Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Favorite track(s): Welcome to the Occupation, It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
3.5 - Some decent songs but not the greatest feature of REM.
2.5
3.0
Great album, lots of different sounding songs, just not my cup of tea.
Some good tracks but didn't gain loads from it, always fun to hear a song I know though without expecting
I’m not the biggest rem fan, but this album is a classic. It definitely is a sound that got more polished as time went on when on but as a collection of songs, I think it’s a bit under done. There are a few songs I really like but others feel repetitive.
- Genre: rock - i didnt like it that much, not my fav genre of rock. - But, there are some good songs there. - 7/10 album, not that bad but still not my favorite genre.
I struggled to care about this album. Nothing wrong with it per se, just sort of whatever.
not my go to REM, and starts slow, but builds. will listen again
From College Rock darlings to the big time, this was the big breakout with MTV and One I Love and End of the World. A sneaky Wire cover was a nice surprise. It's not my favorite REM but it's not my least favorite REM. A Goldilocks album.
I had higher expectations for this, thought I would like this but for me all songs seemed the same.
Not their best album
Like yeah pretty fun but I can’t work out if I like the way this guy sings or not. Was starting to piss me off but then became kind of a vibe?
Not their best
favorites: finest worksong; exhuming mccarthy; it's the end of the world
Fun rock album. The first four songs really hooked me in particular although it lost me with the middle part (except for the big hits), until picking back up again near the end. Most songs feel a little bit same-y though, which is unfortunate. But I can't deny they sound really tight on this record, and the musicianship is awesome to listen to. 3.5/5
Very good
Finest Worksong verdens første grunge-song? The One I Love verdens første post-grunge låt? Skjønner ikke vitsen med å covre Wire. Minner meg bare på at jeg kunne hørt på bedre musikk. End of the World er en bop. Fortsatt ikke solgt på REM.
Mellomplate mellom den mer skitne rocken de holdt på med før og den mer strigla poprocken de holdt på med etterpå. Funker sånn halvveis, her kunne de like gjerne tatt steget helt til poprock, og det er på hitsa de låter best.
1987 More audible lyrics and harder rock sound. Has a more political undertone.
Думаю, достаточно типичен для того времени - немного гаражный рок и двуголосье в вокале. Почему то, напомнило весну, весну года 2019-2021, когда я шла со школы, и еще картинками в пинтерест весенними, когда только закончился дождь и выглянуло солнышко. Первая песня была по звучанию немного грустной, но потом остальной альбом держался плюс-минус на одном уровне по настроению. К концу ( ну ток Fireplace, Lightnin` Hopkins) стало поинтереснее, трубы в в LH прям оч хорошо Состарился, думаю, состраился еще в начале 00х. Не думаю, что буду к нему возвращаться хехе
Mmm no hay algo que destaque de este album para mí, no es un mal álbum pero hasta ahí
It's hard to pin down exactly why I like this album. But I do. Unfortunately I also listened to this album multiple times while putting together IKEA furniture, which may have colored my opinion of it. Sort of cheesy and fun in its own way.
this album makes It's The End Of The World sound annoying. otherwise i like it! i only have a vague awareness of R.E.M., but the record still didn't really measure up to the R.E.M. highs i was aware of. the lyricism was cool and some of the tunes were catchy. favorite song is probably Lightnin' Hopkins
Rating: 7/10 R.E.M. is a surprising blind spot for me as I really haven’t gotten into them before, and Document is an interesting one for me. The songs can really verge on annoying sometimes but can also be really enjoyable. I didn’t really especially like the last few tracks of the album, which didn’t help with the length of them. There’s some bangers though. This is clearly a very influential band, they have their own brand of the post-post derived jangly sound of the 80’s while also having aspects, good and bad, that really influenced some 90’s stuff in the pop/rock field that I don’t enjoy. it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it it’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine
It's fine, I'm not a fan of the "formula" and vocals in general, even if the album is a little interesting song-to-song with almost interesting ideas. In short, I almost like it 5.1/10
For the most part it was fine, I wouldn’t mind hearing it but I wouldn’t choose to put it on. A few songs I did add to my library
Not my favorite REM album, but as with most of their albums there's are some real bangers and some fairly forgettable filler.
Solid listen, couple of big hits in there too.
86. lightnin hopkins
The hits are great but the rest of the album feels kind of soulless. The vibe I get is a very technically proficient cover band working on a cruise ship.
