Document

The back REM catalog is still so dense for me it is hard to digest.

This album is almost totally fucking awesome, just drags a bit sometimes

I can't even say why I like this, or R.E.M. in general, but I do.

Not a fan. Not a hater.

It was alright.

A band with a message

Wow, REM goes harder than I ever knew.

it‘s the end of the world as we know it, and i feel fine..

gseh irgendwie viel smiths i dem. aso etz im erste song. er het e geeili stimm. han alli songs bis jetz recht guet gfunde aber au nüt wo mi umhaut, es tönt scho bitz noch 90er obwohls no tüüf ide 80er drin isch. schono gute. aaah its the end of the world kenni. coole song. nöd meh. the one i love au no cool, ich mues mir amel sege wie früe das isch für so alt-rock. bin etz bi king of birds und s haut mi immernonig um, sini stimm isch sehr eige und cool sie spieled guet und d songs sind interessant aber s isch afoch au nöd gnueg interessant zum mich mega mitneh oddfellows 151 dings isch chli hässiger, findi geil.

rem nanie glost freumi ahh es isch rdcht def leppard, fun oke und die nächste lieder sind sehr langwilig hahaha nöd schlecht aber sie laufed iwie eifach ok it's the end of the world sehr cool! find echli schnelleri pace tut am lied guet megaaa nöd zueglost wnl oddfellow no cool? hertists 3 sit langem

One of those records where you can see the embryo of the 1990s start to take shape, as post-punk morphs into alt-rock via R.E.M's distinct cynical righteousness The production is flattering to every instrument, and Stipe's voice sounds incredible (as always!)

a solid album with some solid songs, the one i love is a massive fave for me, the second half of the album kind of melded together a bit much for me though.

Boomer/Gen X Dad rock, few catchy guitar riffs 5ish/10

7.5/10 Not a big R.E.M. fan but this positively surprised me. Consistently good and interesting. Not nearly as pointlessly.meandering as I expected. Highlights: Oddfellow Local 151 The One I Love It's the End of the World Exhuming McCarthy Lightnin Hopkins

After reading the reviews here i cant help but feel like I missed something, maybe I need to come back to this one.

A good REM album?

Buen disco de REM

While I enjoyed AfTP quitte a bit, this album doesn’t have as good songs. After listening twice, I can only recall one chorus. Boring.

Not remebered that album :-)

A great week finishes with an absolute banner album. I think I’ve already gushed about REM in a previous review. Suffice it to say, this band was a revelation for a bookish young kid - this album in particular. Absolutely wonderful.

It turns out that R.E.M. wasn´t able to make a single bad record! Another strong album with the hits "It´s The End Of The World As We Know It..." and "The One I Love" and only a few weaker songs.

Don't really understand the love for this record. It's R.E.M. but with all the charm and ingenuity stripped away in favour of a populist varnish. Michael Stipe's voice has always grated with me, so its foregrounding on this album doesn't play to the band's strengths. Namely, Peter Buck's jangling arpeggios. They're here but diminished in number. Maybe I'm being conservative, but I think Murmur is a better record than this. Of course, it being R.E.M., there are still a number of really solid pop tunes here (the singles, in particular, are strong). But despite breaking the band out of the confines of college radio obscurity, this doesn't sound like a group at their creative peak. Disappointing but still worth a listen.

Had this a few days after Murmur, which I appreciate but it’s hard not to compare them directly. Document is definitely less fun and less catchy (End of the world as we know it… notwithstanding) but Finest Worksong is up there with my favourites. There are a few songs here that feel a bit samey and they were taking fewer risks at this point. I was tempted to give Murmur a 5 but rounded down in the end so it seems only fair as I’m feeling 3.5ish to round up this time.

Early REM all seems to be pretty consistent. I'm assuming this is the album that got them big due to the banger singles, and it makes sense since the rest of the album is pretty good too. The Wire cover in the middle was a bit of a jumpscare.

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.

You can hear the roots of grunge. This is a rare album that kind of peaks in the middle

I never had a special opinion on R.E.M., and while I always knew their singles were good, I never delved deeply into their discography. Since this is their fifth studio album, I didn’t know what to expect. I already knew a few songs from the album, but I was thoroughly surprised to find that the deeper cuts were also really good. The themes felt very political and relevant to the times in which they were written. The One I Love is my favorite song from the album. There’s still that distinct 'R.E.M.' sound in every song, but it doesn't feel boring, and it doesn't get stale no matter how many times you listen to it. They're one of the very few bands that created a successful formula of having a standout sound in each song — you know it's R.E.M. as soon as you hear it, and I really like that.

Its the end of the world will always be a banger. Chicken little and growing up super nostalgic. Rest of album sounds pretty similar.

To this day, Document had remained one of two early R.E.M. albums I hadn't listened to all the way through, along with Fables of the Reconstruction, which I hope to get to eventually. Document sounds to be a turning point for R.E.M. as they transitioned from jangley post-punk to a more pop-oriented alternative rock. Everything went downhill following Document, and in my opinion, Document was part of that downfall. I find myself disappointingly underwhelmed. Other than the two songs everyone knows, there’s nothing here that’s grabbing my attention. It’s not… bad, but it’s not classic R.E.M. 3.4/5

This feels ahead of it's time in terms of ushering in the 90's alt rock era. An enjoyable listen with some great tracks and not any duds. The standouts are the two hits "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love".

A wonderful collection with 4 or 5 absolute highlights. 4 stars out of 5.

REM are a great band who I respect but the lead singer's voice grates on me.

it was all right i guess

Banger after banger after banger. Does get a bit samey by the end however. Documents approved.

Mid - thought it sounded all quite samey. Sort of like a more boring Greenday

Beyond the three singles, I was unfamiliar with the other eight songs - so it was nice getting to hear these for the first time. I wouldn't say they're overly strong tracks, with the side A four being noticeably better than the side B four, but I still dug the experience.

I enjoyed this well enough. It didn’t grip me enough to want to revisit it, or explore more from R.E.M. this was a perfectly neutral 3.

Happy birthday to me. Best album to hear this morning. This has always been a favorite. Every bit.

