Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Never really gotten into R.E.M. but this was pretty decent.
Not in my top three REM albums but if losing this album loses The One I Love, I'll protect this album with everything I got.
Not as many hits as Green, but def some recognisable stuff on here. Kind of reminds me of Green Day. Fun enough but not that memorable aside from the hits.
Pleasant but didn't wow me.
I swore I already listened to one, but apparently this is my first R.E.M. album from the list. I'll admit that, for reasons not fully known to me, I've never particularly cared for Michael Stipe. Maybe I saw him acting too self serious in an MTV interview once upon a time or something. With the exception of the unavoidable radio hits (a few of which are featured here), my prejudice has kept me away from the R.E.M. catalog for most of my life. I'm willing to put that to rest and see what I've been missing... but does this list really need four R.E.M. albums? let's find out! I'm obviously jumping into the middle here. This is the band's fifth studio album and I'm coming in with basically no context for the four prior albums. My first impression is that the lyrics are very punk rock, but the overall sound is... not. If punk rock is cheap beer, this feels more akin to a cheap coffee. It's an interesting juxtaposition. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" bridges the gap a little bit and I appreciate that. For the sake of belaboring a dead horse, we'll say there's whiskey in that particular cup of coffee. There's a thread here that extends forward to "August And Everything After" by Counting Crows (not on the list), which was/is an important touchstone album for me and would be at the top of my personal 'required listening' list. For that influence alone, I probably owe R.E.M. more deference than I've ever given them. R.E.M. deserves to be on this list, but I'm still undecided if I need to do this three more times.
I've never been the biggest fan of R.E.M and their overall sounds and hits. Now that I've listened to a full record, I can say that I respect them. Still not my style though.
Whenever I've tried with R.E.M. in the past, Automatic For The People aside, I've never been that impressed. I just find them mildly boring at best, and quite irritating in some instances. This one began promisingly, but the style of vocals quickly wore thin, and there wasn't an awful amount of variety between tracks aside from a couple of standouts ("Finest Worksong", "Welcome to the Occupation" and "Lightnin' Hopkins"). I know these guys receive a lot of love, but I just don't understand it personally.
I've meant to listen to more of R.E.M.'s albums for years, so this was a treat. Love the jangle pop-ish sound so many of their songs have and this album has two of their greatest hits ("It's the End of the World..." and "The One I Love"). For that reasons, I tried to pick album tracks that weren't those hits to include from the album and that was pretty easy because this is a solid album. Went with "Finest Worksong" and "Strange."
Sounded good, but nothing I remember.
3/5
R.E.M. is fine, and thats about all I am willing to say about them. This album has a few hits I enjoy, End of the World and The One I Love are as famous as they are for a reason. Its a solid album but nothing really eye-opening to me. I'm not sure if I'm just on the wrong side of the Millenial divide on this one or not. It seems like older Millenials rever R.E.M. and their work and to me as a baby millenial/old Gen-Z they're just another radio rock band.
Decent REM, has a couple of hits, but I don't think it's their best. -It's the End of The World -One I love
Second half makes up for the first.
There are some classic tracks in here, but the album as a whole is not that interesting. Without The One I Love this would be a below average album. Finest Worksong and End of the World are also great. Beyond those its hard to see much value in the tracks here.
REM albums run into each other a bit, although the run of albums from Green to New Adventures all had some particularly great tracks. Like all of their first five Document is a good album.
Is it objectively bad music? No. Did I like it? Also no. I liked the hits, especially The One I Love and Lightnin' Hopkins, but all the rest sounded the same. I also find the lead singer's voice kind of irritating. 3 out of 5.
- ei paskempi meno, oma tuntemus remistä on vaan aivan top kuunnelluimmista biiseistä ja tältä levyltä ei aivan suurimpia rem hittejä paria lukuunottamatta löydy - tämmöseen musaan pitäisi melkein olla nostalginen suhde että lähtis kunnolla - yllätyksekseni nautin levyn vähiten spotifyssä kuunnelluista biiseistä paljon - voisin kuunnella uudestaankin
Same as the others. Some really good songs, some forgettable.
A pesar de que aprecio la calidad del trabajo de R.E.M. su originalidad y la particular identitaria de su estilo y sobre todo de la voz principal, nunca logro conectar a un nivel personal con el sonido de la banda. Es una cuestión estrictamente subjetiva, simplemente no me gusta. Dicho esto, estuvo bueno aprender sobre el uso de guitarras jangle, que he escuchado en muchas bandas, pero de lo que no tenía conocimiento hasta ahora. También me aprecio la aplicación de instrumentos como la mandolina, que le dieron un sonido identitario a la banda. Así como considero que la musicalidad y la grabación es buena. Simplemente no conecto con el material.
Not bad, but not anything to write home about.
I liked this album way more than I expected. Their music brings forward feelings of paranoia mixed with a prosperous listlessness that I think really captured this era of American life.
50/50 some songs were unbearable some i liked hidden gem: oddfellows local 151 is the reason to listen to the end
I’d written a bunch of stuff about this record but somehow that draft was lost to the ether. So, here is a shorter albeit accurate account of this record. It is not R.E.M.’s best record. It is not. Murmer is. And it is not close. Next is Fables. R.E.M. probably does not exist without Big Star, the Replacements, the dBs (Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey), Don Dixon and the whole Athens and North Carolina scene. The guitar work on Document is excellent, Peter Buck demonstrates how to expand what would become alternative rock - jangling guitar with a pop sensibility best displayed on the gems from this record: Exhuming McCarthy, Welcome to the Occupation and the Wire cover, Strange. Stipe is singing clearly, the vocals are crisp and the lyrics interesting and wide ranging. The anti-love The One I Love is a solid track as is Finest Worksong, but these become tiresome as the sugar in them is a bit sweet. So with It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine). The last couple of tracks are just not interesting, save for the closer Oddfellows Local 151 which saves the album from falling of the cliff. This really was a transitional record for R.E.M. as evidenced by the dull title: Document. They were documenting the time when they were moving from college rock heroes to commercial rock stars. Really - go listen to Murmur and discover a band crafting a beautiful record that still holds up today.
chill. ok. some bangers. mellow.
It's the end of the world as we know it seems to be the stand out track. The rest is solid rock, but mostly forgettable. Might have been my cup of tea in yesteryear, but kinda feels like a CD I wouldn't miss too much.
Never listened to an REM album before, but this is pretty decent. End of the World is pretty played out but there is some solid stuff on here.
That one song is real catchy the rest is just okay
Enjoyed most of it. Nothing outstanding but overall pretty good.
It's good, but I like what they became after this album more
Decent. Don't care for the vocal melodies or guitars but there is some solid songwriting on here. Favorite songs: Exhuming McCarthy, Welcome To The Occupation.
Nothing wrong with the album, but I just found myself struggling to stay engaged. Favorite Songs: It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), Oddfellows Local 151
Solid album. Not for me but it was good
Finally an album I have heard before and actually had the cd at one point. Great REM album with the classic jam, It’s the end of the world…
"Document" is a much better album than "Murmur," showcasing R.E.M.'s growth and sound evolution. I enjoyed it.
