Document

So cool to dig into some more R.E.M. songs beyond the big ones and also learn a lot more about them. I had no idea they had released quite so many albums and were so established before making their true breakthrough (and this was already their fifth album!). I prefer their more upbeat stuff (as is my general proclivity) and therefore love It's The End of the World As We Know It... Also liked the clearly political messaging on here

There was a brief window where this might have been my favorite R.E.M. album, which is incredibly high praise. At some point into my teenage years when I began to learn more about leftist politics and some of the evils perpetrated by the U.S., this album, being R.E.M.'s most political, really sung to me. Feeling seen (and feeling smart) by unpacking lyrics dealing with our meddling in Latin America, McCarthyism, and the billion other things in "It's The End of the World ..." was deeply satisfying. Still love the album, but the unevenness of the deep tracks renders this mid-tier R.E.M. This is, to be clear, still A-tier stuff, just not stuff on the level of their best work. Best tracks: "Exhuming McCarthy" "It's The End ..." "Lightnin' Hopkins" "Welcome to the Occupation" "King of Birds" Worst tracks (which are still fine): "Strange" "Fireplace" "Oddfellows Local 151"

Catchy, moody, some classics that I grew up with on the radio. Would come back to it. Maybe not a ton of depth, but a very cohesive sound throughout and a tight album.

I can see why it’s on this list, but still “not quite my tempo.” At least it was a rock album.

Light booty. Odd that this band was popular.

REM's IRS years are so great, and this record is amazing, still REM-ish with cryptic obliqueness but also direct, political, funny, fiery, tough. Big hooks, hard beats, rich textures. And "big" "hits" with One I love and End of the World.

This album is indeed a solid document (vellum? No I don’t think Michael Stipe would approve, maybe cotton rag). The lesser known tracks are no less strong than the famous ones, and it’s funny because Stipe was often mocked for mumbling, but I found the arrangements, melodies and harmonies, vocals, and lyrics all crystal clear and engaging. Some of the very best the 80s offered and offers.

I am super biased. I had this album in my Walkman from 8th through half of 9th grade and listened to it nonstop. I can tell you every note that comes next. I can't listen to this objectively. Many would not put this on their REM list, but I have to. It's "The End of the World as We Know It." "Open My Eyes" as James McCarthy. Always love the wordplay on "The One I Love." Peter Buffett's guitars are pretty darn good too

7/10 Buen album. Divertido, me gusto la voz del chabon y buenos ritmos

good album, liked "finest worksong", "welcome to the occupation", "disturbance at the heron house", "it's the end of the world as we know it (and i fell fine)", "the only i love", "king of birds", "oddfellows local 151". 4.

I think this may be the album that actually sold me on REM. ive listened to some of their stuff and I know how influential they are, I have just never had that urge to listen to them, but I kinda get it now. Fair play lads.

I loved the first half of this one but the back half wasn’t nearly as good. Overall still a great record!

Sounds really good and fresh, even now. The End of the World is great (the song, anyway) and The One I Love still hits. Two songs that transcend generations, back to back on one album, is enough for me to give this one a lot of credit.

A gentle listen

The last stand of indie rock before the majors came a calling. Document ended up being the Thriller of college radio rock. I haven't listened to this since the early 90's. Struck by the power pop ness, the hearable lyrics, the big drums, and lack of Byrd-style jangle, as I listen today. I think it's the first REM record I bought. Had to have it for DJing those college and high school parties. I like individual REM songs better, but this would be my fave record of theirs. I have a lot of respect for these guys, even though they aren't among my favorite bands..they never were.

Tengo dobelshi en la cartela

Если честно, у меня было другое представление о R. E. M и то, что оказалось на самом деле в три раза лучше ттго, что я представляла. Я немного завышала оценки, но, думаю, если Dinosaur Jr и Led Zep я поставила 5, то им точно.

Fine album, doesn't date at all

This one was in every changer in my fraternity, and half of it was included on every party mix tape for the next 2 years or more. Rounding this one up to a 5 to close out my R.E.M. reviews.

A couple of good songs mixed in here. Quite moody and atmospheric.

This is a late 80s album that is chill campfire music which, I hate to say, basically sounds like the other REM albums. NOT saying it’s bad, just that I think I’m lacking a little bit of variety from them. It’s always a good vibe though. I didn’t pay as much attention to this album as I should have though, I will probably need to revisit it someday.