I got Automatic For The People a couple of weeks ago so I guess it's only right to compare the two. For me, I think 'Automatic...' had the higher highs, and although 'Document' doesn't quite reach those highs, it is overall a bit more of a consistent record. It doesn't dip in quality slightly in the middle, if anything it gets better with the two well known tracks 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)' and in my opinion, the best track on the album 'The One I Love' which has a great riff. These two have the catchiest choruses and I have to shout out whoever does the backing vocals, they're top notch every single time they appear throughout the record. A great listen, very enjoyable, glad it appeared. Still love Michael Stipe's vocals. Prefer it to the other R.E.M. album on this list which I gave a 4, so this one is going to be top marks.

Sounds like a pretty classic rock album, but no songs in particular stood out to me

yuh

Felt like early REM

Yeah rem just made good album after good album I don’t know what it is and before I was tempted to just give document a lower rating as it isn’t my favourite REM album but there’s not a single bit of filler on here 5/5

Not bad for REM who are usually annoying

Didn’t like this

I think this can be considered R.E.M.'s first "real" breakthrough. "The One I Love" and "...End of the World..." both stand the test of time as two of the group's biggest songs. However, the rest of the album doesn't really follow their normal template that led up to this point, and instead opts to deliver a more "harder" rock sound with clearer vocals from Stipe. This was the first R.E.M. album produced by Scott Litt (first of many at the time), so this musical direction becomes clearer. There's still the familiar jangle pop here and there, but some sax and even a dulcimer is thrown in on the back half. I still slightly prefer "Automatic For The People", which would release a few albums later, but "Document' is still pretty strong for its runtime. A 3.8/5 seems appropriate. Favorite tracks: "Exhuming McCarthy", "...End of the World...", "The One I Love"

Not half bad! Quite sonically similar, but great production too, sounds BIG, baybeh. Favourite tracks: Exhuming McCarthy, Disturbance At The Heron House, It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The Only I Love, Lightnin' Hopkins.

No puedo creer que me haya gustado un álbum de R.E.M. Igual tampoco la pavada

REM is one of those bands that I've liked but never really 'got into' like other bands. Monster was probably the album I listened to the most for some reason, and Out of Time and Automatic for the People were the ones I think of when thinking about REM. Document has gone underappreciated by me with the exception of the singles. The One I Love is the most jangle-pop song ever. It's great. End of the World is great too and seems appropriate for the times. I had never really listened to the rest of the album all the way through, but there are some other really great songs on here as well. Disturbance at the Heron House was a standout. Strange took me by surprise as well being a blues song.

Finest worksong - 3/5 Welcome to the occupation - 4.5/5 Exhuming McCarthy - 5/5 Disturbance at the heron house - 4.6/5 Strange - 3.8/5 It's the end of the world as we know it - 4.8/5 The one I love - 5/5 Fireplace - 5/5 Lighting Hopkins - 4.8/5 King of birds - 4/5 Oddfellows local 151 - 4.8/5 4.48/5

Bon REM des débuts, quelques tubes qui passeront dans leur rotation :”Finest Worksong”, “The One I love” et celle qui terminera la quasi totalité de leurs concerts “It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)”. Ça s'essouffle sur la fin avec un morceau avec beaucoup trop de saxo (“Fireplace”), une qui fait trop whoohoo whooohoho (“Lightnin’ Hopkins”) et une dernière chanson dont le riff n’était pas suffisamment bon pour le faire durer sur plus de 5 minutes (Oddfellows Local 151”). Ca reste un bon album, avec quelques très bons titres. Ca manque parfois de variété dans le songwriting, certains titres n’étant que des variations d’une formule déjà entendue sur d’autres albums. Et à l’échelle de REM, il y en aura d'autres meilleurs.

I’m not especially drawn to R.E.M. but this is a decent album.

and this is why I love this list....challenging engrained views of bands/genres/albums that originated at a time and place in my life that have changed. Totally reassessing my opinion of REM as a result of this album.

Note the greatest, I still enjoyed it although I wouldn't listen to it all the time.

O álbum Document, do R.E.M., é uma excelente surpresa. As músicas me conquistaram de imediato e me proporcionaram uma experiência única, já que nunca havia ouvido nada da banda antes. Para mim, esse álbum é uma verdadeira revelação, com canções que são ao mesmo tempo cativantes e cheias de profundidade. Descobri um som envolvente e uma proposta sonora que superou todas as minhas expectativas. Definitivamente, uma grata surpresa e uma banda que vale a pena conhecer.

has some of my favourite buck guitar work on here but the record flames out far too soon begins a run of spotty rem records in my opinion, can't beat their old stuff best song: the one i love worst song: king of birds

I really like REM and was fortunate to have listened to them live. It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) is one of the songs that marked my youth. I have listened all these songs before but never in order. I like the album a lot.

A lot of nice songs

The singers voice is keeping this from a 4 but the songs were mostly pretty good. I enjoyed Finest Worksong the most

Nothing really stood out to me that much besides the big hits.

Over the span of four albums, REM built up a following, especially on alternative and college radio. If not for this album, they would have stayed a something of a cult band. Green, it turns out, had a secret weapon in the form of the song It's the End of the World As We KNow It (And I Feel Fine). It checked all the boxes necessary to elevate REM to major stardom - easy to remember and singable tune (check), funny memorable lyrics (check), and uplifting attitude (check). Overall, the album is somewhat distopian but doesn't fall in on it's own heaviness. It would take two more albums for REM to start headlining stadium shows, but this is the album that got the ball rolling.

Solid R.E.M. Didn't know this album (did know two songs,It's the end of the world as we know it and The one I love) really enjoyed it.

Mid but its got a few classic dad jams

45mins in, I realised I was listening to the 2hr special edition. I was not going to start again.

Amazing album, loved every song!

Enjoyed it but found it quite samey. End of the World was of course the highlight.

I was super into REM in my mid-teens and I remember this album quite well. They were a popular rock band by this point but not the mega stars that they would become with Automatic For The People. I really like the earlier sound captured here and if I could have seen them live it would probably have been in this era. Cool band. Cool album.

Now this is good rock and roll, uh, music

Indie magic

Good strong opening song, the album tracks nicely compliment the strong singles released from it. Fine album from a great band.

Another 4 star Going too far? Couldn't be further apart From Depeche mode for a start The bedrock of alt rock Times where people took stock Nuclear weapons and cold war R.E.M made it very far Later in the nineties This is beauty from the eighties

2 big hits and a lot of deep cuts. Stipes’ voice is monotonous but in a good way! Delightful

I found this so much more listenable and enjoyable than Green.

