Green

Great record.

I forgot how much I liked this band and this album! I used to listen to it all the time, but hadn’t played it in years. I will say that sometimes Michael Stipes’ voice gets a little too whiny, and some of the lyrics go a bit over my head, but I love it all the same. This one is a very strong four stars for me. Thanks for reminding me about it!

3.5 stars. Good early alt rock. Fun incorporation of a mandolin. Standouts are the hits "Stand" and "Orange Crush". Gets a little heavier at the end which feels a bit out of place but the drumming on "I Remember California" is good.

Très cool sans surprise mais toujours un peu pareil

I really thought I'd had my fill of alt rock but this one I really loved. It makes sense I suppose. Later alt acts were trying to capture some of what they heard here, where Stipe and co. were drinking straight from the creative wellspring. It really took me a sec to warm up to Stipe's vocals and the songwriting. My morning listen left me feeling lukewarm and was ready to slap on the 3 participation stars come tomorrow. Fortune had it that I had nothing to read for the commute home so I spun it again. When 'hairshirt' hit I realized just how much I dig this album. I listened to it twice more after that. Good shit.

Some good songs, they got a little samey after a while...? But I did like a lot of it.

7/10

Like their sound! So long ago?

I really like R.E.M., but this feels like one of there lesser albums. It's good, but nothing really stands out as great.

I have a turbulent history with R.E.M. it’s undeniable their early albums inspired me and greatly opened my mind to new kinds of music. But I turned against them hard as they grew into superstars. Green hangs right in the nexus of those two feelings. Some parts turn me on, some parts turn me off. But it definitely transported me to a different phase of my life. I really really want to give it 3 1/2 stars. Both 3 and 4 seem too extreme to me in opposite directions..

Other than the singles, I never had a chance to go this far back in the REM catalogue. And, in many ways, I liked the sound of this album more than their later stuff as it has a raw-er sound that just, for lack of a better word, rocks. Appreciate hearing this one with fresh ears.

Thoroughly enjoyed this even though I wasnt familiar with it. Strikes. A great balance between easily accessible songs and those that take a bit of effort to really enjoy. And Stype's lyrics are as opaque and intriguing as ever.

I am biased because it is REM, not their strongest album but some bangers in this. What can I do, Stripe's voice and the mandolin are just a match made in heaven 3.9

It was okay. Orange Crush is awesome, everything was just good. 4/5

One of REM's best

Pretty decent, though I thought I'd like R.E.M more.

- Aangenaam verrast. - 2 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM

The moment R.E.M. went major, in more ways than one. Most memorable for 'Orange Crush', but there are lots of other memorable tunes on it.

I’ve never really been much of an R.E.M. fan. Their sound is so distinct that most of their songs end up blending together for me. That said, I actually enjoyed Green a lot more than I expected. It feels like they found a good balance between their quirky alt-rock roots and a more polished sound. “Pop Song 89” and “Stand” were the real highlights. Both are catchy without feeling overdone and show how R.E.M. could write memorable hooks when they wanted to. The castanets on “World Leader Pretend” were also a fun touch. I’m a big fan of hearing non-traditional instruments pop up in Western rock, and that detail really stood out. This album gave me a new appreciation for the band. It still sounds like classic R.E.M., but there’s a playfulness and creativity here that makes it one of their most enjoyable records.

Perusremmiä 3,5 staraa

Early REM has been on my radar to explore for a long time, never really got around to it. I know this is their first major label album so not quite the early period. I like it. Very strong album, might miss the more epic singles of their later period but this impressed me. 4 Heard before? A couple of tracks Owned: No: 22/1001, 22/92 (23%) Will I get? Maybe

very good. 3.5

I love r.e.m but this should be out of time

Really enjoyed REM

i can't remember what happened in my mind during my last REM session. also known as, I can't remember the dream that I had last night. But I woke with delight and excitement but still forgot it nevertheless. /ref but why is rem so consistant for their first more than three albums. i love them from now on. 4/5

Definitely liking the style of this album/band. An album I would suggest listening to and will be revisiting.

I love REM. Some all time greats on this. But as an album didn't work entirely. Gotta spend more time with it

I haven’t listened to much R.E.M. in my life, aside from their major classics like Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts but I really liked this. The opening song in particularly was really good and the lyricism is fanatic throughout. My life is better having listened to this album!

Classic early alt rock once they hit big

the hits are the worst tracks on the album

This is their first release on Warner Bros. records. Not my favorite, nor the best IMHO, REM LP by any stretch. There are some very good, dare I say great, songs on here. Their first real grab at commercial success. The songs that were hits aren't the ones that stand out to me. It opens with a banger, which was a trademark of many REM LPs, "Pop Song 89", "World Leader Pretend", "You Are the Everything", "Untitled", "I Remember California", "You Are the Everything", "You Are the Everything", and "Get Up" would be my favorite tunes on here.

At last some REM. One of my favourite bands growing up. My dad would play Automatic and Out Of Time frequently in the house on new fangled CDs but we only had this album on cassette so only really listened in the car. Orange crush is my fav track here but it’s full of great tunes. Maybe tails off a bit towards the end. Not many bands have as many great albums as REM do.

Beautiful

I really love Automatic for the people, and when I've listened to their other albums they jut don't click. Having said that, I did also enjoy this album. The introduction of the mandolin in their work was a good move.

"Orange Crush" is a classic "Turn You Inside Out" is great

A bit repetitive but otherwise good

Overall, I prefer REM's "Automatic For the People," but this is still a really interesting album.

Bell'album, gasante il giusto

Holy fuck i love upbeat REM. The driving bass grooves, tight af, just the right amount of distortion. On this one its Pop Song 89, Get Up, Stand and Orange Crush. Mandolin REM I am less interested in, but its still good. First time through this album in prob 10 years and it was a delight. My Dad claims to know every word to every REM song, I texted him the alubum cover saying "so good" and he just hit me with a thumbs up emoji. Sick.

Some of my favorite REM songs, and my preferred version of the band. Back half doesn't pack quite as much of a punch as the opening few tracks. Had a great time listening to this on my bike.

Love it

I liked this way more than Murmur. Poppier and I actually knew a couple of the songs. Not generally an REM fan - I dug this one!

