Lifes Rich Pageant is the fourth album from REM released in 1986 it featured the tracks like the ecological conscious “Fall On Me” and a cover of the Cliques “Superman” it also contains one of REM’s best songs “The Flowers Of Guatemala” recorded at John Mellencamp studio’s in Belmont Indiana. At the time this was REM’s most commercial and best selling album.
REM delivered two superb performances on the MTV Unplugged Sessions in the acoustic format firstly in 1991 and then again in 2001 which gave them the distinction of being the only band to headline this programme twice, This set includes both sessions plus a further eleven songs never aired. The 1991 set is around at the time of the “OUT OF TIME” album the band were becoming the biggest band in the world at that time with favourites “Losing My Relegion” “Low” and “Radio Song” the remaining songs are from five albums over a eight year period, Five songs were heard for the first time.
REM then made a second appearance in 2001 without the original drummer Bill Berry, this set focused on the 12th studio album “REVEAL” and a further songs from eight different albums, it includes six songs that were never broadcast its interesting that there is a good number of older and some obscure songs particulary “CURAHOGA” from the LIFES RICH PAGEANT
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.
Released this day in 1983, Murmur was a seminal album, the debut from this alternative rock band from Athens,Georgia. featured the singles “Radio Free Europe” and “Talk About The Passion” produced by Don Dixon and Mitch Easter for IRS records It received Critical acclaim. Once in awhile an album comes along that changes perception and times. REM re-introduced the straight four piece guitar fronted band, Peter Bucks jangly chiming guitar sound and Micheal Mills melodic bass lines along with the indistinct obscure Vocals from Micheal Stipe. Rolling Stone Magazine voted MURMUR as the best album of 1983
the Coffee Sergeants are a Fat Angel favourite, Influenced by REM, Buffalo Springfield and Pink Floyd, with slices of Paisley Pop this Austin based band play quality Psychedelic Pop if they had been around in the 80’s everyone would know them by now,
this latest album is just a testament to this great sound.
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