Its ok, just not that in to REM

Good opening track

This is exactly the type of album I was hoping would be on this list. I have listened to it before and I likely will again. End of the World and The One I Love are just good songs. The album itself has some variety of sound and some clear devotion to a particular sound. If that makes sense. Like they know where they struck gold and mined strategically around that area. It just sounds good to me even before I dig into the creativeness of the music or lyrics or pairings therein and whatever. A band that can let its bassist shine is in my opinion one that has more than one ace up its sleeve. Individually the songs hold up and collectively I want to re-listen just to understand the political side of the lyrics more. It perhaps would be a 5 if I had reviewed more or even less albums but currently it’s a strong 4. Very solid with no notable flaws, but I tagged 5 songs I really like. I’ve got albums with 8-10 or more and I think I need to leave room for being blown away and not just impressed.

Fairly middle of the road album in my opinion. I think for my last review (Green), I summed it up perfectly. I want to like R.E.M., but I just think they are kind of whiney and it doesn't do it for me. This album was fine, but I am not going to seek it out on my own.

Not a fan. It’s the end of the world… wasn’t enough to save it.

Solid 3! Good surprise with the end of the world song and a nice listen throughout.

I enjoyed this album a lot more than Green, especially with two of R.E.M.’s biggest hits on the track listing, but I’ve put myself in a conundrum. I gave Green a three and I think Document is better, but I don’t think it’s a four. It did make for a good road trip album and it does have the sound that you’d expect from R.E.M., I just need a ten star scale more than I have so far on this list. Mostly only coming back to this one for Its The End of The World and The One I Love, but I’ll be alright with the other songs coming up on a shuffle.

My dad used to play a lot of R.E.M. songs on his guitar when I was growing up. I never realized all those songs were from the same band. I loved them so much when my dad played them, but I really don't like the actual version. I guess I like R.E.M.'s song writing, but hate their sound.

It's the end of the world as we know it!

Didn't like it much but has some great songs

Awesome, rockin, REM is the best

Not bad. Pretty distinctly REM. Some good hits on here.

I liked this. But I dont think im gonna listen again, so a strong 3

Cool!

So much jangle. I love the combo of It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) and The One I Love. They're both fun, dark songs

Pretty good. Like most REM, it has a couple of fantastic tunes, but the rest is pleasant but sort of samey-samey.

R.E.M. are definitely growing on me, if only by exposure, but there is a certain sameness to the music here (low/high riffs, basically) that I don't think their later work has. That midpoint double-act of "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love" is kind of breathtaking though.

Extremely mediocre and forgettable. I never liked R.E.M.

4.1 3x couple classics

Not bad, a few standouts

Really a 3.5 rating. Fun songs and such a unique voice. Most songs across movies for sure. But not my go to style

Not bad nothing special probably a 3

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.

Putting any one of these songs on and I would be fine, but as an album it annoyed me. I would not choose to listen to this again. So much of it is Michael Stipe's voice. It's not bad, it's just such a specific thing, it gets tiring after a while 2.5 -> 3

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.

I forget how much I actually do like the early REM catalogue (through Green). Truly the ultimate "college" rock band. Guitars sound great, Stipe isn't mumbling on this one. The album is almost completely up tempo. I'd forgotten how good this one really is. And it's super accessible - I don't think you have to be in a specific mood to hear this one.

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 ⭐️

OK

A classic R.E.M album with my favourite song of theirs “It’s the end of the world as we know it” That be a good karaoke song to learn

Used to hate REM, now I'm mostly indifferent give or take a few songs of theirs. I'm pretty indifferent about this album as a whole too.

Yeah I'm familiar with a couple of the songs on here, but this music is just boring to me.

Midnight oil but without the bogan I gave Lupe Fiasco and Gun Club a 4 but not this, SUCK IT

It was either a strong 3 or a weak 4 and it felt rude to give it a better score out of pity Gives Sam Andreas vibes for some reason don’t ask

Always like the REM sound but this went straight through me. Fine, I guess? None of the hits.

Boring

Own it

представила как хорошо быть фанатом группы, когда новый альбом раз - и точно такой как ты и хотел, все эти гитары, гармонии, гнусавые голоса, сильные метафоры. непосвящённому нормально, возможно стоит в них погрузиться, но правда извне кажется что это бардовское творчество какое-то

tremendo! the on i love

I've listened to R.E.M. before as an influential band on the alternative rock scene. I've heard the singles off this album, Document, and I consider them to be the highlights. The rest of the album is good, but I'm not quite over the moon about it as I would have liked. On a technical level, everyone in the band played well. In particular, Bill Berry's kept a driving rhythm on percussion, Pete Buck's guitar hooks were catchy, and Michael Stipe's off-kilter baritone vocals were complemented at times by the harmonized background vocals on songs like "It's the End of the World As We Know It (I Feel Fine)." My hang-up with this album comes from the lyrical content. I can tell from songs like "Exhuming McCarthy" and "Welcome to the Occupation" that the band tried to provide political commentary concerning the Reagan administration at the time. The problem is the imagery of the words is just opaque enough that the messaging doesn't work effectively. There might have been an attempt at balancing out the silly and serious tones with these songs, and as a result, it only felt serious to me with "Finest Worksong" and "The One I Love". I still enjoyed Document even if the songs didn't coalesce into a more meaningful impact. Regardless, the band still played well on this album, and as such it gets a solid recommendation from me.

Continues the band's transition from college rock darlings to mainstream pop rock superstars. Highlight: "Disturbance at the Heron House" (REM sound, but done well), "Strange" (the looser feeling works), "King of Birds" (martial drumming and Eastern sounding guitar throughout (a bit Beatles-esque musically))

Mycket bra skiva. Fantastisk pop. Bra röst. REM är given på den här listan. Finns bättre skivor med bandet men den här är värd en solid 4a.

REM är ett grymt band. Skulle tippa på att om jag betygsatte alla album skulle snittet bli högt. Just denna skiva har jag lyssnat en del på. På kassett!!! Då tyckte jag its the end of the world var bäst/roligast. Inte längre. Det är inte deras bästa skiva, men lägsta nivån är hög med REM. En stabil fyra.

Älskar R.E.M. och rent emotionellt så skulle jag vilja sätta en femma, men deras senare album från början på 90-talet är bättre och den här når inte riktigt hela vägen dit. Det är forfarande riktigt bra dock, så fyran är solklar.

Quite reasonable really. I wasn't expecting much. Although I know the famous ones, I had previously not been impressed by other tracks that I had heard. But this is quite good really. Got to be worth a high 3.