Highlight Song/s: Stand In, Orange Crush and Turn You Inside-Out I've been meaning to listen through R.E.M.'s 80s albums or listen to just Automatic for the People, but that just hasn't happened. But the generator gods blessed this album unto me, telling me I should give them a chance. Well, chance I will give them. Well for starters I'm going in mostly fresh having heard Turn You Inside-Out (from GTA IV) and maybe Orange Crush, as I recognise the name. So apparently they experimented a bit with this album, with major keys, odd instruments for a rock band and the band members switching instruments. The overall tone and the atmosphere to the album is fabulous. Their earlier albums probably even better with minor keys; as I'm a fan of minor keys.

Aye great

80s REM is the best, prefer some of the albums before this but this is still a good one

Not my favourite REM album, always felt it was a bit disjointed, but it's a real snapshot of their career before and what was to come - there's random polished pop songs, big commercial indie rock, the Out of Time mandolin precursors, and rockier songs like Monster to come. World Leader Pretend probably one of their very best songs, and Orange Crush is still a complete banger.

Not my favourite REM album but still very good and I would listen to it again

Great album, sent me on a bit of an REM sidequest, great band.

REM scratches a very particular itch for me.

College classic album. Listened to many times back in the day. Two REM albums in a row. Cool.

classic

4.25 stars. I enjoyed it but can't really remember most of the tracks

- Gefällt mir ganz gut und der Sound ist auch wiedererkennbar - Würde ich wahrscheinlich nochmal hören, aber war jetzt nicht arg besonders Topsong: Stand

Solid pop rock, enjoyable but not that memorable

I’m not really a fan of R.E.M. I’ve never owned any of their albums, back when you had to buy music albums. I kind of miss those days in a weird, masochistic way. Anyway, I never bought their stuff, but you really couldn’t get away from R.E.M.. They seemed to be on MTV every hour, back when MTV played music. So when I got their album Green for today, I thought, I’m sure to have heard some songs off this album. I did. I distinctly remember hearing Orange Crush, Stand and Pop Song 89. And I remember liking all those songs. Turns out, maybe I am an R.E.M. fan and didn't know it. The more I got into the album, the more it just kind of sounded like the Beatles filtered through Georgia. R.E.M. can write pop songs. Not sure they really wanted to do that, at least starting out, but they figured out how to write happy pop songs with some not so happy lyrics. You know, the whole spoonful of sugar gag. What’s funny about Green is that this is the experimental album for R.E.M. It was their sixth album and they had a style by that point. Michael Stipe told the band to stop writing R.E. M. songs, and when they did that, you get Green. Now, I’m well aware the album was probably a shock for the hardcore fans at the time, no hardcore group of fans ever wants “their” band to change or grow and evolve. But this album broke R.E.M. open to the mainstream. The next stop was the biggest band in the world for a period of time. I really like this album, being a country boy from the home of Bill Monroe, I love the mandolin that was sprinkled about, but all in all, the group knows how to write a song. And more importantly, they know how to write a song to make you feel something. If you’ve never gotten into R.E.M. you should check this album out. There are some really great tunes on this album.

First listen, although I recognised the bigger tracks. A very decent album, that definitely sounds like the bridge between 80s and 90s R.E.M. I don't love it as much as Murmur or Automatic For the People (both 5s) or Document (solid 4).

7/10 Started finding their feet 9-29-2025

I think this album was the first time I heard REM. Orange Crush was getting a lot of plays at some of the local Indie clubs, along with It’s The End of the World as we know it and The One I Love from their previous album, Document, that I think is actually the better of the two albums. Green is a good REM album, not my favourite (that goes to Automatic For The People), but is overall pretty solid.

I prefer earlier REM, but I had forgotten how good this is.

Need to listen to this again but enjoyed it more than I expected too

I know the band, but not the album.

You know REM... indie rock style dominated by Stipe's unique vocals. Folk elements too. Almost grungey in places (I Remember California) 2nd listen You Are The Everything is a very sweet song. Best track (not Stand or Orange Crush) - You Are The Everything, The Wrong Child, Hairshirt Fuck it, 4 stars for a great band with some great tracks

I really like R.E.M., especially during their golden period, yet I never think of them as a favourite band or revisit much of their music. This is a great album, yet I generally have an emotional disconnect that stops them from getting to that next level. Love the addition of mandolins and ballads here.

Actually am loving this

R.E.M., die ken ik vooral van Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People en Drive. Geen van deze staan echter op dit album, maar als het enigszins dezelfde stijl is gaat dit mij wel bevallen! Het is een erg lekker album, fijne muziek en luisterd chill weg. Ik mis wel een single die echt een wow heeft. Voor mij zit dit album dan ook op 3.5 eigenlijk. Vind hm wel echt beter dan een 3, dus 4 dan maar.

At the one hand this album contains so many hits like "Pop Song 89", "Get Up", "Stand", "World Leader Pretend", "Orange Crush" and "Turn You Inside-Out". At the other hand for me there are also clear fails like "The Wrong Child" and "Hairshirt". Makes in total weak four stars for me. 3,5

Pretty fly, still

Love the first track and the unique use of mandolin. It’s unusual to hear that kind of gentle sound in rock context.

good

This is one of those albums that I know exists, forget about it and all the songs within, then see it again, think "Do I know any of these tunes?" and then realise I know every single one. It's a weird juxtaposition of incredible indie rock/pop tunes and then forgetting them - that's my problem though, not the tunes. These are immense - R.E.M. decided they wanted to be bigger and this record helped them take another step to the stadium monsters they would become - even though it is not your typical play for greatness. It's odd and eclectic, but that just adds to its charm. Best Tracks: Pop Song 89; World Leader Pretend; Turn You Inside-Out

A good alternative band for the era. Definitely a band that helped the alternative scene, well in my case anyway. Very similar to a ‘Tragically Hip’ sound. A good mix of traditional music instruments and newer aged electric instruments. Favourite song off the album would be; ‘Stand’. This song brought me back.