As is the way with REM this contains a couple of absolute Crackers (End of the World &The One I Love) ; a couple of things that make you go hmmm (Finest Worksong has you wondering how many tines they listened to U2. Lightning Hopkins makes you want to listen to Ligtning Hopkins instead) and a few songs that you'd cheerfully skip. (Looking at you Exhuming McCarthy) Wouldn't be my first choice to play.
Pretty decent rock album not bad 7/10
6/10. Fav Track - It's The End Of The World As We Know It The first album where I already had some listening experience with two of the songs, which needed little to be enjoyable. The rest of the album had a similar sound but only really peaked one or two more times for me.
Ok for rem
Joda
Довольно просто Не очень хитово Вокал не надоедает Инструментал разнообразный 3.2
Really mid start but peaked in the middle with end of the world and the one I love. Ending finished like the start in that it was mid. Overall, not a fan of the production of the album.
This was pretty good.
Such an iconic sound. As soon as I heard the first song I knew which songs were coming (2 in particular). I probably won't be seeking out the rest of the album again, but it was fine to listen to today. Just not entirely to my taste. Happy to hear out in the wild
Decent album but not their best. Only 1 single I recognize and that one not great.
meh
Love this album for when I'm grinding. Keeps the focus
Holy man wails, batman. I can appreciate a good man wail but wouldn’t typically listen to a whole album of it. The hits are great of course, although I realized I only really like the chorus of “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It.” My favorite song on the album is easily “The One I Love.” The beginning of “Lightnin’ Hopkins” felt like a skim milk version of The One I Love.
A fine album. REM has a very recognizable and interesting voice. I didn’t dislike or lose interest in any of the songs, listening to each of them all the way through. I wouldn’t mind having the album on again in the background. However, I don’t think I will be revisiting it again to listen to with intentionality. The two hits on the album, End of the World as We Know It and The One I Love, are the only tracks I liked enough to save, but they are good hits.
Some good somgs but I was bored
I haven't been much of an REM fan over the years. I don't dislike them, but other artists are ahead, however, this was better than I expected and I actually enjoyed it. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 Fine ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 240 Already owned : 54 Purchased : 12 To buy list : 3 Nope : 171
Not an album I would have normally listened to but it wasn’t bad, more diverse than expected
I thought that while the quality of the songs were high, none of the songs really shone bright to me. Some songs I really liked, but the rest just didn't stick out at all
Not the best REM record front to back but there are some classics, One i love, and discovered a new jawn i like, Oddfellows Local 151. Can’t say its one id just let play all the way through if i owned the record, its just not my style
Enjoyable
Not bad. More alternative than [[Rock]]. Pretty jammy. Not bad. High 3.
damn i dont like rem
REM is definitely appealing to me. On a first listen, I can’t quite follow the lyrics but I can tell they are interesting and have depth. The music is creative. The overall sound would have very much appealed to a younger me - for me, right now, in need of solace and comforting, it’s too jagged. A high 3 in my current state.
R.E.M is one of those bands that I respect, but will never love. They’re the opposite of your mum.
Well, this has a couple of crowd pleasing favourites on it. As a band I used to quite like, though from a bit of a distance, again I expected more from this album. It is though less disappointing than the last one on this list. Perhaps I’m being generous. It is a good album, well produced and executed.
Like REM in the abstract. This felt schlocky somehow, with the sharpness of some of their other stuff.
Loved the first album, Reckoning, more romantic melodies, the singing was lower, mumblier, almost impossible to distinguish the lyrics, sounded a lot closer to Dire Straits minus the virtuoso guitar. On this one I find the harsher cleaner sound really forgettable. Except The End of the World, that's just plain grand.
I feel as though id have to re-listen to give a more accurate review, but tbh i think thats just how the list goes. Somedays there more effort and time to listen more in depth, and some days you just gotta skim through. Other than its the end of the world and the one I love, I dont think was anything too crazy to write home about? Love the end of the world as we know it though, feels like theres a lot of albums on this list that just house these one hit wonders, so its interesting to hear the songs that accompany them.
The album probably deserves a higher rating. But ever since Shiny Happy People came out, the sound of REM has become an instant spawn for anger spren.
Lingers in your head
When this came out I was in highschool and already an REM fan and thought this was when they "sold out" lol. A lot of the songs fell flat for me then (and now), and I wasn't a fan of the lead single (One I Love) but there were some highlights, and mediocre early-REM was still better than 99% of what was out there.
(67/100)
Probably more like 3.5 for me, I knew a couple of songs off of this but never heard the majority pretty good album.