What a time to be alive. Turning 18 and discovering lots of new exciting things. Music was changing for the better too. This album was my introduction to REM. A band who continually hit and miss for me. But this album grabbed me with the simplicity and perfection of ‘The One I Love’. Such an awesome rock pop song with harmonies, banging bass lines and dancing guitars. ‘Finest Worksong’, ‘Disturbance…’ and ‘Oddfellows…’ are other stand outs for me. Back then, I found the whole album fresh and interesting, and it still holds up well. 7/10 rounded to a low-ish 4.

'LEONARD BERNSTEIN' I've been shouting that out without fail for the last 35 odd years since I first heard that song. This starts with the banging 'Finest Work Song', and is a solid album from start to finish. Not an album I turn to very often, but I know it's there if the mood arises. I now feel I was overly generous to Deep Purple yesterday as I want to give this a 3 too, but this is infinitely superior. That is the problem with scoring out of 5...

Bad

I don’t know if it was the production or the quality of the music, but I swear R.E.M. never sounds like an 80’s band. Seriously, It’s The End Of The World As We Know It could have been released in the 90’s and I wouldn’t call it out of place. Maybe it Michael Stipe’s vocals or the Scott Litt production that give R.E.M. their sound. Document has to be one of the more cryptic, but refreshing albums of the decade. I think this might be the band’s most consistently good album to date. Everyone does their due diligence, from Bill Beery’s backing vocals to Peter Buck’s shredding, and the result is an extremely fun album. I tethered between a 4 or a 5 for this one. The score will show a 4, but it’s more of a 4.5. Favorite track: It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Other hits: The One I Love, Finest Worksong, Fireplace, Welcome to the Occupation

Very important album in REM's discography, which allowed the band to reach another step in their upward curve towards popularity, which started in the eighties and saw them attain global stardom during the early nineties. *Document* has a couple of valleys songwriting-wise (basically the middle of side one, plus the quite awkward "Lightning Hopkins" on side two), but its peaks (epic and instantly memorable "The One I Love", rowdy and snarling "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", angular-yet-catchy opener "Finest Worksong") are, simply put, iconic. "Welcome To The Occupation" and "Fireplace" are also great cuts. They don't exactly reach the same legendary heights, but they make the whole album worthy to check out for both REM fans and more casual listeners. Which is why it would be criminal not to include it on the list. Now, like each and everyone of those REM fans, I have my own idea of what the ideal ranking of the band's ten best albums should be. Lots of people can argue about what the so-called "objective" list is, and everyone knows that finding such a list is impossible. Here's my own ranking anyway: 1. Murmur 2. Reckoning 3. Automatic For The People 4. Out Of Time 5. Life's Rich Pageant 6. Document 7. New Adventures In Hi-Fi 8. Green 9. Monster 10. Fables Of The Reconstruction Those records go from good to insanely great. I will only include the first six in my own list though. *Document* is thus the last one to make the cut. Because in spite of its couple of missteps, *fire* runs through this album, both lyrically and musically. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: 21 (plus the 80-ish extra LPs listed on this app, included because different past versions of the book have mentioned albums that have since been dropped in subsequent editions) Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 421 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 251 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 311

One of the few REM albums I enjoy. Really good pop/new wave at its peak

I know a few REM songs. A few good ones on this album. Some very interesting lyrics. Not typical at all.

This was alright. I like some of REM’s songs and I liked some of these, but not a lot of them.

I suppose that I have never been as much of an REM fan than I should be. All of their 80s output (and most of their 90s) can be argued to be classics. Document is probably not my favourite, but it does have a couple of their most known singles. Solid from start to finish and an important artifact of its time maturing the College Rock level of play to something that could occupy a greater range.

I liked the average song from this album less than I liked the average song from Automatic For the People, but I think that the best songs on this album are better than the best songs on Automatic For the People.

I just can't get into the stilted, stuffy, self-serious vocals…

This is the second REM album I've gotten, after Green, and I feel pretty similarly about both. Another very good album, and a rare one where the second half is significantly better than the first half. Favorite songs are The One I Love and the last track.

There was a time when I probably would have hated this album, but now that I’m older, I’ve started to see R.E.M. in a new light. This album marks their transition from an indie college rock band to a more commercial, radio-friendly sound, but they never lost their core identity—and most importantly, they kept those jangly guitars. Even though I’m a bit burned out on some of the radio hits, it’s still a solid album from start to finish.

R.E.M. is a good listen

Always been a fan of R.E.M. and The One I Love and It’s The End Of The World As We Know It are classics. Not sure I’ve listened to this whole album before, but I also think it has a good variety of sound.

I'm not sure i can write bland for every review but I'm going to again for this one

Some good songs. Not as hard hitting as I was hoping or expecting. Not bad I guess, just my fave. 3 stars for avoiding that awful typical 80s production and foreshadowing the sound of the 90s.

Mid zzzzzzzz

no thank you i'm good

I haven’t listened to this before, but I have a soft spot for Automatic For The People and Monster. This was great.

Good album. Reminded me of other REM albums I've listened to. Sometimes haunting lyrics, good musicianship, ahead of it's time or maybe in a time of it's own.

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

didn't do a lot for me, but it sounded good

Ordinary

Good sound

Sounds exactly like REM. All songs sound quite similar.

Classic REM.

Enjoyed hearing this album again. Not their best, but Fireplace is a gem

Pretty good. You can hear Pearl Jam picked up influence from this.

Good but not great

solid. sounded like REM. had some of their classics

good

I love REM, but this is clearly one of their earlier offerings, as it’s not as polished as some of their later stuff. I really enjoy It’s The End Of A World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), as it’s quite different to the rest of the album. And Michael Stipe has a beautiful voice.

Album 557 of 1001 R.E.M. - Document (1987) Rating : 5 / 5 An awesome album from a favorite band. Great tracks just keep coming. I would rank a few of their albums above this one but it still gets the rating.

Painfully american.

Enjoyable and recognised more than expected

R.E.M. getting more poppy, but still with an indie edge.

It's good, but it's not their best. It falls right between two great albums in their discography. It has a bunch of great songs, but in my opinion it falls flat compared to a handful of others in their discography

This was better than yesterday's music. But still not a fan overall.

End of the world is worth at least +1 star

Finest Worksong was a great opening track with fantastic sound. Most of the tracks were pleasant enough and very REM. The singles End of the World and One I Love are still great listens. Overall, short, pleasant album, but nothing innovative or truly great. 3

Okay

I loved this album - great songs, lyrics, and variety. I would absolutely buy.

