Reviews (page 3 of 12)
Nice- second REM in a row.
My second favorite REM album
Every time I hit an R.E.M. album I end up spending the entire day listening to them. Such an amazing band. This record only produced 1 or 2 hits but the whole thing is great.
This is a favourite of mine from the early 90s. I like it more than Out of Time. Weird themes and great sounds.
Always loved this one! REM outstanding band!
A lot more political than I was expecting REM to be, though maybe that's because I know very little music of theirs. Great songs and a very solid sound
É sempre fundamental escutar mais R.E.M
This world is big, and so is this album!
Brilliant album
Been on an REM kick since I got Automatic for the People two months ago. Probably would’ve listened to this today even if it wasn’t generated
Love it!
What an interesting sound. Every song on this album is a standout.
This is classic R.E.M. right here. Solid album all around.
4/5
This is one of those albums I was glad to be around for at its time. I have almost always been slow on the uptake of music but this was one I heard and it landed...did I kknow of Document or Life's Rich Pageant before...nope... did I care? Eventually. But with this and Automatic For The People I was a late but pretty solid fan of this band. 5 stars!
Really enjoyed this, not as good as automatic but a little better than murmur and document in my opinions 5/5.
just wow.
Great 80's album.
Good album but not really my taste, but I still appreciate that it’s a good album
Pretty good, decent pop-rock album
Solid
It's pretty baffling to me that Automatic For The People is one of the consensus best R.E.M. albums. I honestly think that nearly every R.E.M. album from before it is better. Maybe I just need to spend more time with it, but it feels like it has lost some of R.E.M's identity, with the draw of very clean, very pretty, very self-serious pop songs. But on Green, R.E.M. proves that they were capable of making a real pop album without completely sacrificing the slightly gritty, shadow-y, even esoteric feel of their earlier stuff. While, it isn't at it's most pronounced, Green does still retain some of the mystery behind R.E.M., while also being a really incredible pop album. The lyrics are still odd, the arrangements are still eclectic, and the production still feels underground, but the writing is *incredibly* immediate and infectious. Look at a song like Orange Crush. The refrain is "I've got my spine, I've got my Orange Crush", over an indie pop instrumental, but they sold this distinct oddness into a real single. I Remember California is also a kind of heavy song, which gives a unique tone to something that could have just felt wistful. And You Are The Everything has a really distinct acoustic jangle to it. Green manages to put some of that early R.E.M. mystery into a context that I would honestly just call fun, and it's a massive success. I'd even say that there isn't any song here that really brings this down. This perfectly achieves what it wants to, but I just don't think I like the intended piece here as much as I like some of their truly fantastic older albums, which have a sound similar to this, but are more willing to really drive you somewhere strange and fascinating, and just drop you off. Green holds your hand a *little*, and I am still learning to love it, but it's kind of an undeniable achievement in pop music, and a unique, delightful expression of R.E.M.'s sound.
This is a great quintessential REM album. It has the mood and tone for what you think of when you think REM and really all of the songs are just very good. Could easily put this one back on and listen again
7.5/10 Not REM's best work but a good album nonetheless. Particularly Orange Crush, Inside Out, and Stand.
3.5. Not a big REM fan but this was a good listen with a couple very good songs.
I listened to this album a lot back when it was new, but not for years since then. So how did it hold up? Really well, I'm happy to say, at least musically. There's a lot of good guitar riffs and grooves, a good balance of muscle and sweetness, and they do a lot of great things with interweaving vocals. Still sounds great. Lyrically... I guess it's typical REM. Sometimes Michael Stipe evokes beautiful relatable images (You Are the Everything, The Wrong Child). Sometimes he's really saying something (World Leader Pretend). Sometimes he writes half a song and repeats himself (Get Up, Orange Crush). Sometimes he just doesn't make any sense (Stand).
01) Pop Song 89 - 8,5 02) Get Up - 8,0 03) You Are the Everything - 8,0 04) Stand - 9,0 05) World Leader Pretend - 7,5 06) The Wrong Child - 7,5 07) Orange Crush - 9,5 08) Turn You Inside-Out - 8,0 09) Hairshirt - 7,5 10) I Remember California - 8,0 11) Untitled - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,14 (81/100) Current rnaking: 234/958
Es el segundo album que escucho de R.E.M por el algoritmo y la verdad quedo encantando, no los conocia y valio completamente la pena escucharlos
As uncomfortable as it is to say in some circles, the truth is that I am indifferent to REM. I like a bunch of the singles, I generally am not interested in the album tracks. I don't want to listen to their albums all the way through. This one, which every fellow college student around me seemed to own and love, obviously has several standout tracks. Good album.
I can't pretend to any objectivity with any of REM's first ten or so albums. Green has some of my favorite REM songs but also a couple of my least favorite of theirs. I wish Stand and Shiny Happy People had never been released. But for me the good far outweighs the bad.
1. "Orange Crush" 2. "World Leader Pretend" 3. "Pop Song 89"
What a great album…have always loved the song “hairshirt”….something special 🎸
Actually shocked at how much I like this. I’d never really thought about REM beyond “that’s me in the corner, losing my religion”, but honestly these guys are pretty good. The mandolin on a few of the tracks reminded me of Led Zeppelin’s “Misty Mountain Hop” and the vocals add a unique signature sound to the band.
I liked 'I remember California' the most. I was struggling between 3 and 4, but let it be 4
One of the best alternative bands of the 80s and 90s - was familiar with parts of this album but this is a really strong album in their discography - looking forward to getting Murmur and AFTP as well
Masterpiece
Så bra! Som en varm kram. Precis vad jag behövde idag. Michael Stipes röst är underbar, så fin. Ett fint album med flera bra låtar som Stand och You are the everything (fin titel för övrigt). REM lyckas aldrig göra mig besviken, de levererar bra låtar med bra texter alltid (sedan finns det såklart bättre och sämre album, men aldrig dåliga i mitt tycke).
Stipes voice is a little grating for a full albums worth. Otherwise hypnotizing.
Have
I liked the overall sound but no specific songs stood out to me.
Loved this 4/5. It had a profound effect on my musical taste. I caught this tour as well and saw it in Philly.
Pretty provocative lyrics and a sound they can call their own. The interesting songwriting
3,5
I once owned this album on tape. It was a staple of my youth. Probably deserves a 5 but holding that for other albums by R.E.M. on this list. So 4 it is.
Honestly more like 4.5. So many great songs!!
Couple things Ive learned. REM was more influenced by talking heads (specifically More Songs About Buildings and Food) then I thought. Second, if I was in college in the 80's, REM would have been one of my absolute favorites.
I knew of this album because of my dad but never listened to it fully. Really good album; some great songs on it. Loved almost all of them. Songs I liked: pop song 89, get up, orange crush, stand 4/5
holy shit a pretty good REM!