Not bad, but I'm definitely not a fan.
This was great
I liked the album, the vocals are interesting Fav song - It's The End Of The World As We Know It 3/5
I rated this a lot higher on my previous listen, according to my Spotify likes. I like REM, but I find myself not listening to them very often. This one was too grating for today, but that's probably mostly on my current mood.
It was ok
I preferred the other REM album
This one ranges meh to timeless. “End of the World” and “The One I Love” are two of the best pop/rock tunes of our time but I’m struggling to find too much else I really enjoy on this one. 6/10 Favorite Track- “Exhuming McCarthy” “End of the World” and “The One I Love”
Didn’t listen the whole way through but liked a couple songs
Solid 3.5 stars
I want to like this, but it's not hitting me.
I liked
Very underwhelmed. Kinda boring. It’s the end of the world really carries the album
If this had a different vocalist it would be a definite 4. Great songs, great guitars, great production. What a shame about Michael Stipe’s voice. Still, much better than Automatic for the People.
Like the other R.E.M. album I got on here, there's some interesting ideas and parts but I'm not fully invested. Cool lyrics.
I don't really like his voice but this is a solid album, with good jangly guitars.
Feels like the 90s. Songs still topical, the world is still ending...
Not their best album, but fine. Includes a couple of bangers
Wierd album, songs all sound the same, decent tho
Album #49 R.E.M.: Document Of the R.E.M. albums that I’ve heard, I’ve enjoyed all of them, and of the ones that I’ve heard multiple times, I’ve really enjoyed both of them (Murmur and Automatic for the People). So I’m unsure why I never decided to give R.E.M. a complete discography listen. To me, they are sort of just an always the bridesmaid never the bride type band, consistently enjoyable, yet never my absolute favourite. When it comes to 80s alternative bands from the United States, I’m far more likely to put on some Pixies or Replacements. But that doesn’t mean that R.E.M. aren’t around that level, they are a band with undeniable hits (which this album has a few of), as well as having really consistent and fun deeper cuts. Document leans more into the sound of Automatic for the People than it does Murmur, more conventional and clean-sounding, with quirky lyricism. I do think that I prefer the earlier R.E.M. stuff, which has a more hazy feel to it for me. End of the World was the first big R.E.M. song that I found, and it probably remains my favourite from this album, such an undeniably fun and energetic song. The only bad thing about R.E.M. is that they spawned a series of imitators who just simply weren’t as talented or clever as them, but thought they were. As a Canadian I have seen firsthand the good and the bad R.E.M. clones, on one hand we have the Tragically Hip who borrow R.E.M.’s sound yet make it their own through themes and lyricism, and on the other hand we have The Barenaked Ladies who attempt to steal R.E.M.’s formula but with even more quirkiness, the result is an abomination like the song “One Week”. Though I wouldn’t put Document amongst my favourite albums by R.E.M., it is still a great album by most standards. I like the commentary on labour throughout, and there really isn’t a bad song here. Best Songs: It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, Exhuming McCarthy, King of Birds Worst Song: Lightnin’ Hopkins Score out of 10: 7.5
Guitar tones and drums are often have an echoey and energetic sound. Bass tone and sound is quite notable throughout the album. Certain lyrics carry strong messages, making it clear what the band stands for. No song on the album sounds the exact same from the last, making every minute feel new and exciting. Standout track: Fireplace.
It's nice but not really my taste right now I am sure there will be a time that I will listen to this. For me it's a 6.5/10
3 decent but not my kind of music
kind of annoying and boring but I liked It's The End Of The World As We Know It
My mum had a crush on Michael Stipe when I was a teenager and, obviously, that was really icky to a 14-year-old girl and that has always coloured my view of REM. That being said, listening now to them as a 46 year old woman, I can better appreciate them. The lyrics are intelligent without being patronising and "ooohhh look at me, don't I know long words". The musicality is spot on and the pace of the album meant that didn't get bored. Surely a 4 or a 5, then??!! Trouble is, I like music to move me. I don't care what it is, just make me feel it. I didn't get that with this album and I don't get it with REM at all. My head nodded along but my heart stayed still. So, 3 stars, I'm afraid.
Very easy listening. Enjoying this so far - more than I was expecting. Good choruses - has a 90s feel to it, which I think, because of that, it does sound a bit dated in places - e.g. 'It's the end of the world as we know it'. A bit twangy for me as an overall sound, but a pleasant album.
É um rock psicodelico, não acredito que seja muito minha vibe.
