Reviews (page 11 of 12)
Michael Stipe is bad
Micheal Stipe's voice is challenging to listen to but you can tell he is really giving it his all, so, goo for him, I guess. Didn't really frab me from the start and then they brought out the mandolin and I was done. Gives a sort of, idk, we think we are very smart kind of vibe. Pretty much the whitest album I've listened to so far and there habe been some pretty white albums. And I am white, so....
boring!
Bored.
Very mellow, almost depressing.
I know people love REM but I just didn't like this album much. Maybe I just like the well-known songs.
some good songs but overall monotone
Never been a fan of REM, just don't find them compelling. I assume there are a bunch of REM records on here and maybe one will change my mind. Until then, it's catchy but it just doesn't click at all for me - it's like a 5/10 as a 'not for me' rating.
Rock for avid bicyclists
The album is a pale rehash of everything that R.E.M. has done in the past.
I love R.E.M., but they do have their moments of complete boredom in their discogrpahy, and this album has a healthy serving of them.
Meh, plenty of hits I recognize but REM has never been my fave.
Na ja…
What a conundrum. If I was assessing this on how good some of the songs are I'd give it four stars. But I'm not. It's an album, which should stand as a body of work. And this is a frankenstinian body of disjointed styles and uneven tempo that I can't get into as a result. Now feeling I marked Pentangle really harshly when I at least wanted to listen to that one again.
It was fine. I like Orange Crush and I Remember California. But other than that. Nothing caught my ear
I've never listened to much REM. Just radio hits, mostly. If this is any indication, I'll stick with those. 2/5
Fine, nothing special. I was quite bored listening to this, which is a shame because they have some really good songs. 2/5 stars.
Orange Crush and Stand are decent songs. R.E.M. just might not be for me.
Havent listened to this in full since year 12! So very 80s in some ways but also wouldnt aurprise me if released today. That is quite remarkable i guess You are the everything was my favorite on this. Listening to it now it’s very busy. When do they take breaths. No pauses. Stand on the other hand is still all go no pauses but seems to swell and retreat, or pick itself up build on the melody and resolve on a satisfying note which must be the same as the start of the melody? Michael Stipe has a kind of grating whiny voice. Was trying to work out the backing vocals and what was bugging me about it. I think it is Stipe singing his own backing vocals. Then the last song it aounds like others singing. So ita a clear choice as opposed to others in the band not being able to sing. Wonder how they deal with that live, another band member of course. Like The Wrong Child is all layered vocals. Never thought about it before but there arent a lot of words to orange crush. Without the overdub of army chamts, helicoptor you mivht not know what thw hell the song is about. Like if you dubbed sounds of a fun fair, drinks pouring, kids laughing, you might assume orange crush is a drink and its about moving from childhood to adolesence. Its uptempo dancey beat was always gonna make this the hit of the album i suspect. Its a fine alt pop all guitar noise all the time (interspersed with introspective mandolin). The bass is pretty busy on a lot of this- as in it doeant anchor the ryt section along with thw drums, but sets the melody, wanders a lot. I assume the other albums are the same. Probably made it a better album or them a better band. As much as i bitch about Stipes vocals, they teally are part of the sound that defines REM. I often rate guitarists based on how recognisable their playing is. Clapton, for example, might be derivative, but you know whennits Clapton playing. Thats a level of musicianship not every musician indivisually can attain. So on that basis i should call Stile a great singer. Maybe it is the mix i should fault here. I should listen to other albums around this. I suspect they are just as solid in the alt pop context. New rating criteria for me. 2 stars means a good album. Its the best 1001 albums so everything will end up 3 or 4 stars for the main part.
REM are boring and whiny
Very dull and tough listen. I'll stick to the best of. Best Track - Orange Crush
Better than the first R.E.M. album I heard Murmur, but still just not really my favorite artist or music if I'm being completely honest. Not exactly the most memorable music either. If I had to give a top 3 for this album it would be Pop Song 89, Orange Crush, and Stand.
Cozzy -Hypnotic. Me ha parecido demasiado repetitivo.
I thought at least two songs on this were 'Losing My Religion', there's a TV show or something that uses the opening couple of seconds of 'Stand' as a recurring bit, and there are too many R.E.M. albums on this list. 2* out of spite.
Very forgettable for me.
liian vähän losing my religionia. 2/5 - A
Not my favorite album of the time period as Stipe’s voice grates me after a few songs. I liked the radio singles for the most part, though. Would’ve liked to have seen 1/2 of one of their shows back in the 80s.
The usual R.E.M. whining. Nothing special apart from Pop Song 89 (oh, the irony) and Orange Crush. I could definitely die without hearing this first.
I could only get into a few of the popular songs, and the rest seem like initial ideas that will turn into something better.
Not my favorite rem songs
Stand is good but the rest is blah
Two hit songs. I never liked R.E.M. I never understood the attraction.
