Document

Early REM. Good stuff.

1987's "Document" is the album that put REM solidly into the mainstream of pop-rock music. I know this because the song "The One I Love", which was all over the radio and MTV, was the first REM song that entered my consciousness. Oddly enough, although through the years I purchased 6 REM albums, I never got around to this one until now. From the first notes of the first track "Finest Worksong", I can see why people sat up and took notice. More rock than folk or pop, it is a dynamic opener and fairly representative of the album as a whole. Every facet of the album is excellent: the vocals (including harmonies and backups), the bass, the drumming and especially the guitar. What a variety of guitar sounds! Many tracks feature REM's trademark jangly guitar, but there are other styles to notice as well. "Finest Worksong" features one repeated note for much of the track, sounding like a Morse Code alert. There are bluesy guitar interludes in "Exhuming McCarthy". "Lightnin' Hopkins" is basically an older style rock song, and the guitar in places tends more toward glam. And in "Oddfellows Local 151", the typical jangly style alternates with moments that I can only call "grungy", even though this album predates grunge as a separate genre. Apart from guitar delights, "Fireplace" makes unusual and effective use of a saxophone, something not heard on too many REM tracks. I don't think the production and musical arrangements of these tracks could have been much better than they are.In a way I am happy that I didn't discover this album until now. The lyrics contain political references that seem appropriate today, even though meant to apply 30 years ago. Of course, different people will interpret them differently, depending on which side of the political spectrum you identify with. "Finest Worksong" announces, "The time to rise has been engaged/You'd better best to rearrange...What we want and what we need/Has been confused". In "Welcome To The Occupation", we find, "Hang your freedom higher/Listen to the buyer still/Listen to the Congress/Where we propagate confusion...Where we open up the floodgates/Freedom reigns supreme". "Exhuming McCarthy" is obviously referring to the early 50's anti-communist hearings, but one line, not loud but sung as a backup line several times, makes me stop and think: "...meet me at the book burning". In the light of certain recent events, book burning in the USA does not seem that impossible. And while we're on that song, how about this: "Vested interest, United ties...By jingo, buy America". "Disturbance At The Heron House" reports "They're going wild, the call came in/The followers of chaos, out of control...A meeting of a mean idea to hold". And in the speed-talking anthem "It's The End Of The World As We Know It", there are lines that are pretty obscure but again, they make me go "Hmmm...": "Team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered crop...Save yourself, serve yourself/World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed/Tell me with the rapture and the rev-'rent in the right, right". I'm not sure what REM meant at the time, but it seems to have contemporary relevance to me, sort of like a prophecy of Nostradamus.This album initiated a wave of popularity that made REM probably the biggest American band for about the next 7 or 8 years, and surpassed only by Ireland's U2.

'Document' is arguably R.E.M.'s best album. That's a pretty bold statement, considering R.E.M. has had the best roll of studio albums of any group since the Beatles. Now just like the latter, critics and fans could easily pick out 'Murmur,' 'Out of Time,' and 'Automatic for the People' as their magnum opus; however, there is at least enough evidence to put 'Document' at least among their top works.It must be conceded that not all of the lyrics make sense. However, it doesn't take too much scholarship to point out that the theme of reform is in every corner on every song. (Notice, too, the image of fire is a major thread in several songs.) There's the call to justice and equality on the opener "Finest Worksong". With troubadour vocals and Peter Buck's blaring guitar, it is a majestic anthem. Then, U.S. policy in South America is addressed in "Welcome to the "Occupation," a stirring protest with beautiful, intricate guitars and spare, poignant lyrics. "Exhuming McCarthy" stirs up the smugness of the newly rich and arrogant. With bright instrumentation, it is a perfectly pleasing piece of pop music. Next, "Disturbance at the Heron House" gets confused, but it seems to speak about environmentalism, equality, and Darwinism in the same breath. Shimmering musically, Michael Stipe's needling vocals zero in on the subject matter like few songs previously. The variety is remarkable and the energy is laudable, but their next two numbers outdo both with "Strange," an honest caveat about dangerous drugs, and, especially, with "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". The latter is played and sung like it's Armageddon. The lyrics are presented like rap with a trajectory the genre usually lacks. Bill Berry's drumming, Michael's annunciation, and Mike Mill's and Peter's playing come together synergistically for what has to be their all time best song. The second half isn't a slouch either. "The One I Love," their first top ten hit, is beautiful for its devotion, angst, and able guitar. "Fireplace" continues the theme of reform with an able commentary about the church or state, or a similar organization. The extended metaphor and the firey saxophone work together well in one their better written songs for this outing. "Lightning Hopkins" continues the firey language and skilled musicianship, delivering a scathing sermon. One of the most dramatic moments starts off slowly. The truly eloquent "King of Birds," a beautiful, soaring song articulately speaks of a vision of flight from oppression. Then, the fire of reform is also given some its most idiosyncratic treatment on the finale "Oddfellows 151," a stab at some decadent group or another.The energy, variety, and concept all solidify 'Document'. Also, the recent acquisition of producer Scott Litt enabled the band to reach heights not known previously. What a trek they took from their brilliant debut 'Murmur' to this expert classic! 'Document' has to be one of the top ten albums of all time.

Amazon Br tem prática de enviar discos errados de 5 compras últimas os 3 penúltimos foram entregues todos errados .. vergonhoso para um logística monstra e enorme desconcentrada e zoneada. Sou ex funcionário vê conheço bem que os produtos já chegam embalados e errados de SPMas esse deu certo, testei e audio muito bom

Nada que decir del disco, pues es una excelente producción, pero es una pena que hasta ahora ningún CD me haya llegado bien, pues siempre están quebrados de alguna parte de la caja, hasta pareciera que es la marca de la casa. Y no ayuda en nada que los manden en sobres. Una pena

Pezzi storici, il rock graffiante e a tratti onirico dei REM, buona qualità audio. Consegna Amazon perfetta

Este gran CD de este grupo con grandes canciones “The one I love”, es una joya para coleccionistas de música alternativa.

What else is there to say? Everything I listen to today, gets traced back to these guys. And I'm also a huge fan of The Smashing Pumpkins. If it wasn't for R.E.M., I probably would not even touch The Smashing Pumpkins.