It's hard to believe it's been more than twenty-five years since
R. E. M. first broke on the scene. I've always heard that twenty-five years is the qaulifier for antique status...I'm not sure that applies for rock bands. Although, twenty-five years would certainly qualify a song to be called a Golden Oldie. I don't recall hearing any R. E. M. songs on the oldie's stations yet, but I'm sure it won't be long.
I remember buying their single, 'Radio Free Europe' on Hib-Tone Records, when it was first released. I knew immediately that these guys were on to something. They had a sound that was usually described as folk punk and drew a lot of comparisons to The Byrds and to Tom Petty (who also drew a lot or comparisons to the Byrds early on) with a kind of a jingle-jangle folky guitar sound mixed behind mumbled lyrics -- murmured if you will -- which was the title of their first album (Murmur) released in 1983. Look it up, not the album, the word - a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind or trees or of low, indistinct voices, a mumbled or private expression of discontent. The perfect title for their sound and for the times.
R. E. M. pretty much lead the pack when it came to 'alternative'music during the 1980's. They were the first post punk band to make it big, and yet somehow they managed to retain their identity as an independent outsider going their own way when everyone else was getting high tech and slick.
Radio Free Europe left everybody wanting more of R. E. M. - by the way, if you are lucky enough to own a copy of the original Hib-Tone release, (the first pressing doesn’t have the Hib-Tone Records address on the label) put it away in safe place, it will be your social security when you grow old - and with the release of the Chronic Town EP we all got what we had been asking for, sometimes you really do get what you want. What R. E. M. fans wanted was more, and the band delivered it in the form of a five song EP.
I remember buying their single, 'Radio Free Europe' on Hib-Tone Records, when it was first released. I knew immediately that these guys were on to something. They had a sound that was usually described as folk punk and drew a lot of comparisons to The Byrds and to Tom Petty (who also drew a lot or comparisons to the Byrds early on) with a kind of a jingle-jangle folky guitar sound mixed behind mumbled lyrics -- murmured if you will -- which was the title of their first album (Murmur) released in 1983. Look it up, not the album, the word - a low, continuous sound, as of a brook, the wind or trees or of low, indistinct voices, a mumbled or private expression of discontent. The perfect title for their sound and for the times.
R. E. M. pretty much lead the pack when it came to 'alternative'music during the 1980's. They were the first post punk band to make it big, and yet somehow they managed to retain their identity as an independent outsider going their own way when everyone else was getting high tech and slick.
Radio Free Europe left everybody wanting more of R. E. M. - by the way, if you are lucky enough to own a copy of the original Hib-Tone release, (the first pressing doesn’t have the Hib-Tone Records address on the label) put it away in safe place, it will be your social security when you grow old - and with the release of the Chronic Town EP we all got what we had been asking for, sometimes you really do get what you want. What R. E. M. fans wanted was more, and the band delivered it in the form of a five song EP.
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Album: Chronic Town - R. E. M.
Original Release: 1982
Label: I. R. S.
R. E. M., based in Athens, GA - the University of Georgia - sort of wiggled their way into the music world via the college radio scene. Along with
The songs on Chronic Town are a natural progression from 'Radio Free Europe' and foreshadow what would be become the classic R. E. M. sound. It clearly defined the term 'alternative' at a time when no one was quite sure what the new sound should or would be called.
Even though it's only five songs, each one a classic in its own right, the cover artwork, the sound and the feel all show the promise and the passion that would take R. E. M. to the top of charts throughout the 80's and beyond.
With titles like Wolves, Lower, Gardening at Night and Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) their folky, punky, catchy rhythms wrapped around Michael Stipe's mumbled lyrics, mixed the past, present and future of rock and roll in a neat little mystery gift that took even the most jaded of critics by surprise.
If you don't own the original EP, you'll have to pick Dead Letter Office which includes all five songs from Chronic Town along with other outtakes, b sides and cover songs...it's a great collection and so far the only cd version of Chronic Town available.
Recently I ran across a very early clip of 'Wolves, Lower' online - is there anything that isn't available online these days - it is definitely worth sharing.
Also worth sharing is a clip I accidentally stumbled on by The Beau Brummels. For those of you who aren't familair with the Beau Brummels, they were a folk rock act in the sixties who had a couple of hits on the charts. This particular clip is taken from an appearance on the TV show Hullabaloo (years before MTV) and is introduced by David McCallum, who was starring in The Man From U. N. C. L. E. at the time and was somewhat of a pop celebrity himself. He calls the Beau Brummels sound 'folk pop' and as you will see, the song 'Don't Talk to Strangers' could have easily fit on an early R. E. M. album.
You don't suppose Michael and the boys found an old scratchy record at a flea market somewhere...nah, couldn't be.
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