Наскільки не мій гурт за комбінацією темпераменту, софт музики та цього вокалу, що складно уявити. Цей список остаточно підтвердив, що просто не для мене ця музика писалась) Stand та Orange Crush - кайф, якщо такого було б більше, то ми з цим альбом могли б подружитися.
2.5 - Solid but nothing stand out
Ligt lekker in het oor, maar niet de meest boeiende muziek.
Het is een combinatie van het stemgeluid, gitaargeluid en de nummers waarin naar mijn mening te weinig gebeurt waardoor ik R.E.M. nooit heb kunnen waarderen
Some good songs, some cringe
So many of these songs sound like they just improvised the vocals to them on the spot and never bothered refining or improving them
ok
not really my style. Didn't like it much
It was fine, I guess. I felt it just meandered a lot. It was just a guy yapping over a guitar track. Kept expecting him to start saying "loosing my religion" during each song because of how similar and unremarkable each one was. Dunno, maybe people like this album for the lyrics.
So annoying. Fav: -
Surprisingly tedious. No sign of what they are going to become a few years later.
Genre: Alternative Rock I did not particularly enjoy this listen. I like some of REM’s songs, but this one felt like it was an album to be an alt-rock album. It was 1988, and this was the music that impressed at the time. I like Orange Crush, but that’s about it. Stipe’s vocals aren’t for me, and the music doesn’t do much for me either. 2/5
Like it wasn’t bad but sounds like all the others
Eh, wasn’t the best, just felt a bit off and not appealing. 2 stars
No tämä on samaa REMiä mitä ne kaikki muutkin
GREEN - another great REM catalog album. It's hard from one decade to anther to convey the status of a band when any particular album came out, but REM was pretty much at the top of rock groups in the 80s and 90s and this was a monster. Pop Song 89, Orange Crush and even the sickeningly sweet Stand are great examples of the jangly guitar forward songs and catch vocals of Stipe and Mike Mills harmonies that we all love about REM.
4/10 R.E.M. have the ability to write some really fantastic tracks, but they also seem to miss the mark pretty frequently. This album has a lot of ideas that never really go anywhere. There are a few standout tracks scattered through the album, like Orange Crush, Hairshirt and I Remember California, but the lasting feeling I had when listening to this was that it was all a bit underwhelming and underdeveloped. They frequently had tracks which didn’t have a decent hook to grab onto, and some which barely diverged from a single idea, which made them a bit of a tiring listen. There were also a couple of songs that sounded like really long intros to songs that never actually arrived. Every now and then, I’d have a little ‘oooh’ moment, but frequently this was relating to a small part of an otherwise meandering track. Perhaps this just hasn’t aged well, or it’s one of those albums that you had to be there for, but I just never really felt particularly engaged in the listening process, apart from in a few fleeting moments here and there. Pop Song 89 - This is a decent jangly pop number. It’s a bit repetitive though and feels just feels a bit too safe. To my ears it sounds like they were trying to make it have a bit of grit by throwing in some more driven guitars in places, but it’s not really consistent enough to give it an edge. Get Up - There is actually a bit more drive to this. It never actually gets massively interesting though. It’s not bad, exactly, and it’s fairly catchy. I quite like the little ‘dream’ bridge section as it actually throws something a bit more interesting into the track. It’s short, so it doesn’t outstay its welcome. You Are The Everything - A twee little song that sounds like a four minute intro to a song that never actually arrives. Meh. Stand - Immediately things take a step in a more solid direction. There’s more of a drive to this. I quite like the rhythmical choices that Michael Stipe makes, particularly in the chorus. They’re not that conventional and give it an interesting lilt. It’s a decent track, but things still aren’t really connecting with me in a significant way. World Leader Pretend - I feel like this kind of meanders around a bit without ever really landing on anything. Both the verse and the chorus sound like verses. Again, it’s just not quite engaging me and I can’t find enough to get my teeth into. The Wrong Child - Another song that’s a three and a half minute intro to nothing. It just never goes anywhere and it’s pretty boring. Orange Crush - This is a classic. The little off-beat triplet bass is really nice and it’s got a great hook. There’s a decent amount of momentum to it too. Like much of the album, it doesn’t actually do much in the way of interesting development around its core ideas, but the ideas are good enough to carry the song. Turn You Inside-Out - We’re back to something a bit more plodding. I feel like there are some decent ideas in here, like some of the backing vocals, and it’s actually a song that has grown on me through its runtime. It’s got a bit more grit to it, but it just feels like it could do with a bit of a tempo boost to really drive. Hairshirt - This is quite a nice song. The problem is, I don’t feel like there’s been enough momentum in the album to allow this sort of song to shine. If there had been a bit more tempo and thrust to the previous songs, this would have worked as a nice moment of calm, but as it is, I just doesn’t resonate in the same way that it could have done. I Remember California - I really like this one. There’s a real brooding sense of discontent about it. I can definitely hear echoes of this in some Nirvana tracks. There’s plenty going on here to and nothing gets too stale either. As with the previous track, though, I feel like this would have shone brighter on a more consistent album as a moment of despair. It probably deserves better, really. Untitled - This one just doesn’t really go anywhere. Again, some decent ideas, but it just feels a bit underdeveloped. They sort of break into what feels like a placeholder section and then swiftly return to the same motif that basically runs through the whole song. It’s just not that interesting.
