I know this will frustrate some purists, but rather than going to the beginning of the REM catalog, I've opted to cover each album according to my own chronology, that is, the order in which I encountered them. It just so happens that after Pageant, the next album I gravitated toward was indeed the guys' second studio album: Reckoning. If it's any consolation, starting with Document, I'll be in step with the release dates.
Reckoning was released in April of 1984. As with Pageant, it's rather odd to think of this recording in light of its contemporaries. Big in 1984 were Michael Jackson (Thriller), Prince (Purple Rain), and the Footloose soundtrack. And even though it didn't chart in the US the year of its release, Reckoning turned out to make a huge splash, setting the bar for college rock and southern art bands for years to come. Reckoning is really the definitive sound of early REM - not quite as experimental as Murmur, but didn't need to try as hard as Fables. I don't know if anyone tracks such things, but I would venture it's one of the best sophomore efforts ever of a rock band. It's the "Empire Strikes Back" of alt rock.
But more than any of these things, this album is heavy with memories and association of friends and events. I look forward to hearing some of yours.
1 comment:
Even more arty bands of the time like U2 were still reaching for big production ideas (like the synth/string attacks in the bridge of the song the Unforgettable Fire).
I really appreciate the stripped down feel of this record and how unselfconscious the singing comes off. There's the perfect balance of slop to precision in everyone's performance.
I would agree, this has many memories and associations. for me, probably more than any other.
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