The R.E.M., especially in their early period, linked to the '80s, forged a dreamy sound – fittingly named! – rich in nuances. At the center, yes, there are the guitar riffs, sometimes repetitive and sometimes complex, but you can feel a strong percussive component, built by an essential rhythm section (bass + drums) that captivates. The cherry on top, the wonder of wonders, is Michael Stipe's voice, with its piercing tone, which at times recalls Peter Gabriel ... the lyrics, by Stipe himself, visionary and constructed through Burroughs' cut-up technique, make R.E.M. one of the most intelligent and astute punk-derived bands in history.
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