. sound I was looking for. A few big hits, but even the tracks I hadn't heard of were quite solid rock.
I have listened to (and own) several albums from R.E.M. I can't remember if I own this one, which may tell you something about my rating. Most of the tracks are on my "I would listen to this again" list, and one or two are on my "I WILL listen to this again" list. "King of Birds" might be my favorite track, followed by "Oddfellows Local 151". "It's the End of the World..." is probably my least favorite track. The song has been overplayed, and the novelty has worn off for me. This is not my favorite R.E.M. album, but I still give it 4 stars.
Finally an R.E.M. album. Am a bit biased here as they're one of my favourite bands and their albums are top quality. The first half is fantastic, all killer and no filler. Hard guitars in Finest Worksong and Strange, and great vocal harmonies in It's The End Of The World. The second half starts strong with The One I love but the rest doesn't have the same qualities as the first. Out of their 4 albums on this list, this is my least favourite, though still a great album. Also has the best apocalypse song ever.
Did a REM binge a while ago, so this is still relatively fresh in the conscious mind. It's a bit of a bridge album – doesn't have the fresh looseness of their first few albums, and the songwriting feels a bit forced. But it is better than Green, which I (personally) think is the weakest of their pre AFTP albums. Anyway. I only now found out that Jefferson Holt got the boot for what may have been an alleged#MeToo situation. It seems that he got our learned friends to keep the matter nice and quiet. Shows how much my thinking has moved on from them days. I always assumed he'd be fast and loose with the double entry ledger... REM and "College Rock" will always be synonymous in my head. Unwashed, unshaved, reeking of stale beer and cheap aftershave. The audience, that is. I do not say this mockingly. I got to REM at a slightly more advanced stage in my evolution, but I had been that dude. Just with different music.
Good classic REM
The pride of Athens! Solid album. A couple of tracks that don't quite seem to fit in but really strong and enjoyable throughout, and with the two big hits. Holds up very well after almost 35 years.
Pretty good! I'm not huge into Alt-Rock, but I'm glad I checked this out. I will say that I think "King of Birds" would have been a waaay better song to end on than "Oddfellows Local 151". I was unsure about whether to give it three or four stars, but "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a classic, and tipped it over the edge for me.
Hay que ser localistas.
Nomás por the one I love sube un chingo. Rolón. Y sube más por el himno llamado the end of the world as we know it.
Excellent album with range and some absolute BANGERS in the middle.
Pretty groovy. Definitely could listen to this and jam out a little if it came on, but I wouldn't choose it over most of my current music
slaps
Great. Very reflective of the times, both musically and politically. "The One I Love" and "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" are great.
Good upbeat/work type music
Love the harmonies in End of the World and One I Love - listened to the those songs in particular a lot on road trips with dad. Also love how tink tink tink ride gets incorporated into a few of the songs. The drumming is actually sick across the whole record. Big Billy Joel sax on Fireplace. Oddfellows Local 151 is a amazingly spooky unsettling tune to close it all out. Always thought of them as early 90s dad rock, didn't realise they were so prolific from early 80s onward. Close to a five star but not quite
Believe it or not but this represented the first time I've listened to an REM album. It's good! Rocks harder than previously imagined, more saxophone too. Might try to 'get into' this band in my mid 30s, which feels a little tragic. Not half as tragic as hepping oneself to ie 100 Gecs though
I don’t think I was ever the proper age to really receive what REM was transmitting in their hey day. Now that I am older and super fucking wiser, I’m pretty much delighted anytime I hear them. Even on the kids channel on Sirius where they play “Shiny Happy People” ever 12 songs. And yet I had never listened to this record in full. It’s pretty damn great. And, at least in this moment, I’m happy I’m old enough to feel that way.
4/5 - Good, but not a big REM fan...
Lovely, nostalgic for the early 00's, makes me thing of white men and moby glasses. I didn't hate it.
This album encompasses past, present, and future R.E.M. It's all there. Nostalgic for me in many ways. Most likely my introduction into "alternative music" or what we called back then college radio. So, it's always going to be an important album to me persoanally. Still in my regular rotation.
Schönes Album! Nur „the end of the world“ hab ich für dieses Leben genug gehört…
Some great music that has worn the test of time. I definitely do not listen to this one enough.
Love R.E.M., though i think every album they released prior to this was better (recognizing this gave them a ton of radio play). Still some great songs... particularly like the peculiar Oddfellows Local.
Unusually cheerful-sounding twangy soft-ish rock. A bit generic but I wouldn't mind listening to this in most contexts.
Strong from start to finish. It has been long enough since hearing it that I now love End of the World again. I would definitely like to listen to this more.
Peak REM. Crisp arrangements, clear vocals, strong melodies.
It’s a great album. They really nail their sound here and you can see how brilliantly the four of them fit together. The first half is amongst the best stuff they’ve ever done. The second half isn’t quite as solid, otherwise this would be a five star album.
Pog
I like REM a lot but didn’t like the whole album
R.E.M can be boring. But this album was decent.