How extremely unREMarkable. Similar to Elvis Costello, the author of this list must see something in REM that I don’t. Can’t for the life of me understand why they need this many mediocre albums on the list. This album cements the fact for me that it’s only the REM hits that are good, nothing else.
not my sound
Kind of sounded like Weird Al. I did enjoy some of the lyrics
Wasn't keen on it. Was a bit samey from song to song. Couldn't tell when one ended and one began
The album felt very low energy and samey, just not for me
2.5
REM puts me into REM.
I am just not a big fan of R.E.M. It's ok. The best track is "Orange Crush"
I’ve never been able to get into R.E.M., and this album didn’t really help the cause. Michael Stipe’s voice kind of annoys me, and the mandolin soft-rock sound isn’t my cup of tea.
It was fine. Not soft enough but not rock enough either. Wished it made more of an impact but I didn’t think it was bad
Decent but nothing special. Only familiar with some likely via Parks and Rec
⭐️⭐️/5. My first R.E.M. album and so far, not my fave. Get the feeling they’re more of a lyrics/emotion band when I’m so much more of a beats gal. Some little moments here - different instruments/sounds that may look to a future change I would enjoy more.
I don't like R.E.M. so much. All the songs are the same.
1.6 We have 4 REM albums so far. If you gave me a million bucks and a year to figure it out, I still wouldn't be able to distinguish one from another.
Oddly like lead singer’s voice. Might check the rest of the catalog out! Favorite Track: Orange Crush
Between “Stand” and “Orange Crush” for my faves
I’ve always found R.E.M. to be pretty annoying
That jangly shrug-rock, saying-nothing self-important garbage. What came after this became the soundtrack to either sipping lapsang tea while journaling or eating shrimp with mid-priced white wine.
Det var en sløj omgang. Skulle tvinge mig selv til at høre det færdigt.
My personal feeling is if I've heard one REM album I've heard what there is to hear. I'm guessing they have like 4 albums on this list since they've had a bunch of successful albums. There's nothing wrong with this album but almost 40 years later the impact of it is very diffuse
Stand saved it from a 1. This was a precursor to grunge and the darkness of ‘90s rock. Yuck!
Apart from Orange Crush, I did not like this album. I don’t think I like REM in general.
- i was a bit bored to be honest - some cool elements and probably has inspired something somewhere -vocals weren't for me ★★
Just boring really
Eh, it's wasn't very engaging.
It’s ok but not going into my rotation
suffers greatly from the valley style track listing and does not deliver a solid finish. the singles and 2 tracks at the top were all that kept my attention
I don't get the love for REM... it's so mid for me. Not a great voice. Not great instrumentals. a bit whiny? I dunno. it's fine but def not must listen to imo
Almost as bas as radiohead
Another REM album I’ve failed to like. By my tastes I really should like this band but I just don’t. It’s weird cause so many artists I love were inspired by REM. I guess I don’t like his voice. The lyrics are cool though.
Flaccid, self-absorbed, inoffensive. This band does nothing for me. They have a distinctive sound; I'll give them that. But it's a whiny, jangly sound I don't want to hear.
A very creative album. I appreciate what this did for music as a whole, but I can't say I loved the listen.
Never really got into them
A very sad 2. Didn’t click with me at all.
I'm starting to hate REM. whingey fucking vegetarian music. GROW SOME BALLS. Paul McCartney is vegetarian and makes fun music, why can't these guys?
Meh. Too much mandolin.
It's fine? I just really struggle with REM
average
Ok
First song was good but didn't like the rest. I don't need to listen to this many R.E.M. albums
A little overhyped?
I think this was weaker than Murmur. I don't think its bad, but I don't really like it either.
on a song-by-song level, there are some gems. in total, it's mostly annoying
#544. It's REM. It's exactly what you expect. If you expect to like it, maybe you will, but there is nothing you can say to convince me REM is good. 2/5: a bit shit
Not a lover of REM but this was ok in parts. Favourite tracks: Pop Song 89 & Stand Probably not one to revisit. 2/5
I've heard this so much i don't need to be back here it's like ok, not their best at all
It's such a different world.
