R.E.M. – Document (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Capitol Records
www.capitolrecords.com
Rating: A
It has been a quarter century since R.E.M. released the album that took them from being a moody college band to the mainstream.
Document produced something that had eluded the band…hit singles. “The One I Love” and “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”
The band, alternative to the point that one could say they invented the Seattle sound in Athens, Georgia, accidentally because a huge hit. The success of this album, some say the last great R.E.M. album, led the band to riches and media attention they were not used to.
The album, other than the hits, is full of cool rhythms, blasting guitars and the one of a kind cool vocals and lyrics of front man Michael Stipe.
The 25th anniversary deluxe includes postcard photos of the band (they look soooo young) and a poster. It also includes an extra disc, which should get the hardcore fan base excited.
The concert, from Holland during the bands final IRS years, is an energetic, bombastic example of all things that were great about the early era of R.E.M. “Exhuming McCarthy” and “Finest Worksong” are great while “”Feeling Gravities Pull” and “Wolves, Lower” take the crowd by storm. Of course, “Fall on Me” and “Begin the Begin” are well received. The live disc shows R.E.M. moving from college punky band to one of the most influential alternative bands in their genre.
This one is winner, both the packaging, bonus concert disc and the incredible remastered sound of the original album.
By Jeb Wright
