Murmur

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Album

Murmur · R.E.M. began the debut album in December 1982, at first with producer Stephen Hague. That went wrong: he had the band play the same song countless times and added keyboards without permission. The label allowed a trial session with Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, and after that the band was allowed to record with them. In January and February 1983 it worked at Reflection Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina. The band wanted no guitar solos and no popular synthesizers, so that the album would sound timeless. Easter and Dixon intervened little.

The sound is rooted in folk rock, post-punk and garage rock. Michael Stipe's singing is mumbling and the lyrics are cryptic. Peter Buck plays jangling guitars and Mike Mills melodic bass lines. The album received glowing reviews for its unusual, atmospheric sound.

Listening

• 
  Radio Free Europe · R.E.M., 1983
  Apple Music ↗
• 
  Talk About the Passion · R.E.M., 1983
  Apple Music ↗
• 
  Perfect Circle · R.E.M., 1983
  Apple Music ↗

Track list

1. 1Radio Free Europe4:04Apple Music ↗
2. 2Pilgrimage4:29Apple Music ↗
3. 3Laughing3:58Apple Music ↗
4. 4Talk About the Passion3:23Apple Music ↗
5. 5Moral Kiosk3:31Apple Music ↗
6. 6Perfect Circle3:32Apple Music ↗
7. 7Catapult3:55Apple Music ↗
8. 8Sitting Still3:18Apple Music ↗
9. 99-93:05Apple Music ↗
10. 10Shaking Through4:30Apple Music ↗
11. 11We Walk3:01Apple Music ↗
12. 12West of the Fields3:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