4/10 Imma be real chief, this aint it, this is my first exposure to REM and it’s just been a bitter taste of mediocre Alt-Rock in its most dated sense. Here’s hoping their best records make a better impression on me. Shoutout to the 80s alt dudes who had to get freaky to this music tho
Nice to go beyond the hits. Tracks were all decent but none really shone out for me
So shit ngl. Horrible voice and lyrics are fucking weird.
משעמם קצת אבל מעריך את הכוונה שלהם
It's okay. A little meh. REM isn't my jam.
Whiney.
2,5
I don't like R.E.M. I'll give this a 2/5 since there are a couple of hits on it (not that they are hits for me) as a legacy valuation. Would be a 1 otherwise.
Accordian in you are everything is cool. Fiber slapp in orange crush I remember California is pretty cool
A few enjoyable cuts, but as a whole not a standout.
It was a bit boring really
Stand with your head up your ass. Never got the deal with this band, still don't!
不好听，很英伦摇滚。
A bit middle of the road. Orange Crush and Stand are the highlights and I think were the singles. Songs were ok and it made for a good hangover listen, pretty chilled. Not my fave R.E.M, that award goes to Monster.
Goh, dit is nou niet echt een album waar ik heel warm van word. Het mist ook nog eens de hits van R.E.M. Ik weet niet man, ik vind dit echt een dodelijk saai album. De zang is meh, instrumentaal gebeurt er naar mijn mening niet genoeg. Krijg nogal Radiohead vibes hiervan, wat in mijn geval is dat er het generieke rock is met een ontzettend vervelende zeikerige zanger er overheen. God, dit album duurt maar 40 minuten, maar ik verveel me echt dood hierop. Het is echt niet slecht hoor, totaal niet, maar het is gewoon zulke saaie inspiratieloze meuk, voor mijn ongeoefende oren dan. Dat kan natuurlijk volledig aan mij liggen, maar dat is het nadeel als je mensen zelf laat reviewen. Ook zat mensen die Daft Punk niets vinden, en die hebben objectief gezien gewoon een verkeerde mening. FAVO: Orange Crush
I seriously will never understand the praise R.E.M get because their music sounds so plain to me. Artists from Thom Yorke to Kurt Cobain have praised their work endlessly and countless will tell me they're brilliant but I don't understand it. It's a feeling I cannot place my finger on but their music doesn't speak to me, however I will be forever thankful to Michael Stipe for his contribution to 'How To Disappear Completely'. Although a okay album there's very little that stands out for me, even on albums I have given a 1 star there's the odd standout track but these all blended together for me bar maybe 'I Remember California'. 4/10 Overrated band. Top Tracks -> I Remember California
The radio hits are good songs. But Stipe is so self-righteous and with the hindsight of the way boomers and gen-x have destroyed society doesn’t sit well when I listen to REM albums.
I don’t get the hubbub. Orange Crush is great, and there’s a few good album cuts, but this is a far cry from their peak (Life’s Rich Pageant). The use of mandolin is a nice touch, and foreshadows greater commercial success to come
Un par de canciones que me agradan, y el resto no, hasta me pareció escuchar algo parecido a "Hello I love you" de The Doors.
Boring
Eugh I just found this dreary and boring. I can't believe R.E.M. have four albums on this list. They are fine and have some good songs but it all sounds the same to me.
Every single song sounded like it could turn into Losing my Religion at any moment
not my favorite
More stuff i've heard on the radio over the years. Tired and overplayed, but some good hits like orange crush. Not a huge fan.
i do not like mr. R.E.M.'s vocals, which makes listening to him sing difficult. this was otherwise fine
Aren't there other R.E.M. albums on this list? Did we also need this one?
It was nice but didn’t really stand out enough to keep
I didn't know much about this band. Heard the name before. I listened to the album but I'm not a fan.
Eifach langwielig. World Leadet Pretend bedient sic extrem de Harmonie vo Losing my religion oder eig umgekehrt.. Sorry - klimper , schrumm, singelsangel.
pop song 89 guete name haha. shoulndt talk about the weather (oder should we) guueti line. jo oder government. get up okay, afoch en lied. you are the everything het de rem mandoline, gfallt mer meh. sini stimm isch scho sehr cool. stand isch etz no cool gsi aber s wird mich glaub nüt umhaue. world leader pretend haha flamenco dinger. de falsche chind wieder mandolin aber sie singed glichzitig i nöd gern. has ghasst. orange crush kenni glaub, chli besser het slagzüg yaay. voll okay moll. turn you inside out het bass und chords un 80er drums dasch scho besser. wie meinsch hairshirt alte. sooooo alooone ok. isches es hoorigs liibli?? i rember 💀
Ei jättänyt itsestään mitään muistamisen arvoista tämä. En kuuntele toiste.
MEh, I don't even know what to give this album. it's between 2 and 3 I'll go 2
It was alright, there were some things I liked and some things I didn't. Probablyyy won't be listening to this very often
rem sounds weird
Not as good as other albums. 2/5
Eh.