3.5 - Good

This is R.E.M's sixth record. I was hooked on the band following my hearing "Radio Free Europe" from their first album _Murmur_ (1983). While die-hard dropped them when they became successful (something I often found myself doing with bands that initially grabbed my attention), their excellent songwriting and consistent "sound" kept my attention. Nice to hear this one again! 3.5

Hell yeah, REM. I love REM. Big nostalgia for me, I associate them very strongly with my parents. This is a lovely album. “Stand” is a 10/10, feels like one of their defining tunes. Loved “Pop Song 89” too, pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve ever heard it. It sounds like such a 90s anthem so, if I’m doing my math correctly, ahead of its time and yet still 10 years behind yesterday’s Prince who released 1999... 6 years prior. “You Are Everything” was a beautiful, aching love song with that perfect lyric, “She is so young and old.” The opening stanzas of “Hairtie” were also perfect. “Orange Crush” was a bop, definitely a reason for the lil star there. This could be the first 5... but I'm kind of looking for a unicorn. Just know this is the one that's been most my groove so far.

Great fun, takes me back! I’m mushy today so You are The Everything hit me in the feels. Stand is just fun. This is a BAND! Not just a singer with a backing band. 8.0

R.e.m. take a giant leap to the mainstream.

A good album, but have they ever made a 5* or just a lot of 4*.

I’m not a huge REM fan but they have plenty of great songs. I think this is my favourite because it has the highest concentration of songs I like. Stand and Orange crush are two great pop rock songs. Some of the songs drag a bit. To me that’s more to do with Stipe and his singing style than anything. He doesn’t really have a voice that can carry the emotional weight of a song by himself. Good album overall.

I don't think I've heard much alt-rock from this era, but it's very nice.

Great album. Solid alternative rock classic.

Off the cuff remark: I struggle with REM. They have some wonderful songs, but I also find it difficult to wrap my head around full albums, they seem to lose their hold for me and I cannot quite fathom why. Green, however is possibly one which eschews this and I do really enjoy, though I Remember California nearly puts the hammer to that. Standout track: Orange Crush feels like one of the first songs by REM I became aware of, easy to hear why on any revisit Revisits?: Always worth coming back to.

Love the singles on this one, but a good album all around.

I feel like they were purposely trying to write pop songs, which I think works out well, as sometimes I think that talented bands dumbing down their sound results in some interesting stuff. Vocals are great and I think they maybe influenced so many bands in the mid/late 90s, as he sounds a lot like people from that time. There are also some really interesting string parts and different instruments. It’s also very well produced so that it doesn’t feel overproduced. Favourite songs: all but you are everything and last one. Overall around 7/10

The Good: Green means go! The Bad: I don’t believe that this is what it’s meant to mean… The Ugly: Trying to figure out all acronym solutions for G.R.E.E.N. Back in those days, especially when this album came out, I was living in a part of the world where REM were not that well known, so this album was not on my radar, nor was the band, until their real break-through Losing My Religion hit the charts. And yet, there are 4 songs on this album that are more than familiar to my ears… What’s there not to like? The music is peppy without becoming annoying, like it would be with the B-52s There’s a little bit of everything on here, and while I am on my fourth spin, I am still without the urge to hit skip… However, I really want to know which album will be today’s revelation, so I will stop listening to the REM, keep my fingers crossed that the album is on par with this one, resulting in a favorable day… 4* as I need to be more specific as to which album I would never have a problem listening to (which is a clean 5*)

Great stuff. REM were really in their glory days here.

YESSSS ANOTHER ONE I ALREADY KNOW!! Gotta love the 80s. I always find it funny how they named it green, but the cover is orange. I LOVE this album. We listen to it at home, and so I recognized a bunch of songs. I find the lyrics of 'Get Up' hilarious, "Dreams, they complicate my life" and that's coming from REM (Like, sleep). I enjoyed it. 8/10

When published in 1988 this must have been far ahead of its time. Nowadays, it gave me a nice and relaxed listen - clear and distinct R.E.M. sound but not too exciting. Actually 3.5 stars for me

I wasn‘t so familiar with this R.E.M. record and yes, it might not be their best and certainly an eclectic one. But Michael Stipe‘s lyrics and singing and Peter Buck‘s guitar play alone will probably never result in a lower-than-4-star rating for me :) Highlights: I prefer the seemingly darker and slightly harder songs such as „Orange Crush“, „Turn you inside out“ and „I remember California“ over the more ironic R.E.M.-type Pop songs in the beginning of the album.

Some of my favourite rem songs

Peak high school years

Orange Crush is great

REM (pre Out of Time) seem to have a knack for writing catchy songs that are hard to sing along to. They avoid the traditional ABABCAB verse chorus bridge structure, in a way that keeps you guessing. Green is rich with empathy and warmth, but also introspective and insecure. Paranoia lies in the lyrics and clashes with that classic 12 string rickenbacker shimmer. No other band really sounds like REM.

REM are one of my absolute favourite bands and Green is a record which I often come back to, especially if I need a bit of a boost. It’s got some of their most high energy, sugariest, uplifting songs, balanced out by more tempered tracks with gorgeous, spooky harmonies. Like all REM records it’s an album bursting with empathy and human emotion, but also undercurrents of haunting melancholy. You can never quite be sure where the band will take you next. On their first Warner record, and off the back of the radio hit heavy Document, you get the sense that they are keen to continue their push for the widest audience possible. You could just about imagine a hooky song like Get Up on an earlier record, but the way the band go for the jugular on Orange Crush and deliver a cathartic pop song with a capital p does feel exciting and new. It’s rewarding to hear REM inhabit this new mode without any dip in quality. Despite the big singles, Document is one of their darkest LPs - that darkness has very much lifted here. Even on the less friendly songs (of which there are many) with creeping major to minor transitions, the production continues to be a world away from Document. It’s plush and crisp and high fidelity, a shock when you consider that before this REM’s production was without exception obscure and smudged and fuzzy. In retrospect you could imagine Document benefiting from a more “expensive” sounding treatment but also how records like Lifes Rich Pageant or Reckoning would be totally ruined by it. Green is not as highly rated as I believe it should be amongst fans. If I was to theorise why, it would be because it confronts us with the fact that while it shares a lot of the same DNA with their first LP, their sound has developed and moved on. In 1988 there were two REMs. The one of the past who mumbled, and even as they got bolder and more direct, were not polished or prepped for anything beyond college radio. There is a charm to both bands but it’s a different kind of charm with no guarantee of crossover appeal. As a poptimist though, my experience of both these REMs was that I got to fall in love with the band twice. Once as a child listening to the records in the zeitgeist, and then again as a teenager finding out that (what?!) they had 5 relatively undiscovered gems from the 80s where the band benefited from unchecked creative freedom. It’s this variety that makes them one of the greatest bands of all time. This is not the last time the band would develop and change. It's these changes that made them so prolific and led to some of the most consistently exciting consecutive releases of any band ever. I hope one day I can reconcile myself with where REM went post 1994, because it would be great to experience that joy all over again.