Sonnnnnnn what is this. Only good song sounds like bearnaked ladies. Only vocalist in history more annoying than cranberries

Not a bad album and a few good tracks but Stipe and company never did it for me

Decent

ach ja loosing my religion...c

2/3

Listening to REM requires a commitment to Michael Stipes voice. Like the Hip and Gord Downey. I can’t do it for long before everything sounds the same.

great

the fact that i keep finding lit albums through this. idk where all this music had been all my life. clearly i havent been searching well enough. need to up my rym game soon

не мое. в целом прикольно но я немного не ловлю вайбы. в году 23 я бы влюбилась добавила к себе finest worksong

I debated between if this was a 3 or a 4 for a while. To me, 4 means it transfers to my vinyl collection. But how often would I reach for this album from my collection? Alas, it remains a 3.

I like rem

Prefer Automatic For The People but it's still decent.

I started with Green, worked forward, then later came back to this one - easily my favorite. My classmates roll their eyes when I tell this story, but I was class president and chose End of the World as our class song. Dana and Michelle outvoted me to choose ... So Hard to Say Goodbye by Boyz 2 Men. A crushing defeat the most public of my many humiliations. I don't think I will ever recover. Worse, I had to go pick up some bullshit trophy for most likely to have good hair or something from BJ's trophy shop that featured our "theme" - So Hard to Say Goodbye. I had ordered this via phone, being pre-internet days. I'm sitting in the car after before pulling away and decide to look at the piece of shit and he had engraved "Goodby" instead of the actual fucking spelling. I went in to fly into an impotent rage (misplaced anger &tc) and the son of a bitch has the nerve to tell me that both spellings are correct, and the 18 year old me is not about to win this one. Looks like our time is up.

I love R.E.M., and this is one of my favorite albums of theirs. The production on this album is great, and I love the extra rock energy that has been injected versus prior albums, while still sounding very much like R.E.M. Great album.

I've always kind of dug REM but never listened to a full album of theirs, excited to finall do that. Pretty good album. Two songs I recognize are probably the best on the album but the rest is all pretty decent. Just good early indie rock.

quite liked it but didnt really feel like anything special. just the classic sort of rock vibe youd expect. the singers voice is interesting too! except he sounds a bit too much like roger from RENT for my taste... rating it as a positive thumbs up meh!

Amazing. REM has legendary vocals.

Did not know "It's The End of the World As We Know It" was on this and it did feel like hearing it for the first time. I'm honestly not in love with their sonics but this is so damn fun and well formed

After all this time, I still struggle to sonically grasp R.E.M.'s importance and role in alternative music. Yes, I can understand what's been documented, and that they're pretty much the most '90s-sounding '80s band out there. But, really, the early '90s was already ushering in grunge as the newest cool thing, so R.E.M.'s cleaner, jangly, and lighthearted sound's influence would already start waning by then. I understand their massive influence probably runs deeper than that, but the trail there I've always found super difficult to follow (again, strictly musically speaking). But with all that said, this was easily my favourite R.E.M. album up to this point. Maybe it's because I've been hammering these songs into my head for the past few days as I've been driving around for hours on a road trip, but so many of the tunes here just stuck with me, moreso than any other R.E.M. album on this list thus far. 'Welcome to the Occupation' especially is just so great on so many levels. I've never been one to question Stipe's ability to deliver a politically driven message in the most interesting ways, but he really brings it to another level here. And I love the way his vocal melody sort of hovers around being catchy; it took me many listens of this song to get it stuck in my head, but once it was there, I couldn't get it out. That verse guitar arpeggio has etched itself in my brain. Probably my favourite song by them so far. 'Disturbance at the Heron House' and 'The One I Love' were two other undeniable highlights here, just unique tracks that showcase Stipe's vocal ability more than anything else, especially on the latter - a simple but marvellously executed love song. And 'It's The End of the World' is such an all-timer tune that I knew from fucking Chicken Little of all things. I love the subtle harmonies on this one especially; the whole thing seems to parody itself in the catchiest way possible. It's no wonder it's a hit for them. I think I finally "get" R.E.M. after this record. Yes, they don't really have a unique sound; it feels like they're a fusion of many other bands I've heard, most of which were probably influenced by them. But goddamn, if they can't write some amazing, politically charged, catchy rock tunes, this album was the best showcase of that. So with that, I think I've concluded that R.E.M.'s definitive sound is "Good Music".

