Rem - Murmur
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Free Music Notes for Murmur
Free Music Review: Southern Zietgiest
Hit: 5 Stars
Along with The B-52's, Athens Georgia had a second classic debut to foist onto the world in the 80's. "Murmur" delivered a fully formed R.E.M. sound to an unsuspecting public, heard by musical cossnoti and launching thousands of new bands in their wake. Propelled by the jangle-pop of "Radio Free Europe" and undeniable band chemistry, this is one of the top albums of that decade.
The qualities that defined the first half of R.E.M.'s career are already in full bloom on "Murmur." Peter Buck's jangley but muscular guitar propelled the sometimes bucolic sounds of the atmospheric songs. The rhythm section of Mike Mills and Bill Berry managed the odd variety of songs with the appropriate style. And on top if it all were Michael Stipe's mumbling, incoherent vocals muttering vague lyrics (with Berry adding flawless harmony). Often snatches of words would break free to your ears, but they were just as often indecipherable (like "Tape erase us" during "We Walk" or the plaintive chorus in "Talk About The Passion").
That willful obtuse/mysterious quality extended outside the grooves. The album art was almost folk-gothic; there were no printed lyrics and no band pictures. The complete atmosphere gives "Murmur" a timeless quality, rooted in folk but coming from art-punk like Stipe's idols Patti Smith and Television. It was a musical vocabulary that they'd continue refining through Reckoning and Fables of the Reconstruction, yet "Murmur" had the magic quality of sounding both perfect and unlike anything else around. As such, R.E.M. both captured and defined a moment of music.
Free Music Review: This album changed my life
Hit: 5 Stars
In the spring of 1984, I had a religious experience in the beginning of fourth period chemistry class. I was a bored, shy freshman with two music store gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket. I could afford two albums with that, and had already agonized a week over what to get. Our family loved music, but I was brought up on country, the hardcore stuff-Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie and Waylon and the boys. I had started to drift away from my parents' music, and was desperately seeking my own, something I could listen to over and over. Nothing at the time fit the bill. I had tried out New Wave albums, the 1983 British invasion, but invariably I found that the only songs I liked by those types of bands were what I had already heard on the radio.I walked into chemistry class in late April and found my friend Jenny listening to a tape on a Walkman. I asked what she was listening to, and she insisted I listen for myself. What she had in her Walkman was a tape of Murmur. I can barely put into words the feeling I got by listening to that tape. After years of combing the radio for quality, something lasting, I finally heard what I had been searching for on that tape in chemistry class. It was something completely different from anything I had ever heard before, but it struck a chord in me. I instantly loved it. I felt I had been lost in a forest all my life, and was beginning to give up hope that there was nothing but the forest, when I chanced upon the meadow that is R.E.M.
I bought both Murmur and Reckoning that night, and played Murmur over and over all night long. Since that first night, I estimate I have listened to Murmur at least a thousand times and never got sick of it. The beauty of it is that it has sounded great no matter what mood I have been in: depressed, happy, pensive, nostalgic, playful, stoked, angry, sad. It is appropriate for any mood, but I have found it especially good for cool, rainy, spring afternoons in Georgia. Since that night, I have bought many more albums (over 600) but not a single one has been able to top Murmur.
Free Music Review: did we miss anything?
