The Fat Angel Sings

R.E.M’s “Reckoning” was the second album from the alternative rock band released this day in 1984, 30 years ago on IRS Records label, The five albums REM issued on IRS were among the best music ever of the 80’s. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon and recorded over a sixteen day period the pair who had also produced their debut “Murmur” stepped in after some 22 songs had been recorded with Elliot Mazer who had worked with Neil Young but Peter Buck wanted a more live and crisper sound.
The Intro into “Pretty Persuasion” even now is still magical, With its jangly, arpeggiated chords and driving rhythm section, “Pretty Persuasion” doesn’t seem out of place on 1984’s Reckoning, even though R.E.M. allegedly penned the song years earlier. There’s a clear power-pop influence here, and Peter Buck’s sparkly intro riff sets the tone for a darker, more ominous version of The Records’ “Starry Eyes” (released a year before R.E.M. formed, in 1979). Michael Stipe almost sounds like a punk singer as he rails against the “hurry and buy” impulse of consumerism, his anger intermingling with the jangly melody to create something odd and inexplicably captivating.

Other stand out tracks “Harbourcoat”, “South Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” are still as fresh as ever.
Micheal Stipe was exhausted after the 1983 tour and the sessions were difficult for him ,his vocal evolved after some of the mumbling on “Murmer” although Mitch Easter had to coerce Stipe to sing the songs in a more pronounced manner. The songs have a darker edge lyrically with Water a recurring theme. Peter Buck had wanted the album to be a double with some of the songs that had been played in the live set since 1980.