Music for mums with alternative musical taste I’d say. Was fine, if not a bit boring.

I like the two singles but the rest is a bit naff. Play some old shit!

2.5 Mehh didn't do a lot for me. even the hits dont do a lot for me.

I like R.E.M but never actually listened to this album in its entirety Bit more of a rockier heavier sound 2nd half of album is better than the 1st. 'Exhuming McCarthy' decent off 1st half. 'The One I Love' & 'The End of The World As We Know It' obvs brilliant Second half tips it to 3.5

Love R.E.M

Черговий альбом R.E.M. Цей мені сподобався мабуть найбільше серед усіх, що були. Exhuming McCarthy - топова пісня. Іноді вокальні партії мені нагадували, чому мені в принципі не сильно подобається гурт. Але не критично

Чи не найбільш улюблений мій альбом у всій дискографії R.E.M. Знаю його дуже добре і часто вертаюсь.

A couple songs on here really carry this whole album. The rest is average.

I can't say I've ever really been a fan of R.E.M. but listening to the album my appreciation for the style has grown.

Yawn party. This is pissing me off, give me some good albums. Only semi-liked ,,lightnin’ hopkins”

This is the album that got me into R.E.M. Some classic tunes on here and one of the first albums where Stipe's singing actually makes sense. Some really good tracks on here and even the 'filler' is better than most songs from other bands. This gets listened to at least once a year so this is not something I have rediscovered! A classic (5/5)

okie dokie

I have always liked REM. I think they have a distinctive sound.

В моей голове 80е звучат как-то совсем по-другому

Праотцы половины жанров и поджанров, которые мы сегодня слушаем. Какой бы известной ни была группа, ее влияние все равно недооценивают. И с этого альбома как раз началась их прайм эра. Я его полностью послушал впервые и остался в восторге, это именно то, что я ожидал, и даже больше. Shiny Happy Music

Нормик, но ту американ

Рем - это группа, которую, когда я знал их только по хитам, хотелось полюбить альбомами Но к сожалению, уже который их альбом мимо

удивленно заметил, что у альбома у меня стояла оценка 3, видимо настрой был неоч, сменил на 3.5, точно не лучший их альбом на мой взгляд, но переслушав еще раз - впечатление оставляет положительное, округлю чуть в большую сторону даже

Rate: 8/10.

Let's not fool ourselves, a solid 3

Verschrikkelijk

Eigenlijk “strangeways, here we come” van de smiths. Een smiths album zonder de flare van de smiths. Pretentieus depresief en dat is echt een verschrikkelijke combo van woorden. Wel een bangertje dr op, dus geen 1. Nogmaals, 1 banger

Wanted to like more, but still good :)

Some good songs, well written and produced, but doesn't really stand out as anything more than "not bad".

I respect R.E.M. but I think it's just one of those bands that's not for me (similar to Rush, even though I don't think these bands sound particularly alike—there's a vibe that connects the two of them and that I just don't click with).

As with several other R.E.M. albums, I find a few of these songs really good and the rest entirely forgettable.

Haven’t listened to this in awhile. Great to listen to it cover to cover. Some really clever lyrics in this mostly political album. Buy a jingle, buy America.

Quite like REM. I wasn't a fan initially, but have grown to like them. Like this album.

i think this whole album might be carried by End of the World. perfectly inoffensive & perfectly 'meh', bordering on just plain boring at times

R.E.M. – Document (1987) On Day 270, this record made for a thoroughly enjoyable milestone listen. The primary drawback for me was the prominent Southern, country-tinged vocal inflection, but everything else held up remarkably well. The production is crisp and punchy, and the vocal delivery across the board carries genuine charisma and conviction. I found myself enjoying the vast majority of the tracklist, from the driving rock arrangements to the sharper melodic hooks. "Lightnin' Hopkins" stood out as the lone weak spot of the session, feeling noticeably less defined than the rest of the material. Beyond that minor dip, it proved to be a cohesive and engaging project throughout. A reliable 4/5.

Felt very apathetic listening to this

Enjoyed the bottom half of the album a LOT. Top half warrants relisten. King of Birds, Fireplace, and Oddfellows in particular I really liked. I'd give it a 4.5 if I could!

This is a really good record Really good alternative rock

This was such a central album to this time of my life...such post college radio times

A pleasant listen dotted with hits. An album I didn’t expect to enjoy but I was glad to be proven wrong.

