Murmur Review

ALBUM OF THE MOMENT:Murmur by R.E.M

I find that people overestimate the importance of catchiness in music. I mean, the majority of us could probably recite the Crazy Frog song without much assistance* but that doesn’t make it a musical meisterwerk. The songs on R.E.M’s debut album Murmur are instantly enjoyable and not at all difficult to get into but they’re not particularly infectious. Perhaps it has to do with the cryptic lyrics or the somewhat hard to hear vocals**. Maybe it’s the odd melodies or the fact that it doesn’t always follow a verse-chorus-verse structure. However it’s achieved, the lack of catchiness means that you could listen to Murmur as if it were the first time more than once***. Although the songs aren’t as catchy or well known, I prefer the songwriting on Murmur to the tracks on the critically acclaimed Automatic for the People. Murmur seems more varied, consistent, subtle and mysterious in its emotion whereas songs like Everybody Hurts are kind of whiny. Many say that this album was the point when post-punk became alternative rock. I’m not really sure if drawing that line is all that good an idea. R.E.M clearly has punk roots and a post-punk emotional side to it. The bottom line: R.E.M is a band with a very distinct yet natural and timeless sound. To me the album sounds like the innocence of childhood infused with teenaged post-punk melancholy and the occasional kick of righteous punk energy to the groin of the faceless corporations****.

Highlights: Laughing, Perfect Circle, Catapult

*Though it may pain you to your core, you cannot dispute this.

**Perhaps that's just me
***Imagine watching The Sixth Sense for the 2nd time and still thinking its good.
****or your teachers, bosses, parents, schoolmates, people who just don't understand etc.

TRACK OF THE MOMENT:
Shallow Days
Blackalicious