So this is the album that helped REM blow up and of course It's The End of the World as We Know It and The One I Love are songs that everyone has heard before. And their other best known songs came on albums after. The album is very upbeat and just feels optimistic. Michael Stipe has such a iconic and recognizable voice that it's almost a detriment. It sticks out and there isn't much of a vocal range. It's like a kazoo playing in every song, you can always hear the kazoo and no matter what you do, a kazoo sounds like a kazoo. It's a good album, but a couple run-throughs is enough.
Never my favorite, but still good. Have always disliked End of the World
I see why this was a classic, but to me it’s quite boring college rock. Probably won’t listen to the album again.
A strong 3. Almost a 4. Wish there were half stars
an ok album
Pre: I like rem not crazy about the slightly whiney vocal, don't know any songs on this album so will be cool to hear the non radio hits Post: I was wrong and did know a few songs, solid album but not compelled to go back to it
3.6
Alright. 3
Didn’t get the chance to listen with 100% focus in all honesty
It’s the End of The World and The One I Love are great but the remainder of the album was disappointing. They were to go on to make better albums.
An easy to listen to album with a distinctive sound. Only had heard It's The End Of The World As We Know It before, but the rest of the tracks are pretty consistent too.
Sometimes I enjoy REM, but not today. Kind of a grating winy sound.
Great record. Finest Worksong is a powerful opener, album cuts (esp. King of Birds) satisfy, and it had the hits it needed. End of the World is… ok, then annoying, but The One I Love is REM at their best. FIIIIIRRRRREEEEEEEEE!!!!
I think of my self as someone who likes R.E.M. I never really imprinted strongly on them in their heyday, but they have some great songs. Maybe I even look a little bit like Michael Stipe? This one is fine.
Not quite sure what it is but I can't quite enjoy this one too much, maybe it's his voice. Still a decent album
Not really that exciting.
Classic R.E.M., not bad but after a while it all sounds the same, the last song could've just as well been another song with different lyrics
This was unremarkable to me.
better than murmur, and better for the inclusion of the two big singles, which are undeniable. always liked "end of the world." my favorite thing about them is still peter buck, but michael stipe isn't my least favorite thing on at least those two tracks. something about their sound still goes through me though.
Sadly, I thought this was a guaranteed five great album, but they’re definitely are some stinkers. This band is absolutely phenomenal. Just found a couple songs brought the album down a bit overall great hits and we definitely listen to it again.
It's REM. It's good. Enjoyable. Not the best. Just good enough.
Pretty good! Kind of fall vibes!
Solid, uncomplicated work. It’s always a jumpscare when one of these has a widely known song on it. I wonder if there’s ever a time when a band compose a song and just know that millions are going to hear it, especially if it’s the song that sounds the most different from the others.
Decent, though the song featured in Family Guy when Peter gets a stroke is a bop. 3/5
I was never a big R.E.M. fan. They always felt too vanilla - they SOUND amazing, I'm not denying that - just they always seemed shallow and vapid, like a corporate pop band - but then again, that could also just be me not clicking with Stipes voice, versus the solidly polished band playing behind him. It's a good album, no doubt. I love "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" - but really, that's it for me. They felt like a band that had a few awesome hits, but a lot of "sounds good" output.
How come REM are always so dull?
Between 17 and 20 I was obsessed with R.E.M. But this album is another of many examples on this list of bland albums by bands who produced brilliant work. Reckoning is, for me, their masterpiece. But I'll take Murmur, LIfe's Rich Pageant, and even Fables of the Reconstruction in a heartbeat over Document. Those earlier works were so artistically powerful that they inspired an entire genre. But apparently they should be remembered for their first whack at making radio-friendly pop. Urgh. As my friend Chris Barron said when this was released, "Michael Stipes' lyrics were a lot better when you couldn't understand what he was singing." It ain't just the lyrics. It's like a nightclub when the lights come on at 2:00 a.m. or a photograph of Monet's Water Lily Pond; sometimes clarity obscures the magic. 425 albums in and my sublist of bands who produced brilliant albums but who have mediocre products on this list now includes: R.E.M. ZZ Top, David Bowie, Metallica, U2, Bruce Springsteen, the Cure, the Black Keys, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Paul Simon, Prince, Miles Davis, and the Go-Betweens. Given the GREAT music that those acts are responsible for, It's remarkable how many misses by them this list contains.
3,5
Good change from some other music. A few of the tracks were on guitar hero.
This is middle of the road rock of the time.
I like it more than I love it. The two big singles—“The One I Love” and “It’s the End of the World…”—still hit, but a lot of the rest blurs into similar mid-tempo jangle for me. The sound is sharp and focused (Stipe clearer, Buck taut, Mills/Berry locked), yet the back half can feel samey. Right now it sits in the solid-but-not-ecstatic tier for me.
The singer has such a unique voice. Overall decent though.
It's perfectly fine but I do wonder about albums that have cult followings or helped launch their careers that I'm not blown away by. what was the difference at the time or what am I missing? 3.5*
I really want to "get" this album. I really want to "get" R.E.M. Not that its by any means bad but I just don't love it like I see other people do and I kinda want to. I liked The One I Love and Exhuming McCarthy ... and of course The End of the World As We Know.
This album feels like all REM albums to me, his voice gets old, the music is somewhat nouveau for the time, but doesn't do much to move me.
Jangly guitars! "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is a certified existential bop. I enjoyed the overall vibe and restless energy, but many of the songs sounded incredibly similar upon first listen. I'd likely add a couple of the heavy hitters to my rotation, but unlikely to listen to full album frequently.
Not as good as Automatic for the People. Really like Oddfellows 151, not heard that before. Otherwise, End Of The World As We Know It, and The One I Love are the famous tracks. Didn't find it nearly as irritating as Green.
Very famous songs on this album. 87 i had no idea. Doing this I have learned about the time periods more. It has been very interesting. The highlights for me were the hits. of course
tbh this was better than "Out Of Time" because the vocal felt more dull on it than on this one.
Another super influential late '80's/'90's alternative group that it seems like everyone loves and I just can't stand. They're just too kitschy and poppy sounding for me. Like, let's have these major chord upbeat sounding songs singing about oppression and some major social injustices. It's just never clicked with me. But, that was the early alternative schtick I suppose.
I guess it’s objectively good but I can’t stand the singer’s voice.
This one is fine. Didn't love it didn't hate it. 3 stars
Не думал, что в этом списке будет что-то кроме automatic for the people или out of time из репертуара R.E.M. и document слаб по сравнению с этими альбомами
I don't get R.E.M. Their music feels consistently mid to me, and I don't really know what am I supposed to like about it. It sounds kinda nice, yeah, but it doesn't do anything special; the music feels formulaic. Most of their songs aren’t really memorable. I don’t hate their output in the slightest, but if I had to choose one artist to listen to on repeat, there would be 200 other ones before R.E.M. (they’d go before 99% of pop rock, though). I don't know. I enjoyed this album fine enough, but It's the End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love were the only songs that stood out to me, because of their fun choruses. This sounds like a R.E.M. album, and that pretty much all I can say. If that's a good thing for you, I guess you would like this, but I feel completely indifferent to their style. 7/10
3/5
If I could give 3.5 stars, that’s what I would give this album but unfortunately I can’t so 3 will have to do Despite a few low moments, there was a ton to like here… -Michael Stripe delivered great vocals on just about every song -A big hit in It’s the End of the World… -A perfect runtime and amount of tracks, which made the listening experience even better There was a few forgettable songs, but the strength of the rest of the album more than made up for it Favorites: None Honorable Mentions: It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), Lightnin’ Hopkins
No strong feelings. Not bad, not my fav
I personally really like Michael Stipe's voice, but I know it's not for everyone. However, a pretty mid-album with their singles really being the stand out tracks (It's the end of the world... & The one I love)
I’ve always been a solid 3 on REM. I like some of their hits but never really my fav.