Liked it fine; but not my favorite REM album.

Not my fav of them, still solid

great throwback to college days

The album was a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. Favorite song: Stand, Orange Crush, Pop Song 89

Good one

Get Up and listen to this album. It’ll Turn You Inside-Out

A couple of years ago, I hadn’t really given REM the time of day. Since then, I’ve listened to a bunch of albums. This is in a similar vein to the rest, in that I wouldn’t say the whole album is great, but there are a handful of absolute bangers here along with the rest being pretty decent songs. I think that Stand is my favourite here. It still plays on the radio a lot, and is a real ear worm. I’ll be singing that for the rest of the night.

Great rock record

I like it, I see the 80s vibe and hear the sound. Some really good songs on here, just could not listen to some of these songs on repeat.

cool, chill rock

Green felt more experimental than I expected. Orange Crush has that raw drive that feels almost grunge before grunge. World Leader Pretend reminded me of Come As You Are with its looping riff and that mix of dark vocals over brighter backing.

Тоді одразу напишу і на цей альбом R.E.M. огляд (вчора якраз переслухав і green і automatic for the people). Так, тут є мегахіт оранж краш (як я люблю цю пісню!), але загалом це дуже рівний альбом без якихось екстремумів, як на мене. Що дивно, що друга половина мені подобається більше, а таке буває нечасто, бо зазвичай гурти ставлять всі хіти в першу. Коротше якщо резюмувати - не найкращий альбом R.E.M. і навіть не їхній топ-5 для мене, але все ще дуже й дуже хороша музика.

I really liked this one, the mix of classic late 80's to early 90's pop and the kinda whiney (in a good way) R.E.M vocals i've come to expect at this point made for an enjoyable listen.

I only knew orange crush going into it which was a good omen given its heater status. I was surprised at the presence of the mandolin, a rhythm mandolin line is always going to make me enjoy a song more. The singer's voice has such a unique tone, it lends itself well to the style they have going on. A solid album all around, as a whole not unique enough for a 5.

This album was very R.E.M. I feel like they have a very distinct sound in terms of vocals and instrumentals that automatically makes you go “This is R.E.M.” Stand and Orange Crush were standouts to me. I enjoyed this album but it didn’t wow me overall. I would still give it another chance in the future!

Barely a four, but there's enough meat on the bone to carry it over a three

REM has better albums but there's some bangers on here.

R.E.M. have a way of filling the space with sound, and that is on display here. I've always respected their musicianship and songwriting. Their arrangements are impressive. Stand is as infectious today as it was when it hit the scene decades ago, and the rest of the tracks on here should not be overlooked. Great album.

Orange crush... 2024 theme song? This was good.

I enjoy REM's singles, but I've never sat down and listened to an album. What can I say, it sounds like REM the entire way through, it was nice. It had the bangers, and even the other songs shake it up just enough while still having their sound that I never found myself particularly displeased. Maybe I'll even go back for a more focused listen at some point, really immerse myself in that kind of depressing without being too depressing vibe.

Cool

Powerful, passionate, and a wide range of genre influences inspiration

pretty good

This one has some of the best R.E.M. singles on it and is the best blend between old school alternative R.E.M. and the later, more pop oriented band. The singles here are brilliant, I really like Orange Crush, Stand en Turn You Inside-Out. I feel the album is a bit lacking besides the hits though, the deep cuts don't really feel on par with the other songs here and are kind of mediocre and forgettable. Still fun to listen to and maybe my favorite R.E.M. album through the strength of its singles.

this band is really good idk how i've never heard of them, espicially considering that they're pretty popular.

Lovely stuff! Some good tunes here. Simpsons: Yes

Such a cool band. Need to listen to them more.

R.E.M. is always a classic. I couldn't tell much of a difference between songs on this album and songs from other albums, but I do appreciate that consistency.

7/10 pretty good

good for multiple listens

I’m not familiar with R.E.M. so this one surprised me. Really liked it. It’s like a poppier Alice In Chains.

A lot more mandolin than I was expecting, but I'm not necessarily complaining.

- Leuk - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM

So very good! The lyrics make you think and feel, and the music is a tour de force. Great job y'all 👏👏👏

Excellent album. Outstanding. Great sounds and lyrics.

Don’t remember enjoying this so much

Fruta noble la mandolina

This one was released when I was in 4th grade, I think. So, I'd listened to it before, but not as much as some of R.E.M.'s later work, which I thoroughly enjoyed in junior and senior high school.

Not my favourite R.E.M. album but it's still pretty damned good.

Pretty good

Serve your conscience overseas! Full jangle rock era REM. Some tight shit here.

Muy bueno

Great.

A solid more pop oriented entry for R.E.M. Should be regarded as one of their stronger ones.

I really love R.E.M.! Reminds me of being a kid. There is a darkness/melancholy mixed with the pop sound that I love. Will definitely be listening again and again.

I own this CD. Get Up You are the Everything I Remember California all made my mix tapes of the day! More produced than their previous albums due to the fact this was their first record with Warner Bros (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I especially like the rock of Orange Crush and Turn You Inside-Out. Not my favorite R.E.M. albums but would probably land in the top 7. Untitled is my favorite untitled song ever, well maybe a tie with the Smashing Pumpkins.

This was in such heavy rotation for me back when it came out I don't think I can be objective. Some part of me is sure there are better REM albums, but 12 year old me is still sure this is my favorite band. And on another somewhat biased listen, it's not perfect, but it really is great.

One of my faves. College rock rocked.

Excellent Album!!

The best of the R.E.M. Warner Bros releases.

Heard it before. I probably have a very normie taste but this is one of my favourites from R.E.M. 4/5

Fantastic album by an amazing band. Not my favorite of theirs but still one I will listen to again.

