R.E.M. influenced a generation of American rock bands. After releasing a single on a local label, the band broke on the national college radio scene with "Chronic Town," a five-song EP. "This headlong tumble proves them the wittiest and most joyful of the postgarage sound-over-sense bands," wrote Robert Christgau.
'Chronic Town' (1982) —
R.E.M. influenced a generation of American rock bands. After releasing a single on a local label, the band broke on the national college radio scene with "Chronic Town," a five-song EP. "This headlong tumble proves them the wittiest and most joyful of the postgarage sound-over-sense bands," wrote Robert Christgau.
Next came the album "Murmur." "I was incredibly proud of that record, and I remember the day I got my copy to play, thinking, We did it! That was exactly what we wanted to do!" Peter Buck told Mojo magazine in 2009.
'Murmur' (1983) —
Next came the album "Murmur." "I was incredibly proud of that record, and I remember the day I got my copy to play, thinking, We did it! That was exactly what we wanted to do!" Peter Buck told Mojo magazine in 2009.
After "Fables of the Reconstruction" nearly broke up the band, R.E.M. got back to basics with "Lifes Rich Pageant," recorded with John Mellencamp's producer, Don Gehman. "Fall on Me" and a cover of the Clique's "Superman" received radio play.
'Lifes Rich Pageant' (1986) —
After "Fables of the Reconstruction" nearly broke up the band, R.E.M. got back to basics with "Lifes Rich Pageant," recorded with John Mellencamp's producer, Don Gehman. "Fall on Me" and a cover of the Clique's "Superman" received radio play.
With the band's first Top 10 single, "The One I Love," leading the way, "Document" became R.E.M.'s biggest seller. "If R.E.M. is about to move from cult-band status to mass popularity, the album decrees that the band will get there on its own terms," The New York Times' Jon Pareles wrote.
'Document' (1987) —
With the band's first Top 10 single, "The One I Love," leading the way, "Document" became R.E.M.'s biggest seller. "If R.E.M. is about to move from cult-band status to mass popularity, the album decrees that the band will get there on its own terms," The New York Times' Jon Pareles wrote.
"Out of Time," R.E.M.'s first No. 1 album, featured the song "Losing My Religion," which hit the Billboard Top 5 in 1991.
'Out of Time' (1991) —
"Out of Time," R.E.M.'s first No. 1 album, featured the song "Losing My Religion," which hit the Billboard Top 5 in 1991.
'" 'Automatic for the People' is regarded by Peter Buck and Mike Mills, and by most critics, as being the finest R.E.M. album ever recorded," David Buckley wrote in his "R.E.M.: Fiction -- An Alternative Biography."
'Automatic for the People' (1992) —
'" 'Automatic for the People' is regarded by Peter Buck and Mike Mills, and by most critics, as being the finest R.E.M. album ever recorded," David Buckley wrote in his "R.E.M.: Fiction -- An Alternative Biography."
"Monster," the band's second No. 1 album, was heralded as a return to "rock" but received mixed reviews. "Most of the album sounds dense, dirty, and grimy," wrote Allmusic.com's Stephen Thomas Erlewine.
'Monster' (1994) —
"Monster," the band's second No. 1 album, was heralded as a return to "rock" but received mixed reviews. "Most of the album sounds dense, dirty, and grimy," wrote Allmusic.com's Stephen Thomas Erlewine.
With pieces recorded on the road during the band's rough 1995 tour, "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" might be R.E.M.'s most diverse-sounding record. "Nothing epochal, and there's poetry in that," wrote Christgau, giving the album an A-minus.
'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' (1996) —
With pieces recorded on the road during the band's rough 1995 tour, "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" might be R.E.M.'s most diverse-sounding record. "Nothing epochal, and there's poetry in that," wrote Christgau, giving the album an A-minus.
The group's 15th and apparently final album "mostly sounds like a familiar friend -- reliable in all the best ways, but still capable of quietly insinuating surprises," Josh Modell wrote in Spin.
'Collapse Into Now' (2011) —
The group's 15th and apparently final album "mostly sounds like a familiar friend -- reliable in all the best ways, but still capable of quietly insinuating surprises," Josh Modell wrote in Spin.