REM
Micheal Stipe Vocals
Peter Buck 12 string Guitar
Mike Mills Bass/Vocals
Bill Berry Drums(left in 1997)
In an era of cheesey synth-pop, sloppy hair metal, and overproduced pop slop. REM stood out as one of the finest bands of the 80's with their Byrds influenced Jangly Pop sound. REM started the whole college Rock/Alternative scene in the 80's before becoming big in '87 after "To the one I love". In the 90's they became a generic modern pop band.
Murmur 1983
Best:Radio Free Europe
Worst: Pefect Circle
Rating 9(out of 10)
This is a breath of fresh air compared to the Micheal Jackson, MTV synth-pop slop in 83'. Folkish, mid-tempo rock with Micheal Stipe mumbling out senseless lyrics. All of em' have fantastic melodies, and none of them sound the same. "Catapult" has Byrds influences all over it with Stipe sounding like David Crosby. "Pilgrimage" is a neat keyboard tune with Berry keeping 4/4 time. "We Walk" sounds like 60's pop. Mills adds great background vocals on "Radio Free Europe","9", "West of the Fields", and other songs. The only song I don't like on this album is "A Perfect Circle" which just bores me. The production is crappy, but this is a fantanstic album but not one you should get if you are a beginning REM listener.(If anyone reads this site). Get Life's Rich Pagent first.
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