Rem - Reckoning
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Free Music Notes for Reckoning
Free Music Review: A force to be Reckoning with
Hit: 5 Stars
After the brilliant album that was Murmur, R.E.M. sure had a lot of high expectations to live up to when releasing their second album. As it turned out, they delivered, and brought the eager fans one of their best albums of all time!
Every single song on this album is great in it's own way, and the deep, thoughtful and creative songwriting is evident throughout each one. Stipes mumble is as loveable as ever, and the jangly guitars and beautiful backing vocals are back from Murmur.
HarborcOat blew me away, what an opener! This may even rival Begin The Begin for their best opening song... it's amazing. 7 chineSe bros. and so. Central rain are both fabulous, melodramatic pieces that grab you and draw you in. The famous chorus of Central rain still amazes me today.
Pretty Persuasion and (don't Go back To) ROCKVILLE are more catchy, rockier pieces that give listeners a hint as to what R.E.M. will eventually become. The catchy second GuessinG, Time After Time and little america are also very enjoyable.
The treasure of this album for me (second only to HarborcOat), however, is camerA. This truely is what Perfect Circle was to Murmur... a quiet masterpiece, tragic, but touching.
Is it better than Murmur? Well, it's a close second. R.E.M. really were in top form during their IRS days, and this is an excellent way to start looking back in time at what one of the best bands in the world were like in the 80's. Buy this, and Murmur, right now!
Free Music Review: Half classic, half meh
Hit: 5 Stars
R.E.M.
Reckoning; 1984
IRS Records
My Rating: 8/10
RECKONING was REM's quick follow-up to their debut. The band didn't make any huge stylistic leaps here. In fact, RECKONING might easily be written off as an album of leftovers and re-treads if the songs weren't so solid. While half of the songs only achieve moderate success, the other half register as certified classics. "Harborcoat" kicks things off in righteous fashion. Full of intricate guitar and bass interplay, their is no question that the band has coupled their unique sound with more robust songwriting. "7 Chinese Bros." and "Pretty Persuasion" are other excellent examples of the band's ability to craft college rock genius. However, it's "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville" that really stands out among the bunch, truly setting the band's country undertones to the forefront and giving REM its first road song. For the most part, an enjoyable and worthy record.
TRACKS:
1. Harborcoat (5/5)
2. 7 Chinese Brothers (5/5)
3. So. Central Rain (5/5)
4. Pretty Persuasion (5/5)
5. Time After Time (Annelise) (3.5/5)
6. Second Guessing (3/5)
7. Letter Never Sent (3/5)
8. Camera (3/5)
9. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville (5/5)
10. Little America (3/5)
Free Music Review: "Lively, passionate, and entertaining."
Hit: 5 Stars
R.E.M's second album gave them lots of credibilty as a great southern rock band. Where "Murmur" put them on the map, "Reckoning" solidified their location. This album is a great companion to Murmur because the music on these two albums is similar. But this album is different and perhaps better in the way that almost all of the songs are upbeat and positive. Murmur was uneven and melancholy at times whereas Reckoning is balanced and lively. The music on Reckoning is perfect to listen to anytime you are riding around in your car in a short or long trip. It wouldn't surprise me that this music was inspired by REM being on the road most of the year. It sounds like it was concieved in between gigs. Its got a very catchy and easily entertaining sound. It would surprise me if I found someone who said this music is not enternaing and catchy. I don't know if it is better than the band's debut but I think it is definitely put together better. The songs flow into eachother on Reckoning Whereas they don't on Murmur as much. This is great music for driving and if you liked Murmur, I'm sure you'll like "Reckoning." I definitely recommend buying this one asap. (Pretty good review for being stoned Huh?)Free Music Review: Remote Monitor
Hit: 5 Stars
R.E.M. abandoned the enigmatic post-punk experiments of Murmur for their second album Reckoning, returning to their garage-pop origins instead. Opening with the ringing "Harborcoat," and Reckoning runs through a set of ten jangle-pop songs that are different not only in sound but in style from the debut. Where Murmur was enigmatic in its sound, Reckoning is clear, which doesn't necessarily mean that the songs themselves are straightforward. Stipe continues to sing powerful melodies without enunciating, but the band has a propulsive kick that makes the music vital and alive. And, if anything, the songwriting is more direct and memorable than before - the interweaving melodies of "Pretty Persuasion" and the country-rocker "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville" are as affecting as the melancholic dirges of "Camera" and "Time After Time," while the ringing minor-key arpeggios of "So. Central Rain," the pulsating riffs of "7 Chinese Bros.," and the hard-rocking rhythms of "Little America" make the songs into classics. On the surface, Reckoning may not be as distinctive as Murmur, but the record's influence on underground American rock in the '80s is just as strong.Free Music Review: Sterling Sound
Hit: 5 Stars
'Reckoning' documents R.E.M.'s growing expertise at creating a virtuoso variety of songs with a crystal clear production seldom found during their early years. From the frenetic New Wave thrust of "Harborcoat" to the progressive country of "Don't Go Back to Rockville," R.E.M. provided an energetic early classic. The variety isn't the only thing stunning about 'Reckoning;' the musical athleticism of fast-forward numbers like "Second Guessing" and "Pretty Persuasion" is admirable as well. They are at their hypnotic best with other fine songs like "Seven Chinese Brothers," "Letter Never Sent," and "South Central Rain". "Time After Time" elicits tenderness well in the mix. The only real flaw is the langorous "Camera," which has the effect of someone taking too long to take a picture.
Everyone matured during this album. While the previous album 'Murmur' is the critics' favorite, 'Reckoning' benefits from energy and experience that improve remarkably from 'Murmur'. The sound, furthermore, makes their debut classic sound murky. On 'Reckoning' R.E.M. pours forth all their energy and talents like there would be no tomorrow.