Hit: 5 Stars
WHilst it's noted that most people put 5 stars for anything they like, this is something truly deserving of such acclaim. It's beautiful, obscure, emotional, definitive. It has often also been said that R.E.M. never did better & whilst they have other impressive effortd this is the best by far. Reading thru the below reviews made me run to my shelf in another & throw this in the player. I want it up louder but it won't go. I'm currently hearing Sitting Still - "don't waste yr tiume sitting still, I can hear you, can you hear me?" - I can certainly hear him & I think i get it. Now is the amazing 9-9, an absolute favourite, both these tracks could almost be punk although yr average generic hardcore or mtv type would hear nothing of the sort. I love the multilayered-ness of this, headphones are very appropriate although everyone should hear it. On 1 occasion my uncle, sister & I went on a drive to watch planes taking off & this was our journey's soundtrack & it went down well, the only other disc I had w/ me was In Utero & for some reason that was not as appreciated [the screaming, noise?]. After Shaling Through there's a half-minute instrumental thing, they did this again w/ a similar thing after Bang & Blame on Monster. Radio free Europe, Talk About The Passion & Catapult should have been big hits... We Walk is a bit strange, certainly of some strange other era. Someone said this is the best album of the 80s & the only 1 you need, well i'd have to say you need some Sonic Youth, probably Sister is best suited to complement this. Of the other rem lps I would say I like Green most, which isd occasionally similar to this but other times [ie Turn You Inside Out] obviously not. In any case you NEED this in yr life. oh nearly forgot Chronic Town is a must if you need more of this style, I only got it a few months ago, Wolves, Lower off that is very intricate & a great predecessor to the ultimate, Murmur.Free Music Review: Conversation Fear
Hit: 5 Stars
I am older (32), so I was there... You cannot understand the impact this album had on me in high school. I had already by that time outgrown metal (Bruce Springsteen had liberated me of this), and found punk, especially the Pistols, Ramones and X. Sure, the Dead were still around, but they seemed passé; so did most top 40 radio. When I first heard this album, I stopped in my tracks! I mean, there was truly nothing like it. It was the first rock album that made me say, "Wow! You can do more with rock than just shout."
Mill's drumming and Berry's bass playing are propulsive, funk dripping out of every track. And yet, for all the drive, the music is filled with mystery. Buck's guitar jangles, taking apart chords and making plain rhythm guitar more textured than it has ever been in rock before. Stipe's brooding lyrics seem to wash over you like a half heard murmur rousing you from a dream. The effect is still as strong all these years later. Every song, from "Radio Free Europe" to "Perfect Circle" grips you. REM manages to be at once visceral and gripping, yet hypnotic and artistic.
In short, the album is beautiful. Being older, I can say that now without blushing. It is rock with a vengence; the beginning of Gen X rock, before the corporate big-boys starting hyping psuedo-movements. It has guts, integrity and truly brilliant musicianship (not the showboat lightening guitar riffs so popular at the time, but something more real, more imaginative and layered). Though I currently lean towards "Automatic for the People" as their best, and find most of their later albums great, this is in many respects their best since in 1983, this was risky music.
Trust me; back then, when I told people I liked REM, they looked at me through their big hair like I had three eyes. Now, I feel vindicated. REM has stood the test of time, while the big acts, like Motley Riot and Twisted Crew (I know... bad joke) are fossils.
Free Music Review: The Masterpiece of Alternative Rock.
Hit: 5 Stars
It's hard to find in the beggining of the eighties a Pop/Rock band who didn't wanted to be comercial. The majority of the bands wanted to sell and this was showed in the minor quality of so many albums of that time. But in 1983 R.E.M. appeared with their first project of originals called "Murmur"...It begins with the excelent Rock of "Radio Free Europe", a classic in these days.
"Pilgrimage" is, problably, one of the best non-mainstream pop songs ever.
"Laughing" appeal for many listenings because of the simple but great and fast acoustic guitar work.
"Talk About The Passion" is one of the earlier classics for R.E.M. A perfect and genuine Pop song.
In "Moral Kiosk" we return to the fast rhythms of the great alternative Pop/Rock of the band.
"Perfect Circle" is the most comercial song of the album but maybe the best one. A calm and sad song with an excelent interpretation of Michael Stipe. Beautiful!
"Catapult" is for live performances. Pop song, and again with an alternative touch.
"Sitting Still" is a Pop song with great rhythm. Another contribute for a non-stop listening of the whole record...
"9-9" is a very experimental Rock song. The guitar work in here is fantastic. One of the best tunes of the album.
"Shaking Through" is a modest song with a great chorus line. Pop music.
"We Walk" is an aproximation to Reggae music because of the rhythm section. But again we are in front of another great mid-tempo Pop tune.
"West Of The Fields", the closing track of the original CD, shows a band in great form for begginers, with so much creativity to offer, as it was, for many more years.
Take a listen at this great work of R.E.M. For me "Murmur" is their best work ever(I have all their records in my collection of 543 CD's). It's, obviously, in my Top 10 Best Records of All Time. GENIAL.