2 stand out songs end of the world and the one I love. The albums is almost a precursor for grunge .
I can't say I would listen to this album by choice but if someone listened to it or it would come up on the radio I wouldn't be bothered by it. I would describe it as divorced dad rock that you would listen to on a roadtrip with said dad. For me it also sounds like any old Romanian rock band:))) (this band probably was one of their inspirations so it makes sense).
It's an alright one
endof the world as we know it is a banger!
Outside of a couple tunes REM is a band I missed. I hear about them being important to college rock in the 80s but search me if I know why. Still, pretty good music.
Overrated
Unreal jumpscare on this one
it was a decent album! i haven’t listened to their whole discography so this was a great way to start. Theres a few songs I will add to my rotation
not my favorite R.E.M. album but it's good. Scott Litt some rough choices (from the 80s). 'Welcome to the Occupation' is my favorite. IT"S OK
Not much here beyond the two songs I already know. Quite forgettable
Nightswimming by REM was my only experience with this band, and that is such an incredible song !!!! Hate to say it....did not feel particularly strongly ab this album, do not see myself returning - maybe should have done two listens...
Favorite Track: The One I Love
Nice debut album, Songs I like: it’s the end of the world as we know it
Top Songs: It's The End of the World As We Know It The One I Love
Loves this! Trodde inte R.E.M var såhär mångsidiga.
I guess it's a classic?
very good
Some great tunes on this one. I think I'm admitting I like the poppier R.E.M. Is that so wrong?
Having trouble finding something that stands out, but overall it's a nice album so far (up to Fireplace). Will probably rate it 3/5, unless one of the three last ones feels special, then it will be a decent 4/5.
This is the third REM album I've gotten on this list. I still don't particularly like REM, but I thought this one was a decent album. I find End of the World to be an annoying song, especially given how many times I've heard it (not true of The One I Love, which holds up). Without that track, I think this would be a really good album. Still, it's probably my favorite of theirs from the recommendations so far. I would even say it's good. My biggest issue was that I got bored by the end. That's a common thread for me with REM, for what that's worth. I just don't find them very engaging, even if they do seem to do enough to change things up throughout the album. Guess it's a personal preference thing. Overall: 3.25/5
7.5/10 I’m not big on REMs style of music, but I do respect them more than I actually enjoy listening to their music, most tracks here with the exception of a few I would not put on myself but wouldn’t be mad if a friend put it on or I heard it played in a bar. I understand they are a pivotal part of Alternative Rock along with bands like the pixies, sonic youth, etc but they are just a band I don’t entirely get, there are some great tracks on here, notably “the one I love” & “oddfellows local 151” though I think the latter drags out a bit. Overall a good band just one I don’t think I will get into. Favorite song: the one I love Least favorite: king of birds
Great sound the whole time, but a little one-dimensional. I wouldn’t recommend listening past the hits of this album
Vocals not for me
неплохо весело
Next time I get into a 90’s mood this is probably going to be one of my go to’s. Classic sound.
Good music and some recognizable hits. I don’t know much about the political climate of the 80s though.
Buen álbum pensé que sus canciones eran más oscuras tipo "Losing My Religion", que era la única que conocía, me parecieron un poco soundtrack de película universitaria de los 90's, lo cual no hace que sea malo, solo me parece un contraste interesante.
not my fav but a few classics
Gratuitous saxophone solos will almost always make me drop a number off an album's rating. Lucky I didn't give this a 2.
REM has a very distinct sound. I like it! Top 3 songs: Finest Worksong Disturbance at the Heron House The One I Love
Pretty good! It was a chill listening experience. I added two songs. 3/5 ⭐️
Favourite track- it’s the end of the world as we know it
Faves were - The One I Love and It’s The End Of The World As We Know It
I refuse to listen
Another good one from REM. This one was maybe a bit more refined than some others, but it’s not detrimental. Just an observation. I’m rounding this one down though because I think End of the World is so frickin annoying.
it’s no “automatic for the people”, but still a great listen with a couple of fav’s … happy to reminisce and revisit this
Album that could definitely belong in the Cars soundtrack. Would listen to again in long road trips.
Funny voice
Not my kind of music but I’d give it another listen
I couldn’t get through it, it’s just not right for me at the moment
Classic REM
it’s good , adequate reminds me of thrifting as a kid some funky bad boys in the mix okay
…sounds like R.E.M. to me!
bien, no es mi rollo, pero supongo que es mítico. me dio un poco padre de familia que no se sabe el nombre de las amigas de sus hijas.