Stand had a decent beat, remember California is a favorite
Great listen, REM solidifies it self as a band I enjoy :)
Anyone who knows R.E.M’s catalog and was paying attention when this album came out knows that this is the album where they “sold out”. Having had a pretty significant hit on their last album on the indy I.R.S. label with The One I Love, and that got them promoted to the majors, Warner Bros specifically. However the undeniably trite Stand not withstanding, this is as solid an R.E.M. album as there is. Everything they do well is in evidence here.
I liked this album, though Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts were my favorites, not on this album. 4 stars
Songs are tight and drums are crisp. It sounds very important. It sounds like these guys hang out alot with supermodels. Doesn’t hit quite as much as Murmur for me but still hits.
for the first half, i felt it was good but was waiting for it to be great.. and then i heard the wrong child. it stopped me in my tracks - weird but emotionally triggering, it perfectly describes the life of a sick child. i got chills and felt like i was in that lonely bedroom watching the neighbourhood kids play in the streets. i googled it expecting to see rave reviews but apparently it’s been largely hated by audiences from its release till now and has only been played live once. maybe it’s only beautiful if you’ve ever known and loved a kid with a disability? or maybe i have the disability? who knows! but this track took this album from a 3 to a 4 in my eyes.
I was only really aware of the mega-hits, but I found myself enjoying this more than expected. You are everything is a very strong track I had never heard before. Orange crush is of course a classic. Ultimately it has a few really discordant or dull tracks but I'm feeling a 4.
An album that more or less defined alt-rock/college rock at the time. Quirky, but poppy and accessible. This is a thoroughly good time. Maybe not REM’s very best but near the top.
Not my favorite REM album but I enjoyed it
Pretty solid overall but mainly Orange Crush is so good. Stand is on here as well, Hairshirt I liked. Yeah it was pretty good
I find them a bit samey but it's a solid album
Maybe the best REM album. The uptempo songs are almost all hits, while the quieter stuff isn’t as good.
Fantastic album, that remind me of high school. Great writing. While I don't love all of the songs, there are some that are absolute bangers.
Great REM album solid 4
Best R E.M. album I've heard so far, real good energy throughout. Only issue is the production, but it didn't bother me much. Highlights-Pop Song 89, Get Up, Stand, Turn You Inside-Out, and Hairshirt.
it´s like going to drive in the 80´s with it´s light and billboard.
The lyrics are enjoyable. This album further demonstrates that you don't need to be able to sing in order to make a hit - sing-speaking can be enough to do something cool.
Took a second listen and liked the style after that
While I may be more a fan of their earlier albums, I can still dig the more radio-friendly sound R.E.M. had in the late 80s to early 90s. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
A great subtly eccentric alt rock record with a banger second half! I'm usually not all that partial to bright major key rock that sounds like it could be played during the title sequence of a whacky indie film, but something about this really appealed to me. Part of it is definitely it's surprisingly biting and conscious lyrics.
So good! chill, enjoyable rock. Nothing much else to say. 7/10
Great sriff
I just love R.E.M. this definitely isn't their best, but there are some great songs here. I don't have many critiques there just are some songs here that are not my favorite. Actual rating...3.5 Liked Songs: "Pop Song 89" , "You Are The Everything" , "Stand" , "World Leader Pretend" , "Orange Crush" , "Turn You Inside-Out" , "I Remember California" , "Untitled"
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 (rounded up for the first four songs—four fives) I'm in a weird, in-between space with R.E.M.—I don't like them, exactly, after years of feeling endlessly peeved hearing them captive in my parents' car, but I'm almost defensive of them because of their familiarity. Maybe I just got Stockholmed again, but I've really come around to a lot of their music, and, to their credit, most of the songs of theirs I've always liked are on this album. Actually, the first four songs are classics of my childhood that I really treasure. Hearing them back to back, I was almost convinced this album had all-timer momentum, but unfortunately, the rest was pretty middling. Maybe I'll come around to it the way I've come around to the rest of R.E.M., but for those first songs alone, this gets 3.5. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
7.25
I only really knew REM through a few singles, so it was nice to try an album out. I liked it a lot, and the mandolin definitely elevates it, bringing a twinkly edge to the mix Fav track: Stand, The Wrong Child
Mike Mills might be the GOAT. Orange Crush is a classic and still hits the same. The first three songs are great, Turn You Inside-Out is great, I Remember California is so great.
I know and like REM. I currently have 47 songs liked by them - which includes 3 near perfect albums (Reckoning, Document, and Out of Time), plus a sprinkling of songs from most of the rest of their albums. I already have 3 songs liked on this one - "Pop Song 89", "Stand" and "Orange Crush" - which I believe were the radio singles. I think I never bought this as a CD so I'm interested to dive into the whole thing to see what else I missed. "You Are Everything" - such great lyrics. It's love song without mentioning the word love. I love the combination of distant memories and present tense when he's talking about his loved one. "World Leader Pretend" - more introspective thoughts from Michael Stipe about how he's gonna drop his defenses and the walls he's built up around himself and decides to let someone else in "The Wrong Child" - wow - this seems to be from the perspective of a kid that doesn't fit in with the others (possibly introverted, or disabled or just different in someway). It's an "outsider" observing the world and trying to remain positive. Incredible lyrics really. "Hairshirt" - had to look up that word to figure out what he's talking about. A hairshirt is a garment made from rough animal hair (usually that of goats) worn against the skin so the coarse hair will rub and scratch the wearer. It was done as a form of self-penance - basically giving yourself physical suffering as a way of punishing yourself for something bad you supposedly did. So, he's saying he's gonna stop punishing himself for something and just focus on the good parts of life. Cool! "Turn You Inside Out and "I Remember California" have a great vibe. "Get Up" and "Untitled" didn't really grab me. Glad I spent some time listening to this one - as I've now added 6 more REM songs to my playlists and found another almost perfect album. This also pushed R.E.M. into my top tier of artists for whom I like 50 or more songs. Liked songs on Spotify: 9/11 Rating: 4/5
I love REM the band as well as the sleep phase
Really enjoyed this! Very much in the vein of alternative that I enjoy, catchy and poppy but also having a unique sound that I enjoy.
One of their best
Green is the sixth studio album from R.E.M., a band hailing from Athens, Georgia. The band's first six albums were released annually, with growing commercial success in the process. Green marked the beginning of the most successful period of the band's career; for several albums, spanning almost a decade, REM was among the most successful pop bands in the world. The album is a departure from the minor-key, thoughtful-to-brooding alt-rock of the band's earlier albums. This is a collection of major key, pop-oriented songs, laced with the band's distinct sound. Green includes two of the band's first singles to top charts: "Stand" and "Orange Crush."
Is Mike Mills rock's greatest backing vocalist? I sure think so. This is a really good record of material from one of my favorite bands. I think side two is significantly tonally different from Side One's calming/uptempo feel- one's mileage will vary based on if that switch up to darker material on side two (announced firmly with big single "Orange Crush") works or not. I like it a lot.
