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Murmur Other products by A&M Ratting 5.0 Out of 5.0 Special Offer Total New 30 Use
	List Price: $9.98 Our Price: $4.22 Price Save:   $0.30    Total Price: $4.22 at of 2010-09-09
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Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
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Release Date: 11-MAY-1984
Though critics swamped R.E.M.'s 1983 full-length debut with country-rock comparisons to the Byrds, Murmur sounds like no one else. The title is an apt description of Michael Stipe's singing style, although his smooth pop vocal mannerisms sweeten the enigmatic poetry. Like all great bands, R.E.M.'s individual parts (Peter Buck's ringing guitar, drummer Bill Berry's persistent thumping, and Mike Mills's unifying bass) are as interesting as the collective sound. The album-opening "Radio Free Europe" and "Talk About the Passion" endure as its radio singles, but the rest of the songs hang together well taken as a whole. --Steve Knopper

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 "it's a great album" 2010-07-23
By B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania)
Unfortunately, I can't quite give in to majority opinion and declare Murmur to be one of REM's greatest, most underrated efforts. I say "underrated" because you never actually hear any of these songs on radio stations, which is definitely not the same story when it concerns OTHER REM albums (such as every album they created from the late 80's to the early to mid 90's).

However on the internet, Murmur is certainly a popular album and many consider it one of REM's best.

Murmur honestly feels like yet another beginning effort by an aspiring rock band before eventually moving on to bigger and better things. In other words, while the songwriting on here is memorable enough to get the job done (and on some occasions -such as the first four tracks- REALLY terrific) the album as a whole doesn't actually scream of greatness like, for example, Automatic for the People does.

Another complaint is that some of these songs are predictably written and that doesn't help matters either. Of course it's possible this is just an example of me being really familiar with their later albums to the point I have a really good idea what the bands style is like by now.

"Radio Free Europe" reminds me of Tom Petty quite a bit, though to the bands credit, 9 out of 10 times Petty would *never* make something this melodic. Other moments like on "Pilgrimage" the chorus isn't quite as strong as many people would have you believe. It's a good effort obviously, and it grows on you with repeated listens.

Another problem is that many of these songs blend together. I must have heard this album at least 10 times by now and I *still* can't remember how any of it goes when it's finally over. Some of the tracks like "Laughing" and "Shaking Through" really blend together which therefore means I have trouble separating them in my mind. Of course while they're playing I LOVE them.

"We Walk" has an AWESOME vocal melody though, and "West of the Fields" ends the album on a really good energetic note.

Murmur has one more flaw, though not necessarily a major one- I don't quite understand how this album is supposed to sound way ahead of its time. Sure, the production is good, but then again, early U2 albums sound excellent as well and yet THOSE albums never get the same amount of credit or recognition that Murmur does.

To sum up the experience- the songwriting is good half of the time, great during the other half (hence the 5 star rating). Murmur doesn't sound drastically ahead of its time like many people believe. I realize REM is considered one of the founders of the alternative rock movement, but this album doesn't really reveal any alternative rock tendencies (and if it does, I can't hear them). Many of the songs blend together because the band hasn't yet developed an ability to thrown down a creative set of songs (something they'd improve upon in the future).

As a result of all these flaws, I can't help but think Murmur is somewhat overrated. Just a tad. I still love it.


 "??????" 2010-07-09
By Iris Artechi
I won't say much, so here goes: each song on the album could float on the radio airwaves and there is NO FILLER TRACKS. It was probably this album that had a major effect on Kurt Cobain when he was putting together the Nirvana album Nevermind. Murmur is more than just a humble begining, and i gurantee that this charming 12 track collection of jangle pop will please you, even if you don't care for pop. Also, just because it is an 80's album doen't mean it is a synth-rock album. HAVE A NICE DAY!!! =D


 "R.E.M. - Murmur" 2010-06-18
By BK (Near the Rocky Mountains)
I'm usually the type of guy to write relatively long, somewhat ruminative reviews. I simply can't think of how many synonyms of the word "greatness" I would have to use in order to describe Murmur. But here's my two cents: this album is an expansive plane (or plain), where the horizon of possibility expands on every side, and the sky and the land seem to merge into one murky whole. Take that as you may.

GRADE: A++ (101%)


 "The Vinyl version is a revlation" 2009-07-09
By Douglas Bowker (Salem, MA)
I had the original LP from way back, but always accepted that the sound was pretty murky and with limited detail or range. But the new 180 gram LP is just amazing! It makes the old vinyl and CD versions sound like they had been recorded off a transistor radio! The content as ever is fantastic of course, it's just now you get to have so much more of it.


 "Just a great album" 2009-06-07
By John Hunt (Southampton, UK)
I've never really liked any REM. After I heard this album I've listened to it several times. All I can say is it's just a superb album and you'd be nuts to not get it. Seriously, I listen to all sorts and it's just superb. Very very awesome. Stop thinking, start listening.


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