Great Album. The one I Love is the best track on the album. 3.5 so round up.
Absolutely fantastic album. Stipe’s vocals and Mills’ bass are just killer. Not to mention the fantastic Beach Boys harmonies here and there. It may not be R.E.M.‘s best work, but it does pretty well to showcase all of their strengths. Besides It’s the End of the World As We Know It, highlights are Exhuming McCarthy, Strange, and The One I Love.
Yeah pretty cool, definitely carved out niche for the Tragically Hip, 54-40, Hootie and the Blowfish and some other alt rock of the 90's.
Really enjoyable, but most of the songs are a little repetitive. That being said, The One I Love is my favourite
Сложно слушать 30 лет спустя
Liked this more than I expected. Good structure, great lyrics, and honest presentation. That opening track is a ripper, too.
Not my favorite REM album but it has some nice classic songs. The first few songs are repetitive but it gets better.
Unos R.E.M. primigenios, crudos en su sonido aún a veces garajero y metálico, de reminiscencias grunge por momentos. Potente.
Excellent!
It's the big popular REM album. The one with "The One I Love" and "It's the End of the World". But this is solid alt rock that I can get behind. Admittedly not very familiar with REM outside of the hits. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy something like this though.
Great album
An all-around good album. Definitely will listen to again.
A good album, really a record of it's era. I have fond memories of this album when it was new. I wouldn't put it on to listen to it now though - so only 4 stars.
Solid 80s rock with interesting lyrics and a good amount of variety! I like his voice fine overall but there’s a few spots where it’s abrasive. Might be benefitting a half star or so from nostalgia, my dad plays these songs so much.
8
Really my style, easy on the ears
4/5
4.2 - Shimmery pop rock that fits snugly into the late-80s indie era and also signals musical acts to come. Michael Stipe's vocals are throaty, muscular and clear. The album starts strong with "Finest Worksong", coming a peak in the middle with "It's the End..." and "The One I Love."
One of alt rock 80s jewels. They never did a bad album, and this one is one of their best
Good album. Great bass. Thoroughly enjoyed
4/5
Good album, 4 given but would say 3.75 - 3 is just too low a score
One of my favorites as a kid, only a few memorable tracks though
Some good classics
Weird how much of a Talking Heads/TMBG vibe I get from this album. R.E.M. lyrics were so on the nose and political. I never really thought about it before.
false
Eh...I can appreciate the art here, but this IS NOT for me. LMAOOOO.
Still sounds great. An early peak.
Really great album. I had never listened before and I was pleasantly surprised. There's a reason they are such a huge influence.
7
Excellent album, flows quickly and production is spotless. You can see how they were a favourite of Kurt Cobain after this .
Favorite: It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
It's funny looking at the plays on spotify, it feels like everyone just stops this album after "The One I Love" The first half of the album was pretty great, with "Exhuming McCarthy" a great hidden gem. Ya'll know what the best song is already.
Fun!
Need to dive deeper in the catalog!
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!
Nice late 80s album! Love "The One I Love" and "The End of The World".
It's a good record. I can listen to it while I work.
Realpolitiks
4/5. Grungy rock with lyrical streaks, another favorite classic.
Really Enjoy Music ^______^
It’s REM. Hard to get excited, hard to hate
My fourth R.E.M. album in the list so far. Here's an excerpt of my review of Green: "I am notoriously (at least among my music-discussing friends) not a big REM fan, though I definitely respect what they did for alternative music/culture, and there are some REM songs I do love. If you care about why I think I don't love REM as much as some others my age, ask me about my Older Sibling Theory. All of that being said, the hits on this album are among the first REM songs I remember being exposed to on MTV (after the tracks off Document that got a lot of airplay) and I generally like them now." So this album was when I first remember being aware of R.E.M. and my friends getting into them. I liked the MTV songs off this album but not enough to go out and buy the album. At the time I was listening to punk and speed metal mainly, and this jangly stuff didn't do much for me. I have since come to appreciate these guys (and this album) a lot more. I didn't know they actually sampled the McCarthy hearings in "Exhuming McCarthy." That sounds kind of cheesy now. I was waffling between 3 or 4 stars for this. It's higher than a 3 for me but I don't quite think it reaches 4.
Honestly liked this more than I expected. A solid collection of catchy high energy straight forward rock with tounge in cheek lyrics at some points that add to the enjoyment. It has its fair share of misses though and the singles definitely stand way above the deeper cuts but still decent overall. 3.5/5.
If I had found this as a kid I probably would have latched onto it and learned to love every track on it but coming into it new I'm not super impressed. Some great tracks, some middling.
pretty good
There were couple that struck me in particular, but I think I prefer later R.E.M. I was also surprised to hear some similarities with The Decemberists and sometimes Pearl Jam. I’ll need to see what, if any, influences were involved.
