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Rating: Reviewing an R.E.M. album is not difficult; one could give 5 points to all their productions without necessarily focusing on the individual tracks.
Because R.E.M. have evolved across all their 12 studio albums.
R.E.M. have made indie rock a source of inspiration for many bands (see Nirvana).
In 1983, many noticed this alternative group, the strange singer Michael Stipe, the impenetrability of his lyrics, Peter Buck's arpeggiated way of playing the guitar, almost as if he were inept with the instrument. And many noticed "Murmur" so much that "Rolling Stone" awarded it as the best album of 1983 and recognized R.E.M. as the best alternative group and the 3rd best group after U2 and Police; what a debut, huh!
This band of apparent lunatics found themselves gradually climbing the rock Olympus! All thanks to a (beautiful) EP "Chronic Town" and one song in particular: "Radio Free Europe" published in a limited edition by a tiny label and reinserted in Murmur. The tracks are a well-mixed amalgam of rock 'n roll, psychedelic rock, and power pop. The bass and drums take the lead, the guitars (many) and the voice are in the background (a choice that R.E.M. predetermined from the start). "Pilgrimage" is a fascinating track that churns out a chorus with harmonies, intertwined voices (a technique R.E.M. has aptly exploited), and a western style march: memorable!
The first masterpiece of the album (besides "Radio Free Europe") is "Talk About The Passion" which deals with the conditions of the homeless: Michael Stipe sings of "empty prayers" and says that "no, no one can bear the weight of the world"! "Moral kiosk" is one of the (many) tracks where the vocal intertwining and the decisive rhythm in the chorus are still appreciated. There's no use in describing the other songs, I can only highly recommend this masterpiece and remind you that R.E.M. didn't just make "Losing My Religion"
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Other reviews
By Stipe88
Recorded in January 1983, Murmur is the album that sets the guideline for the entire subsequent production of the Athens group.
An album I would recommend everyone to buy, for the historical importance it had for the group and for the American underground.
By Kurtd
Murmur is psychedelic, it’s punk, it’s pop, it’s alternative, it’s impressive the way Stipe’s voice in "Radio Free Europe" makes me feel good, and a few tracks later "Perfect Circle" makes me feel bad.
The true "maturity" they left entirely here, in Murmur.
By Rax
A folk-rock that supports, in the verses, sorrowful melodies which never descend into whininess, and then explode into unexpected choruses of extraordinary beauty.
Murmur is a surprising testament to the talent of the four from Athens in constantly rewriting the same song in new ways.