Lightnin’ Hopkins was my favourite song on the album.

This isn’t really my fave but I respect REM and their journey— sonically this was cohesive but kinda one note 😬

I've never listened to REM aside from the odd single that I would hear on the radio or at bars, not quite grasping the appeal. Sitting down and listening to this album in its entirety has really piqued my interest! Definitely going to explore this group more, and revisit this album.

fajn

5/10

Man, early REM was so good. I had only heard End of the World and The One I Love before (and I know them well), so the others were all new to me, but man, I just love the sound of this album. I listened to it twice. Five stars.

I only listened to two songs because I slept through the rest of the album, but I liked it

Went in knowing some songs. Ended up enjoying the whole album. REM definitely has a signature sound, and it really seems to come together on this album. Plus the hits definitely hit. Overall- good album, but not quite a 4 star.

Ich mochte die Stimme des Sängers noch nie. Ansonsten gute Aufnahme und Klang.

It's aight. I'll need more listens to it, but i like some songs, others just kind of blend together.

Pretty good album although I prefer their later work. This is still pretty creative and chill vibey. I'm sure that I will be listening to some of these songs again but don't need to hear the whole thing again.

Another slightly different than what was expected at the time R.E.M. album. Nothing special, but the nods to country-folk and pop punk are nice.

own

Enjoyable album with some super recognizable songs. Not an overall banger composition

Annoying voice

1/2

pretty good but wasn't clicking for me

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It is a classic, but otherwise it’s not totally my thing. Good, but nothing I don’t think I’d seek it out.

Repetitive, a little boring and monotonous. Thought I would have enjoyed it more.

I love REM have been listening since they came out-they came to Rutgers once while I was a freshman we thought they were the cooooolest... this is not my favorite album but I love how nicely it flows from Finest Worksong to the One I Love - It's the End of the World is always so fun

There are other albums I prefer more, but it was still a treat to hear his truly unique voice and their sound. It's been a beat since I've listened to them, and wow, it took me right back to when music was consumed so differently. I'd have my tape ready for the college radio station to record new music from KTXT. Some DJ friends premiered a documentary, "35000 WATTS: The Story of College Radio," and REM was front and center.

Vocals have never been clearer but this is ultimately Pete Bucks day. This album rocks and rolls and has riffs galore. The summation of their half decade rise - five albums in five years is such a different era - each album pushing them forward. The harmonies are still there the guitars are out front. Not a misstep from the Finest Worksong through Fireplace but then gets lost in the last quarter. S

Meh, REM just doesn't do it for me. I've listened to multiple albums

Document is the only R.E.M. LP that I own, but it's been a hot minute since I've listened to all of it from start to finish. I've already reviewed Murmur (meh) and Green (loved it), so I'm excited to hit up my third R.E.M. album for this project. I wanted to really love this album, and while I think it's really good, it fell a little short of five stars for me. Document starts off with the criminally underrated "Finest Worksong," a stirring rock anthem that sets the tone for the album's themes of resistance, individual empowerment, and political corruption. "Welcome to the Occupation" slows things down a bit musically, but "Exhuming McCarthy" shifts back to a more upbeat song, with lyrics blisteringly critical of Reagan era politics set to a jangly pop rock sound that's almost impossible to not to tap your foot along too. Side 1 ends with one of the band's most well-known (and in my opinion, one of their best) songs, "It's The End of The World As We Know It." I love the opening drum blast, and the blistering pace of Michael Stipe's vocals make this one of the best rock songs of the decade. Bill Berry's backing vocals of "it's time I had some time alone" are absolutely perfect, and his vocal presence is a huge boon to the whole album. "The One I Love" is not one of my favorite R.E.M. songs, but it's a solid ballad, despite feeling a little out of place on this album. The rest of side 2 is good, and while I always enjoy R.E.M.'s music, there's not a lot on side 2 that I really love. I think it's objectively good (excellent songwriting, great guitars, and solid drumming), but it's just not something I really enjoy listening to, especially when you take all of R.E.M.'s catalog into consideration. This is a really good album, but it falls a bit short of greatness with me.

Pretty good. Low 8

Fine

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.

It's fine. Not my jam.

I dunno about this list we have listened to 100 rem albums and 0 the offspring albums

So average. Like nails on a chalkboard.

Some great songs and anti-capitalist vibe on this one. After hearing Fireplace, I wished every other track on this had a saxophone part.

I liked it! Songs do blur into each other but it's an overall pleasant sound. I think it's a 3.5/4.

Zzzz....

Fun music, end of the world is a very silly song

I'm not a fan of REM, and couple of the tracks were fun but the whininess of his voice is too much for me

gonna try to bang this out for the last hour of work...definitly sounds like some new wave trendy music... i can see this as an inspiration for a lot of bands never listened to REM before