I dug it

You can feel the anguish in the sound

“The Wrong Child” is fascinating. The cultural context that it was written in is so different from where we’re at now. They are being vulnerable and empathetic to the extreme towards the subject matter, and the music is just this swirl of moody folk chords that establishes this as ultra-sincere. It’s nearly impossible for me to hear it without reflexively finding it cringe, self-serious, all the things that REM influenced in the 90s that get mocked today. Like, it’s a lot easier for me to draw a line from REM to Creed when I hear it. Objectively, it’s funny in 2025 to hear Michael Stipe in sensitive folkie mode crooning “tell me what’s it like to go outside, I’ve never been outside”. It’s not this record's problem but it makes listening to this era of the band feel a little quaint sometimes. Anyway four stars I guess? It’s a little inconsistent but it’s got some of their best singles (my hot take is that “Stand” is a banger).

Not gonna lie, I haven't thought of R.E.M in more than a decade. I'm not even sure I've heard more than one song from them before today. Lyrics are interesting, not sure about the music itself. Orange Crush is my favorite so far. Idk what happened, but I guess I started getting this album right after Orange Crush, something just clicked. Might need to listen to it a second time. Not sure I like Untitled that much, but it's a good way to end the album so I appreciate it as that. Doing a second listen right away. Favorite song/s: Orange Crush (because it made it click) Song/s saved: Most of them outside of Stand and Untitled Album saved: Yes

I can't really imagine a world with such narrow musical standards that this was pushing the fringes. It's great alternative rock but it didn't strike me as anything out of the ordinary. I suppose too much time listening to copycats makes the OG's a little less special. It's a solid album but unlike Kurt Cobain, this does not crack my top 50

Super catchy album. I’ve always liked R.E.M.’s singles so it was really nice to hear more of their album stuff. Some real bangers in here and very enjoyable. Would definitely listen to this again.

Not my first REM record - that was Document thanks to the ubiquity of The One I Love on the radio in 1987 - but probably the first one that left a real imprint on me. Stand was *everywhere* so much so I still can’t, uh, stand it, but looking back on the video and general vibes of late 80s/early 90s REM, what happened to that world? It was a little queer, a little multi-racial, obviously very white guy-centric, but the general spirit was inviting and fun, not cool, etc. Green’s an odd record and one they somewhat replicated with Out of Time. You have standout, accessible radio-ready songs - it’s right there in the lead-off track’s title - and then mixed in a set of acoustic/mandolin-forward cuts that are, well, pretty dark! It didn’t seem like it at the time, but after they narrowed in on World Leader Pretend and Hairshirt’s baroque, morose sound, a lot of Green seems like a bridge or transition record. And yet this was very much the Big Major Label Rock Record. You could not escape these guys throughout 1989.

very good album, orange crush is a great song, i would 100% listen again, not too long, just a good time

8.5/10

Not the album of theirs that I would have chosen, but it is still a really good one.

Possibly the best album from an amazing group.

Great album.

Great stuff.

vier (minus) world leader pretend

i really liked it actually

I love REM. Especially the early albums. They were one of my college radio favorites back when that was a thing (I assume it’s not anymore?). When this album dropped I recall wondering if they’d ever do anything essential again. Thankfully they did, but this wasn’t it. It’s 3.5 for me, but I’ll bump to 4 just because.

Bra! 4a

8/10

4.2

I've spent the past 20 years trying to get into R.E.M. I’ve always felt like I should be a fan—I love their hits—but I’ve struggled to find a full album that really connects with me. Could Green be the one? Surprisingly, yes. I really enjoyed this album. It’s an easy, fun listen, and before I knew it, I’d played it three times in a row without even realizing. Michael Stipe’s voice is truly unique—haunting, expressive, and perfectly suited to his lyrics, which often balance the strange, the magical, and the delightfully nonsensical. His delivery draws you in, even when you’re not entirely sure what the song is about. The guitar work on this album is fantastic—varied, textured, and always interesting. It keeps things fresh from track to track and showcases the band’s versatility. Brilliant stuff. Favourite song: Orange Crush stands out as an absolute highlight—urgent, catchy, and powerful. I also love Get Up and Stand. The faster, more upbeat R.E.M. tracks are definitely the ones that resonate with me most. Least favourite: Honestly, there isn’t a weak song on the album. Each track brings something to the table. Album artwork: Very cool—distinctive and eye-catching without being overdesigned.

The first REM Album I heard and still sounds great

I was 11 when this came out and wouldn’t buy it on CD for another five years or so, so Green isn’t the early-REM/late-REM demarcation line for me that it is for old(er) heads. To me, it was just part of the back catalog of this amazing band that I was blessed to fall in love with in my teens. Athens was only about three hours away from where I grew up, so two friends and I did a day trip to see the church where they played their first shows and the bridge from the back of Murmur and Wuxtry Records. My best friend at the time, who was way more into REM than I was (and they were my favorite band), put that together. I would have never thought to do that. I’m grateful for the people in my life who got me to do things. I don’t know why I don’t think to do things, but mostly I don’t. I’m also grateful for REM. Music nerds; just nerds generally; Southern boys just like you and me; writing songs about being confused and scared and sad and angry that were just poppy enough and just weird enough to hit my ears right in their sweet spot. A perfect band for teenage me, and a huge part of my life as a music fan. Green isn’t one of my favorite of their albums, but the worst REM album is better than almost anything else.

Great timeless album, I would never have guessed it came out in 88. It is quality REM, although it gets a little bit repetitive towards the end. Still a great listen!

May need to circle back to this one!

Solid album. Forgotten how good they are.

Politically charged alt rock with brains and mood. Loved the darker tracks.

I like this. It stays interesting, the music is fun, the lyrics are interesting. A good time.

Jeg tror måske jeg har glemt eller overset hvor gode R.E.M. faktisk er. Det er en ret fin kombination af upbeat og alvorlig musik og lyrik.

A lot of pleasant songs

R.E.M. was a band that pretty much never missed. They’ve got 4 albums in the book and a good argument could be made for including 3 or 4 more.

Third R.E.M. album for me and all in chronological order. I think they're a good band to listen to in order as the sound develops and here we are approaching their commercial peak but coming off their college radio indie years, still before I knew them. They have started to vary the sound more, which I appreciate, with some nice mandolins sandwiched between the drum-driven rockers. I'd heard this before but not really 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 enough perhaps. There are the obvious stand-outs, including Pop Song 89, Orange Crush and Stand but I found a lot to like right through the runtime and it's yet another really enjoyable and consistent LP from Athens' finest.

Solid, but not the best from REM. Leans a touch commercial for me.