Jangle pop like The Smiths while keeping most of the 80s pop rock sound. They have some sarcastic and witty lyrics.
I've never been a huge REM fan. This one has a few hits, and I'm sure it's great for fans. Just not my thing.
I don't think I knew what REM sounded like although I'm sure I never would have admitted that. I love that the album is "jangle pop" according to Wikipedia and my ears, but has such impactful and deep lyrics in most songs. I really like the layered instruments with more simple vocals. The saxophone in Fireplace!! The double lyrics in King of Birds!!
REM
A typically solid late 80s alt rock album.
I’ve never liked REM. I don’t know exactly what it is about them I don’t like. Wikipedia categorized their genre as indie and jangle pop and they definitely had a jangly sound to them when I listened to the album that I didn’t enjoy. Also not a fan of Michael’s voice. Giving it a 3 though because it’s not them, it’s me.
first listen meh
Top songs: Finest worksong It’s the end of the world as we know it The one I love
Enjoyed this album. They're a great band but this wasn't one I was as familiar with. Thought the sax bits on fireplace were a cool addition as well.
I like a few songs, but never realllly got into this album.
Classic rem sound
This was an okay first album! Not specifically my type, some of the lyricism was very repetitive and I didn't care too much for it, and nothing was very memorable to me. "Fireplace" however really grabbed my interest because of the sax solos!! Like holy shit where did that come from. Anyways, I'd give this likeeee a 2.5/5, wasn't really my cup of tea, but I'm glad I listened to it!
Good for the time, kinda dull now
Enjoyable, from songs I knew to new ones. Will listen again.
good but i didn’t like all of the songs tho but to listen again
R.E.M. is a band I’ve listened a lot to, but I only discovered them when they released Automatic For The People, so I actually don’t know their first albums very well. Document has three good singles that I enjoy a lot, and I also like the first few songs, but the latter part is rather bland. It’s close to a 4 star album, but only just…
Had a few songs I knew and was nice well put together album
solid welcome to the occupation top song
Niet heel erg boeiend. Vind alles een beetje op elkaar lijken. Twee liedjes kende ik al en die vind ik ook best wel leuk. Een ander aardig leuk nummer dat ik nog niet kende is Exhuming McCarthy
This one was not bad, not great for me! I will always love "It's The End of the World..." but the rest of album doesn't hit as much for me.
i cam take only so much of his voice in this album.
REM is so good, and I love this early stuff that is a little more raw. Highlights: "It's The End of the World As We Know It" and "The One I Love"
No me gustó del todo el álbum, es agradable para tenerlo de fondo pero no tengo todo el contexto sobre su crítica al gobierno y eso le quita algo de disfrute al escuharlo, aún así no me termina de gustar no es mi tipo de música aunque estaría dispuesto a escucharlo otra vez con el contexto presente, mi canción favorita fue "finest worksong"
This album is... better than what I thought it would be. It's not the R.E.M. I remember, it's much more interesting, to be honest. However, it's still not my cup of tea. The album is good though.
C'est pas que c'est pas bon mais c'est pas assez bon pour que ça soit vraiment bon.
Great old college radio rock before they got HUGE.
Same old REM
Pleasant.
Sounds a lot like the tragically hip tbh. Album was good, but nothing legendary. It's the End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love are the only really notable songs from this album.
roger from rent vibes
REM just doesnt quite do it for me. Feels like middle aged man music lol and I just dont enjoy the vocals enough.
It was ok. I recognized It's The End Of The World As We Know It and The One I Love, and even those aren't anything spectacular.
REM is very much a hit or miss kind of band for me, even on an intra-album level. There are some classic songs on here (End of the World, One I Love) and quite a few just nice ones but at least one song has a terrible sax solo and towards the end there is a sort of attempt at funkrock that doesn't work at all. Also, more general, the 80ies drum sound gets on my nerves quite quickly. Nice to have spent some time with it as part of this project but unlikely I will return to it any time soon. Two-and-half stars rounded up.
May be a 4 if it wasn’t as long as it was.
Fun album to listen to
Surprisingly good. I think they somehow got muddled with another band in my head because these songs are great
This music is such a vibe in a sense that it reminds me and melancholic but not sad cloudy day on a spring summer. The guitar riff and tempo are appealing, though a few segments lose their color and slip into monotony
Not bad, though however good the lyrics are the only bit I'll really remember is shouting "Leonard Bernstein"
Fun! Solid 3
...
6.0/10 Some solid tunes but felt it was inconsistent overall.