A document of a solid rock band
Love his voice
REM pre-Losing my Religion, när de fortfarande kunde kallas alternativa och lät lite råare. The One I Love och The End of the World As We Know It känner man ju till. Resten har jag nog inte hört tidigare. Även Finest Worksong och Stange är bra. Trots det kan man förstå varför det megastora genombrottet skulle vänta ytterligare några år. Stipes sång är absolut där. Men låtarna lite identitetslösa överlag.
Can I be honest? I never got the amount of hype for REM.
Solid. But, the thing I find with REM is that they’re not always great at stringing together a 10/10 record. This is one of those. It’s a solid effort, but it’s not Out of Time or Automatic for the People. It’s not even Orange or Monster. But it’s largely decent. It has a couple of my fave REM songs, and most of the others are solid, but there are a few skippable tracks. 3.5/5
Tam dinlemedim sori
Another R.E.M. album, another pretty good listening experience. I think I am understanding what made them so ahead of their time and influential, even if I’m not totally compelled myself. It’s a sturdy record that doesn’t blow me away but I can respect. Also, in an appreciated change of pace for this band, the engineering sounds great. I forgot how many words “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” has.
Like the sound, but a tad too slow for me.
Only good due to the 2 hits
Great lyrics, iconic sound. I didn't realize how old this album was. The sound doesn't gel with my personal taste, but the lyrics are reminding me to fight the good fight.
Estan cheveritas, pero me suenan igual todas xd perdón
Cool album. Too weird in parts, but generally decent stuff.
Memories of my freshman year of college. Didn't understand the lyrics or appeal then, and 38 years later, the lyrics are mostly as nonsensical now. It's like what I remember college radio being like then, random words and sounds, though the music is more listenable than that was. Too ironic, too cool for me, but some memorable, singalong tunes.
This is a nice album, I had only heard it’s the end of the world and the one I love before and they remain my favorites from this. I was hoping to connect with other songs on here or feel it on a deeper level but it wasn’t happening. This is solidly a 3 for me, good album but nothing I will be coming back to often.
As familiar as I am with REM, I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an album. They’ve always been down the fairway for me — a band people said they liked in high school because it was cool to say so. REM does fine for me with more straightforward rock songs with slower vocals (Finest Worksong). But as soon as we get into attempts to be clever, uptempo, major chord voicing stuff (McCarthy) I find it extremely grating. And End of the World has always been a hated song to me. Sometimes fine, sometimes annoying, sometimes different. Seems like a pretty solid 3 to me.
cool. rock, des titres que j'aime plus que d'autres. parfois chill, parfois plus rapide. contient "the end of the world as we know it"
I will never tire of hearing The One I Love. Top-tier song for me forever.
Dad rock
carino molto movimentato in an English way, perfetto se viaggi in macchina lo consiglio per introdursi ai Rem
Alright album. It's the quirky rock I would expect from r.e.m.
me lo he escuchado hasta la mitad bah
Es ist okay würde ich aber nicht regelmäßig pumpen
Great lyrics on a decent album
Firstly, I think it is important to highlight how diverse this album is. To me, R.E.M. is usually just indie songs with catchy melodic guitar. But there's a nice selection of rock riffs and heavy bass to compliment some of the softer catchier songs. There was even a grungy one on there. Stipe sings with passion and there is a wide range of guitar to compliment his vocals. However, not a lot sticks for me. I ran to the album and it kept me moving, but not inspired to run faster or further. They'll always be a middle of the road band for me. 3 Stars.
This album is like a man in his mid-twenties slowly coming to terms with the fact that life doesn’t always work out how the fairytales suggest it should. He’s an excited young go-getter, working in what he thought was a career defining job. However he has been in this role since he left uni at 22, and his career hasn’t really progressed as quickly as he envisioned. He’s been in and out of relationships, not really finding the right connection with anyone. He’s still filled with hope for life, however there is a thought in the back of his mind that maybe the challenges and difficulties of life are a lot larger than he was told during his younger years. He doesn’t want to give up on his enthusiasm, but he’s beginning to.
The kind of REM album that "proper" fans gravitate towards - as more of a casual fan this is above average US indie fare with some stand out tracks to me, but maybe lacking so much of the identity that I think is stamped on their later, more pop-orientated material. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good album which occasionally wears it's influences on its sleeve while still managing to be it's own thing for the most part.
Not their best. Some great songs on the A side but lots of meandering experiments on the B side
Enjoyable! Shocked at how much I recognized from either guitar hero or the radio. Bumping down a half star because it's not the greatest album ever.
I don't know. I like but don't love REM. Good album 3.5
Might be a hot take, but I think Michael Stipe’s vocals are some of his weakest here; they didn’t bring the emotion or bite I’ve heard from him elsewhere. Favourite Songs: Finest Worksong, It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love. Least Favourite Songs: Strange, Lightnin' Hopkins.
This was an interesting album, as it followed right after Jamiroquai and "Emergency On The Planet". Both albums actually seemed to try and create a vibe but in very different ways. While stylistically, R.E.M.'s attempt was much closer to my personal preference, the nasal tone of the voice did start to take away from the enjoyment about mid-way through the album. As such it will also receive a 3/5 but could have been looking at a score closer to 4, had the voice been different.
Liked the songs I knew already but thought the rest of the album was average and nothing special. 3/5.
REM comes from the weird puberty of the 80s where music had to evolve from the rock legends of the 70s to the rebirth of rock in the 90s. I didn't like it but I was suprised when I heard the hit songs that this album contains. It's just weird to me, the sound, it's hard to pin down what they are going for and if they are nailing it.
A good solid REM album.
I like it. Don’t love it.
Me encanta the end of the world pero lo demás me aburrió un poco.
I don't know that I've listened to this album from beginning to end since the late '80s. It's good, but R.E.M. has at least four albums that are better. This isn't one of their albums that I "must" listen to before I die. Good, but not great.
Love REM's hits but could never really get into the deep cuts.
like this! So much better than Murmur imho. Sounds more modern and a better highlight of Stipe's vocals and writing. TEOTWAWKI and One I Love are the big hits, but the rest is very good! REM was founded in Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, a school that once had Justin Fields in their QB room, but he transferred to Ohio State after some of the UGA baseball players called him an n-word. Kirby Smart eat shit O-H Brœthers.
