Murmur (album)

Last updated
Murmur
R.E.M. - Murmur.jpg
Studio album by
R.E.M.
ReleasedApril 12, 1983 (1983-04-12)
RecordedJanuary 6 – February 23, 1983
StudioReflection (Charlotte)
Genre
Length44:11
Label I.R.S.
Producer
R.E.M. chronology
Chronic Town
(1982)		Murmur
(1983)		 Reckoning
(1984)
Singles from Murmur
  1. "Radio Free Europe"
    Released: June 8, 1983
  2. "Talk About the Passion"
    Released: November 1983

Murmur is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 12, 1983, by I.R.S. Records. The album was recorded at Reflection Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, with musicians Don Dixon and Mitch Easter serving as producers. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its unusual sound, defined by lead singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bass guitarist Mike Mills's melodic basslines. In 2003, the album was ranked number 197 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". [6] It retained the position in the 2012 list and was raised to number 165 in the 2020 revision. [7]

Contents

Style

On Murmur, guitarist Peter Buck took stylistic cues from the Byrds, Television, and the Feelies. Vocalist Michael Stipe has been said to have "elevated mumbled vocals to an art form." The album's rhythm section is heavily influenced by British post-punk, albeit omitting the funk influence associated with the style. [8]

Recording

R.E.M. started preparing for their debut album in December 1982. I.R.S. paired R.E.M. with producer Stephen Hague, who had a higher profile than the band's previous producer Mitch Easter. [9] Hague's emphasis on technical perfection did not suit the band; the producer made the group perform multiple takes of the song "Catapult", which demoralized drummer Bill Berry. Also, Hague took the completed track to Syncro Sound studios in Boston and added keyboard parts to the track without the band's permission and to their dismay. [10] Unsatisfied, the band members asked the label to let them record with Easter. [11] I.R.S. agreed to a "tryout" session, allowing the band to travel to North Carolina and record the song "Pilgrimage" with Easter and producing partner Don Dixon. After hearing the track, I.R.S. permitted the group to record the album with Dixon and Easter. [12]

On January 6, 1983, R.E.M. entered Reflection Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin recording sessions with Easter and Dixon. Much of the band's material for the album had been tested on preceding tours. Because of its bad experience with Hague, the band recorded the album via a process of negation, refusing to incorporate rock music clichés such as guitar solos or then-popular synthesizers, to give its music a timeless feel. [12] Berry specifically was resistant to "odd" musical suggestions, insisting that his drums be recorded in a drummer's booth, a practice that was antiquated at the time. [13] Dixon and Easter took a hands-off approach to much of the recording process. The pair would only fix up a vocal track or ask lead singer Michael Stipe to re-record a vocal if it was very substandard. [14] "Being both musicians, our approach was to leave as little imprint as possible," Dixon said in 1994, referring to himself and Easter. "We felt like our job was to, as cheaply as possible, reproduce what appeared to be just them playing live." [15]

Due to Peter Buck's Fender Twin Reverb being "dead", every song except 'Pilgrimage' featured Easter's Ampeg Gemini II. Mike Mills's Dan Armstrong bass guitar was set aside in favor of a Rickenbacker 4001, owned by Easter's girlfriend. [16]

Recording was completed on February 23, 1983.

In a rare instance of R.E.M. co-writing, Stipe asked friend Neil Bogan to contribute lyrics to "West of the Fields". [17]

Packaging

The train trestle from the cover became a tourist destination, even in its dilapidated state, resulting in a replica being built after the original's demolition. Athens Train Trestle 2.jpg
The train trestle from the cover became a tourist destination, even in its dilapidated state, resulting in a replica being built after the original's demolition.

The front cover features an image of a large quantity of the noxious weed kudzu, which grows so rapidly that it overtakes the landscape and kills other plants by completely shading them. The trestle featured on the back cover of the original vinyl LP release, originally part of the Georgia Railroad line into downtown Athens, has become something of a local landmark. Plans to demolish the trestle, now commonly referred to as the "Murmur Trestle", met with public outcry. On October 2, 2000, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted to save the trestle. [18] In 2012, the local government said it cannot afford to keep it and declared in 2016 that it would likely come down. [19] Later that year, the Athens-Clarke County Commission suggested that a trail tax could fund its existence. [20] The Murmur Trestle was approved for demolition in 2019, and work began in 2020 to destroy it. The replacement bridge, part of the Firefly Trail, is composed of three sections: a replica of the original wooden trestle design and two sections of new weathered steel arches. [21] The bridge was opened to the public in April 2023. [22]