R.E.M. has always been a blind spot for me. Just kind of missed out on the height of their success, and never knew anyone who was really into them. Anyway, I really liked this album and see why they are so influential. The music is interesting without being alien, and lyrics are erudite without being precious, the whole thing evokes dark Americana but in a new way, without blues chords or harmonicas. 4/5 from me.
Like a lot of people, I came to R.E.M. through Out of Time and Automatic for the People but never went backwards. Green feels like a great correction. It’s looser and more experimental—jangly pop like “Stand” alongside darker, more textured tracks like “Orange Crush.” Not everything lands, but it’s full of ideas and energy. It sounds like a band in transition, and for that reason alone, it’s one of their most interesting—and easily up there with the best of alternative rock.
Murmur, Document, Automatic For The People... and now Green. All solid 4-star efforts. Fantastic riff to start us off on the right foot. Pop Song 89 couldn't get its musical message across more effectively if it tried. A full, ear-friendly-yet-tastefully-distorted sound that represents everything I'm looking for from this genre. The atmosphere gets even more intense and frenzied, controlled with great musicianship and even greater chord choices, in the electric Get Up. Next is You Are The Everything, a peculiar track that tries to be melancholic while also incorporating (what sounds like) a mandolin and an accordion. Maybe it's more of a "longing" atmosphere. I've never heard Stand before, but amazingly, I recognise it from an old Minecraft Let's Play video on YouTube. Take that how you will. That line "Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before" is not only a pretty cool lyric, but it's ridiculously catchy. Cool guitar solo, and key changes, and whole atmosphere. The strongest track thus far. The next track of interest could be The Wrong Child, with distinctive acoustic guitar + mandolin combo along with two majorly offset vocal lines. I could've just described The Battle of Evermore and you'd be none the wiser. Clear inspiration taken here – but the source material is fantastic, so you can't really go wrong. There's a lot happening in Orange Crush, yet the most interesting part of the song is the strange SFX-filled military(?)-style interlude. Then there's Turn You Inside Out, with its mildly creepy refrain "I believe in what you do / I believe in watching you". A good song, though. Very 80s-coded. Mandolin continues to be Stipe's (or someone's) obsession as we approach the end of the album. Hairshirt is nothing revolutionary. A pleasant song. I Remember California is as stereotypical R.E.M. as you can get: a sombre minor key and mystery-movie-esque atmosphere, great texturing, and some soft, thumpy, equally mysterious percussion. The final track, Untitled, is very clearly the weakest on the album – lacking any musical ideas that make me want to ever return to it – but it's still passable. That means all the other songs are noticeably better than passable. Any rating less than 4 stars is fraudulent. 4/5 Key tracks: Pop Song 89, Stand, Orange Crush
3rd R.E.M. album for me on the list and 2nd one just this week following my favourite of theirs "Murmur"! This might contain my favourite song of theirs "Orange Crush", however I need to listen to album tracks and this one might go for 4 stars.
I think I've found a new favorite, and I barely knew REM before this! It's just so good and my vibe
Not my favourite REM album but even my not-favourite REM album beats out lots of others.
This album was released while I was on my mission. I wasn't as familiar with it, but it's really good. Pitchfork: 8.4 (25th Anniversary Deluxe reissue) Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Pop Song 89 Get Up You Are The Everything Stand World Leader Pretend Orange Crush Hairshirt I Remember California
Stipe for President
REM is widely hailed as one of the greatest alt rock acts of all time and it's hard for me to argue with that considering the sheer avalanche of classic, amazing songs they've put out from "The One I Love" to "Man on the Moon" to, of course, "Losing My Religion". But despite that, I've never really loved their albums. Even widely agreed masterpieces like Automatic for the People just don't do it for me. So, with that in mind, you'd think I'd be in a losing position here about to review a famously uneven album that bitterly divides fans of REM's scrappy college rock roots from the mainstream pop fans they would gain going forward. But surprisingly, I found myself really gelling with this messy, experimental transitional album. There are obvious weak points here like the album's second biggest hit, "Stand," which perfectly presages later annoying, intentionally bubblegum REM songs like "Shiny Happy People." But there is an undeniable energy here that is infectious. Green strikes a delicate balance between scrappiness and pop sensibility that is catnip to me personally. The best song is obviously "Orange Crush," one of REM's hardest rocking songs that somehow makes its nonsense lyrics work but I'd be remiss if I didn't also single out "World Leader Pretend" as a strong step towards the moodier sound they would develop in future albums while maintaining an edge I like more with those soul-baring, self-flagellating lyrics. I guess what I'm saying here is: I like this fine, I've got my Green crush.
This was fun. Second half carried.
Me gustó mucho. No me guarde canciones pero la mayoría me parecieron muy chulas
This album is so good. I don’t even count “The Wrong Child” against it, even though it’s the worst song the band ever recorded
While I was only a casual fan of R.E.M. during their peak from 1987 to 1992—when I was between 12 and 17—their music has stayed with me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve come to appreciate not just their sound, but the emotional weight behind it and the lasting impact they had on the indie rock scene. Listening to Green in its entirety now—having only known the radio singles before—it strikes me as brighter and more immediate than their early ’90s work, but there’s still that familiar tension underneath: songs that somehow feel uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time.
During the R.E.M. heyday, I was too far down the hard rock & metal rabbit hole to even consider other genres of music as worthy of a listen. Thankfully, those blinders were ripped off by the mid 90s, but I never fully listened to anything from these guys outside of the radio hits. This list has provided me the opportunity to hear more from them than I ever have and I have been really enamored with everything that's passed across my cochlea. I think back to the times when I would hit the music store on release day, eager to buy the latest Metallica album and sitting in the car opening the cassette case to revel in the fold out liner notes before sliding that bad boy into the tape deck. Everyone has regrets in life: "I should have done this", "I should have said that", "I wish I had reacted differently in that situation." Well, I wish R.E.M. would have been part of that joy.
Really great alternative pop rock, a standard of what was to come in the coming decades.
3.5 stars This is not my favorite REM album. It’s mostly good. Side 1 is great until the last track. Then side 2 starts with a jam and then becomes a snooze until the untitled closer. It’s a little more than half good so that’s what I’ll give it. It had been a while since I listened to it and enjoyed the poppy catchiness of the album. Even silly “Stand.”
Day 257 Highlights Stand You are the Everything Orange Crush
Get Up, The Wrong Child, and Orange Crush (heard that before) stood out. Always liked REM, just never listened to a lot of their albums. Might have to now. 4/5
I like the variety Fav : world leader pretend I remember california
the like the quakky, poppy theme
a sip of good old lager
lindo sonido, mas indie, melancolico (? 4.3/5
algumas músicas são bem rock, e outras continuam sendo bem rock mais puxado pra melancólia, eu adorei, a guitarra, bateria e baixo estão incríveis, e a voz do cara q canta e ÓTIMA
3/5 Lots of cool mandolin.