Entre Lifes Rich Pageant y Green, este disco es el puente entre ambos y supone la evolución definitiva en su sonido. Contiene además dos temas, It´s the end of the world y The one I love, que son dos obras maestras.Les deja una inercia imparable hacia la trilogía definitiva. Scott Litt logra el sonido canónico de REM y se convierte en su productor de cabecera para los próximos y findamentales 5 álbumes (la pentalogía pluscuamperfecta). El disco tiene una apertura potente con Finest Worksong, todo un clásico en sus conciertos. Welcome to the Occupation es un temazo con la chisporroteante guitarra de Buck, y el excelente bajo de Mills. Exhuming McCarthy es compleja y variada, con clara influencia de The B-52´s. Tiene un ritmo que luego seguirán en Stand (Green) aunque también tiene ritmos sincopados, cambios de todo tipo (meten saxo y vientos) y una voz que si no es la de Fred Schneider (The B-52´s) bien se le parece. Disturbance at the Heron House es otra gran canción en los parámetros de los REM más clásicos. Strange cambia ligeramente el sonido, con unos simpáticos coros que iluminan una gran canción ajena (Wire). Una de las pocas versiones en un disco de REM y cierre de la cara A. La apertura de la cara B es espectacular con It´s the end of the world y The One I love, dos clásicos de la música de fin de siglo. Poco o nada que comentar, simplemente escuchar (y ver sus vídeos musicales). En Fireplace meten un inquietante saxo (muy escaso en las canciones de REM) que no desentona en absoluto. Lightnin' Hopkins con otros estupendos coros, es el reverso oscuro de Finest Worksong. King of birds es una canción marca de la casa donde introduce mandolina, es una de las joyas de Document. Oddfellows Local 151 continua el lado siniestro y oscuro, supone el cierre del disco. Disco excepcional. 1987 tuvo muy buenos discos : U2- The Josua tree, Terence Trent D´Arby- Introducing the hard line according to, Depeche Mode- Music for the masses, Dinosaur Jr.- You´re living all over me, Prince- Sign of the times, Spacemen 3- The Perfect Prescription, George Michael- Faith, The Smiths- Strangeways here we come, Erik B & Rakim-Paid in Full , Hüsker Dü- Warehouse: Songs and stories, Guns and Roses- Appetite for destruction, The Jesus and Mary Chain- Darklands, Sonic Youth - Sister, The Triffds- Calenture, Michael Jackson- Bad, INXS- Kick, Pet Shop Boys- Actually, Aerosmith- Permanent vacation, Pixies- Come On Pilgrim, The Wedding Present- George Best, Simply Red- Men and Women, LL Cool J- Bigger and Deffer, Boogie Down Productions- Criminal Minded, 10.000 MANIACS - In my tribe. Radio Futura- La canción de Juan Perro, GABINETE CALIGARI - Camino Soria, Esclarecidos- Por amor al comercio, Los Ronaldos- Los Ronaldos, Pata Negra- Blues de la Frontera, Nacha Pop - El Momento , Alaska + Dinarama- Diez, La Polla Records-No somos nada, El Último de la Fila- Nuevas mezclas, Duncan Dhu-El grito del tiempo, Siniestro Total-De hoy no pasa, La Orquesta mondragón-Ellos las prefieren gordas, Héroes del Silencio -Héroes del Silencio y Loquillo y Trogloditas - Mis problemas con las mujeres. También Def Leppard- Hysteria, The Cult- Electric, The Sisters of Mercy- Floodland, Primal Scream- Sonic Flower Groove, Public Enemy-Yo! Bum Rush the Show, the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (the JAMs, luego KLF)- 1987 (What the Fuck Is Going On?), Love and Rockets - Earth, Sun, Moon, The Communards-Red , Mike Oldfield- Islands, The Replacements- Pleased to Meet Me,The Cure- Kiss me, Kiss me , Kiss me, Sting- ...Nothing Like the Sun o Joe Satriani-Surfing With the Alien.

Doesn't leave an impact

War ein ganz guten Album, würde ich so nicht nochmal hören aber einzelne Lieder aus dem Album vielleicht schon.

Liked it less than Automatic for the People. Boring album

R.E.M.'s first great album, I think. Like the stripped-down sound, which gives a lot more room to the guitars.

Album starts off solid with “Finest Worksong” and the hits “The End of the World” and “The One I Love” still hold up. Tough call on this one as the rest of the album was pretty middle of the road.

Not for me

Perfection

I liked One I Love and End of the World, but the rest either didn’t make an impression on me or were annoying

This could not have sounded more R.E.M. But only one standout really. Simpsons: Yes

We've had a few R.E.M. albums now and I'm starting to enjoy them. Will listen to more.

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.

I feel like REM are one of those bands I hear and go "oh yeah, I love REM!". And this album is pretty much 11 songs of me going "oh year, I love this song!". It's a bit jangly, it's a big proto-grunge, its a bit garage rock. Love it.

R.E.M. veering into pop territory seemingly by accident. Still has shades of their earlier artier stuff. Michael Stipe is more in your face. Mike Mills weaving in tasteful homespun backgrounds. Bill Berry offers his best performance with his impeccable timing, and adding darkness to the orchestration. Peter Buck driving this whole thing without overwhelming it. This feels like a band who enjoy playing together, no one is trying to elevate themselves above the music. Great production, almost too spotless. A fantastic album that I've always loved and I wish I had more time to write about it.

Don’t mind REM but never been keen on this album . three great songs and the rest washes over me. 2.5

Solid album, enjoys the genre of music, wasn't to sure how the individual songs fitted together to create an album .

certainly a good album. R.E.M has a clear style and musical genre flowing throughout. Each song had a good style and feel to it. The album would work wonderfully for a film soundtrack or background music however it didnt speak to me in a way that would lead it to become regularly revisited.

So, this wasn't bad. End of the World is an obvious standout. Not much to remark on, honestly.

The last great REM album! The writing is on the wall for what will come. It's better produced, less mumbly than previous albums, and songs like Exhuming McCarthy are starting to show some of that later pop sound they'll become popular for, but this is still a fantastic album showcasing all the reasons I originally fell in love with this band. Finest Working, The One I Love, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Oddfellows Local 151 all define what was great about "college rock" in the '80s. I may not love the trajectory they took once signing to WB, but the IRS years are undeniably one of my favorite runs of any band ever.

something about the tracks that aren't the stuff of legend strangely hook me a little bit more than "classic R.E.M." deep cuts. i love that period of R.E.M., they're like that cousin who's cooler and more down to earth than you, but that cousin now has a good job and a house and he's somehow cooler? and that's saying nothing of the two beasts right in the middle of the record. there's no cutting them out. "a serve", as the kids say. is it sacrilege to say i like seminal jangle pop band R.E.M. more after they "sold out"? am i stupid? am i gonna die?

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.

Document is a great example of a sort of album that doesn’t get talked about too often. An album that is overshadowed by the big singles, but is still really solid if not great. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) and The One I Love are definitely the best songs on the album, I’m not going to deny that. But so many of the other classic albums that have one or two big singles that I’ve had during this process are so reliant on the strength of the singles that the deep cuts all struggle to keep up momentum. Document is first and foremost a good, solid collection of songs. Every one is memorable in it’s own way, whether the hooks come from the instrumental, the vocals, or the lyrics. This is the sort of album that people should try to write, the singles getting big because they’re good songs because all of the songs on the album are good, rather than because they’re good songs on otherwise middling attempts, or because they were specifically designed to get big. It’s clearly a labour of love, an art built from passion, and it comes through with how easy to listen to, yet instantly relistenable it is. I’ve made the observation before that I don’t use the word a lot, but I think it’s fair to say that Document is a masterpiece in how to write and structure an album. I love it so much

Clearly a great influence to any indie rock and many other genres of the 90s and after.

I mean... its springsteen. Not really my bag, but I can see why people love it.

