REM: Document

While Richard was in Boulder, Colorado doing his Masters in Creative Writing, he told me he'd come across this amazing American band, and promised to send me a tape. Some weeks later, the tape arrived. When I saw it was the (then) latest album by R.E.M., Life's Rich Pageant, I felt like giving Richard a patronising pat on the head — though I couldn't with him being five thousand miles away.

I'd crossed off R.E.M. as Not For Me some time before — I forget why. But I listened to that tape a lot (I was lodging and only had my Sanyo cassette-radio with me) and it worked its magic on me. I came to feel that R.E.M. were as clever and knowing as Talking Heads in the way they inhabited and subverted folk rock. Which I think would have horrified most of their fans, and was probably quite wrong. In my defence, however, my reading of their cover of Superman as tapping into Christopher Lasch's critique of the Culture of Narcissism was reinforced later. At least, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

So, I was enthusiastic to get Document when it came out. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) sticks with that illusory sense of omnipotence, or, in this case, immortality. Generally, however, I was disappointed by the record at the time. When I saw R.E.M. the first and only time, in Manchester on the Green tour, I heard King of Birds in a new light, and realised it's a pretty decent song. Lucy, who also has the album, says she really likes Exhuming McCarthy, and specifically the guitar part.

At this distance, and in this mood, I'm befuddled that I ever bought another R.E.M. after this one, so leaden and stodgy does it feel. If Document didn't directly inspire the every-other-album theory, it's certainly consistent with it.

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Comments

[Fred Stagg]

R.E.M. seem to have to oddest effect on many people. Or rather some people (if it were many they would not have acheived such popularity. Myself, really would have nothing to do with them in thier heyday. History has been kind to them. I have 3 of their albums and quite enjoy most of it. My son also went through a period of R.E.M. disdain. Thanks to a re-introduction via a version of Rockband, he too has become somewhat of a fan. Perhaps this is great profound music that needs to be absorbed over time to be properly appreciated. (Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)