I have a mostly positive experience with this, World Leader Pretend in fact being one of my all-time favorite R.E.M. songs and You Are the Everything not far behind (yes Trump the pretend person keeps it fresh). But the Orange Crush, Stand element tries to detract from that. So even at their least engaging they are worlds ahead of their peers in the sonic landscape.
I just love this. Mandolin rock!
I don't know why but Orange Crush always gives me the feel goods. Everything else was pretty good. I prefer a little more oomph in my rock music, but this is definitely an above average album.
Have this. I wasn't a fan initially, but became a fan.
Wow, maybe my favorite REM album on the list so far? Normally I'm not a fan of their output and think it's a little monotonous, but I really enjoyed this album. There are definitely some songs on here that don't match the high level of creative output of the rest of the album, but I really enjoyed this. Maybe it's time to give REM's other albums a second shake.
For almost 40 years now, I've yet to hear something from this band I don't like. Hairshirt is to Green what Nightswimming is to Automatic For The People.
World leader pretend es el que mas me esta sorprendiendo Pensaba que iba a ser solo rock pero me sorprende lo alternativo q esta siendo Vale, la q mas m gusta es I remember california
Peu écouté REM dans ma vie, mais cet album est très bon. 4-/5
These are the first batch of REM songs I remember being aware of. So, uh. . . STAND!
Some high highs and some mid mids. This is the R.E.M. experience for me, encapsulated by 'Green.' "Orange Crush" is amazing! So is "Stand!" Then there's just other stuff that's fine. But the album is bolstered by the hits and that nothing is bad on the album. Top tracks: "Orange Crush," "Stand," "Pop Song 89," "Hairshirt"
Another good R.E.M. album. Stand and Orange Crush are the standout hits.
Gorgeous
holy peak
Took a while to get used to it, but it was a very consistent listen
Pas mon préféré, mais ça reste REM
I had always meant to give REM a proper shot and this was a good reason to finally do so. Got a 90's, kinda-shoegazey vibe which I really liked (A very important note to the reader: these kinds of songs always remind me of the movie High Fidelity which features lots of similar stuff). Anyway yeah I will listen to more REM. I think I need to recalibrate my rating system though.
The summer after my younger brother went away to college, the big thing he came back with was "REM sucks because the lead doesn't actually sing". But his musical taste is big on Billy Joel. Yeah, Stipe has a limited range. No big deal. The music here is awesome. Solid craftsmanship here, all the way through. My Rating: 4/5
Overall pleasant rock album, 7/10, Favorite Song: Orange Crush
They have a unique sound on this LP which they created on their previous release. Musical depth and instrument variation delicer a open sonic sound. 4 solid songs defining future musical directions
Outside of their big hits, I think the only R.E.M. album I've ever listened to is Automatic for the People which is a good album. Maybe even very good. This album? Even better. Might even call it great. I really liked this one Easy 4 Stars.
A step towards greatness
I got a CD player for Christmas 1990. And this was one of the very first CDs I bought. It was at Tom Tom's CD exchange in Sandy Utah from the used section. I picked it up because I had heard Orange Crush which had been getting regular airplay on the alternative station. This was when alternative music was still just that -- off the beaten path of the mainstream. It was like me and only a few others knew about this great music. Then a year later Nirvana changed that, along with REM and their hit 'Losing My Religion'. When I got this home and listened to it, I was immediately drawn in by the two bangers that open the album -- Pop Song and Get Up. I recognized Stand from the radio, but had no idea it was the same band that did Orange Crush. And I think this is one of the enduring things about REM for me -- they are very versatile, doing a protest song like Orange Crush but also have fun and levity with Stand (though if you think about it, Stand is a bit of a covert protest song) and also be introspective with songs like World Leader Pretend (which may be the crown jewel of this album) and I remember California. And also breezy chill tunes like You are the Everything and the last Untitled track (which is a hidden track on the original CD) The mandolin in a few of the tracks foreshadow its use in Losing my Religion and other tracks on the next album. I learned later that this was REMs debut on a major label. Fans at the time accused them of selling out, but as I got to know their back catalogue, I feel like this album was a step forward for the band, but at the same time not terribly different from their previous work, which I think is a tribute to their strong songwriting and production. Green is close to a five star for me... the only thing that holds it back is that there are other REM albums that I think are even stronger, which may be coming up.
My first exposure to any R.E.M. and it definitely made a good impression. Just about everything they go for here works for me in some capacity. I enjoy the folksy tracks, I enjoy the more conventional tracks, and I enjoy Stipe’s vocals and lyricism over all of it. Stand shouldn’t be allowed to be as catchy as it is. Excited to listen to more of their work. 2 listens Favorite Tracks: I Remember California, Stand, Pop Song 89
Expectation: -> This has 4-5 potential. Guessing I will know/recognize 2-4 songs. I know the Automatic album better. After listening: -> I find Michael Stipe's voice to be comfortably nostalgic. Instantly recognizable and reminiscent of a better time. Two bangers on this album (Stand and Orange Crush). The others are very good and make for an easy full album listen. Thank you, R.E.M. Track ranking: Stand Orange Crush (The rest)
Not their best album but still a very good one.
I really enjoy R.E.M. but I find their discography lacks a true 5/5 classic despite some incredible high points. Stand is a great track here. The opener has some awesome lyrics and I love orange crush.
Didn't even need to listen to this oneto give it four stars; it's in my music DNA.
R.E.M. is a difficult band for me to assess critically. I know all their greatest hits by heart and I know the influence they had on a dozen of my favorite bands. But I also can’t say that I am a true fan or listen to them that often. The emotional connection for me just isn’t there except for a few songs. That may eventually make one of their albums on this list a five for me, but it isn’t this one.
stand
I used to listen to the 2003 Greatest Hits a lot but never tried out their albums. This was great, a kind of pop grunge indie. I Remember California sounded like a Tool song at times, so extra marks there.
pleasantly surprised, I'm basically just an Automatic for the People fan, but this one is awesome too! had on the big speaker while I was cooking two pastas for Easter dinner. You Are the Everything is the standout track for me
It's a grower
Несколько сухой звук.
Gammal favorit, starka låtar
Great record from R.E.M. “Turn You Inside Out” and “I Remember California” are lesser known but equally great songs on the album. I’d always thought of R.E.M. as a 90s band but seeing as their first record released in 83 and this in 88 they were just ahead of their time. I’m glad the stuck around long enough to see the world catch up to them. -TomB
Good.
Crystal clear lyrics. Pleasing instrumental. Decent vocals.
Finally some R.E.M.! R.E.M. is my all-time favorite band and I love everything they have done! So I could probably rate EVERY album of theirs a “5” when compared to other music. I will be a little more critical here and view this album through the lens of how to rate this alb when I know what R.E.M. is capable of. Green was a real breakthrough commercial success for the band. It follows Life’s Rich Pageant and Document which are great rock records. Green is a bit softer edged, although Turn you Inside Out, Orange Crush, and Get Up, certainly rock. Highlights for me are World Leader Pretend (an amazing political commentary and incredible song), You Are the Everything (one of the most beautiful songs ever written) and Orange Crush (a true banger… the rawness is exhilarating). Despite the highs, the album is a little weak in the back half, and Stand can irritate. In my view, Green is probably the band’s 6th best album. Hope the 5 in front of it make the list too! This is a great, if slightly flawed album that still return to frequently.