An incredible record with amazing production. Lyrics hit as with many R.E.M. songs, and this album provides songs that anyone can listen and relate personally. Have listened to this one a few times and will keep listening to it in the future.

excellent album with creative tracks

als ob ich die noch nicht kannte??

Love REM

I think R.E.M. definitely have their own particular vibe. The lyrics are so artsy but kind of nasally sung and every song on here vaguely sounds like something I’ve heard before - maybe being played at a mall. All that being said, i love that vibe.

love REM!!

Here is a good case that being trapped to the whole number rating gives me pains. For personal impact, this is totally a 5. Relistening in today's context this is really a 4. I still have fond memories of listening to this upon my "cool" cousin's statement that he "was really into the early REM catalog", when Automatic for the people came out.

It’s hard to separate this album from me at 17, but it still sounds great. “You Are the Everything” is my favorite now, probably not back then.

It's not bad for a major label debut/commerical/"sellout" album and "Orange Crush" is one of their very best tracks, but overall it's a steeeeeeep dropoff from their first five albums.

Decent variety in moods and instrumentation

REM put out 5, 5-star albums in row. Green is where things started to crack a bit. Still 4-stars. Songs like Pop Song 89, Get Up, and Stand feel like REM just wanted to do something easy for a change. Turn You Inside Out is probably their best rocker of all time. World Leader Pretend would have fit well on a previous album. Gems like You Are The Everything and Hair Shirt are clues to what would come on Automatic For the People

Me gusta el rollete

I did not use a private session for this one as I have listened to it many times. I went through a REM phase in college, but didn't like some of their newer albums. Back to this album, it rocks. Has some great classics.

‘Stand’ would go insanely hard on Warning by Green Day. Pop Song 89 (7/10) Get Up (7/10) You Are the Everything (8/10) Stand (9/10) World Leader Pretend (8/10) The Wrong Child (6/10) Orange Crush (10/10) Turn You Inside Out (7/10) Hairshirt (6/10) I Remember California (7/10) Untitled (7/10) 7.5/10

Very nice and upbeat but they all sound pretty similar

Lots of great stuff here, borderline 3 or 4. Need more listens.

Didn't love a few songs but overall I enjoyed it a lot!

Having only been exposed to singles on the radio, I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed the REM albums I've listened to as part of this project. Catchy riffs and interesting lyrics.

simple. smiths-y voice. really like it

Quite enjoyable, I like the lyrics and the musical style of REM. It doesn't grab a hold of my attention necessarily, but I appreciate it when I listen to it.

Hmm... I love a lot of R.E.M songs, but they also have a lot of similar sounding fillers... This album is not different, some songs hit, some don't... And it's not creative or weird enough to compensate... Still good, would always be happy to listen to it, it just ain't great...

By 1988, R.E.M. were close to the path of unlikely stardom. Largely staying on the course of consistency, they had raked in credibility and enough cache to entice listeners who ranged from curious to diehard. Green, the penultimate push towards uber-popularity, exemplifies that range broadly. Jostling between now typical political musings and jaunty diversions into irreverence whilst going back and forth with harder and softer musical styles, Green is the blueprint that R.E.M. provided that would be improved upon whilst not compromising its own ecosystem. Whether one considers this the end of a blistering era or the start of a brilliant period in the band's history, Green is the bridge that connects two roads that would serve to provide a path to many others. Favorites: Pop Song '89, Get Up, You Are the Everything, World Leader Pretend, Orange Crush, Turn You Inside-Out, Hairshirt, Untitled.

Impressionante como eles tinham muito a dizee

I listened a lot to this album on release and I was a big fan of REM. Its undoubtely a good album but for me some of the magic hasnt survived the years.

Great album! Very happy that I got this one today. You can really hear some of the sounds that inspired Nirvana.

Front loaded with a lot of hits, lost me a bit on the second half. Still a 4/5 record

R.E.M. is one of those super consistent bands that I often enjoy, but don't think about all the time. The Wrong Child, Orange Crush, Pop Song 89, and Untitled all hit strong.

Better than Coldplay.

Another phenomenal walk down memory lane. This is the kind of album you share with someone who isn’t very familiar with an all time great band

This album way exceeded my expectations…..it’s really goddam good!

It's orange, with orange, but it's "Green". More importantly, it's damn good. Classic R.E.M. with songs with dark, relevant messages to this day. Favorite Track: "Orange Crush".

So many years on , it’s difficult not to hear the seeds of the classic albums to come. Still a great listen though. Apart from the well known singles, Turn You Inside Out and Hairshirt were standouts for me.

This was so grounding and soothing to listen to! Full of hope, with hints of alienation and disconnect! I really liked the sonic texture of this music 🥹 Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Classic R.E.M., not much more I can say about it.

86/100. A great listen, blending art rock with touches of psychedelia and folk in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The writing is sharp and thoughtful, while the instrumentation is rich and dynamic, giving the album a layered, textured feel.

It was good, witty and comical at times. My favorite tracks were Stand and Orange Crush. Haven’t listened to R.E.M a lot, but vaguely remember my dad listening to them when I was a kid

Kiinnostava ja yllättävän raikas, ottaen huomioon että alun perin tehty kasarilla! 4/5

This was good, I think. Not any of the REM I was used to, but some good tracks nonetheless.

Good stuff as always from R.E.M. I dig the environmentalist themes. Tragically as relevant today as ever.

oh yeah baby!!!

So close to a perfect album for me. Just a couple of tracks that are a bit of a miss, wrong child being the stand out one. Overall though great, but not in the same league as AFTP

It's no Automatic for the People, but it's good stuff.

4.5 amazing background flow music

Great great alt rock, Mike mills makes this a hell of a listen. Second half can drag a bit?? Maybe. One of the best opening tracks of any alt rock album I reckon.

Great listen. Will definitely revisit.

