Life's Rich Pageant could have been an absolute classic. Unfortunately, it didn't have enough classic REM tracks on it for that to be possible. Don't get me wrong, there are still some fine songs. More powerful than the previous 3 albums, it opens with Begin the Begin, a rocker which is sure to make you tap your feet. Then we have These Days, which is more reminiscent of their earlier stuff from Murmur and Reckoning ie. fast and melodic with a killer chorus. We then come to one of REM's most gorgeous songs ever, Fall on Me. It is a slower, more placid song which bursts into a beautiful chorus unlike any they did prior to that album. 2 other masterpieces are the catchy I Believe which opens with a fun banjo. My favourite song on the album is probably the next masterpieve, What If We Give it Away? It is a beautiful quiet song with lovely vocals that break into a mournful cry on its sad, loud chorus. Unfortunately, one tends to think they didn't take it seriously enough by adding a silly western instrumental called Underneath the Bunker smack-bang in the middle of the album. However, I highly recommend this album as well as all of their others.
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Underneath the Bunker is one of my favourite tracks on the album! If nothing else, impress your friends by knowing all the words to the most obscure REM song ever (and then straight after prove you know all the words to End Of The World)
inspiralcarpet 20.01.2001 00:05
Sorry I had to rate your opinion "fairly helpful", but I can't agree that this album is "nearly a classic". It's by far the weakest album REM have ever produced, not so much an album as a collection of singles and bad B-sides. Sure, there are some great moments, but "Fall On Me" is better live, and it strikes me as more filler than the quality REM we know and love. And one of the album's best moments, the bubblegum 60's pop kitch of Superman, was a cover version! Ah well...
After a harrowing experience recording their previous album (1985's magnificentFables Of ... more
The Reconstruction), R.E.M. reconvened the following year muttering something about a "poppier" sound. However, old fans were given little to complain about whenLi...
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After a harrowing experience recording their previous album (1985's magnificent Fables Of ... more
The Reconstruction), R.E.M. reconvened the following year muttering something about a "poppier" sound. However, old fans were given little to complain about when ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Begin The Begin These Days Fall On Me Cuyahoga Hyena Underneath The Bunker Flowers Of ... more
Guatemala The I Believe What If We Give It Away? Just A Touch Swan Swan H Superman Tired Of Singing Trouble Rotary Ten Toys In The Attic Just A Touch (Live In The S...
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Advantages: Great live feel, excellent guitar playing, intriguing lyrics Disadvantages: The enhanced "newer" version includes some not-as-good B-sides, but they're good freebies. Track listing on CD is wrong!
Advantages: Great live feel, excellent guitar playing, intriguing lyrics Disadvantages: The enhanced "newer" version includes some not-as-good B-sides, but they're good freebies. Track listing on CD is wrong!