I'm gonna miss REM! They've got unique, beautifully rendered songs.
That is all the REM done for this list. Green marks another link in the chain of an ever evolving sound that managed to keep the good bits in: An alternative slant, and a mix of melancholy and kickass. Michael Stipe could sing wikipedia articles and I wouldn't mind.
I knew way more of these songs than I thought I would.
Might have been my first exposure to REM. I love the IRS albums too, but this production on this when you can hear the vocals is better. This album begins my favorite era of this amazing band.
R.E.M. is often compared to U2 in various music articles and on streaming services under the "Similar Artists" tab. I'm fine with U2, but this comparison is too flattering for the Irish. R.E.M. is much more elegant; their lyrics occasionally include political messages, but they don't hit you so hard. Their early albums were somewhat chaotic, but on Green, their major-label debut, the band found their energetic yet melancholy sound. Around this time, R.E.M.'s concerts began selling out arenas, leading longtime fans to accuse the band of selling out; in my opinion, this is unfounded. It's just that their multi-layered lyrics and slightly enigmatic music have somehow resonated with many. It was also here that guitarist Peter Buck first picked up the mandolin, which three years later would become the backbone of the band's biggest hit, but that album isn't on the list.
4.5
Good enough
My favorite band, but I like other of their records better.
Well. A real pleasant surprise after a series of slightly disappointing alt-rock and Britpop staples. One I didn't expect to like so much, but offered real depth and variety. Who knew?
7.5
Classic REM with a lot of good songs, maybe a little bit repetitive. The mandoline is a nice touch and gives a very folky feeling to their sound.
I had never come across this album before despite being a fan of REM’s 1980s and 1990s output, but I did know several of the songs from their appearance on “In Time… 1988-2003”. Classic REM, and eminently listenable.
I remember not really giving this album a chance 20ish years ago when I was going back and trying to learn some back catalog of some bigger bands that had stuff out before I was really paying as much attention. Well this is WAY better than I remembered/was expecting. Beyond the couple hits that I do remember, the first 7 tracks are all excellent. Fades a bit for me after that, but overall, this is close to 4.5 territory for me.
A really good rem album Sure 'Stand' is kinda bad. But that happens, and its a bit of fun Untitled is great. Orange Crush is brilliant. Kinda easy to forget how good it is. That baseline is thumping. High 4 baby
Great REM album
Poetic and enigmatic, REM’s lyricism and storytelling is on full display on this album. Their alternative sound and Michael Stipes’ voice draw you and never let go. Normally, I’d hate a nasally voice like Michael’s, but it works so well for their music.
i've heard Stand before in passing (i wanna say it was part of a soundtrack to something?) otherwise, this is all new listening for me Pop Song 89 - 4/5 Get Up - 4/5 You Are the Everything - 3/5 Stand - 5/5 World Leader Pretend - 5/5 The Wrong Child - 3/5 Orange Crush - 5/5 Turn You Inside-Out - 3/5 Hairshirt - 3/5 I Remember California - 4/5 [untitled] - 3/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this just barely landed within the 4-star range for me. this is likely 3.5 stars realistically, but i'm feeling generous its been a hot minute since R.E.M. came up for me on this list, but this might be the most underwhelming album i've heard from them so far. that doesn't necessarily mean it was bad, it's far from unenjoyable. quite fun at times, actually. i just feel like the majority of these tracks won't be very memorable or revisited anytime soon
I really enjoyed this. All the songs were very catchy and I loved the guitar throughout, especially on Orange Crush and I Remember California. I was less of a fan of the vocal on this particular album than with other albums by R.E.M. But this didn’t take away too much from the score at the end.
G.R.E.A.T
Fuck yeah finally some R.E.M. I really like this R.E.M era, fun and groovy and weird, some sounds not dissimilar to Cardiacs. And then along comes Orange Crush, one of their all time greats. 4.5/5.0 Best Song: Orange Crush
A very good album, but not their best. I think it has a really good sound and feel this album, it really makes me think of how underrated Peter Buck is as a guitarist. Best track: Has to be orange crush surely? Special shout out to stand though as it inspired Weird Al's banger, Spam.
Great vibe overall with some classics.
Very different directionally for REM. Not a top 5 album from their catalog for me but still a good record
Great album by a great band. Much better than The Black Album
veoma rem album, pred kraj mozda cak previse rem
80s R.E.M. is best R.E.M.
7/10
7.5/10
Probably the last great R.E.M album before the great pop sell out. You snob! Whatever. R.E.M were always at their best as an underground band. Green sees them knocking on the door and being invited into the mainstream. As ever, I've no idea what the subject matter is all about. It sounds like the usual R.E.M mismatch between the personal and the political. Musically, Green sounds like a great band, all knowing their parts, and contributing to the greater good. It's easy to dislike them now. But at the time, they made a statement and were worthy of a listen.
I liked this a lot. My first time listening to a whole R.E.M. record, and remarkably good.
This album shows a band becoming more radio-friendly without compromising their sound. The memorable jangling riffs on 'Pop Song 89' and 'Stand' ensured that their songs gets their hooks into the listener's brain. The mandolin centric sound that the band would become known for is developed on 'You Are The Everything' and 'The Wrong Child'. Despite being known as a band that take themselves seriously, we get to see a playful side of the band with lyrics clowning on bassist Mike Mills for sleeping in during recording time on 'Get Up'. The song's bridge even features music boxes, which adds to the song's light hearted vibe. This is a great record that shows that radio rock doesn't necessarily has to be a bad thing.
I COULD TURN YOU INSIDE-OUT
Looking back now I undertstand the influence of R.E.M. in the 90's alternative movement.
As a weird, Southern, arty kid in the 80s, REM was lifeblood. This isn't my favorite REM, the back half slumps a little, but there's still some great music here.
Great poppy album
Good but not their best.
Good stuff.
Another one my parents love, and I enjoyed for a while but just a little too long with a very unique voice
Before I found the generator, I was trying to get into bands that I felt I should know more about, and started with Smashing Pumpkins and REM, which is to say that this album predates my journey here. I definitely liked Document more at the time but this one definitely was more fun on revisiting. The downer melodies hit better this time. Might be a 5 but need to sit on it for a while.
Solid album.
Taas vähän puolueellinen arvio, oli tärkeä kuuntelukokemus pienempänä. Hienoja poppisbiisejä, hitaita kauniita. Loppupuolella vähän tyhjänpäiväisempää, piilotettu kappale lopussa oli ensimmäinen kerta kun sattui minun kuunteluuni.