Enjoyed the lyricism, pretty solid record with some songs that could be written today and the lyrics would still ring very true. 'it's the end of the world as we know it' feels like the anthem of this generation. Look forward to the next REM entry. 3.5/5
3/5 and I mean that in the way a professor says a C or a B is still not bad. It was nice to hear the full album where It’s The End of the World as we Know It (and I feel fine) comes from. I also think a lot of the album is caveman music. It just has a certain unga-bunga to it.
i can play "the one i love" on expert on guitar hero world tour but i'm not very good at "it's the end of the world and we know it (and i feel fine)" on rock band 2 because i didn't have rock band 2 as a kid and the controller felt weird and different so... three stars
There are certainly some jams here, but it all started to blur together after a while. For every song I liked there were 2 that just kinda passed me by. 2.5-3
Allow me to be insufferable about R.E.M. for a moment. In their prime, they were one of the rarest breed of band, where each member was truly in-expendable. The band was run as a democracy, all 4 of them contributed something distinct. All songs were credited to all 4 members. All money was split 4 ways. I think with the vast majority of bands, there’s one or two central figures (usually a vocalist and/or a guitarist) who end up surrounded by a rotating cast of characters. There’s obviously exceptions to that rule (The Beatles are the obvious big one), but R.E.M. is a band with 4 members who straight up cannot be replaced. Michael Stipe is an incredible singer. Bill Berry and Mike Mills, as I said in my Who review, might be my favorite rhythm section of all time. Mills is at the very least my favorite backing vocalist of all time. Peter Buck is not a stellar guitarist but his love of rock music put the band together and we love him for it because passion > proficiency and Buck is a jangle icon. He's the working man's Johnny Marr. When Bill Berry left the band in the mid-90s (he had an on-stage brain hemorrhage and decided to retire from music to become a farmer), they didn’t even try to replace him and spent the last 15 years of their run without an official drummer. They also felt that whole time like they were going through the motions. While there’s some standout tracks, that era is basically consigned to history. I recently read a book about REM that spent 43 chapters on the 16 years that Bill Berry was in the band and 4 chapters on the 15 years after he left. Peak R.E.M. (Murmur - New Adventures in Hi-Fi; the Berry years) , is maybe the most consistently great American rock band of all time. They just flat out did not miss for 10 albums in the span of 16 years. I don't know that I've seen that replicated. All that said, this ranks pretty low in my peak R.E.M. ranking and is definitely my least favorite thing they put out in the 80s. But it has not 1 but 2 bona fide classics, so I get it. Everything else is solid, but the fact that you know exactly which 2 songs I'm talking about is proof enough that those songs are carrying. I think I could nail "It's the End of the World As We Know It" at karaoke if I was drunk enough.
Good album not as good as automatic yet better than most of that years albums.
I have scored the other REM albums pretty highly and i really liked Green. With the exception The One I Love and The End of the World - the album feels like AI generic music in the style of REM with no stand out features that grab me. The two aforementioned tracks are great and up there with REM's best songs but dont lift the album above a 3 for me geoff.
REM is always missing that something extra for me.
5/10 The more I hear of them, the more I feel that R.E.M. fall into that category of bands where I really love some of their songs, but there’s not a single one of their albums that I love from start to finish. I feel like they have actually written 4 or 5 really good albums worth of music, but have spread those albums out over 15 releases and chucked in a load of waffle to fill up the gaps. This album has its moments, and the one two punch of End Of The World and One I Love is brilliant, but on a lot of the other tracks, I am often just begging for a more engaging hook or melody. There are hints of them and lead ups to them, but I often find that things just wander around without ever finding a solid centre to hang the song from, so things feel a little aimless. The vibe in general is great, the production is solid, the drums really punch and they move fairly effortlessly between the more jangly guitar side of their sound and the more heavy, driven elements of some of the songs, and some of the harmonies are lovely. But too many of the tracks feel like vibey fillers rather than engaging songs in their own right. I think I could probably pick an REM song out just from the vocal melody, even if it wasn’t being sung by Michael Stipe. He has a very distinctive melodic writing style, and when he allows himself to settle on something catchy, there’s magic to be found, but when he gets a bit more loose, I find it more of a struggle to maintain an interest. Often I feel like they overwrite some elements while underwriting others, which results in songs that have a fairly boring chord structure repeating for too long while the vocal