R.EM. is a band I think I like, but much of their earlier stuff actually has very little appeal to me.
sorry hannah, i enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my absolute favorite
Fairly generic rock. Nothing stood out.
So boring
Nah
That's me listening to the album, losing my interest.
it's fine
2 stars from me. It’s a bit depressing.
Unsure as to whether this is for me. i enjoy the traditional hits of REM but find the voice and vibe irritating? and commercial/ too happy. Maybe cause i grew up with the songs constantly in media e.g. ads or films... world leader pretend i dont mind. its a bit more janggly guitar and smithsesque vocals enjoying much more from this song onwards like the guitars in i remember california more moody? 6/10 dont think i would actively listen to again
A horrible listen while studying for exams
some cool songs that are familiar bc growing up w my dad, pop song 89, stand and orange crush. pop song 89 has like that cool bridge riff thing not part of the main chorus that i like. and thats it!
not a huge REM gal but enjoyed the listen. probably won't be seeking it out again any time soon
Kinda nostalgic - some songs I recognized and some I did not. REM sounds too much like a specific time and place and its not really my jam :shrug:
I remember getting this album in the Columbia House CD racket (that my parents ended up paying for dearly) and finding it a little hard to grasp as a 12 year old. It's an ok album but not an REM stand-out for me.
it’s fine. rem is fine.
While I have heard R.E.M plenty of times I dont think I have ever heard any song from this album. Their sound is the same as what I have heard before though. Catchy songs that contain a messages about the time when they were written.
Never got what people see in REM. Just not my thing I guess.
Good baselines and beats, but too many fadeouts for this era/type of music. Wasn't a fan of the voice and lyrics, and overall it seemed pretty generic and not a great listen as a whole.
Ah, R.E.M., my twin sister's nemesis. I'm contractually obligated to not enjoy R.E.M., and as such I cannot give them higher than a 2. Regardless, I'm not a fan of R.E.M. I sure do not enjoy Michael Stipe's vocals. Musically, R.E.M. is OK. Though I would dispute what makes this album experimental (because this album sounds like classic R.E.M.), the use of the mandolin was cool--I always enjoy artists exploring past their usual bounds. I learned a bit more about R.E.M. and their style, discovered I knew "Orange Crush" without knowing the title, and toughed out another album. "And how can it not be longer?!"
Not my thing.
This ones just alright. I really liked the political themes they were trying to touch on through this record, but not all of them landed where I think they were aiming. I liked Stand and Turn You Inside-Out
REM is objectively fine and I don’t have any major qualms with them - I don’t mind listening, but I probably won’t be back aside from the songs I already knew. Soft 3, hard 2
wasn't bad but there was nothing drawing me to listen again.
Ok
a lot of the pace was the same, enjoyed some but not much
Oh no another REM album!!!
American Stadium Rock 101. No thanks.
I listened to a few songs, but just wasn't feeling it, so I quit.
Jaah noh...Jäi albuniradiolle asti soimaan... Missä albuni oheedio kokonaispakkaus räjähde unohtunu panoksesta..
Quite bland, not something for me at all. I see the charm, but I was relieved when it was done. My head finally had peace.
Never been a fan of their style. Listened to this album and it's all pretty meh. I would say they are a pretty middle of the road band.
THATS ENOUGH REM PLEASE
Fin plade men ikke noget særligt, manglede nogen numre der stod ud. Tror sgu der er for meget R.E.M. på listen hvis den her kom med.
A bit of mandolin, a lot of boring.
Previous REM has really surprised me, I expected it to be whiney and a bit poppy and just a bit annoying (mainly due to only exposure was everybody hurts) and I've actually really enjoyed it. This however, is whiney, a bit poppy and kinda annoying
It’s still hard to believe, even after the second REM album on this list, that this band was one of the most popular in the world. It’s just passable pastiche
Was just very R.E.M and I'm not new to them
Never been a fan of R.E.M. and listening to this album is not going to change it. This is just standard decent rock music, so not super exiting. The one exception is maybe I Remember California. Didn't know that song, I like the melancholic atmosphere.
Okay I feel a little bad rating it so low but HEY this is subjective right. Once again not a bad album by any means, and instantly every song felt familiar to me. I grew up listening to alt rock and pop punk and arguably this is the band that brought it into the mainstream. I just think it didn’t hit because my music taste has expanded quite a bit since the olden days. I can recognize that this album is the foundation that led to the music I listened to growing up, so thanks for that REM. Should we talk about the government now?
They have a smashing greatest hits.