A couple of standout tracks but not something i'll be rushing back to listen to

Love this album, takes me right back!

Takes a while to get going but by the fifth track this thing really gets going It’s the End of the world being the obvious stand out

it’s the end of the world as we know it!

Quite ironic calling the first track ‘finest work’ This was not R.E.M’s finest work by far, an average album and I am a fan of the band! The singles are superb of course- ‘the one I love’ being the best track on the album and also ‘it’s the end of the world’ ‘king of the birds’ and ‘finest work’ are good. But the rest can go in the bin! Worst track- ‘fireplace’ I mean what is going on there on an album that produces ‘the one I love’! Madness! Disappointing 4.5/10

R.E.M. - Document An album of three brilliant songs, a couple of ok songs, and then just album meh. The brilliant are obvious to spot - The One I love, End of the World and the truly stunning Finest Worksong. OK - Strange & King of the birds. Best Track - FW Worst Track - Fireplace 6.5/10

I really enjoy me some REM and there most certainly are some stone cold classics on here; but for me there are much more rounded and consistent albums by Micky Stype and the lads (as I don't call them).

Amazing! Loved it! Great listen. 5/5 star 261/1089

Not their best, but still decent - gets a fair few points just for It's the End of the World... ! Not gonna beat Automatic for the People though, is it

A classic that I’m too biased to give anything but a 5. R.E.M. is perennially underrated. ML406

My first returning artist of the project, and this time R.E.M. really clicked with me. “Finest Worksong” came out of the gate rocking and ended up being my favorite discovery on the album. I already knew “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” one of my favorite R.E.M. songs, and “The One I Love,” so those gave the album a pretty strong foundation. I also really enjoyed the driving drums and Mike Mills’ higher backing vocals, which reminded me a little of the way Michael Anthony’s voice added another dimension to Van Halen. The songs are generally short and keep moving, and I liked the political and social themes running through the album. At times it almost felt like a concept album, and some of what they were singing about in 1987 still feels surprisingly relevant today. Musically, a few songs started to blend together, and the final stretch was more good than great, which kept it from reaching five-star territory. But there really wasn’t anything here I disliked. A strong album and definitely a better R.E.M. experience for me this time around.

Хамгийн анхний санал болгосон албум. Анх удаа сонсож байна. Рок хамтлаг юм шиг байна. Гэхдээ чихэнд наалдацтай зүгээр байлаа.

Not great

favs: strange the one i love king of birds oddfellows local 151 rating 1.8/5

I know I should like R.E.M. better than I do, however the over-saturation of radio-play of Stipe's voice/"What's the Frequency, Kenneth", may have damaged some brain cells. I came to hate that song, but happily, I really enjoyed this album! 4 stars

I like R.E.M., but this album is not my favorite.

The goat.

A nice classic punk collection! Loved getting to hear End of the World As We Know It in context. Enjoyable listen, a few stand-out tracks.

Bon album de rock alternatif. Un poil trop américain

There’s no arguing the influence R.E.M. had on the alternative genre to come in the 90’s. You can hear SO many different bands, hell even from the 00’s here in 1987. This has just been another one of those bands I’ve struggled to latch onto. Perhaps what I’m not registering is that they created the sound that I’m so used to, that it’s become “basic” or “samey” in hindsight. I mean literally there’s so many copy cat bands. This sound has been done to death after them. (To no fault of their own) This album wasn’t anything crazy to me. Maybe I’m not in the right mood right now. It was an easy listen but nothing I’m really itching to come back to. It feels like a cardinal sin saying this considering I love post punk and alt shit in this era. Band sounds great though. They do rock.

This is comedy this album is the true indication of what indie is they are the perfect 2004 band from 1987 what an crazy band this is I love this but It has a special place in my heart because Its the end of the world as we know it( and I feel fine) is in chickne little and I loved that movie growing up that was one of the first youtube videos I loved. Thank you REM for making my childhood.

3,45

That’s not the first thing that springs to mind when I think of music from the 1980s, but of course it is :-) Two stars...

'File under fire' they said, and it is a bit more fiery and muscular than the albums before it. I have always loved The One I Love, with Mike Mills typically excellent on backing vocals, and I also really liked Disturbance at the Heron House and Fireplace. Plus, I am always glad to hear someone cover Wire, even if it lacks the unease of the original.

I like REM in my mind but listening back to this, it's fine but not that exciting. But it did remind me of Chicken Little so that's good