Grandioso disco. Buen intercalado de voces. Grandes melodías. Canciones muy creativas, con sonidos y capas muy interesantes.

Sorry if I ever gave the impression that I liked R.E.M. enough to warrant more albums, the list mistook my tolerance for enjoyment. Its fine, but no more please, Mr. Stipe.

Can we be done with R.E.M. please?

Now this is rock. I'm giving it 4 stars because I'm stingy. Loved this album (hello?? the guitar riffs and strumming!), I'm glad I listened to it because now i have some new favorites.

It was good, it's unfortunate it was overshadowed by the other albums i was listening to right before it. A part of me was just waiting for it to end so i can go back to them.

I had this CD back in the day, I really enjoyed it at the time, along with Automatic for the People. This seems edgier and sharper than Murmur, which I did not care for.

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.

7/9/24 A classic album by a classic band. One or two of their more known songs are here, it's an easy enough listen.

That was alright

i’ve thinking for years that i needed to listen to more rem, and not just rely on the hits, and this album did not disappoint. ‘document’ showcases the band at one of their many peaks. michael stipe’s vocals are so satisfying to me, and they complement the band extremely well. i particularly enjoyed “it’s the end of the world as we know it” and “the one i love”. i feel inspired to listen to their entire back catalogue now, and am excited to see more of them.

I do really like Stipe's utterly unique vocals across R.E.M's work, and this could probably considered one of their high-water marks as a group, but I didn't find myself super invested. Doesn't help that one of the hits on this album has become a total meme.

love some fiercely political bangers 👍 favourite tracks: welcome to the occupation and of course it's the end of the world as we know it

I'm a little biased here because the two huge tracks here (ITEOTWAWKI and especially The One I Love) were kind of like childhood anthems for me. I grew up on Guitar Hero: World Tour, and The One I Love was my favourite song on there. Some of my best memories from the late '00s are jamming out on a plastic orange guitar with a Wii remote wedged into the back while my mom belted out "FIREEEEEE" at the top of her lungs. (I'm surprised our neighbours never complained.) So, as simple as the melodies and harmonies are in most of the tracks, R.E.M. gets a pass for pure nostalgia. The pure energy in the other track (with the funny long name) also bumps this album up significantly. Other than those two tracks, the songwriting isn't particularly memorable, and the main draws into the music are Buck's shining guitar arpeggios and Stipe's distinctive and heavily American vocal. I wasn't sure if R.E.M.'s music qualified as alt-rock, so I had to look it up, and it seems they're pioneers of the genre. I can definitely hear it towing the line between classic 70s rock, the clean, electronic "danciness" of the 80s, as well as something indescribable that's unique to alternative rock. 4/5 Key tracks: Finest Worksong, It's The End Of The World As We Know It, The One I Love

beetje wisselvallig... paar goeie, paar doorslagjes van die goeie

Probably more of a 3.5 than a 4 but I enjoyed it. Some greats.

I’ve been to Athens Georgia, maybe that’s the difference. This is often considered to be REM’s best record. ‘87- the height of Reaganomics, AIDS fear. Yet, the Cold War was over, the Berlin Wall was crumbling and we were still in an era of civility at home- even if four more tours of Republican Tax-The-Poor economic plans were looming with GW Bush following in Ronnie’s footsteps. Recorded in early ‘87 in Nashville they began to experiment with new instruments. They starting recording the same week the Simpsons debuted on a brand new TV network- FOX. This was one of the first times in my life where ‘scandals’ loomed large- Iran-Contra affair, Jim Bakker and Gary Hart were both having affairs- a notable televangelist and a presidential candidate. I was younger than my son is now when this album was made but it still sounds valid today. It still is valid today. But this album is so cohesive. It feels warm. It feels Athens-y. That town is interesting to say the least. It is the definition of a college town- bars and kids and music and warm damp air everywhere. I spent one night there- it’s worth the tale if you ever want to hear it- but it ended with me finding my acoustic guitar (one that I had searched the tri state area high and low to find) at the back of a piano store: a Yamaha Compass Series. It’s still with me to this day. That was about 25 years ago. The album- this recording- has so much depth. Vocabulary- English and musical. It has this strange mix of hopelessness and hope that makes me feel like every song is “yearning”- and it’s up to the listener to feel whether it’s yearning for comraderie or solitude. Hold me or leave me alone. It’s also important to note that at the time Michael Stipe was still very much in the closet and the vibe of this album seems to fit that to me: look at me! But I can’t show you the REAL me.. I can’t imagine. Essentially I’d say this album has a few down moments but no bad songs. It’s an incredible record of a band that was on the cusp of becoming the first big ‘stadium’ band (and only) of its genre and its contemporaries. I would also like to point out that this is the album to point at if anyone ever questions REMs musical skill. There is a LOT going on and it’s a great example of a band fitting together perfectly. It may be the best performances of each of their recorded careers, especially Bill Berry. That man is so underrated. I’d give it a 9.5/10 so……..

some catchy songs here and there

I liked this but I think I need more time with it to decide if I love it.

Automatic for the people is better but this is still good

Una verga

Great album with many iconic songs. Very joyable music :)

Very clearly the first instance of that recognizable "R.E.M." sound which would inspire many a 90's alt-rock band in the years to come. I don't think it's R.E.M.'s best album ever, I think that title belongs to 'Automatic For The People' but it's a very enjoyable album none-the-less and has a few big tracks too. I would listen to this album again on purpose Standouts It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Oddfellows Local 151 4/5

These songs are all so familiar to me. They're ingrained on my consciousness even though I don't really listen to REM on my own.

R.E.M. is one of my absolutely favorite bands. Document is a strong album with many highlights - some of these songs still move me deeply to this day.

It was fine

It was alright but I do feel like a lot of their songs sound similar.

Good, but not my favorite R.E.M. album. I feel like this album is all about the big singles and the deep cuts are rather lacking and forgettable. Key tracks: Finest Worksong It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) The One I Love

It's ight. Didn't hate it and didn't love it. Best - It's The End of the World As We Know It (But I Feel Fine) and The One I Love Worst - no bad songs besides some mid 2.75-3.00/5

Not their best but still good

Very good album, would be happy to revisit in the future

It IS the end of the world as we know it, and I DO feel fine. Thanks, R.E.M! Seriously though, R.E.M. is always great. I think "Automatic For The People" is probably the better overall album (or maybe I just have more nostalgia for it), but this one is definitely an enjoyable listen. Good energy, good songs, good listening experience.