Lightnin' Hopkins stood out. I'm not the biggest REM fan, but this was solid. 3/5
REMs great
Not bad, reminded me a bit of Sublime
🎶it's the eeeend of the woooorld as we knowwww it🎶 <- banger, voor de rest prima maar niet buitengewoon leuk
ja de voornaamste punten gaan naar its the end of the world, de rest was minder
OK
REM never met a minor key they didn’t like. The hits are pretty good, the rest are kinda forgettable.
Starting off strong with "Finest Worksong" which is quite up-beat for being an REM-song, but then it get's a little gloomier overall and that's where I start to lose focus. But a solid album and absolutely worth a listen.
Like most REM albums, this is a textbook case of "it's not you, it's me". I don't have anything bad to say about Document - it's a very good indie rock album with trace elements of punk, groovy arrangements and nice vocals. It was clearly ahead of its time, and I can absolutely understand the appeal. I had a reasonably good time listening... But beyond that, nothing particularly grabbed me or moved me, and I didn't really connect with it on an emotional level. It's been 24 hours since I listened to it, and I already don't remember much except the famous "It's the end of the world as we know it", and maybe "Welcome to the Occupation". Can't really explain why, I guess their music is just not my style. Sorry, REM - much respect, but no love. 6/10
A R.E.M. album with real energy, consistent from start to finish, and simply enjoyable to listen to. One of my favorite albums by the band, but the band is far to be my favorite…
I feel like I would listen to this on a stereotypical American road trip. Like the beginning of these songs would work great in an old slightly busted up pick up truck. Or it would be used as a band that features in a TV series, where the episode works as normal until they get like a 3 minute performance feature. I am SO convinced I would have heard this on Gilmore Girls. I don't mind it! The lead singer, definitely LEADS i'll say that. Michael Stipe his name is (I just looked it up). Very distinctive. The most popular song on this album - I feel like I am trying to convince myself that I like it rn; it's a little annoying. They love to repeat a lyric hahaha but I think that as the album progresses there are some new and more intriguing beats in the background. I am enjoying it.
Standouts It's the End of the World As We Know it The One I Love Lightnin' Hopkins
a solid album, moving towards the mainstream - the joyful, relentless flow of "It's The End Of The World" was great to hear again
Rem is a band I've heard a lot about and in the 90s were definitely on the radio a ton but I've never really sought out there music but I enjoyed this album. It's big hits were end of the world as we know it and the one I love but I think my favorite track on the album was exhuming McCarthy. It's funny when in art things feel boring or obvious but you realize it only seems that way because it so influenced things that came after and when it first came out it broke new ground.
the hits are great, the rest I could honestly take or leave. overall 3/5.
Not bad, but also like kind of forgettable. Maybe some songs I’ll listen to later but nothing stood out.
few cool traxx
Yeah I remain critical of the voice on R.E.M. records, It really isn’t my taste. But relatively speaking this is an okay record, the songs are well written, balancing the annoying vocals. 3/5
...in the Epstein Files?
Some good songs but enjoy other rem more
All the songs sound very similar. It’s like they wrote a ton a variations hoping that one would stick. 2 or 3 actually did! 3.0/5.0
tem bangers mas fora isso é bem morno
Some classic hits, but I've heard them enough
a handful of banging tunes
I'm not the biggest REM fan but this is pretty solid, some classics here but also cool deeper cuts
Not as good as Out of Time. A few greats here, but not all the way through.
A few bangers and the rest of the songs are decent but feel rehashed from earlier work. I love early REM but would only listen to this one for its singles.
Pleasant, "It's the end of the World..." is iconic, but the album itself was just okay on this listen.
Decent REM album couple of good hits, drags in spots.
Not the best REM but it was decent
Cool but too American sounding
It's not for me. Too dreary.
supernatural ahh album.
It's interesting because I feel it was a good album, but I didn't love any song.
I'm going to admit that I didn't listen to this immensely closely, but I got the general vibe. Before this album, I knew them for pretty much one song: Stand, and I got a similar feeling from the music here as well. They have a certain whimsy to their lyrics and compositions that I find somewhat charming. I think they handle satire/sarcasm in a way that is more musical.ly appealing than Frank Zappa. There's nothing incredibly special about the music, but it's pretty catchy. I don't know if it's the bias of already knowing it, but "it's the end of the world as we know it" stands out to me. I think I'm confident to get this a light three.
боже занадто старий рок як н4 можу.ахвхвжв на 3
Oddfellows Local 151 is so good
Extremely political, strong meaning. Explains struggle during reagan era america. Songs like exhuming mccarthy talking about the red scare during the cold war. Disturbance at the Heron House being about them seeing us as just primitive monkeys that follow them, allegorical structure. Other than that though, the songs are very repetitive and underwhelming.
it had a west feel to it idk how to say it and it was nice hearing the first ever rock bands
This is a strong 3, nearly a 4.
Not my favourite REM album but some solid solid highlights. Finest Worksong is an excellent track one.
❤️❤️❤️ - Exhuming McCarthy me up!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 lovely stars. Tom.
I already listened to some songs on this album, so it was wasn’t that difficult. But by the power of God - if I get one more american or british rock/punk/manly album, I’m going to crash out