Indiemuziek in al zijn verschillende gedaantes op één plaat, van introverte indie folk ('You Are The Everything') tot levenslustige power pop ('Orange Crush'). Maar bovenal gewoon damn goeie popmuziek. Niet echt fan van sommige fases in de carrière R.E.M., maar dit is een snapshot van hun loopbaan waar ik vaker op terug ga vallen. Nu 'Break My Stride' van Matthew Wilder on repeat om 'Stand' uit m'n hoofd te krijgen. 8/10 Highlights: You Are The Everything Stand World Leader Pretend Orange Crush

R.E.M. had best wat platen nodig voor hun mainstream doorbraak en hits in 1991 en 1992. Maar het echt iconische en typische janglepop-werk vinden we natuurlijk in de jaren 80. Green bungelt daar voor mijn gevoel een beetje tussen. Het is één van de R.E.M. platen die ik het beste ken. Het heeft de toegankelijkheid van de jaren-90 albums maar klinkt nog niet helemaal zo. Voorganger Document klinkt alternatiever en is dan weer bijna niet te overtoepen. Dus ook al is Green overall een super sterke plaat en is R.E.M. gewoon één van mijn all-time favourites komt de plaat net de te kort voor een full score. 8/10 Highlights Stand Orange Crush

with the exception of Automatic for the People, late 80s/mid 90s R.E.M. albums (you know, when they hit it big finally) have the unfortunate distinction of setting the band up for a killer Greatest Hits comp. Out of Time has "Losing My Religion" (and "Shiny Happy People" if you're a contrarian), Monster has "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?". Green, their first big label joint, has "Orange Crush". (and "Stand". cue Ben Wyatt's 3 second long claymation animation.) of course, "Orange Crush" is good. in fact, the whole album's pretty good? the track ratings (and initial evaluation by Toefucker Christgau) betray a fall-off that i don't think exists? all the folkier tracks still have that same warm quality to it that foreshadowed "Losing My Religion", and it gives the whole record a weird, freaky nature boy quality. that is not just my shit, it's the next house over's shit, too, whether they like it or not. otherwise, all the tracks are solid, better than most of their 80's output that i've heard, even. the weakest song is "Stand", and hey -- it sounds like "La Bamba". who hates "La Bamba?" maybe i'm biased. i found an original pressing of this with the 4s spot varnished over the Rs in my grandma's basement years back. it's a nice, warm record. good for the coming summer.

Fun album! I'm surprised I like this because I used to hate this band when I was a kid. I only knew "Losing my religion" back then and I thought it was boring af. So I'm glad I'm rediscovering this band now. I think this is a solid album.

I am going to take a stand and say I have always like this album and the "sound" of REM.

Not a bad album. Not a particularly interesting or captivating one, but decent.

Very good album but the beginning of the homogeneity of their sound. After this all their albums sound the same.

Rating Date- April 6, 2025 Initial Rating- 4 Album Number- 100 Album Plays-Previously Owned Top Tracks- You Are the Everything Orange Crush Turn You Inside Out Skip Tracks- Stand Listening Notes- Polarizing album for a fan of R.E.M. Stipe is more clear with his singing, and the band is evolving and growing melodically. However, it also seems like the beginning of another favorite artist becoming more commercial. Will always remember the album fondly, and still enjoy listening to this day.

4.2

I think I prefer this album to the massive albums they had later. This album still has the college radio alternative vibe. I don’t think I’ve listened to this since college. This album has so many folk elements. This album is better than I remember it.

Overall good. Some great tunes and a transitional sound for REM.

Solid guitar based melodies. Good. Album

I've got my spine, I've got my Orange Crush, I've got my early-20s angst reframed as nostalgia, and I'm not mad about it.

I like this album a LOT. Not only does it immediately take me back to the place i was in when it came out but it's just a solid album with a good mix of songs in a great order. It's also the album that started REMs rise to more mainstream over simply a big college radio band. I'm sure MTV had a role to play in that.

I remember I had out of time by R.E.M on CD in middle school. This doesn't really sound like I remember them sounding. This was good though and I though the front half was especially strong

Cool album

הפתיע אותי מאוד, מבסוט עליהם

Sustain on the guitar, jangly melodies over that, lyrics that either don't make sense or too much sense. Hello, this is REM.

My R.E.M not quite getting it issue continues. I like this album I don’t love it. It’s obviously a really good album though. Also bad news that Buck found a mandolin. Ruined that band for good.

R.E.M. is one of the GOATs.

God, these Mike Mills backup vocals are transcendent.

An REM album I had never listened to all of until now. But man I played a lot of Orange Crush on Rock Band. Great song. On a great album.

о цього, ми вже знайомились із дебютним альбомом R.E.M., монументальною роботою, що заклала перші камінчики у фундамент альтернативного року як жанру. Роки шли, і R.E.M. продовжували, один за одним, створювати гарні jungle pop альбоми. Проте якогось «творчого вибуху» у них особливо не спостерігалось. І Green став саме цим «вибухом». На ньому гурт зробив величезний крок вперед в плані сонрайтингу, та перейшов від звичного Jungle Pop звучання до чогось більш експериментального та еклектичного. Аранжування стали більш багатими, багатошаровими та «соковитими». А завдяки експериментам із додаванням мандоліни та віолончелі, мелодії стали більш текстурними. Лірично альбом «сяє», втім як і минулі роботи R.E.M. В текстах, Michael Stipe, з властивою йому іронією, звертає увагу на проблеми навколишнього середовища, та влучно перелітає це із темою особистих переживань. Саме цей альбом ознаменував старт «експериментального» періоду у творчості R.E.M, що розкриється на Out Of Time(1991), і по-справжньому «розквітне» на Automatic For The People (1992).

Great album to beautiful and rockin

Wow you can do political message and good songs at the same time? If only U2 knew that...

Definitely enjoyed. Girl From Mars was a favorite and would come back for that one.

Great sounding album. I liked it

I love R.E.M.’s indie “jangle pop” leanings and arrangements when the tracks hit (like “Stand”), but there were a few songs that were kinda “meh”.

I was ready to trash this but was pleasantly surprised by it's upbeat, major key pop rock approach, being chock full of catchy songs, great harmony and some unusual instrumental sounds back vocals and some unusual instruments like mandolin, accordion and cello. The band apparently had a slightly cynical approach to writing pop songs that don't sound like REM but this is the best album I've heard from them.

Alternative before everyone knew what alternative was.

Great album opener

A bit nostalgic for me. I was surprised how many songs I had heard before off of here. Good overall.

Heard before cracking. I love R.E.M

Favorite track: pop song 89 other picks: stand, wrong child, orange crush, hair shirt

Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but the highs are high enough to get to a 4. 3.8

Hated it then, love it now. If you weren't there then, hearing Stand every 8 flippin minutes the you don't know.