A very nice album. I was familiar with the top hits It's The End Of The World and The One I Loved. I don't think I've heard the rest of the album yet. I quite liked it. But it probably won't be on my playlist very often. 3/5

Standout Tracks- The One I Love, Its the End of The World

Unremarkable

3 is too low, a 4 is maybe too high but there are some tunes on here.

This is like a 3.5 for me. I'm rounding up. I spotify-liked 3 tracks: Finest Worksong, End of the World as we Know It, The One I Love. The rest of the tracks have the REM sound I like, but the songs themselves are not as good.

Thisnis the most hot-cold I've run on an REM album so far. It has some truly classic songs on it, but also a few that just fall flat. Probably a 3.5. But I'll grade on an REM-curve.

I might have REM fatigue but this just felt like REM trying to be a bit more rock than alt-rock (especially Lightnin' Hopkins) and it doesn't work as well as the other albums we've gotten so far. And the horns on 'Fireplace' are epically bad. That said, even when REM is bad, it's still more mediocre than outright terrible.

The “sounds like Counting Crows lead singer” cinematic universe

Quite alright, just early alternative rock, isn't the most interesting thing ever but certainly quite enjoyable and will get through an evening

Another of my very favorites. This is the most rocking REM CD. "Finest Worksong" kicks it off right on a heavier note, although with the usual classic REM backing vocals. And while there's plenty of lighter moments throughout, all the standouts are harder rockers. "The One I Love" and "End of the World..." really pop, they're just amazing rock songs in every way. The latter shows so much of what makes REM incredible. Weird stream-of-consciousness lyrics, checks. Plaintive backing vocals, check. Jangly treble guitar and jacked-up backbeat snare, check. And then that breakdown bringing in the piano and the vocal countermelodies, it's just flawless. I like basically every song on here, and it's fast, fun, and functions as a cohesive whole.

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

4.4 - I just love REM at the moment, but this wasnt the best album for me. But any REM album is 4 and above right now.

Something about this album was very comforting. I liked the saxophone on Fireplace. I thought Its the End of the World As We Know It would sound more We Didn't Start The Fire, but it felt very organic within the album. Fave Tracks: Finest Worksong, Its the End of the World As We Know It 3.8/5

Fantastic album.

REM at ots REMest.

These guys were better than I remember.

-I really liked the first half of this specifically, the second was maybe a bit weaker but still pretty good? this is the second REM album ive had on here so far and i think I liked the first one better but I’m glad I’ve discovered them -Favorites are Finest Worksong, Welcome To The Occupation, and The One I Love

Exhuming McCarthy is such a Barbie Girl Bop.

Wow, this album is incredibly mid. His voice is interesting and some of the songs were relatively interesting, but very much a bore. 2.6/5 -> 3/5

I liked it

It's a shame I don't think the back half of the album is quite as excellent as the first; Lightnin' Hopkins in particular I'd consider a bit of a low point. Overall a great album that while not as strong as Murmur IMO, dials down the jangle and ups the intensity to great success.

worst voice in the world strikes again

REMs REMiest album I think. At least it’s the one I consider quintessential REM

LP

Great album, we listened while driving east towards Mondegreen. Reminds me of listening to REM while driving to New York so many times over the years.

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

8/12/24. I typically love REM but didn't like this album as much as their later ones. Still some standout tracks on it!

This would have been a 3 - were it not for „it’s the end ..“. I love that song.

Out of Time was one of the first albums I proudly owned. The thing for me with R.E.M. (and maybe more specifically early R.E.M.) is that while the hits really hit, I find many of the other songs to be incredibly boring. Not bad, but boring. They do have a very particular vibe, but I think it comes out much more fleshed out and fully formed on Out of Time or Automatic for the People.

So good, I had to listen to it twice!!

What is with the awesome albums lately! They’re mostly rock but they’re still awesome. Amazing album

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!

R.E.M.'s Document is a standout album in the college rock genre, blending thought-provoking lyrics with infectious melodies. Released in 1987, it captures the band at a pivotal moment, where their underground roots began to meet mainstream success. Tracks like The One I Love and It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) became anthems, showcasing Michael Stipe's enigmatic vocal delivery and Peter Buck's jangly guitar work. The album’s production, handled by Scott Litt and R.E.M., is crisp yet retains the raw energy of their earlier work. Lyrically, the album navigates political and social themes, offering a reflection on the turbulent times. Document also hints at the band’s evolving sound, foreshadowing the more polished, arena-ready direction they would take in the '90s. The fusion of catchy hooks with introspective, often cryptic lyrics makes the album both accessible and deep. It's a perfect representation of R.E.M.'s ability to balance artistry with appeal. Document remains a timeless piece, influencing countless bands that followed in their wake. For any fan of college rock, this album is a must-listen. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 5 STAND OUT TRACK - It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

An incredible blend of jangly guitars and urgent vocals, Document feels like walking through a familiar city on a crisp autumn day. The lyrics are cryptic, yet they linger, like a phrase you can’t quite shake. It brings to mind the edge of Talking Heads, but with a rougher, more rebellious undertone. The album flows, creating a journey that’s both introspective and outward-facing.

You get your GenX card revoked if you don’t know who REM is. I was just surprised that they actually had albums other than Automatic for the People! …AND they’re good! Obviously End of the World and One I Love are top tracks, but I really enjoyed the non-radio-play tracks such as Lightning Hopkins and Disturbance at the Heron House. I am going to continue to dig into this lost gem!

This is a solid REM outing with 2 awesome tracks: "End of the World" and "The One I Love". I remember discovering REM for myself via the "One I Love" video. I recall being home sick from school and watching one of the UHF channels that played music videos. And I remember seeing the video several times during that sick day. I definitely was hooked based on that song. It led me to buy the "Eponymous" album which is my only experience of early REM. From then on, I was an REM album consumer. So I have less fond feelings for the early REM albums since I basically went straight to the best of material.

Another good one from these lads

Just lovely

sadly didn't do anything for me... which is mad cos im a big fan of 90s REM. +1 star for the two hits

I've been on an R.E.M. kick recently, and this may be my favorite album now, but I need to let it sit more. I think this is one of the most consistent album I've heard from them so far. There was only 1 song I didn't really like. Low 5

Ovo mi je možda i najdraži rem, svakako najdraži za slušanje

One of the best albums of the 80s.

3.5 liked murmur better

Kinda good