#283/1001. Besides Automatic for the People I haven't been a big fan - or a hater - of R.E.M. This one sounds very familiar, although I don't think I've listened to the album as a whole. Very Rem-y? Jingle jangle and Stioe's vocals of course, but there is something about the simplicity which hides great things. If a band manages to sound like themselves instead of a copy of a copy it is always an achievement. This one I might go back to at times.
Many hits
Nasally plogger
wow i actually liked it
I always forget how good this album is. I thought it was cruising to an easy 5 star, but it does taper off in the second half.
Not my thing but it's good
Excellent pop-rock album, one of REM's best. Full of tunes to hum along to. Used to have this on tape. Need to get a hard copy on vinyl or CD!
Enjoyable, bit different. Some stand out singles with some back up songs. I personally enjoyed them all, definitely worth a relisten.
Solid 3.5. REM is one of those bands I liked in high school and still really enjoy. I really wish they would play live again! It’s a unique voice on top of solid instrumentals. Not REM’s best album, but a lot to like.
Good
*Great alternative album...made me realize I need to listen to more R.E.M.
Hadde jeg ikke trodd
not their best but a good one indeed
#38/1001🇺🇸💚 I have to say that R.E.M are my favourite group of all time and when i'm not doing this project i've been known to listen ti their whole discography from start to finish. Green is not one of those records that ever lands in my top 5. Its the sound of a band who weren't underground anymore, but hadn't gone stratospheric yet. It contains two of my favourite R.E.M tracks in You Are The Everything and World Leader Pretend. Stand sitting between them always grates on me and just doesnt work - so thats really why its getting a 4* rating. Best Tracks: World Leader Pretend, You Are The Everything, Untitled.
Very good. 4.5 for sure.
This was really nice, what I expect from R.E.M.
A very good album. REM are great except stipe is a poor singer and a worse lyricist. But I’ll be fair it works. This is probably the one to listen to.
Good!!
I generally enjoy R.E.M., I like this album, and I've always liked "Stand," but it does seem like having 4 of their albums on the 1,001 is maybe 1 or 2 too many. If I'm ranking the 2 that have come up so far, I think Automatic for the People beats this one. Nirvana apparently really liked Green though.
> the Beatles
HD560s Green is still a great album, maybe my 4th or 5th revisit. Pretty timeless collection tracks reflecting the dissatisfaction in the state of the world, applicable as much to 2026 as it was to 1988. Mandolin and bright acoustic janglies carry the slow songs and trebley overdriven guitar brings energy to the pop rock songs. Side A is upbeat, 'buy this record' pop rock and Side B is more like 'here's what we really came to say'. Orange Crush and Stand are the hits, You Are The Everything is the hidden gem.
Pretty good!
Pretty catchy at times. Some of the songs dragged a bit but overall good.
This album incorporates a lot of elements I like in music, but not necessarily always the way i like it. I know a few R.E.M. songs, including Stand, Man on the Moon, Losing My Religion, and It's The End Of The World As We Know It. I like all those quite a bit, but this album didn't entirely click with me on the whole. Songs this album made me listen to: Take Me Away from Freaky Friday, the Theme From Psych
While listening to this album, I sorted through hundreds of security profiles in a freezing cold room, and then I took a long walk in the warming sunlight. I had pretty solid expectations going into this album, based solely on the varied vibe of the tracklist and my familiarity with Losing My Religion, and I was not disappointed! There is a very tongue-in-cheek energy to this album which I absolutely love. There is an almost-punk sensibility in its sarcasm, with many of these songs playing up their sincerity to the same ironic degree which I find captivating in plenty of my favorite modern bands. Much of this time might also be atttinited to the voice of the lead singer Michael Stipe, which is nasally and warbly in the best possible way. There will always be a place in my heart for whimsical rock bands with silly and surprisingly resonant lyrics on top of catchy grooves, and R.E.M. is joining that lineup. Highlights: Pop Song 89, You Are The Everything, Stand, World Leader Pretend, The Wrong Child, Hairshirt, I Remember California
Another solid entry in the REM catalog. The guitars in particular stand out to me, just some great moments. Orange Crush is probably on my Mount Rushmore of best REM songs but honestly many others on this album I didn't know. I think the floor of REM albums is pretty high, they didn't really ever make anything bad as far as I'm concerned and this is no exception.
Some great singles on here, which were the songs that I already knew, but little else exciting.
I'm surprised that I haven't listened to this one before.
Pop song 89
enjoyed this album! lots of classic REM songs.
Not my favorite R.E.M. record but a great record nonetheless. I could do without Hairshirt, but that is my only complaint.
Another R.E.M. album, YAYYYYY (this is not sarcasm)!!!! Comparing, I do prefer Document, but this one is still amazing. Stand, no questions asked, is a classic and is the best song on the album. However, there are other bangers. Orange Crush and World Leader Pretend are really good. Wrong Child reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel (aka it is also good). A solid album.
Solid album. "Stand" is forever stuck in my head. Ever since I first heard the song years ago, I sing it whenever I stand after sitting for a long time at my desk lol.
I love when an album is unexpectedly fire that’s two in a row now
Some guy said: “Complex rock/punk with folk based influences” and I couldn’t agree more. This album is excellent, in a time when post punk was shit, grunge was just around the corner, and the junk drawer of “alternative” was still being carved out.
i do love REM 4?
A really interesting transitional record. Retains a lot of what made REM great in the 80s, set a blueprint for what the 90s would sound like (not just for REM, for a lot of rock bands).
What this list has been teaching me is that apparently I like REM
Probably my favorite R.E.M album
Boy can this band write a song. I think hearing ‘Automatic For The People’ opened my mind to how good REM was. I’ve adjusted completely to Stipe’s voice and I enjoy the production choices they make. Just get a load of that tasteful, perfectly mixed mandolin! I realized during this listen that REM and The Smiths sometimes remind me of each other. I have to give the edge, personally, to REM. Maybe it’s because I’m American.
My favourite R.E.M. from what I have heard. 4.5 stars
Early REM is neat
Here's the thing with Green: it's got great songs, but it is not a "great" album. The singles are amazing, vibrant, and just plain cool. But, this album is very much a transition album from Document (an auto-five star) and Out of Time (riiiight on the cusp of being a five star). This represents the album that marked their transition from "indie rock darlings" to "genre-defining juggernauts." Does that make it ethereal? No. But it's really good. 7/10
Good album. Classic REM sounds - sounds like a 90’s album already. Notable songs include Get Up, You Are The Everything, Stand, World Leader Pretend, Orange Crush, Turn You Inside Out, Untitled.
Absolutely amazing record taking risks but ultimately just combining an electric performance from the musicians with some very unique lyrics. Green is a great record
Très bel album que je ne connaissais pas
The songs by themselves are really great, but played after each other can grow very stale very fast.
Veldig bra! Men slapp no litt av med den mandolinen.
