Retro Reviews: R.E.M. Murmur / Chronic Town

 

I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums.

Murmur (1983)

***3/4

Producers: Don Dixon, Mitch Easter

Musicians: Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Don Dixon, Mitch Easter

Songs: Radio Free Europe, Pilgrimage, Laughing, Talk About The Passion, Moral Kiosk, Perfect Circle, Catapult, Sitting Still, 9-9, Shaking Through, We Walk, West Of The Fields

Review By Matthew Anthony Allair

    As this decade is unfolding, it is difficult to know where the music scene is headed, or where we might be in ten years. A few trends seem to be codifying, for example, the Metal scene seems to be trending into a formula, the progressive elements with metal from the seventies seems to be waning. The impact of punk is still being felt, but we seem to be in a post punk phase, the evolution of what is not considered new wave seems to be morphing into it’s own formula, and the exciting trends pf synth music seems to also codify into a set form. Right now, the UK band, The Cure seems to be offering the most exciting type pf music that feels fresh. Yet, the US, a new band from Georgia, might be the band that offers more new ideas and alternatives – if they can find their audience. The last years E.P. Chronic Town, revealed R.E.M. to be full of promise, their single from the year before that, “Radio Free Europe” was another delight. Their debut album, Murmur offers up the beginning of fulfillment of such promise. There’s a new rerecording of “Radio Free Europe” and the forth song, “Talk About The Passion” feels like the other perennial single.

    I can’t say that the re-recording of “Radio Free Europe” is any better, it’s still a great song, and there seems to be some new piano colorings with this new take, but for the uninitiated, the song is a good tone setter. “Pilgrimage” opens with a eerie vocal before the core of the band sets in, the verse section is a little unsettling before the pop lift of the chorus shift the tone. The McGuin influence with Buck is pretty self-evident a few fracks in. “Laughing” has an interesting bass and drum opening before Buck sets the tone. The afford mentioned “Talk About The Passion” has an almost transcendent quality to it. “Moral Kiosk” feels like it’s following the same tone as “Europe”.  The first half closer “Perfect Circle” is a lovely piano number where the keyboard gives it a haunting quality.

    “Catapult” is an interesting tone opener for the second half with a lifting chorus. “Sitting Still” is catchy but not very consequential and sounds like something they would have played in the clubs. “9-9” has some interesting musical passages but doesn’t distinguish itself. Things come back to life with “Shaking Through”, and there’s a certain whimsy with “We Walk”, the album closer with “West Of The Fields” is amid tempo, moody number with some good organ textures. I’d have to say that the sum of parts with the first half of the album is stronger, it’s not prefect, but this does reveal more of what they are capable of, and the next R.E.M. follow up looks promising.  This band may offer something different for those who hunger for it – if they can find an audience. That remains to be seen.

    I am a little leery over the deification of this band by some music peers, it reminds me of how Dylan was propped up as a messianic figure in the early 60s, he was just a song writer, as much as he was a great one. I'd advise against any sycophantic adulation of R.E.M. Let them find themselves, they may be around for a while.  

Chronic Town (1982)

***1/2

Producers: Mitch Easter, R.E.M.

Musicians: Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Bill Berry

Songs: Wolves – Lower, Gardening At Night, Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars), 1,000,000, Stumble

Reviewed By Matthew Anthony Allair

    After last year's refreshing, technically post punk single debut “Radio Free Europe”, this new band based from Georgia, has put out their first E.P. and it’s of an exceptional quality. Normally I don’t write reviews on E.P.s, but this was so well executed, and such a bell weather with how this decade might shape up to be. Rumor has it that their demo caught the attention of the heads at IRS records. A sort of ominous carnival organ opens “Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)” and some odd drumming segways into the main body of the song, it has a similar college club vibe as “Europe”, the mix of Stipes vocals are a little buried by a fraction, but it builds into something unsettling. “Wolves / Lower” has the spry vigor of Byrds guitar work, but there’s an uneasy tension with the number even without following the lyrics. “Gardening At Night” is easily the most accessible track, and likely the single, there’s a nice layering of guitars and Mills bass work jives. The opening of “Stumble” has a nearly new wave feel before it shifts into the body of the song. The middle section, with it’s talking and ambient noises makes one feel like you are listening to a British band. The up tempo track “1,000,000” rounds out this set, but it’s merely pleasant and the least interesting. Five tracks in and I am left curious to see what their debut album will have to offer.