just wanders around without ever honing in on something memorable or hooky. And even that could work if you built it around a chorus that delivered that musical centre, but that rarely came along. I can appreciate the development of sound and tone that R.E.M. developed, and you can hear bits of it all over the music that would follow in the subsequent decades, but the overall package isn’t one that does enough to stick with me long term. Finest Worksong - The production of this is great straight off the bat. It’s got a solid punch to it, and a real sense of space. There are some really nice moments, particularly in the blend between lead and backing vocals and the odd little flourish of guitar, piano and percussion here and there that add nice moments of nuance and depth. It’s a pretty strong opener. Welcome To The Occupation - And we’ve fallen back into the more dynamically and musically flat end of R.E.M.s work. It’s nice enough, but it kind of does more or less the same thing the whole way through with only minor flourishes of dynamic change. Yes, the chords change between verse and chorus, but the vibe and dynamic remains very one-note. It doesn’t quite deliver on the hooks either, so it all just feels like a bit of a wash of pleasant but unspectacular music. Exhuming McCarthy - There are some nice dynamic and tonal changes in places this song, but it’s also a bit meandering. The guitar strumming pattern seems just a bit sloppy and repetitive. Again, there are some nice moments, especially during the stripped back sections, but it’s very plodding and overly insistent without having the bite and anger that justifies the insistence. Disturbance At The Heron House - This one is a bit better. There’s a bit more variety and range between verse and chorus, and moments where things are allowed a bit more dynamic movement. Things do meander about a bit too much though, and it feels like Michael Stipe is singing along trying to find something that really works, but never quite finds it. Strange - Ah, what a great intro. Michael Stipe adds a bit more drive into his delivery here, and alongside the more chugging nature of the guitars, it gives it a much more interesting edge. I quite like it, but it also never feels like they ever really find the chorus this song is looking for. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - A classic. There’s a great pace to this and it has all of the elements that I’m looking for in a song like this. The instrumentation ebbs and flows during the verse, the pulse is great and there are interesting little bits of musical nuance here and there, and then we launch into a brilliant, hooky chorus. It’s got dynamic range, a relentless verse vocal that makes the chorus seem more fluid and smooth by comparison. Solid backing vocals too. The One I Love - Another great song. It develops through different sections really nicely and rarely stands still for long. It has a slightly laid back pace to it, but the drums really give it a bit of drive and attitude that dust some spice into the mix. Michael Stipe has found his melodic hook writing stride by now in the album, and this follows on from the previous track in that vein. A one two punch of quality. Fireplace - This gets a bit darker in tone and it pulses along, but as with some of the earlier tracks, it never really finds its centre. I feel there’s a bit of a clash of styles in that it could have been made to be more brooding, but there’s probably a bit too much energy for that to really work out, and it doesn’t have enough of a melodic focus to latch on to the energy either. I can’t say I’m a massive fan of the sax work either and find it a bit jarring. Lightnin' Hopkins - This has got some great drive and a bit of bite to it. It almost doesn’t sound like R.E.M., so it does stick out a little, and Michael Stipe sings with a bit of a rasp that is quite uncharacteristic. The drums in particular are good here and there are some really solid riffs, but I’m just not quite sure what to make of it. King Of Birds - We’re back to a more classic R.E.M. sound now, but with a rolling military style drum beat. It’s quite drony during those sections, but it does find a bit more of a solid groove through other moments. But there’s nothing particularly melodically satisfying about it. Oddfellows Local 151 - I like the vibe of the verse here, it’s pretty brooding and pulses nicely, with the lead vocal using some nice dynamic range and taking moments to soar above the almost malicious tone of the instrumentation. But then the chorus is just rubbish. It’s more or less the same thing as the verse from the band and MIchael Stipe just Singing the same line about a firehouse again and again. Give this a strong chorus and it would be great, because the verses are great.
Not my favorite REM venture but the hits bring it to 3.5
Vilken start på albumet! Genom hela albumet så är jag på en resa och sitter och diggar med konstant. Vissa låtar känner man ju igen mycket väl. Albumet avslutar lite svagare än starten men mycket trivsamt overall!
Very repetitive. Like to sound.
Good instrumentals and very relevant lyrics. The album as a whole is very cohesive - the songs aren't repetitive but they blend into each other well. It was really ahead of its time - it has a sound that many bands would follow throughout the 90s.