--Finest Worksong...Stipe and the guitars sound good here --Welcome to the Occupation...plodding --Exhuming McCarthy...oooh, a bass groove! --Disturbance at the Heron House...interesting guitar solo. Other than that, meh --Strange...they sound like they're having fun here and it's infectious --It's the End of the World...classic --The One I Love...great song. Stipe especially shines here --Fireplace...I appreciate the odd turn with the saxophone, but it kind of derails the song --Lightnin' Hopkins...sounds like it's coming from a different band on a different album but it kicks! --King of Birds...filler --Oddfellows Local 151...not interesting enough to be the longest track on here
I'm not the biggest R.E.M. fan, but they're alright and their hits are a deserved.
Nice! 3.4999, definitely liked it and fun to be reminded of the REM tracks I subconsciously know every word to. Nothing something I’d change if it came on the radio, I’d be pretty happy, but nothing I’m intentionally setting up to play again either.
En ymmärrä tätä
There were a few tracks that challenged this but mostly I found this album to be somewhat monotonous and boring. I'm not sure what it is - something between the vocals and the over produced drum sound create these droning melodies without enough highs and lows to keep you intrigued. The songs that I knew felt overplayed and cliched and the ones I didn't felt like they didn't have any hook to bring me in. At the end of the day, they are clearly a talented group and I am not surprised they have a cult like following, I just don't get that much of the appeal.
Seem to have a mental block with REM. Enjoy their singles quite a bit but their full albums struggle to click, same again with this one. This one definitely has a hit more bite and the hits are massive but still missing something. Top Three Tracks: Welcome to the Occupation, It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love Least Favourite Track: Exhuming McCarthy 6.7
My whole life, I've found R.E.M. hit and miss, and Document bears that out. I can't remember the last time I heard this, but this time around I thought it dragged—though it surprisingly picks up at the very end with "King of Birds" and "Oddfellows Local 151." Obviously "It's the End of the World as We Know It" is a classic of the era, and "Finest Worksong" remains great, so there's plenty to like here (and plenty you can skip too).
jangle butt.
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. The 2nd half after the hits was a surprising part of REM I've never heard before.
It was a safe play, nothing horrible about it and just good enough that it was alright in the background 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it
Not bad. Most songs felt like background music though, some standouts though.
I thought I would have enjoyed this more. I had their Best of Album on repeat when it came out and years after. I’d probably still play it often if a car CD player was still accessible. The back half starting at “The One I Love” was better for me.
I have never been an REM fan, but the fact that this album comes out in 1987 and has a sound that would dominate alternative music airwaves for the next decade does make one pause. In a sense, REM is a perfect example of alternative music because the scope of their music defies easy classification. The strong baselines, frequent use of ancillary rock instruments like tambourine, banjos, mandolins, saxophones etc. all show that REM was crafting a new sound. Not necessarily rock or even light rock, but something different. It is hard to imagine an early 90s dominated by singles from bands like Hootie and the Blowfish, Spin Doctors, Alanis Morissette, Counting Crows, Blues Travelers, Dave Matthews Band all without REM helping to pave the way. Poppier songs like "Strange" and "Exhuming McCarthy" showcase a sound influenced by the B-52s and pop music in general. Multi-instrumental songs like "Fireplace" defy classification, while songs like "King of Birds" and "Oddfellows Local 151" expose an exploration of folk ballad and grungy guitars respectively. REM is a bit of a chimera in that regard, and if you happen to like the form that chimera takes then this is an album you must certainly enjoy. Regardless of my personal feelings, it is a pretty solid album, but I would not put it on of my own accord.
For some reason, I went through a huge REM phase when I was 9 or 10 years old, which is kind odd, right? Like, what child actually goes HARD for this upbeat and optimistic janglepoppy stuff? But then I realized that it must have to do with its close adjacency to early, proto butt-rock. It's kind of the perfect segue band for a kid with growing musical taste: REM's music feels juuuust polished and melodic enough to catch a kid's ear but still "grown up" enough to feel cool and sophisticated.
Some classics in there.
It's really boring... I'm not an advanced listener and maybe I don't know something that makes this album amazing but it's just fine for me. 3/5
Not a REM fan but this was good for REM
I think there are some hits and catchy songs, but other than that, the album overall is just okay to me. Specifically, I think that most of the tracks were filler. However, I feel that production, instrumentals, and some of the lyricism done by Michael Stipe are actually good components of this album. But like I said, I feel that majority of the songs have no place on an album like this especially when you have a hit single "It's the End of the World As We Know It" on this album. It's crazy though to find out that this is an 80s album, to me, it defiantly has a 90s sound almost grungy or alternative in a way but defiantly didn't sound like something from the 80s. But to end this review, the album is just okay but does have a couple of songs that I did enjoy! Favorite Tracks: Welcome to the Occupation, It's the End of the World As We Know It, Oddfellows Local 151 Rating: 3/5
A solid album. Well produced. Good storytelling. Not particularly memorable for me though.
Nice album, very spirited. Even though I like how this sounds and their vibe, these songs didn't stick out to me too much (note: The One I Love is one of my favorite songs from b.i.t.d.)
A solid album, theres no denying how important Document is to R.E.M. This is the album that got them going. It just wasn’t the kind of album that got me excited as R.E.M. isn’t entirely my thing. Although there were song I enjoyed on this album. Also probably an unpopular opinion I dislike “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It” like a lot. Favorite songs: Finest Worksong, The One I Love
++: Finest Worksong, I't the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) +: Exhuming McCarthy, Disturbance at the Heron House, Strange, The One I Love, Fireplace, King of Birds +-: Lightnin' Hopkins, Oddfellows Local 151 -: Welcome to the Occupation 5,8/10
Being honest, I thought this one would be better. It's not bad by any means, they can certainly write good music, but it feels a bit average, particularly the first half. The run from "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" to "Lightning Hopkins" is by far the best part of the record, but besides that, I found the other tracks a bit bland. Instrumentally, they sound good but it's not my cup of tea, it isn't heavy enough to be rock outright, and isn't soft enough to be post-punk or alt-rock or something else. Maybe jangle pop isn't for me? The best songs here are the biggest hits, both "ITEOTWAWKI(AIFF)" and "The One I Love" are classic and very good tracks, super catchy each in its own way. The two tracks that come after are pretty good too, but don't reach that level. Everything else didn't really catch my attention.
90s. Political
Not for me but I see how it can be a great album for people who love this genre. Surprised there was a song I had heard before on this (End of the World) The One I love was also good. 5/10
Still clicking with REM but it’s always a pretty pleasant listen. Just watched that Looney Tunes movie that used the end of the world song.. made me chuckle. Very Chicken Little of them
The 2 hits were great, the rest was solid rem, enjoyed the harder rock sound
I like the voice and vibe of REM. Reminds me of one of my faves (They Might Be Giants) it's just that fun, nerd punk kinda vibe. I like a lot. I've loved Automatic for the people, so I'm expecting good things from this album. People who don't enjoy REM I think just have no whimsy. All this has shown me is that I like things that are interesting and REM is definitely that. I think I might like Automatic for the people better BUT I still really like this one.
Document is a departure from the Post Punk/New Wave sound of REMs first four studio albums, delivering a more mainstream and poppier sound. Closer to Out of Time and Automatic for the People, whose sound catapulted REM into Global MegaStardom. A solid record with great singles and zero filler!