Skulle gjerne gitt en femmer, men Stand og dødpunktet The Wrong Child trekker ned.
ich liebe r.e.m., auch das album, es gibt aber noch bessere von denen
I love R.E.M. so of course this gets a high rating. Not one of theirs that I’m as familiar with (besides Stand) but I love the emotional draw of the whole album.
STAND
Återigen ett band jag bara skrapat på hits-ytan med. Gillar detta som fan och nu fattar jag varför de ofta lyfts fram som tongivande och lite pionjäriga för grungen och alternativrocken på 90-talet. I stunder tyngre än jag förväntade mig. ”I remember california”, ”orange crush” och ”stand” höjdpunkter. Stark 3a eller svag 4a.
I entered the album disinterested. We have listened to two out of the four R.E.M albums already, how are we getting a third? I was resigned that R.E.M was only a hits band to me, but this album won me over. The album had a good, consistent, energy for most of the album (last few tracks were a little sleepy). I liked the lyrics as well. Readied myself for a 2 or 3, yet leaving with a 4.
I liked it , I listened to it while I was cleaning and it didn’t incite any awesome feelings or anything I would have wanted to replay, it definitely had a great sound and I would come back again.
Solide
I find REM very charming. This guy sucks at singing but thats charming. Its good.
Some solid singles and I love the layering of the vocalists making a more complex tapestry than your standard folk rock song on a couple of tracks. When he's referring to his Orange Crush does he mean literally the soda?
Felt very familiar - I recognised a few songs, and their style has been consistent through to the later stuff I probably know better.
Tolles Rock-Album mit dem typischen REM-Sound 4/5
stand in the place where you were, and i knew you
this shit is great, a breath of fresh air compared to what I got yesterday and hot damn I actually heard some of these too! 4/5
Mandolin >>>
Really enjoyed this album and as I got it to listen to on Friday, with no new albums on the weekend it got a second listen on Saturday. Stand and Orange Crush in particular I think are amongst REM's best songs
I have fond memories of this album. It moves well between indie pop and slower, more introspective songs. Probably my favourite of the earlier REM albums.
Really good fun little bit of pop-rock. Never listened to a full REM album but this was quite nice
I’m typically hot and cold with REM and although this album is a little more accessible than some of their previous ones, which is bound to make it a more popular choice, I prefer my REM a little less mainstream. They got me on a good day and following a miles Davis album. 4 stars.
indie rock goes stadium
No. 62 I liked it a lot. Feels like the 90s.
I’ve never delved into R.E.M. completely although I like several albums and hits. I’d only heard “Stand” and “Orange Crush” before, but “ Pop Song 89” was another standout. I generally enjoyed the whole thing, except “The Wrong Child,” which immediately made me Google “worst REM song.” First album on the list I’ve played for the first time that I think might get added to my rotation/collection.
I’m happy that my penultimate album could be a decent REM album. I think that will help me remember this project fondly. This feels like an interesting album to have on this list because it does feel like a “deep cut,” if only because it’s overshadowed by their most famous albums. Still, it has the REM sound of the late 80s that I have come to think of as the slightly crunchier and sadder follow-up to the U2 sound of the earlier 80s.
Not my favorite of their catalog since I have a soft spot for their 90's output, but I do like Green. It's actually almost the perfect mix of alternative 80's rock and 90's alternative 90's.
I feel like I’m trucking with Pop-pop even though I’ve never done that. My favorite song is definitely I Remember California. It’s just such a fun listen, I feel so old. The Wrong Child, I didn’t like it but it was so emotional I was getting chills it was so weird. I definitely liked this album, but love would be too strong. It has such strong Grandpa vibes though that’s for sure.
Big fan. Solid 4.
Damn this kinda fuckin rocks. R.E.M. has grown on me since starting this project, they went from a band I respected for helping invent alternative rock but that I found boring to starting to ‘click’ with their songs and thinking about which songs sound like which bands. Get Up especially sounds so much like Nirvana to me, no surprise that Kurt Cobain liked this record so much. I didn’t like this one as much as Murmur but I still liked it!
A mic of good and mid songs. I would say 3.5 but we round up.
It's interesting reading reviews on albums while you form opinions. This is my second REM album in very short succession and one of the few REM albums I've not actually hard but I went in maybe with more level expectations after the last one and this? This is much closer to what I want with this band. As I read the reviews saying this was an okay listen I realised I absolutely put this above Automatic, because it's a lot more open and interesting to me, though as I will divulge on below I just think the soundscape of this album is a much better pairing for the voice it presents and the messages it carries. A minute into "You are Everything" and I was smiling at the storytelling, even after Get Up had already warmed me up plenty and then Stand slaps my shoulder and tells me to relax. People describe this album is a lot more of a middle ground between their early indie sound and their formative pop sound and I think this album benefits a lot from that. The topics of this albums are as usual with REM including the political commentary that just benefits SO much from the indie sound over the upscaled and cleaner pop sound, in my opinion. I think even the whiniest most yearning voice works if you know what to play behind it, and not to say Stipe's voice is the whiniest I've ever heard but it's certainly not casual. I would say Automatic has higher peaks, even Orange Crush and Stand, great songs as they are, are not REMs best work, but this album is to me far more consistent or coherent and as such is a much better listening experience. I said before that Automatic is probably a 3.7, if that remains true then this album is probably a 3.9. Only a touch better and again, not scratching the top 3 REM albums but is a lot more in line with what I like. I will revisit this and certain songs will stick with me a lot closer. Best songs: You Are The Everything, Stand Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 17/33 (Below Boston, above Automatic For the People)
Solid
I've always had more of an admiration than a love of R.E.M., really only knowing the hits and never digging further. Initially, listening to Green, I felt the same way.. but, the back half of this album is brilliant. Maybe it took me until then to 'get it'?
Before this I’ve heard only Losing My Religion. How come I’ve never heard anything else ? Band is so talented! Album sets up mood with first song Pop Song 89 - directly to my favourites. Rest of album stays at same level. I felt like everything will be good while listening to this record. Thank you R.E.M. It is 4,5/5
really like old dad rock
REM är alltid REM. Inte deras bästa. Men de är på väg åt det hållet. En stark fyra
Hatalmas, kicsit family guy szoveg parszor
Weird coincidence, but yesterdays album was Document, their previous album… This album I have in my collection, and I feel like this is a pretty good album with many good songs. My personal favourite is World Leader Pretend, but also Get Up, Orange Crush, Stand and Pop Song 89 are really good. There’s only one song I usually skip and that is The Wrong Child. There’s something about the harmonies and the mandolin that just doesn’t work for me. Hopefully I don’t get another R.E.M. too soon now 😅
As a fan of weird singing and melancholy (read: Dismemberment Plan) I really like this. Most of the songs are really catchy, have great riffs and interesting lyrics, with my favorites being World Leader Pretend, Orange Crush, & I Remember California. I'm officially REMpilled.