Love REM and such a pity they no longer make records. This album though is my least favourite. I much prefer some of their other albums. But there is no doubting that this record could have been made by no others than REM as it is full of their trademark songs. 4/5 28/2/25

I've always had a soft spot for this one, though I get the impression true R.E.M. fans might be a little embarrassed by it. "Stand" is one of my all-time favorite bops!

Yeah it was fun!

The messaging is great.Many of the songs are well played and there is a good mix of flat out rock songs and the softer ballads (often accompanied by a mandolin). "Stand" is a great song. 4/5 Will listen again

I don't know that I've heard many albums age better than this. Would guess it came out 5-10 years later than it did.

R.E.M. almost always good sounds, good writing - only a couple dead spots on here.

another album from R.E.M. on this collection. this album has more of their typical softer sound, but opts to add in some quirky, almost folksy sounding techniques this time around. many songs are emotional and resonate with a lot of listeners. initially i wasn't feeling it too much, but the more i listened the more i liked it. there's a few tracks here that are just downright beautiful to listen to.

Love this album

This juuuuust makes it to 4 stars. There were a few songs that I didn't care for, but I like the overall sound enough to generally enjoy the album. I like their guitar sound a lot, and Michael Stipe's voice and delivery are nice and distinct. Orange Crush rocks. Album cover: (B) This looks like it would be a 90's intellectual hip hop album.

This album is kind of great. Mr. Arden was my Year 7 and Year 8 form tutor. He was an older man teaching english kids about how to use bunsen burners, and he absolutely loved REM. He didn't like me at all, so I tried to make nice with him by listening to his favorite band. The outcome of this was that I fucked pretty heavy with REM for an eleven year old kid. "Orange Crush" and "Stand" were both on my iPod shuffle and they got a lot of play. All these years later, they are still bangers. The rest of the songs were pretty good too. 8/10 "Stand" and "Orange Crush" are iconic bangers, but I can't tell if that

7/10

I love R.E.M., but I've never actually listened to this one in full and was a little disappointed on the whole. The production is a step down from the IRS records. But it still has to be at least 4 stars, as Orange Crush is on here.

REM was always playing at home in my childhood. Could listen to Orange Crush on repeat.

This is the second R.E.M. album I've heard from this list now. Great vocals and will definitely be relistening in the future

Great as usual REM

I've never been the biggest of R.E.M. fans, but it is hard to argue with the quality of this. A solid 4/5.

Pleasently surprised by it

Lot of good ones on here

Ik heb tot vandaag twee keer R.E.M. gehad en ik heb braaf twee keer vier sterren getrakteerd. Ook nu ik dit album een tijdje aan heb staan steven ik daar weer recht op af. Wederom zonder er heel veel bijzonders over te kunnen melden. De kwaliteit staat buiten kijf. Ik begin me wel meer en meer af te vragen of deze lijst teveel R.E.M. bevat. Eigenlijk vraag ik me het niet eens af: Het is gewoon zo. Eén à twee albums was voldoende geweest. Daar kan de band verder helemaal niks aan doen. Ik klik dus rustig op de vier sterren en ik laat het aan het algoritme wanneer ik op de vijf sterren mag gaan drukken voor Automatic for the People, om de R.E.M. sidequest te voltooien. Alles voor die handboog met een 0,003% dps verbetering.

I like this more than I thought I would. Maybe I just discounted REM because I knew a few of their singles, but this is definitely an album that I would come back to. It struck me that they sound a little bit more like Barenaked Ladies than I had remembered.

Interesting album Orange crush stood out, great song

I really like a lot of REM I think I just have to spend more time with their albums. The songwriting is good but it’s just a bit dated maybe with the choices of instrumentation and production. Still really enjoyed this album and will likely return to it from time to time

Totally forgot how much I used to like listening to REM in my mid- late teens. Absolutely loved You are the Everything (perfect for teen (and middle aged) angst), Stand and Orange Crush. Might have to dust off my old albums now.

Quite enjoyed going back and listening to this. Stand and OC clearly the stand out tracks. Really enjoyed Hairshirt. 4 stars

First REM album I ever owned. Some really great songs. Some that I’m not that into. Nothing really bad on it though.

It's just good. One of those "I can't really explain why I like it or why it's good, it just is". Can't say anything on it is playlist, but I enjoyed listening to it, not a dud on the album.

Do like a bit of R.E.M.

The Wikipedia page states that REM experimented on this album but, honestly, to my ear, it sounds very similar to any other REM that I've heard. Perhaps some new instruments were used but it's still definitely REM. That's not a bad thing, as I generally like REM. It's an easy album to listen to. Not ground-breaking but not boring or offensive, either.

I’ve had these guys before and had the same thoughts: they’re inspiring, talented, and make great songs, but what a fucking downer he is as a singer.

I enjoyed this very much. Great songwriting. Interesting melodic lines, harmonies and syncopation. It just had a very unique feel. Love it!

The moment REM dropped any indie elements and went full pop. Also, the first album of theirs that I bought. I still love it, but the edge of the earlier stuff was gone from this point forward. This album is more upbeat than much of what followed, and the pop instincts are there.

I went in with pretty low expectations and although I wasn't totally blown away my expectations were exceeded. Did I just become an REM fan?

Excellent album with many great hits!

This is another solid alt rock album by this band.

They're great

One of the legitimate enduring gifts to us all from the late 80's.

What a groove. R.E.M never better.

It is REM. It is them at their best I guess. A good listen

I think this album deserves more love than I've king given it. As a entry into the world of REM it's a pretty good gateway drug. This is where REM says maybe we can join U2 as arena rock gods. It's got all the ingredients...a banger of an opening track that says sure we're kings of melody but we can play in the big leagues too. Stand also is a radio friendly song that is worthy of allvtre attention that it was getting and Orange Crush is an anthem worthy of the moniker. And REM has something that most others didn't have, the tasteful harmonies of Mike Mills and the incredible versatility of Peter Buck. When it came out I railed against it as the sound of a band that was giving in to the masses but what it is in fact is the flowering of a great band finally getting the wider audience that they deserved. 4 stars

•4/5 • firmly in their mass-market pop phase, it felt a bit like a sellout at the time, but it’s still a really good album • Stand and Orange Crush are undeniably catchy, but I prefer You Are the Everything and Get Up

Great album, not their best but still very good with a couple of absolute classics on here.

Solid college rock