Murmur will always be my favourite R.E.M. album, hearing it after only knowing Automatic + Monster + various hits was such a revelation to me but LRP is a close second and probably the one I listen to the most. Lyric-wise it's definitely one of their most memorable for me (caveat: I'm not a huge lyrics person), lines like "I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract" pop into my head a lot. But yeah really none of the IRS records are less than great.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 26 July 2018 10:09 (five years ago) link
a mean idea to call my owna hundred million birds fly away
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 21:41 (four years ago) link
a meager thing, recognition
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 22:10 (four years ago) link
I miss the days when there were so many R.E.M. threads we were bored of them.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 5 November 2019 22:10 (four years ago) link
fly to carry each his burden
― reggie (qualmsley), Tuesday, 14 July 2020 23:03 (three years ago) link
that's great, it starts with
― FAC 179 (morrisp), Tuesday, 14 July 2020 23:05 (three years ago) link
happy throngs, take this joy whereverwherever the tax returns are
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 14 July 2020 23:07 (three years ago) link
Offering the educatedPrimitive and loyal
― Mule, Wednesday, 15 July 2020 04:58 (three years ago) link
Our father's father's father triedErased the parts he didn't like
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Wednesday, 15 July 2020 13:10 (three years ago) link
What the heck is going on at the beginning of “Superman”?
― Robert Gotopieces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 December 2020 21:02 (three years ago) link
The scratchy spoken intro is attributed to a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll.[3] Translated loosely from the Japanese, it says, "This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh...."
― wet tip hen ax (egg drop mix) (morrisp), Saturday, 5 December 2020 21:15 (three years ago) link
Oh yeah, I do hear the word “Gojira” now
― Robert Gotopieces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 5 December 2020 22:18 (three years ago) link
I think 'Disturbance At The Heron House' might be one of his finest vocal melodies, I often wonder if it was difficult to replicate in a live setting because he always used a slightly lower, less vaulting melody.
― Maresn3st, Sunday, 6 December 2020 09:26 (three years ago) link
Not my favourite R.E.M. era. Picking "Life's Right Pageant" because "Fall On Me".
― The GeirBot (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 6 December 2020 22:58 (three years ago) link
Life's Rich Pageant is gorgeous, but I dunno it was a more vulnerable time for me and I can't listen to it. At the time I liked it more, but now that I'm a mean crusty old fart, I prefer Document 'cos it's louder and darker.
― Totally Insane Police State, 90210 (I M Losted), Monday, 7 December 2020 12:15 (three years ago) link
Fables > LRP > Document
I think. I love it all but Document seems a little... icy?
― that is how it crumbles cookiewise (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 7 December 2020 15:34 (three years ago) link
Icy? It's literally the one they told you to "File Under Fire"!
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 7 December 2020 16:40 (three years ago) link
document has a hell of a side two cf. "fireplace". i prob prefer it to both fables and lrp at this point, it's so endearingly odd and transitional
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 7 December 2020 16:42 (three years ago) link
I was actually just listening to Document straight through for the first time in a couple of years and "fire" is the right word for it. "Finest Worksong" sounds to me like a band that's just absolutely GOING for it, straining to throw every possible sound at the problem.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 7 December 2020 16:43 (three years ago) link
also forever thankful to r.e.m. for introducing me to wire. great cover too
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 7 December 2020 16:44 (three years ago) link
That cover is probably the best representation in their official recorded output of the insanely great house party band they were in 1980-81
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 7 December 2020 16:47 (three years ago) link
good point! you can hear a twisted version of that party on "Lightnin' Hopkins" too.
side 2 of Document is brittle spooky forest music, like let's rub ourselves in mud and run through the jungle, way past the Heron House
― All cars are bad (Euler), Monday, 7 December 2020 17:00 (three years ago) link
OTM Brad. I think side 2 of Document is a career highlight. If LRP was a tentative exploration of how they could pursue a more direct sound and remain eccentric, Document is a band fully at home in it's new sound, finding out it's still a pretty weird place anyway.
― campreverb, Monday, 7 December 2020 21:15 (three years ago) link
I adore Document.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Tuesday, 8 December 2020 00:51 (three years ago) link
you're not yet youngthere's time to teach
― reggie (qualmsley), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 22:07 (one month ago) link
Swan Swan H < King of Birds (close)
I no longer thing this is close, King of Birds by a wide margin (but both are great)
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 22:58 (one month ago) link