Copies of the initial tape edition—catalogue number CS 70604—list The Velvet Underground cover "There She Goes Again" as the final track, but it is not present. This mistake was fixed with subsequent printings. The track was rumored to be intended for Murmur, but removed so that all the tracks would be original and the group would not have to take a royalty cut.[ citation needed ] The band later distanced itself from this rumor. [23] The cover was included as a b-side to the I.R.S. issue of "Radio Free Europe" instead. [24]

Critical reception and legacy

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [25]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [26]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [27]
Entertainment Weekly A [28]
Pitchfork 10/10 [29]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [30]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [31]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [32]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [33]
The Village Voice A− [34]

Murmur was released in April 1983. The record reached number 36 on the Billboard album chart. [35] A re-recorded version of "Radio Free Europe" was the album's lead single and reached number 78 on the Billboard singles chart that year. Despite the acclaim awarded the album, by the end of 1983 Murmur had only sold about 200,000 copies, which I.R.S.'s Jay Boberg felt was below expectations. [36] Murmur was eventually certified gold (500,000 units shipped) by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1991. [37]

The album drew substantial critical acclaim. Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars. Reviewer Steve Pond felt the album fulfilled the promise the band showed on Chronic Town. He wrote, "Murmur is the record on which [R.E.M.] trade that potential for results: an intelligent, enigmatic, deeply involving album, it reveals a depth and cohesiveness to R.E.M. that the EP could only suggest." He concluded, "R.E.M. is clearly the important Athens band." [31] Jonathan Gregg of Record described Murmur as "a splendid little film noir of an album, austere but rich in implication." He particularly praised the band's distinctive "twitchy, restless dance beat" and the incomprehensibility of the album's meaning, noting that Stipe's already enigmatic lyrics are often hard to make out due to being sung with a deliberate slur, lost in a muddy mix, and/or drowned out by the instrumental work, resulting in an impressive sense of meaning even as the meaning itself is not understood. [38] It was Rolling Stone's Best Album of 1983, beating Michael Jackson's Thriller , The Police's Synchronicity and U2's War . Buck noted in 2002 that I.R.S. was "mind-boggled" by the album's positive reviews, especially in the British press, since R.E.M. had not yet toured that country. [39]

A 2023 listing of the best debut albums by Paste included Murmur at sixth place, stating that "the way Buck’s guitar and Mike Mills’ bass busily bounced around otherwise simple choruses created something entirely new". [40]

Music journalist Andrew Earles highlighted the tracks "Laughing" and "Sitting Still" in his book Gimme Indie Rock, calling them "required listening for absolutely any fan of American underground rock". [8]

Accolades

Since its release, Murmur has featured heavily in various "must have" lists compiled by the music media. In 1989, it was rated number eight on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s. [41] In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Murmur the 92nd greatest album of all time. [42] Some of the more prominent of these lists to feature Murmur are shown below. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [43]

Accolades for Murmur
PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Rolling Stone USTop 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years [44] 1987#58
Spin US100 Alternative Albums [45] 1995#8
Pitchfork Media USTop 100 Albums of the 1980s [46] 2002#5
Rolling Stone USThe 500 Greatest Albums of All Time [47] [48] [49] 2012#197
2020#165
Blender US500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die [50] 2003
Q UKThe 40 Best Records of the 80s [51] 2006#6
Mojo UKThe 100 Records That Changed the World [52] 2007#75
Slant Magazine USBest Albums of the 1980s [53] 2012#13
Rolling Stone USThe 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time [54] 2013#18

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, except "West of the Fields" by Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe and Neil Bogan.

Side one

  1. "Radio Free Europe" – 4:06
  2. "Pilgrimage" – 4:30
  3. "Laughing" – 3:57
  4. "Talk About the Passion" – 3:23
  5. "Moral Kiosk" – 3:31
  6. "Perfect Circle" – 3:29

Side two

  1. "Catapult" – 3:55
  2. "Sitting Still" – 3:17
  3. "9–9" – 3:03
  4. "Shaking Through" – 4:30
  5. "We Walk" – 3:02
  6. "West of the Fields"  – 3:17

Personnel

R.E.M.