Already familiar with R.E.M. from their earlier Fables of the Reconstruction album and its hit Driver 8. They had a new sound for the 80s with unique tempo changes we weren’t used to. But we remember Document No. 5 well as we had it on CD in Haverhill and it got a lot of play. All songs are good, lead by Exhuming McCarthy (very political), End of the World (nothing like it at the time), and The One I Love. We’ll be hearing from these guys again. L = (2.8*s) very nostalgic. J = (3.6*s) great selection for the 1001 Must Hear List!
2.5 stars “How does it feel to be in R.E.M.? It feels good!” Almost my entire experience with R.E.M. is filtered through Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott’s hilarious, unhinged music podcast, U Talkin’ U2 To Me? The R.E.M. season (they called it R U Talkin’ R.E.M. RE: ME?) is probably my favourite, because Adam Scott was such a nerdy fan of this band since he was a teen. Because of this show, I’ve listened to all 15 R.E.M. albums, plus some extras. My tl;dr is R.E.M. didn’t know how to edit themselves. Their first EP and full album are pretty great and then they released an album nearly every year. They’re a good singles band, with huge swathes of mediocre filler leading to increasingly diminishing returns. Document is the album that produced their first big hit single, The One I Love. That and the other big hit, The End of the World (which, as Scott & Scott note, Billy Joel ripped off 2 years later with We Didn’t Start the Fire), are not bad, but R.E.M. has better singles. I like the third single from the album, Finest Worksong. The album tracks are kind of blah, but I do like the jangly stomp of Exhuming McCarthy. Adam Scott said he used to walk around his high school hallways putting his Walkman headphones on people and forcing them to listen to this song. Oh to have been one of his classmates. I also thought Trouble at the Heron House was alright. Strange is a cover of a Wire song, but not better than the original. I’ve rounded my rating up to 3 stars because this prompted me to re-listen to the very funny Document episode of R U Talkin’ R.E.M. I’m wondering how many more R.E.M. records are on here… Murmur better be one of them, because I think it’s the only one that holds up as a full album. Re: the podcast, I recommend it, but only if you will enjoy the following things: a) deranged, absurdist improv with gags that last years b) Scott Aukerman faux bullying Adam Scott about his ever more successful acting career (and basically everything) c) many tales of their early lives and careers d) oh also the music… they cover U2, R.E.M., Talking Heads, Chili Peppers, and The Boss I keep hoping they’ll do a Radiohead season. Hopefully they’ll sneak one in between seasons of Severance.
Objectively good, just not my style. The songs you know from REM are on this album.
Overrated with a couple of ok songs. 2.5
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: It's The End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love. This album is fine. I have no bad things to say about it. The two most popular songs (above) are excellent and show off the best of what R.E.M. can be.
A good album, but not one of his best.
Favorites: Disturbance at the Heron House, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love R.E.M. are a decent band, but I don't think their sound has ever impressed me as it has others. While I found Document to be a pleasant listen, there wasn't a lot I latched onto unfortunately.
at least 2 songs were better than the end of the world as we know it.
Tiene muy buenos momentos, King of Birds en mi opinión es la joya del álbum, crea un paisaje sonoro muy bello con el uso del dulcémele. La letra me transmitió el principio de todo lo que sube tiene que caer y la música transmite melancolía pero también reflexión y aceptación, es una gran canción. Destaco el uso de saxofón en Fireplace que quedó muy bien. Es un álbum entretenido sobre todo en su segunda mitad (y Exhuming Mcarthy en la primera que es otra de mis favoritas). Sus letras son más oscuras de lo que puede sonar la música y eso es interesante, me gustaron las letras.
First listen
I'm sorry, I love R.E.M. but do not love this albums. Lightnin' Hopkins, wtf.
Just enough singles you remember to keep you interested but before they got too mainstream.
It was ok
good sorta classic rem
REM are ok. A greatest hits band for me personally.
It's fine. Got bored here and there
Meh
i mean, it’s ok?? a little weird at times but it’s pretty good :D
What can I say. Very REM. nice sound, steady groove and structure. Didn’t particularly grab me, but good enough and Stripe a clear sound throughout. Some slight variations in some songs but general a 4/4, inoffensive trot throughout. Again unsure if the familiar songs are better or just recognisable. Pleasant enough (3.5)
Has its moments but for the most part is background music
Definitely a lot punkier than other REM albums I've listened to
A really solid album but the thing I find with R.E.M is it all sounds the same
Sounds like REM
I want to like this more but it just lacks edge.
I kinda wanted to like this I didnt
It was ok
It's pretty good rock music, but I am not too crazy about it.
Nice good to listen rock
Production missing an edge to hold my interest. Cool vocal harmonies on some tracks. End Of The World is honestly he standout. Honorable mention to King Of Birds.
I really like the guitar work on this record. The back half is better than the front half. Stand outs: The One I Love, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Fireplace, Oddfellows Local 151 (actually an awesome closing track). Is R.E.M. a radio friendly punk band or a punk friendly radio band? Either way, I don’t really care. When it’s on, I don’t dislike it but I never like it enough to go back to it.
This album wasn’t too bad. I actually liked it more than I thought I would. There were some good songs on it and I could see myself listening to this album again.
Gotta be honest, I was expecting more. The best song for me is the opening track “Finest Worksong” while the obvious hits “end of the world” and “the one I love” build up the latter half, the first half is lacking something to keep me interested for long. It’s good but forgettable
Teils interessante Instrumentierung, aber von der Musik her nichts Besonderes.
Good album. Couple of classics but not my fave
Not really my thing sound wise, but the topics covered by the lyrics are interesting.
I know these guys. Do enjoy some of their tracks not sure what albums they are off of. I am really interested to hear what an album of theirs sounds like. Very R.E.M music to me. nothing special or out of the ordinary that I would think an R.E.M album would sound like 4 tracks in.
К этой группе смешанные чувства ...
Première chanson sympa
Pretty nice album, enjoyed having it in the background while I was doing stuff. It has this R.E.M. sound to it, as if I'm listening to Losing my Religion or Everybody Hurts. Overall, nothing too exciting but it was an alright listen.
Ok. Inoffensive. No stinkers, though I don't understand why End Of The World was released as a single because it's easily the worst track on the album. Apart from the track that bangs on about business acumen! Though both are passable. They do lose a point though for their shameless rip-off of the Kiss classic Firehouse... sounds nothing like it ...and they gave it the wrong title! 3½
I like his voice. Some of the songs are great.
Rigtig fint album 3,5/5. Første album der gjorde de gik fra Cult status til bredere publikum.
A real mixed bag of an album, the middle section is incredibly strong with the hits off of this being the highlights, but the second half feels completely aimless and altogether a bit sloppy at times, almost like they were just throwing stuff together and calling it a day.