Nada interesante, parece el inicio del sonido del rock noventoso pero musicalmente no me pareció interesante, tal vez hay algo en las letras pero no sé... no es para mi
it's fine
Not the biggest fan. Didn’t click as much as other REM stuff I’ve listened to
Man. Its just like the same thing from the 80s condensed into one album. Boomers man
It’s like the smiths and linkin park made an album together
Yeah, what to say about this? R.E.M. have always been a band I could give or take. They're OK, nothing special. Some good some bad. Really can't justify more than a 2.5.
No puedo con los R.E.M. Qué le vamos a hacer. Me gustan mucho algunos sencillos, pero ya escuchar sus discos completos me da mucha flojera.
can't stand this guy's voice sometimes... world leader pretend orange crush
Easy to forget. Bland. Sometimes boring.
heres the thing: i'd love this album based on the instrumentation. if they were just instrumentals i'd give this four stars. however the lead singer has the most interminably incredibly annoying voice i have ever had the displeasure to listen to and it ruins the entire experience because it's like he's taking a cheese grater to my eardrums.
Sicher musikgeschichtlich wertvoll, aber ich mag einfach die Stimme des Sängers nicht.
fine
Meh
Abseits der üblichen Hits zu eintönig - insbesondere der Gesang.
First things first, Orange Crush rocks. Everything else by REM often strikes me as meh. I can’t tell if the lead singer is crying for help or actually trying to sing. I want to like REM, but every time I listen to them I just feel unsatisfied. Not quite sure what it is. I’ll leave their cd out of my car on the next road trip and not really worry about it
A bit boring. Nothing really stands out to me. I looked back at the tracklist and Stand is the only song I remember. Maybe one of those that doesn’t hit without context.
easy listening, far too boring for my taste. i think its super inoffensive, generic rock music, nothing wrong with it, its just really bland.
This album mostly put me to sleep, or at least by the end of it I was feeling that way. Turn You Inside-Out, Hairshirt, I Remember California, Untitled was a 1,2,3,4 punch at the end of the album of slow, repeating, talk-singing songs that didn't go somewhere I was interested in. I like Stand because of Parks & Recreation, so that's a positive association. Orange Crush is a familiar song, probably heard plenty of times growing up without knowing what it was.
Neither love nor hate
De los discos de R.E.M. es el que menos me gustó. Muy monótono y nada memorable.
this.. doesn't sound like REM as much. Which means I like it a bit more. Hearing this after talking heads.. makes me realise they were definitely an influence. Stipe's chatty rambly sing style seems like an attempt to copy Byrne, especially on track 1. 'Should we talk about the government' is almost a joke of a lyric, but maybe it's meant to be, it's so blunt. Yeah, this proto- REM, pre mega mega nightswimming fame (I assume), is a lot more interesting and weird. Were they ever inspired by They might be giants? It feels rockier, simpler overall. Then we hit a bit of a dreary spot on world leader pretend, and you get some hints of what was to come. Then, the wrong child gets pretty limp. Not a fan of orange crush. whiney. And now everything seems a bit whiney at the back end of the album. It's quite difficult to listen to old albums trying to express earnest or political opinions, it all comes off as a bit naff. Inside out picks up a bit, bit of rock edge back again. Meh. few songs at the start I like, but as it wears on its not a great album for me. It all seems like a big whinge. Untitled was kind of interesting a way to end. it'll be a 2.5 I think.
R.E.M. are really hit or miss for me, some of their albums sound great but other highly revered albums of theirs really just fall flat for me. Green is somewhere in the middle. Some of their best and most recognizable songs like “Orange Crush” and “Stand” are on the album, but there’s also garbage like “The Wrong Child”. There are a few artists who I’d prefer to listen to greatest hits albums; most of them are groups like The Supremes who released tons of amazing singles but not a lot of great albums. R.E.M. released lots of albums which are critically acclaimed, but to me their quality and consistency is all over the place and I prefer just to listen to their hits.
Orange Crush is a song I have enjoyed prior to listening to the full album and is really the only track I can see myself listening to on a semi-regular basis. I also enjoyed World Leader Pretend. Overall I'm not very passionate or excited about this album. The first half felt especially slow to peak my interest. Out of all the tracks, the aforementioned two are the only memorable or impressive tracks to me. The rest of the tracks are only okay. I don't think this is a bad album necessarily; I just really don't think it's all that interesting.
first song i was like ok it'll be some alt rock thing thats alright but not great. and then it was terrible.
Make it stop. 2.09 per track.
I'm surprised by the similarities with these guys and the tragically hip. Hip better though obviously
Ok album
meh
I’ve really never been a fan of REM. This album didn’t do anything to change my mind. There’s an occasional song that’s good. Or a musical riff that’s interesting. And then it just changes to elevator music to me. 2.5/5
2 catchy songs, Stand and Orange Crush which I already knew. I like REM generally speaking but this album draws a little
2/5. College alt rock, political and tongue in cheek. There are some good songs on here but it does have a priority to get a message across over songwriting. It's a vibe for sure but doesn't really stick with me throughout. REM albums do take a few listens but as a first time around, not super feeling it save a few good songs. Best Song: Get Up, Orange Crush, Turn You Inside-Out
Not enough variety in the instrumental for my taste. Though Michael Stipe has an incredibly unique voice.
