ALBUM REACTION: R.E.M. - Chronic Town EP

[@AlexHaitz]

More R.E.M. Reactions: Murmur: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maiao2eXor6Nipo Reckoning: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5DMfKSHbdyCqNk Fables of the Reconstruction: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZibmJ57jb-cqaM Lifes Rich Pageant: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4uuXoVqdqd3gqM Document: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn6ZeaSFo72DbLs Green: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f56wnIyboJtsi8U Out of Time: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip6QppiEeNqoZtU Automatic for the People: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npCtpnutadqqj7M New Adventures in Hi-Fi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4CYaqeZpNKKaM0 Fall On Me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZicc2R8eqh7q7s Here I Am Again: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f56pnnmagJ6tqNE Nightswimming: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYaoiayKgM-VfM0 Tongue: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2XCqpiqe7Z5jtk

[@seandavies75]

Boxcars was the song that got me hooked. Early 90s, everyone knew about R.E.M. and I liked their singles, but it wasn't until I heard that song at a friend's house that I was fully invested. For my money, they have the greatest run of great albums of any band.

[@mattjohn4731]

which albums in their great run? I kept liking them into the 00's and saw them in 89, '95 and '03. My top REM stuff changes so no obvious favs for me. I do love not only their originals but they got me into Velvet Underground, Modern Lovers, Mission Of Burma, Wire, etc via their covers

[@seandavies75]

@@mattjohn4731 Honestly can't think of another band whose first ten albums are back to back brilliant. I love every one of them from Murmur through to New Adventures (and I love about 75% of Up).

[@j.r.a.f.t.m.]

@@seandavies75 couldn't agree more, hands down the greatest run in music history.

[@transmit13]

Excited for the 80's IRS Years era R.E.M. journey.

[@stolencadillacs]

I'm sure that all your REM reaction videos will bring the "this is their best stuff ever" type of comments. This is because they've made quality music from the beginning.

[@musicaddict5076]

This is a good hint of what to expect in Murmur and yes you will start getting into more of their melodic stuff for sure. Gardening at Night sounds like it could be off of Murmur. But Perfect Circle from it is my favorite REM song and may very well be in my top ten tracks of all time. Thanks for the reaction and hope all is well Alex!

[@AlexHaitz]

You as well, thanks!

[@dennischary1197]

What a fantastic song "Perfect Circle" is.

[@edwardlosty549]

A lot of the early stuff relied on the bass to carry the melody, just from where they were as musicians. Peter Buck was still learning and a bit limited in what he could do, he grows as you go through the albums.

[@dathorndike4908]

There is a version of Gardening At Night released on their Eponymous LP that has a much better Stipe vocal on it that is more out front and aggressive than the sleepy, hushed vocal on the Chronic Town version.

[@jeffmaehre7150]

One of the reasons the oldschool fans love R.E.M. so much is that they were doing stuff no one was doing. Their aesthetic (album covers, videos, photos) was all about kudzu, old barns, junk yards, whirligig farms. Stipe wore suspenders. Contrast that to Human League, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie. Are you kidding me? They were on their own planet. You're right: hardly anyone was doing this in America. There was a similar band, The Neats, but, man, they were super obscure. The other similar band was Dumptruck, also obscure, and they came later than R.E.M. I was blown away by the sound and visual sensibility of the band when I started really getting into them. They were the anti-80's. This is why context is so important. Just listening to a band from the old days without context is really disorienting and doesn't telll the story. Their uniqueness is the whole reason they were "the Beatles of college radio." They pioneered, but were also accessible. Buck called them "the acceptable edge of the unacceptable stuff." Listen to Mission of Burma, The Beat Happening, the Minutemen: that stuff is really rough around the edges. R.E.M. had the perfect blend of authenticity and accessibility. They nearly invented college rock.

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

I'm not that familiar with REM music, so I'm boarding the train for this journey with you. If it leads us to The Chameleons, it will be even more rewarding 🤩.

[@mattjohn4731]

They are on tour here in the US

[@TheFreezerGeezer]

Michael Stipe's voice sounds super-weird in REM's early stuff.

[@j.r.a.f.t.m.]

Great reaction, I love the first 3 tracks on this, very melodic and I share the same thoughts about stumble, good song but too long. Overall very good introduction to the band and murmur, but that album implements more piano, melody, and post punk, if you prefer the 'jangle sound' then the 2nd and 3rd album will be for you. Anyway Great reaction Alex and very excited to see you go on this journey.

[@jeffmaehre7150]

I'm not sure if you know, but the versions of both "Radio Free" and "Sitting Still" from the 81 single (Hib Tone records) are different from the ones on Murmur.

[@dathorndike4908]

Bill's drumming on Boxcars always stood out to me.

[@khalidmusadaq2080]

There is a live version of Gardening at Night that is faster paced and incredibly energetic. I can't find that exact live performance anywhere but its arguably better than the EP version (which I love btw)

[@tharveytucker1]

The Eponymous version is the best. Their producer forced them to do a softer version bc Chronic Town didn’t have a ballad. Lol

[@kevtruth]

Here's my Murmur least to best: 12. Pilgrimage 11. West Of The Fields 10. 9-9 9. We Walk 8. Radio Free Europe 7. Perfect Circle 6. Catapult 5. Laughing 4. Moral Kiosk 3. Sitting Still 2. Talk About The Passion 1. Shaking Through

[@dathorndike4908]

You have to understand Michael and the bands approach to lyrics (and music) during their early years. They viewed vocals as another instrument, not in the conventional sense where the vocalist stands apart from the rest of the band and the music lies underneath the vocal itself. Most often Michael would intentionally not articulate his lyrics in favor of sounds that fit the song's melody. Also, the way they mixed their early records was in this same way of thinking, making everything balanced in the mix and avoiding making the vocals stand out any more than the rest of the band. This will be especially noticeable when you get to Reconstruction Of The Fables, in my opinion, their masterpiece among a career of great albums.

[@AlexHaitz]

How very Cocteau Twins of them!

[@momothecat1]

Dead letter is quite an enjoyable place to settle for those enjoying chronic town

[@debjorgo]

One of my top five favorite R,E.M. songs is on Murmur.

[@joycehall4866]

Wolves Lower is the best.

[@paullagasse5504]

One of my favorite songs of all time

[@SBTCP]

Monster is next.

[@branchleader73]

Chronic Town their best work, all downhill from here :)

[@AlexHaitz]

Bold claim!

[@branchleader73]

@@AlexHaitz Not far downhill though, still brilliant stuff to come, I just have a thing about Chronic Town - something mysterious and magical about it IMO

[@Iluvthosetightp]

No way dude...

[@transmit13]

Strongly disagree. But that's cool. IMO they improved with every album (again IRS years and even some "Green"). They went on a tremendous run in the 80's. Top shelf.

[@branchleader73]

@@Iluvthosetightp You bet!

[@jtenaz]

R,E.M have many great songs, but many boring songs too

[@branchleader73]

Mummur not as good :-(

[@transmit13]

"Murmur" is better IMO.

[@branchleader73]

@@transmit13 :o

[@justaguy1451]

Never cared for this band.

[@void0094]

Who asked

[@justaguy1451]

@@void0094 Your mom. She said you past your bedtime.

[@void0094]

@@justaguy1451 top5 most creative insults