Well... this album. I think this was the first R.E.M. album I listened to, and then R.E.M. became endemic to my high school experience. I can honestly say this is not my favorite R.E.M. album, despite its impact on me. Automatic for the People? Murmur? One of those two. I want to say Murmur, but if I am being honest, I probably would reach for Automatic for the People first. What I wouldn't reach for is Document. It is super interesting to me that this is their "big" album. Most of the folk I listen to music with don't rave about this album. I feel like the general experience I have amongst my friends is similar to my personal taste. Although I don't think anyone would find this album objectionable. Although it will be interesting to read each others reviews. This R.E.M. album is super R.E.M.y, but it doesn't feel like it comes together like their other albums. This sounds way too vague, but something feels like it is missing from this album. Just a gathering of grunts and greens, the cogs and grunts and hirelings, a meeting of a mean idea to hold.
I like R.E.M. fine enough, they've got some bangers but the band as a whole never really hooked me. This album is doesn't change that; it's pretty solid and an enjoyable listen but didn't really sway me one way or the other. Musically, the band is tight here and Stipe is iconic, but it's not really anything you've never heard before. Standouts are "Finest Worksong" "The One I Love" and "King Of Birds" Overall, pretty standard. Not the best I've heard, not the worst. If you've ever listened to the radio for a day in your life you've probably heard "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" and "The One I Love" so that speaks to the legacy of R.E.M. and I respect the hell out of that, but this is a pretty solid 3, almost a 4 for me.
Alright. It was background music and inoffensive. I get why people like R.E.M, but for my they lack hooks and it all kinda washes past you. Probably why I like Losing My Religion most, it's the one you can most sing along to.
Obviously, It’s the End of the World as We Know It is annoying as, but overall, it’s a solid 80s indie album.
Well... this album. I think this was the first R.E.M. album I listened to, and then R.E.M. became endemic to my high school experience. I can honestly say this is not my favorite R.E.M. album, despite its impact on me. Automatic for the People? Murmur? One of those two. I want to say Murmur, but if I am being honest, I probably would reach for Automatic for the People first. What I wouldn't reach for is Document. It is super interesting to me that this is their "big" album. Most of the folk I listen to music with don't rave about this album. I feel like the general experience I have amongst my friends is similar to my personal taste. Although I don't think anyone would find this album objectionable. Although it will be interesting to read each others reviews. This R.E.M. album is super R.E.M.y, but it doesn't feel like it comes together like their other albums. This sounds way too vague, but something feels like it is missing from this album. Just a gathering of grunts and greens, the cogs and grunts and hirelings, a meeting of a mean idea to hold.
3.5-3.75
It’s all good, but most of it just sounds the same to me. End of the world still hits and unfortunately still very on point even almost 30 years later.
No real gripes, but also doesn’t feel incredible. Of course I knew the song “The One I Love”, but I don’t think it ever hit me quite like during this album listen. That is an all timer song.
A couple of hits on here. Saved two songs. There isn’t a dud but it’s not too memorable.
7.5/10 I enjoyed the first half of the album a lot more than the second half, with exception of King Of Birds but that could just be primary bias - surprised that The One I Love is the single on this album because it's oddly mediocre in comparison to the rest. All together i like the big drum section & the slap bass but there's just something I don't love about it. The End of The World As We Know it just remined me of the big bang theory theme so idk about that one. Song added to playlist: - Finest Worksong - Welcome to the Occupation - King of Birds
Reminds me of high school. I like their earlier stuff more.
Nostalgic, classic REM!
First half is a 5/5 then it tails off in tir second half.
Pretty generic “rock”, with some little flourishes that make it stand out from the crowd a bit. Very thin sound though.
I have listened to this album more times than I can count. While not my favorite REM album I still enjoy it. My old roommate was obsessed with REM and I had gone through their catalog. The band never really latched onto me as it had him, but it reminds me of frantically cleaning our apartment from half empty beer cans, bongs, and cigarette butts when his Mom would make a surprise visit.
ist halt so dad rock. am anfang so hintergrundbeschallung, aber "it's the end of the world as we know it" ist SO EIN BANGER, so, kannte ich halt, aber zurecht war ich am viben. Insgesamt die 2. Hälfte vom Album generell besser als die erste overall kann man das gut machen, is nix weltbewegendes aber yeah. wär so bei 2,5 probably
A couple gems but overall not as captivating as I had hoped.
One of the better REM albums
Decent
was good, but not very many dynamics.
End of the world and One I Love are both bangers, but I didn’t love the rest
Klang für mich wie ein typisches R.E.M. Album :D Nichts besonderes, aber auch nicht kacke und angenehm zum Hören. Mag man ihnen die "Gleichheit" der Songs zur Last legen? :/ 3 Sterne
Second half is meh
I love the political aspects of this album, but it doesn’t speak to me the way other REM albums have. I appreciate that their sound isn’t bogged down in 90s tropes. There is some of that, but really only the loud, jangly, rhythm guitar.
This is the second REM I got here, the first being Automatic For The People. Both great albums. This is an interesting album, what many consider to be the last early period college rock darling album. This is their last independent label album, and is sort of the start of their transition into stardom, which will be at full swing in Out of Time, two albums later. This album already contains two quintessential REM hits - The One I Love and It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, showing the bands ability to write their own brand of its hits. Anyway I don’t know. I like it but it’s not my favorite and assuming Out of Time will also be here I think this is a bit too much REM.
The album gets progressively worse until you hit the middle, where they slapped their hits, and the continues to get worse. I liked “Fireplace”, though. Whole thing was too repetitive, could have benefited from some better arrangement of the tracks. Split up your two big hits, why don’t ya? Oh well, pretty good, even if I’m not R.E.M.s biggest fan. 3/5
Very good but nowhere near Automatic For The People
REM have a vibe all their own. I could always take them or leave them, apart from some beautiful tracks on Automatic for the People. Michael Stipe’s droning vocals don’t inspire much in me. Strictly mid-level for me.
Paar klassiekers, voor de rest beetje zaagplaat
Some really good songs here, and the rest are decent too. Feels a little dated in places, but overall better than I was expecting.
Pretty good! I grew up with a handful of these songs and had some of their albums
I am not sure about this one I feel it gives very hunger game vibes?. I liked a few songs, so overall I’d rate it 3/5. It’s quite nice and I see why people might like it I am just not sure if I will, I can def listen to the songs I like again
Definitely an improvement over the formless mumble of Murmur. I like the jangle pop direction and I think REM pull it off well. 6/10
"The One I Love" is the clearly catchy standout track, as a kind of ominously cryptic, almost callous, view of relationships. "It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" is controlled chaos, a rapid-fire fever dream of cultural references. This is the album where R.E.M. stops just hinting at bigger things and actually starts becoming one of the biggest bands in the world. It’s raw, it’s tight, and it still holds up.
Boring pop-rock. R.E.M. deserves max 1 album if any on this list, and this is not one of them.
62/1001 - Nothing happened but it wasn't awful sounding.
Albeit, still not my favorite artists, this is some nice easy 90's alt rock fare that I don't mind in the background.
Stipe's voice when he's trying to sing "angry" never really does it for me. The slower songs were good, and of course "It's the End of the World As We Know It" is great. 3.5 stars
A couple of highs, but I didn't find it especially inspiring. Some great vocals lines, harmonies and counter melodies though.