A rough listen, did not enjoy.
Got progressively more annoying.
Wishing I could force feed that mandolin to Peter Buck.
I can appreciate the pop superstardom aspect of it, but if I am being honest, I turn it off whenever it comes on and couldn't get thru much of this relatively short 41 minute album.
R.E.M. is overrated as shit, please stop recommending them to me. Only good thing on this album is Orange Crush
Nothing about this album stood out until “Hairshirt” and that only stood out because I thought I was listening to a Hootie song. I never wanted to skip anything - so it gets a rounded up two
Two good songs the rest are a little too slow and Stipe sounds a little whiny
Meh
I do like R.E.M, but everything sounds more or less the same after the first couple of songs
Hmm, this is a band just starting to get into their stride...but the brilliance of Out of Time and Automatic for the People is a way off yet. Favourite track: Orange Crush
Like the first track. All a bit downhill from there
- I still don’t like them - singer is kinda like a folk Spanish love songs but also a pretentious asshole - everything feels like a parody
Orange Crush is great and the rest isn't. Probably a high 2 but not a 3.
Okay
The sheers audacity to ironically name one of the songs Pop Song 89 and then have the rest of the album be completely middle of the road pop deserves praise. But other than that, I didn't find much here worth coming back to, very inoffensive. 2/5. The Fleet Foxes of the 80s.
Very average, 2.5
This has a clear sound and I enjoy parts but I wasn’t a fan of it song to song. So much of it sounded the same and I kept losing focus. Maybe I’m just not into R.E.M. but that’s part of the fun of doing this project. Orange Crush was definitely in a Guitar Hero or something and that brought me back, and Stand is featured in one of the funniest moments in Parks and Rec, so there’s definitely ways this album has endured haha
"Orange Crush" is clearly one of the best REM songs, but the rest of this album can do one.
Man I wish I got REM. Lots of people rave about this band but I just don't get it. There's nothing wrong with this album but somethings not clicking with me. Maybe one day I'll know :/ Fav songs - Get Up - Hairshirt
I thought I liked REM until I listened to this
Not a huge REM fan
Guess I’m not an REM fan, I couldn’t even make it through the whole tho t
Ok, rem sound is just meh
I'm still an Out of Time man (not yet listened to Automatic for the People from a few weeks ago). I think it is decent enough but so forgettable. None of the arrangements stood out in the same way Man on the Moon does, for example. I am a little disappointed.
I'm a bit puzzled what to write about this. I *want* to like R.E.M. I didn't really like them at the time but Pavement were influenced by them and... I like mandolins and they seem to have some good tunes. I really like "stand" on this album. But I find Michael Stipe's voice a bit annoying and all the songs are a bit maudlin. I don't know. I just can't gel with them and I don't know why.
There are REM albums I would much rather listen to than this. Uninspiring.
I really only liked stand. Not my cup of tea. Vocals are nasally and whiny. Maybe, it'll grow on me at some point.
High-School-Rock?
I mean, I get how influential this was, and props for its “different” sound back in the dreadful 80’s but, like, do people who claims this is the best they’ve ever heard stop listening to music in 88? Is this another “you had to be there” kind of record on the list? Well sorry, I had just turned 2 when this came out and I just don’t get the hype.
Njäe
Ehhh not an rem fan
Sounded kinda whiny
Omg STAND hahaha i didnt know anything about REM but i recognize this song for sure. Theres like some fun stuff and some interesting stuff but i think the lead singer's voice is a little annoying actually.
Compared to Automatic for the People, the highs aren't as high, but the lows aren't as low. Orange Crush is the best song if you make it that far. Props for the environmentalist message too. 🌱🌱
I like REM but this album doesn’t do it for me today. I’m getting old. I did enjoy hairshirt
REM was so much better when you couldn't understand the words.
I know this is supposed to be a classic but I can't get into that much. Too much dissonance. It sounds like music Jay would really like 3 stars
Not it I guess. Inte ett strikt Nej som dom senaste men blev inte hooked direkt.2
I'm not a fan of REM, bar one or two of their more catchy hits, I found this album to be completely 'on brand' for them i.e. a couple of toe-tapping hits and the remainder a load of fairly indistinguishable, up-your-own-arse, tosh.
I wish I could like REM more but I cannot get past Michael Stipe's voice. It grates. It's uni-tonal. It's atonal. "Stand" is a fun song. "Orange Crush" has moments. But almost everything else seems like whiny college navel-gazing.
Not bad but his voice I is quite irritating.
I don’t get it….
