Home > Music > R.E.M. > Discography

R.E.M. Lifes Rich Pageant Release Date: 1986 Running Time: 37:24 Label: IRS Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe's growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga." The group hasn't entirely left myths behind -- witness the Civil War ballad "Swan Swan H" -- but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like "I Believe," "Flowers of Guatemala," "These Days," and "What if We Give It Away," it's ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity "Superman," which is sung with glee by Mike Mills. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Begin the Begin Stipe, Berry, Mills, Berry, Buck 3:24 2 These Days Berry, Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe 3:21 3 Fall on Me Buck, Berry, Berry, Stipe, Mills 2:49 4 Cuyahoga Mills, Stipe, Berry, Berry, Buck 4:17 5 Hyena Mills, Stipe, Berry, Berry, Buck 2:48 6 Underneath the Bunker Stipe, Berry, Berry, Mills, Buck 1:24 7 Flowers of Guatemala Mills, Berry, Buck, Berry, Stipe 3:53 8 I Believe Stipe, Berry, Berry, Mills, Buck 3:32 9 What If We Give It Away? Stipe, Berry, Berry, Mills, Buck 3:31 10 Just a Touch Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 2:56 11 Swan Swan H Berry, Mills, Buck, Stipe 2:39 12 Superman Bottler, Zekley 2:50 Releases: Year Type Label CS IRS 1998 CD Capitol Records 1992 CD Universal Distribution 1990 CD IRS

Group Members: Bill Berry Peter Buck Michael Stipe Mike Mills More >> Similar Artists: Richard Thompson The dB's Hüsker Dü The Feelies The Replacements More >>

Influenced By: Iggy Pop Gram Parsons The Velvet Underground T. Rex Patti Smith More >> Followers: Crash Test Dummies Toad the Wet Sprocket Fetchin Bones Sloan The Close Lobsters More >>

Browse More Music:
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z