This album is where REM jumped the shark for me. It’s arena, rock disguised as jangle pop… Really feel they lost their way as an underground band. I hear so much of Scott Litt in the sound, to the point where it’s in distinguishable from the songs. Were they intentionally going for a popular audience here? Or were they the victims of a studio system that knew they had something with these guys? In either case aside from a few songs that I do enjoy, this is one that never gets played, by a huge REM fan. “ disturbance at the Heron house” “Welcome to the Occupation” and their cover of “Strange” are deserving. But I’d love to hear them produced differently
R.E.M. are the band I most regret not seeing, so it’s always good to have an excuse to listen to them. Document is one of their weaker releases in my opinion, but it’s R.E.M., it is still really good.
7/10 Had to choose between a seven and seven and a half on this one. Obviously has the iconic 'Its the End of the World As we Know It' and some other nice songs - especially 'Fireplace' with it's fantastically jarring sad solos. Unfortunately I just finds the vocal style a bit.. corny? Is that just me? Do I just dislike obviously American vocals? Maybe 🤷
meh kind of annoying and sounds like the old white bands
I liked it enough. The hits were the hits and everything else aside from the closer, Oddfellows didn’t do a whole lot to really pull me in. They’re very consistent with their output though, I rarely hear a song that I think is bad. 3 stars
Just not my style really I liked the instrumentals tho
R.E.M is just fine, never my favourite band, but never anything I've actively disliked. I probably prefer their 80's work over what followed in later decades. My favourite hit of theirs resides on this album, otherwise I don't really have any expectations. I've listened through the album once before but didn't really pay attention. Viewing this as a fresh listen. Finest Worksong Classic alternative rock guitars. Michael Stipe's vocals could be recognized anywhere. Very serious, not very charming. Ends well. Not much to say about the production, the track sounds fine. Isn't spectacular but does nothing wrong. Decent. 3.5/5 Welcome to the Occupation I'm not quite in the mood for this type of writing at the moment of listening. It sounds good, the instrumentation is quite well put together, especially appreciate the drumming. The lyrics are decent I guess, has a good message. Again, very serious to the point of approaching preachiness. I quite like the vocals. Short, which helps as the song is quite slow. Fine. 3/5 Exhuming McCarthy Don't love the mixing. The guitars are a bit loud. It's a bit heavy handed, feels like I'm being lectured to. Critical commentary has it's place in music, but it's a bit exhausting to listen to in this format. Like the background vocals. Fine. 3/5 Disturbance at the Heron House I have no idea as to what the lyrics are referring to. I like the drumming, has a decent energy to it. The guitars are really boring. The bass is boring. The vocal performance is fine. Might be better if I took more time to analyze and pick apart the lyrics, but I'm not doing that on a blind first listen. Average. 2.5/5 Strange A different energy to the song, quicker tempo. Awful chorus. The tambourine is really annoying and loud. A bit pointless. Average. 2.5/5 It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Very fun to attempt to sing along with. Iconic chorus, hopelessly relatable at times. There's a mashup where they play this song alongside Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire which is really funny. This song is honestly a bit carthartic after feeling a bit on edge about world affairs. The interplay between the main and the background vocals is magnetic. It feels like a very serious song, but I do think the lyrics have some fun bounce to them where the clever writing does something extra to keep me invested. The song has shrunk a bit on me in recent years after covid ended, and at the current moment of listening (12th of March, 2025) I don''t exactly feel "fine" about what feels like yet another "end of the world as we know it". That being said I still think it's pretty great. 4.5/5 The One I Love The other hit on this album. Great guitar riff, decent bassline. A bit repetitive. A bir moody. Decently dramatic. I like it. 4/5 Fireplace The bassline and the ominous background guitar makes for a quite dark atmosphere. Decent rhythm. The saxophone adds a much needed break in instrumental composition for the album. The chorus is a bit abrupt and lacks a kick, feels slightly monotone. A bit of a sonic shift. Decent. 3.5/5 Lightnin' Hopkins Another new sonic direction. The funky bassline and the guitar feeling a bit separate from the rest of the track works surprisingly well. Good drumming again. Too bad the vocals don't work, they're a bit nasally for my taste. The chanting "ooooh"s don't really work either. Inconsistent. 3/5 King of Birds Eastern motifs are unexpected. Dulcimer adds some psychedelia to the track. Really slow, meanders a lot on the verses. Does to much to be calming and hypnotic, but too little to be engaging. Honestly leaves it being quite a boring track. Really goes nowhere. Average. 2.5/5 Oddfellows Local 151 Had to look up the meaning of the song. Comes across as smug and pretentious. The only thing instrumentally that sticks out is the bassline, it adds moodiness to the track which I can appreciate. Fairly standard vocal performance, a few eccentricites at the end sort of sets it apart. All in all pretty laborous and uninteresting. Boring 2/5 It's the end of the album as we know it (And I feel whelmed). There's a lot of quality here, but the album really isn't that engaging to me. Most of it falls into the category "artistically solid yet uninteresting" Instrumentally, vocally, lyrically, in any aspect the album does not make me feel anything that makes me engage with it. The few songs that actually do break the mold do so by either being simple or by having clever writing performed at a high tempo. Current mood might have affected my enthusiasm for the album somewhat, so I'll probably revisit it at some point. It got a bit exhausting by the end, hopefully it grows on me. Low 3/5 Fave track. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Least fave track. Oddfellows Local 151
Well made, some real bangers, some real duds though too. I generally like Mike Stipe's voice and the instrument work is super solid. I'd say a 3.5 just because of those duds. Really was not into a bunch of songs toward the end.
3.5
A good album but not the best by R.E.M. A few weak tracks in my opinion.
2.8/5. I thought there were couple good ones in there with the rest sounding pretty much the same. Very distinct vocals and harmonizing. Big fan of King of Birds with its marching drums and Scottish esque vibe. Also big fan of the opening drums in the opening song. Good way to start an album. Overall: not bad R.E.M., you’ve got potential
Brings back fond memories of Guitar Hero
Not sure why there's would be multiple REM albums on this list... One was enough, if it was necessary to have in the first place. I just got some new ear buds, and this was my first time using them. The first song had the volume all the way up. Almost blew out my hearing. How terrible would it be to have the last thing I hear to be R.E.M.? Anyway, enough of the REM hatred. This is a pleasant enough album. Good musicianship, nice production, solid lyrics. It's actually a good album, but I like their next one better. I'm sure it will end up on this list, as well. The hits are favorites, and I liked Disturbance At The Heron House. This gets a 3.
Ohhh R.E.M again. Man, I don't know. I'm just not an R.E.M guy. I like Finest Work Song and End of the World As We Know It but the album for me is just ok.
Just not my thing. Instrumentally I don’t find it particularly interesting, and the lyrics don’t really speak to me, with the exception of some of the classics on this album. End of The World still holds up thematically in 2025.
Absolutely unreal that I got this album the day Cyclone Alfred is due to hit my home. I like to think that End of the World as We Know It is on loop in people's heads as they sell out toilet paper, gotta avoid that cyclone-induced spitty bum. Really not a fan of old mates vocal style. I don't like that weird American country twang. This reminds me a lot of America's (the band) Horse With No Name vocal style, but over a whole album. The instrumentals were great, very fit for the time - but fuck me I cannot get over how annoying this cunts voice was. The relatively short runtime made it tolerable, but if this thing was an hour I'd genuinely struggle. This is my first time listening to R.E.M, and I must say, pretty average album. The hits off this thing stand out like a sore thumb (in a good way), but there's not a whole lot of substance past those.