Orange crush is a banger, the rest was dull, dull dull
Dreary Barlow. Did not enjoy.
Struggled to finish.
orange crush
Swing and a miss, REM.
Fuck rem
Ça vieillit très mal, difficile de se projeter à l’époque
Dull. I Remember California is the only notable track
does not invoke interest at all but not as bad as the beatles
nasally voice, not a fan.
It's not bad by any means but I'm starting to think you're not supposed to listen to these many REM songs back to back. Orange crush is a banger for sure but most songs sound like all the band members played their parts in separate rooms then put them together in post. Meh 4/10
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: I did, not as much as any of their other work though Favourite song: Track 4 - Stand Songs liked/Total songs - 3/11
Ya know R.E.M. feel heavily carried by their one massive hit per album. Orange Crush might be their worst massive hit and the rest of the album does nothing for me either
I've enjoyed a few REM albums from here, so I was disappointed to be disappointed in this. Felt like they had ran out of ideas a bit, which is strange as some of their later album were then pretty good again.
A lot of this is not pleasant to my ears. Sometimes I find R.E.M. to be a bit monotonous with Stipe’s unwavering voice and pretty unimpressive instrumentals. Orange Crush stands out.
Just ok
Didn't jump out and grab me
Fine, but i was a bit disappointed not to like it more.
was ok, tolerable
It's a solid album but, having listened to two REM albums as a part of this 1001 Albums malarky, I'd say they are very easy listening, somehwat unremarkable. Michael Stype's voice is certainly unique and I enjoy it, but the overall dynamic is somewhat limited. I prefer what I've heard form their mid-90s material (Automatic for the People(?).. whatever that mega popular album was with Night Swimming on it.
Liked it, but probably won’t put it on again
For some reason it reminded me of the Barenaked Ladies? Most of the songs sounded too similar for my tastes.
Good proto-90's album.
echt nicht so ein fan von der stimme…
I didn't really like this.
It sure is a rock album. Nothing stand out or notable
A very poppy album for R.E.M. with hits like Stand and Pop Song 89. I've definitely heard a lot of the songs on this album before, but none have stuck. Personally, I prefer their earlier less poppy work, but if a pop rock album was what they were going for they nailed it.
The type of album that is fine to listen to while it's on, but you forget almost everything you heard the moment it finishes.
was hoping i’d like this album bc i like 2 REM songs that my dad would play growing up, but unfortunately did not like this album
A strong 2. Considered a 3, but the few good moments don't outweigh the soporific quality of most of the album.
Stand is the best song. Rest was bland.
I think I just don't care much for REM. It's a slog, with the occasional good song. 2.49/5
R.E.M. feels like it should be in my list of favorite bands, but I found most of these songs pretty boring. Some stand outs managed to pull me thru, but the majority of the songs felt like 20 seconds of good ideas stretched out to 2 minutes.
Very generic. Couldn’t finish it. Unsure why it is on the list.
R.E.M. has a lot of good albums 🔥. This is NOT one of them 🙅🙅🙅
meh. Didn't really it that much.
Gikk meg litt hus forbi
Pop music for people who don’t mind a guy wailing discordantly over top of simple boring drums and just the high frequencies coming from a couple electric guitars.
Didn’t really click with me this time around..knew a few songs already though and they’re pretty good. I’ll revisit one day
I like REM but this album just doesn't have any hits.
Weird in an interesting way, but I couldn't get into the singers voice/ range
Langweilig, Stimme gefällt nicht
C'est un rock sympa mais je me souvient de rien
REM is not my favorite, but Orange Crush is a solid song.
Nope, I don't like
Not really bad but also quite forgettable
it wasn’t the best album by rem and i never have listened to this album before i’ve only listened to the others, it was okay there were only a few songs i would listen to again though :)
It was okay, I don’t think I like most R.E.M. I like a select few songs and sections of songs. This album has a few good ones for me, but not enough to rate this super well as a whole. Probably wouldn’t listen to this album again, maybe just a select few songs.
You Are The Everything // Stand // Orange Crush //
Some solid classics, but also a lot of twee junk
I get why it’s here but it’s just sort of boring and I find the vocals flat. Given how huge they were, I probably would’ve killed myself by 1994
So to begging with, the first track: pop song 89, look way too much like hello i love by the Doors. there is good songs but nothing really impress me, like not at the same level as other alt band of the times, but its a very impression like its not a bad album
I always feel like I should listen to and be more familiar with R.E.M. than I am, which is currently very very little, but whenever I do I just kind of feel "meh" about them. This is my second album of theirs that has come up on this list, and I assume not the last, and I still just kind of feel that way about it. Not bad by any means but just kind of "meh" for sure.
REM heb ik nooit echt kunnen waarderen, afgezien van de hitjes. Ook deze plaat was gewoon eigenlijk maar saai.