Yep…R.E.M. has lots of great records, and this is one of them. But do we really need to include ALL of them on this his list? We’ve already covered “Murmur” and “Automatic For The People”, which should suffice as bookends to their best works.
love rem
One thing this list is making me ask about popular bands is does this band suck. R.E.M doesn't suck. U2 sucks. Sorry Billy Joel, but you kinda suck. Not sucking doesn't mean it's great or for me, but this is decently complex and is meaningful for people that like it for sure. Stand is a great example of what the band is going right that if you listen to all of the musical choices in the background you can see a lot of care. This isn't a masterpiece but it's good the it exists.
Michael Stipe's vocal stylings at times can get in the way of how solid the instrumentation can be. But it always works out for a couple strong songs. Like I have said before If there was a dial that could turn up the folk I'd do that. That mandolin helps. As always R.E.M puts out solid albums. If you are a fan you definitely get your money's worth. I Remember California is not one I've heard before, but liked. I knew Stand and Orange Crush, two strong singles. This might be my favorite one of the ones from this list. I think this is the fourth R.E.M album we have done. A bit excessive.
I love REM, from Michael Stipe’s vocals to the way you never really know what kind of vibe you get from track to track. The varied energy and instrumentation makes this such a fun record to listen through. Best Track: World Leader Pretend
This was the first time I listened to this full album. I’d heard all of the “radio” hits as anyone my age would. That said I really enjoyed the album and can see why they became the stars that they did.
Still really love this - such a great collection of songs, many of which have made my monthly playlists since I first listened to this album a few months ago. Really fun, a little pop, a little punky.
# Album Name: Green # Artist: REM # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Good listen overall. First half of the album is stronger. I suspect this will be a grower # Top Tunes: 89 / get up / You are everything / Stand / World leader / orange crush # Would I listen to it again? Yes
One of my early faves
I kind of feel like if you've heard one REM song you've heard them all, but they're not unenjoyable!
R.E.M. is never not above-average. Always good production, instrumentation, lyrics, vocals, etc. Green isn't anything groundbreaking, but just a tight, solid, catchy collection of alternative rock from the fathers of alternative rock. Strong album.
A lot of reverence is paid to the 80s rem albums. This is the essential album of that period for the band. The majesty of you are everything still beggars belief. World leader pretend is thoughtful and poignant. Later albums would become a little too over produced. This though is immensely listenable
Somehow, this was the first REM album I ever owned--so it has a soft space in my musical heart. It's their last album before they transformed from a college radio band to MTV band--so I think its greatness really gets lost between the two eras. For me, this ranks near the top of their work... Would I listen to again? Always. This one STANDs the test of time.
Great band great album pushing a 5 with the clever singles and the range of approaches. Has to be on the list
бенгеров не обнаружено, но ставлю твердую 4 за вайб.
Alright . . . I don't dislike REM, but I've always had this feeling about them that they don't quite get there. As in, they don't quite transcend to a level of excellence. Vocally - while his lyrics are generally fantastic - Stipe's voice is initially appealing, but then halfway through a song, it always starts to feel monotone and like he's not quite using it to its fullest potential. And oftentimes, on the more indulgent songs, it reaches the point where it sounds like he's just singing to hear himself sing, and there's not much engagement with the lyrics. Musically, it's the same problem. So many of their songs have great moments that feel like, "Ok, I like this. This is going somewhere." And then it goes nowhere. It so often falls short of reaching the change or climax that I was hoping for. Again, monotone - in the musical dynamics sense. Their music doesn't play with your emotions, in that, there are rarely changes in intensity, or the building and release of tension. It's all just flat. All that said, Green might not be REM's best album, but it's MY REM album. It's one of those pre-indtroduction-to-rock-music albums that stayed with me after my musical awakening. I first heard it when a babysitter played it for me when I was 9 or 10, and I've continued to listen to it. So I have a soft spot for it. And it was a kick to listen to yesterday for the first time in a while. We have a least one more REM album to go in this project, but I will speak no more of REM. Next time, you're just getting stars.
This may be the only record where the untitled track is my favorite song. I like more than I don’t, but can’t go all the way to 5 stars given that this is probably my 6th favorite REM album, and it really makes me wonder exactly how many REM albums will be on this list. I feel like this is a strange choice because it is a transitional album. They maxxed their rock band phase on Document, and haven’t gotten all the way to the art folk country pop of Out of Time and beyond. The Wrong Child is a song I don’t really like, but may give me the strongest visceral reaction on the record. I don’t buy the story they’re telling but I think the concept is an interesting one. It makes me sad, but also a little annoyed.
4/5 - Untitled and You Are the Everything are two of my favorite REM songs. Orange Crush is also great. Green was their first album with a clear intent to be more radio friendly, and yet it's still full of mandolins, accordions, and typically meandering lyrics. That's REM for you. I've listened to this dozens of times and was happy to spend another 45 minutes hearing the whole thing through. It's a mid-tier REM album, so I'll reserve the 5s for my favorites.
The big radio turning point for my then favorite band. It made me so mad - REM was the rare Southern cultural entity that wasn't an embarrassment - but a more enlightened me can see this record is solid power pop, a natural progression, and the radio bent toward them instead of vice-versa. I even kinda like "Stand" now - all those key changes! I saw them on this tour and at one point Michael Stipe sat at the end of the stage in a lotus position while the band attempted a version of Cameo's "Word Up" so yeah, they were still on a journey.
Where they get hugely popular without selling out (too much). Only time i saw them live was on this tour. They closed with a cover of Cameo's "Word up".
I bought Green when I was in high school, but I didn’t really “get” it, and so I didn’t give it much play time in my Walkman. What a loss for my teenage self! Fortunately, my adult self came to better appreciate what REM and Green have to offer.
the good songs are fantastic, the bad are rough
Tribal tattoo on an older white guy… BUT he’s hot and also jacked 3.5
I am a big fan of some of the arrangement choices for these songs. I am a sucker for an acoustic guitar and mandolin combo as well as pedal steel guitar. Not their best songs and sometimes I feel the vocal melodies wander without a focus but still a consistently strong album.
R.E.M’s the kind of band I don’t listen to that often but when I do, always enjoy it. I think this would likely have been my introduction to them as this tape was knocking around in our house as a child. Doesn’t have the same weight as other albums with a standout single (orange crush and pop song 89 are easily overshadowed by other singles they later released in terms of popularity) but are still good songs in their own right. Mill’s harmonies with Stipe are lovely in places and just a super solid album with no clear lows.
A good album this and includes one of my favourite track by them, Orange Crush, so what’s not to like
Every REM album/song is kind of the same…some great jangly pop songs with oblique lyrics, some weird mandolin/slow songs, and some filler that falls in between. For some reason that works for me - this is a 3.5 with a round up because of how much I like Stand, Orange Crush, and Pop Song 89.
The highs are very high and the lows aren’t too low. Very good. 4/5
murmur è un'altra cosa
Love REM. Something just rocks.
This album started what I think might be the greatest three album run any band has had. The whole band is so dialled in here, Stipe sounds electric and Mills bass lines especially are punchy as hell. Very very good.