Psychic warfare to anyone who has ever had a blue collar job with a site radio where the crusty old cunts you work with won’t let you change it off triple M or whatever your equivalent local classic rock bloke radio station is. I won’t say R.E.M are my favourite - not a fan of the vocals personally but I’m not gonna argue that it’s perfectly cromulant music.
Two saved songs. Reading a book about them which gives them a favorable lean. Didn't love the whole album so 3 stars. I may not be punky enough for them to be my shit
Is that 4 or 5 REMs we’ve had? Liked that this one was slightly heavier but I think I’m done and will just skip anymore we get.
3 maybe 4
This got a little dull and repetitive for me.
Fun Rock album, I quite enjoyed
6/10
2.5 but I feel generous so I round up. Alright background music. Not a total utter waste of sound waves.
This is VERY gen x, maybe too much so
Great album for its time. Definitely listen to it again
If you haven’t heard it before, check out Great Big Sea’s cover of End Of The World, it’s Celtic rock awesomeness.
helll yeahhhhhh this fucking sucksssssss
Pues no está mal. Un álbum típico de R.E.M., el primero en encontrar la fórmula que les lanzaría al estrellato. Como ya dije en mi reseña de "Green", R.E.M. tienen un sonido alt rock noventero estándar, lo cual no es malo. Supongo que, en contexto, se puede ver como un álbum pionero que sentó las bases de ese sonido tan típicamente noventero ya en los ochenta. Además, se hace fácil y entretenido de escuchar, y la producción es muy buena. Pero siguen sin ser santos de mi devoción. Aunque en la segunda mitad del álbum se ven elementos más experimentales, me parece un rock demasiado "seguro", por decirlo de alguna forma; una fórmula puramente radiofónica. Ni fu ni fa.
It’s rare you find an album with such a marked difference in quality. The two famous songs are really strong and very catchy. Everything else is pretty uninspiring melody wise and musically. I’m guessing we have the next 2-3 albums coming, in my mind this theme continues but let’s see….
Loved the ones I knew, didn’t mind the ones I didn’t as background, but would I ever revisit? Nah.
Hm, klingt gar nicht nach 1987, überrascht mich. Ok, diese ganze Alternative-Indie-Rock-Welle hat mich nicht erreicht. Aber das Album hier ist hörenswert.
I liked this album quite a lot. It has some really good songs and the rest aren't bad by any means.
High 3
Nerd music Singles are good
6/10. Добрые и плотные. Альбом все равно качественный
If yesterday’s album was a 3.1, this is a 3.9. Almost a 4 but their voice just doesn’t do it for me
Yep, that's R.E.M. alright.
First? 3,5 /5 Again? 3/5
I can deal with a couple REM songs, but I find the singers voice grating after a while.
REM songs are pretty similar to each other. I have no idea why there are so many REM albums in this list but it's tedious.
For some reason this one has never clicked with me as much as others from this era of the band. Some great highs tho
If you heard one song you've heard them all. Whilst I enjoy an REM song, it's all a bit much of the same. End of the world is a banger, and drags it up from 2 to 3 stars
A rather good REM album.
Has some good songs, but I wouldn't consider myself a REM fan or huge enjoyer. The music is solid but don't make me euphorically want to hit repeat.
it's the end of the world as we know it (and this was fine)
i like R.E.M…. but i can’t ever seem to love them 3.5
Muzycznie całkiem moje klimaty. Mocne, brudnawe, wyraźne instrumenty - ciężkawe riffy, dobrze wyartykułowany bas, perkusja, która żyje, a nie tylko wystukuje rytm w tle. To dla mnie ta fajna twarz późnych lat osiemdziesiątych. Tekstowo natomiast jestem kompletnie pogubiony. Czuję, że to album, który ma misję. To album, który chce coś powiedzieć. Wreszcie album, który jest na coś zły i chce ten gniew wyrazić. Tylko ja niestety w ogóle nie jestem w stanie zrozumieć, jaka to wiadomość ani nawet w którą stronę jest wycelowana. Gubię się w niejasnościach, aluzjach, skojarzeniach. Czuję, że tam jest sens, ale jest on głęboko przędę mną ukryty. I nie wiem, czy winą za to obarczać moją nieznajomość kontekstu, moją niedostateczną znajomość angielskiego, mój brak poetyckiej wyobraźni? Czy po prostu autor specjalnie zaciemnia znaczenie, gmatwa sensy i kryje swoje przesłanie za kurtyną niejasności? Muzycznie czuję, że dostałem kawał soczystej surowizny. Tekściarsko mam wrażenie, jakbym stał przed dziełami sztuki nowoczesnej i nie miał w rękach programu wystawy, który wyjaśni mi, na co patrzę i jak mam to zrozumieć.
Starting to see where those early nineties grunge bands found their influence. Haven’t got any strong feelings about R.E.M but I can see why they’re popular. Top song - Exhuming McCarthy
Not R.E.M.'s finest work, and reminded me of why I didn't always like them in the first place.
2.5 probably
..I really love R.E.M. but honestly? This one didn’t really do it for me, there were a few great songs, but it fell a little flat. The one I love and it’s the end of the world are still amazing though.
Easily forgettable
# Album Name: Document # Artist: REM # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: I was honestly expecting more from REM. Its a pretty bland album with 2 good tracks. Shame really. # Top Tunes: End of the world / The one i love # Would I listen to it again? No
This is surprisingly upbeat, if in tone, and not lyrics. I must have played it hundreds of times previously, without ever really understanding the lyrics. I' still not sure that I do.
Ah just fine isn't it. I didn't massively care. Some a bit annoying. The one about Business Acumen was a fucking joke. But broadly not too bad
meh, it was fine. Just R.E.M. ennit. All sort of sounds the same to me, but it's not bad, just a bit bland. I don't think they really do it for me but I can see they are good.
The End of the World and The One I Love are 5 star songs on a 3 star album.
Ok.
The first stretch of this album is really good. Like those first 3 songs back to back to back hit quite well. Where this album suffers is the long road of mid that follows this. My only real highlight from this part was the Sax parts at the end of a Fireplace. The closer is a bit of an uptick, but this album as a whole lacks some of the hooks heard in other REM songs. Fave Songs - Finest Worksong, Welcome To The Occupation, Oddfellows Local 151
Really fun album. This is R.E.M. after they were huge and were able to take a risk this album is very political but still has fun tracks like it's the end of the world as we know. If feels like a bit of a downgrade from their previous albums and would only go further downhill but this album is still strong
Never heard a REM album before just songs, it was great. 3/5
Solid. Singles are obvious standouts. Mike Mills is an interesting bassist. Mixed feelings about Fireplace, but has to be one of the most different REM songs I’ve heard (multiple sax solos?!?)
Good not great
Rätt tradig. Några okej låtar. 5/10
Fine
I have always liked R.E.M. and the sound on this album is their good - but nothing on it rises to their best. Many great songs later, I'm not sure they've ever topped their first.