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R.E.M. Document Release Date: 1987 Running Time: 39:34 Label: Capitol R.E.M. began to move toward mainstream record production on Lifes Rich Pageant, but they didn't have a commercial breakthrough until the following year's Document. Ironically, Document is a stranger, more varied album than its predecessor, but co-producer Scott Litt -- who would go on to produce every R.E.M. album in the following decade -- is a better conduit for the band than Don Gehman, giving the group a clean sound without sacrificing their enigmatic tendencies. "Finest Worksong," the stream-of-conscious rant "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," and the surprise Top Ten single "The One I Love" all crackle with muscular rhythms and guitar riffs, but the real surprise is how political the mid-tempo jangle pop of "Welcome to the Occupation," "Disturbance at the Heron House," and "King of Birds" is. Where Lifes Rich Pageant sounded a bit like a party record, Document is a fiery statement, and its memorable melodies and riffs are made all the more indelible by its righteous anger. In other words, it's not only a commercial breakthrough, but a creative breakthrough as well, offering evidence of R.E.M.'s growing depth and maturity, and helping usher in the P.C. era in the process. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Finest Worksong Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:48 2 Welcome to the Occupation Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 2:48 3 Exhuming McCarthy Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:19 4 Disturbance at the Heron House Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:33 5 Strange Newman, Gilbert, Lewis, Gotobed 2:32 6 It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 4:07 7 One I Love Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:17 8 Fireplace Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:24 9 Lightnin' Hopkins Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 3:18 10 King of Birds Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 4:07 11 Oddfellows Local 151 Buck, Mills, Stipe, Berry 5:21 Releases: Year Type Label CD Capitol 1998 CD Capitol 1998 CD Capitol 1993 CD EMI 1997 CD EMI CD IRS 1990 CD MCA 1992 CD Universal CS IRS 2003 DVA Capitol 1999 LP Capitol 2008 LP Capitol 2000 LP EMI 2000 LP EMI

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

Influenced By: Patti Smith Big Star The Byrds Gram Parsons Iggy Pop More >> Followers: Gone Fishin (Matt Piucci & Tim Lee) Pavement Red House Painters Live Juliana Hatfield More >>

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