Great REM album. Really liked it, some songs are a bit samey at times
So what I was a little lazy? So what I avoided listening to this in order to extend the carefree nature of my weekend? So what that extended to Monday? Who cares? I do. Deeply. That’s why I’m writing about this. This is my sincere apology to the vast, vast legions of readers that tune in daily for half-baked musical takes littered with typos and ill-informed rhetoric. It eases the pain to know that I haven’t disappeared and I will continue to lazily churn out slop for my hogs (that’s what I call my fans) who need to hear what I spew forth while avoiding emails at work. Document THAT. Finest Worksong - The finest? I’ll be the judge of that. Upon further review, it’s really not the finest one I’ve ever heard. Working Man by Rush rips pretty hard. Anyway. This song is fine. Welcome to the Occupation - Hell yeah. We’re getting all minor keyed here. I am now fully occupied by the spirit of Michael Stipe. I don’t believe he is dead, but here we are. Exhuming McCarthy - Oh no! The members of R.E.M have been arrested on suspicion of grave robbing. They exhumed the wrong McCarthy. Sad. The widow was devastated. Disturbance at the Heron House - Man is Tragically Hip really just the Canadian R.E.M? Trouble at the Hen House? Disturbance at the Heron House? So much turmoil in the fowl lodging communities. An issue that can unite the two vastly different nations. Other than their usual bonding over orally servicing billionaires at the expense of their populations. Strange - Good! It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - You won’t believe it! Quirked up white boys invent rap. Read as if it’s a click bait article. Memo: remove all instructions to readers from “finished” review. Oh yeah. It’s “finished” alright. Where was I? Fun song. The One I Love - This song has always been cool. The swinging jangle of it all. A classic and for good reason. Fireplace - Somebody had the audacity to call me in the year 2025 and I lost my train of thought. I know I’m kind of liking this record though. Big ups to the R.E.M. Lightnin’ Hopkins - This has nothing to do with that guy, but man this was a fun one too. Erratic twangy, and ultimately, enjoyable. King of Birds - A shabby husk of a man. Aerodynamically thin, covered head to toe in discarded feathers, held on with smeared bird excrement. Scarred with the clawing of his subjects. The king of birds presides over his kingdom. Terrified squawks from the harried rabble meet the verdict of death cast down for their crow brethren. Another feather to the tyrant king, whose thirst for baubles is only exceeded by his lust for power. A naturally loyal species, betrayed by an outsider. Long live the king. Dismayed are the fowl that cross the Avian despot. Oddfellows Local 151 - This song is about Peewee Herman. The word of the day is “jangle.”This is a weird little B-52’s-esque romp to close us off. Short and actually pretty sweet. What a time to be alive. Older R.E.M not only made me type that band name into my fucking phone keyboard like six times (switching tabs for punctuation is a bitch) but it made me enjoy the band. This thing isn’t going to change my world (as I know it) but I certainly feel that it’s fine. And that is how you end a terrible review. Begone. I grow tired of this. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Welcome to the Occupation, It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love, Lightnin’ Hopkins
Cover 4 Good album. Very listenable.
5.7
I always like an REM album. Not my favorite but still very solid.
I liked it
Pa ima tu par kultnih stvari koje stvarno nisu loše. One thing koji appreciateam kod njih je da od mora takvih bendova oni su jedan u kojem bubnjevi ne zvuče ko da netko lopatom roka po bačvama kiselog domaćeg vina, that's a nice change. Ili barem ne all the time. Imaju isto dosta specifičan zvuk općenito što mi je kul, iako možda ne zvuče uvijek kao meni nešto predobar bend. Still, kao što rekoh, ima par stvari tu koje su mi oduvijek drage. 3/5, 6.5/10
Tämmönen läpisoittohan tää oli. Ei oo ikinä remmi lähtenyt muutamaa superbiisiä lukuunottamatta. Ei mitään vikaa, mutta ei mitään ihmeellistä
Ei nyt kauheesti herättänyt fiilareita suuntaan tai toiseen. Tykkään kyl ihan pändistä ja alkupään levyjä oon kuunnellut asioikseni. Vähän ehkä lattee meno yhellä kuuntelulla, mut ei ärsyttänytkään. Remmii vaan kireemmälle ja menox.
Kyllähän remmin herrasmiesrokki aina maistuu. Ei ehkä bändin parhaita levyjä kokonaisuudessaan, mutta muutama ihan jees kappale, kirkkaimpana tietysti It's the end of the world as we know it. Vähän tasapaksua junttaamista saadakseen korkeampia pisteitä.
Finally an REM album i don't hate, the hits slap and the duds dont piss me off, which is saying something. Good driving album, none of the songs dragged on, and the whole thing had a nice full sound to it.
strange guete produkt
gut, aber rem hat bessere alben
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.