Murmur

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murmur
Studio album by REM

Publication
(s)

April 12, 1983

admission

January 6, 1983 - February 23, 1983

Label (s) IRS Records

Format (s)

CD , LP , MC

Genre (s)

Alternative rock , post-punk , jangle-pop

Title (number)

12

running time

44:11

occupation

production

Mitch Easter, Don Dixon

Studio (s)

Reflection Studios, Charlotte

chronology
- Murmur Reckoning
(1984)

Murmur is the debut album by the US rock band REM and was released in April 1983 on the indie label IRS Records. The album is considered an early high point in the band's work.

background

Released in April 1983, Murmur was the successor to the EP Chronic Town the year before. The sound on Murmur characterizes the quieter, more introverted side of the first wave of post-punk in the US . The sound was new back then, although the basic structure of the songs corresponded to traditional rock music. The guitar sound is comparable to that of the Byrds , and the bass has the expressive sound of the Rickenbacker , which bassist Mike Mills loves to play.

As the band's most experienced musician, Mills added his bass to the melodic element of the sound of the early REM albums. The distant way in which Michael Stipe sings is characteristic. Its dark lyrics give the music a certain mystique and depth. Murmur was produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, in Charlotte , North Carolina was added and the Indie - Label published IRS Records. First, Murmur climbed to 36th place in the United States and was finally awarded gold in 1991 .

Cover

The cover of the record depicts a section of the landscape overgrown by the climbing plant kudzu . The scaffolding pictured on the back was originally part of the Georgia Railroad to the band's hometown, Athens , and became something of a local landmark. Plans to demolish the scaffolding (now commonly referred to as the "Murmur Scaffolding") sparked a public outcry. On October 2, 2000, the Athens-Clarke County Chairman and the appointed committee determined that the framework should remain in place.

Track list

All songs are penned by Bill Berry , Peter Buck , Mike Mills and Michael Stipe .

page 1
1. Radio Free Europe - 4:06
2nd pilgrimage - 4:30
3. Laughing - 3:57
4. Talk About the Passion - 3:23
5. Morale Kiosk - 3:31
6. Perfect Circle - 3:29
Page 2
7. Catapult - 3:55
8. Sitting Still - 3:17 am
9. 9-9 - 3:03
10. Shaking Through - 4:30
11. We Walk - 3:02
12. West of the Fields - 3:17 am

reception

source rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone
Music Express
Uncut

The music magazine Rolling Stone lists Murmur at number 197 of the 500 best albums of all time and Radio Free Europe at number 389 of the 500 best songs of all time . The debut album is also number 8 of the 100 best albums of the 1980s. The New Musical Express voted the album 69th of the 500 best albums. In the selection of the 100 best albums of the decade from Pitchfork Media has Murmur 5th place, in the recent establishment of 2018 No. 39 of 200. Radio Free Europe reached number 128 of the 200 best songs of the 1980s. The TV channel VH1 voted Murmur in 2001 at number 92 of the 100 best albums. The album was included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die .

“The first sign of life was also a sign of coming greatness. Dominant bass, submissive voice and these jingling arpeggios on the guitar everywhere , gently blowing pop with a stable pulse. An album that hardly shows its full 30 years under the belt. "

- Arno Frank

The single Radio Free Europe was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2009 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine on allmusic.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  2. ↑ Review by Steve Pond on rollingstone.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  3. ↑ a b Arno Frank: REM From here on downwards (ME-Helden), in: Musikexpress 02/2014, edition 698, p. 67.
  4. ↑ Review by Andrew Mueller on uncut.co.uk (accessed January 28, 2018)
  5. ↑ 500 Greatest Albums of All Time on rollingstone.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  6. ↑ 500 Greatest Songs of All Time on rollingstone.com (accessed November 4, 2019)
  7. ↑ 100 Best Albums of the Eighties on rollingstone.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  8. ↑ The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time: 100-1 on nme.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  9. ↑ Top 100 Albums of the 1980s on pitchfork.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  10. ↑ The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s on pitchfork.com (accessed November 4, 2019)
  11. ↑ The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s on pitchfork.com (accessed November 4, 2019)
  12. ↑ The Top 100 Albums by VH1 (2001) on besteveralbums.com (accessed January 28, 2018)
  13. ↑ Complete National Recording Registry Listing on loc.gov (accessed November 4, 2019)