Production and additional musicians

Chart performance

Murmur chart performance
YearChartPosition
1983 US Billboard 200 36 [35]
1994 UK Albums Chart 100 [35]
1996111 [35]
2009199 (Deluxe Edition) [56]

Singles

Murmur's singles chart performance
YearSingleChartPosition
1983"Radio Free Europe"Billboard Mainstream Rock25
1983"Radio Free Europe"Billboard Pop Singles78

Certifications

Sales certifications for Murmur
OrganizationLevelDate
RIAA – USGoldOctober 10, 1991

Release history

Murmur was bundled together with Chronic Town and Reckoning in the United Kingdom as The Originals in 1993.

On November 25, 2008, I.R.S. Records, A&M, and Universal Music released a 25th anniversary edition two-disc reissue of Murmur. Disc one features the standard 12-track album, digitally remastered, and disc two contains a previously unreleased live concert the band played at Larry's Hideaway, Toronto, Canada, on July 9, 1983. This set was recorded by Blair Packham, who'd later find fame as lead singer of The Jitters. [57]

In addition to Murmur songs, the set includes tunes from the Chronic Town EP, a Velvet Underground cover, and early versions of songs from Reckoning and Lifes Rich Pageant . [58] The release also includes a fold-out poster insert, featuring exclusive essays by producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, as well as former I.R.S. executives Jay Boberg, Sig Sigworth, and art designer Carl Grasso. [59]

Murmur release history
RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesApril 12, 1983 I.R.S. vinyl LP SP 70604
44797-0014-1
Compact disc 44797-0014-2
cassette tape 44797-0014-4
CS 70604
United KingdomAugust 29, 1983I.R.S.LP70014
United States1983I.R.S./A&M Compact Disc70014
The Netherlands1983 Illegal LP25433
South Africa1983I.R.S./CBS LPASF-2886
Worldwide1990A&MCompact Disc70014
Worldwide1991A&MCompact Disc129
The NetherlandsJuly 31, 1992 EMI Compact Disc7 13158 2†
The Netherlands1992I.R.S.LP4653781
United States1995 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab LP231‡
Compact Disc642‡
Europe1999EMICompact Disc13158†
Europe2000I.R.S.Compact Disc7131582†
Asia2007 Toshiba/EMICompact Disc53571
United StatesNovember 25, 2008I.R.S./Universal Music Group Compact DiscB0012251-02•

†I.R.S. Vintage Years edition, with bonus tracks
‡Remastered edition on 180-gram vinyl and gold Compact Disc
•Remastered Deluxe Edition, with Live at Larry's Hide-Away bonus disc

The Originals release history
RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United Kingdom1995I.R.S./EMI CD box set 7243 8 35088 2 2

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Stipe</span> American singer (born 1960)

John Michael Stipe is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.

<i>Automatic for the People</i> 1992 album by R.E.M.

Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on October 5, 1992, in the United Kingdom and Europe, and on the following day in the United States, by Warner Bros. Records. R.E.M. began production on the album while their previous album, Out of Time (1991), was still ascending charts and achieving global success. Aided by strings arranged by John Paul Jones and conducted by George Hanson, Automatic for the People features ruminations on mortality, loss, mourning, and nostalgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Losing My Religion</span> 1991 single by R.E.M.

"Losing My Religion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in February 1991 by Warner Bros. as the first single from their seventh album, Out of Time (1991). It developed from a mandolin riff improvised by the guitarist, Peter Buck, with lyrics about unrequited love.

<i>Monster</i> (R.E.M. album) 1994 studio album by R.E.M.

Monster is the ninth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released by Warner Bros. Records in the UK on September 26, 1994, and in the US the following day. It was produced by the band and Scott Litt and recorded at four studios. The album was an intentional shift from the style of their previous two albums, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992), by introducing loud, distorted guitar tones and simple lyrics.

<i>Chronic Town</i> 1982 EP by R.E.M.

Chronic Town is the debut EP by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on August 24, 1982, on I.R.S. Records. Containing five tracks, the EP was recorded at the Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in October 1981, eighteen months after the formation of the band. Its co-producer was Mitch Easter, who produced the band's "Radio Free Europe" single earlier in 1981.

<i>Reckoning</i> (R.E.M. album) 1984 studio album by R.E.M.

Reckoning is the second studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 9, 1984, by I.R.S. Records. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984. Dixon and Easter intended to capture the sound of R.E.M.'s live performances, and used binaural recording on several tracks. Lead singer Michael Stipe dealt with darker subject matter in his lyrics, with water-related imagery being a recurring theme on the album.

<i>Fables of the Reconstruction</i> 1985 album by R.E.M.

Fables of the Reconstruction is the third studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released on June 10, 1985, through I.R.S. Records. It was the band's first album recorded outside of the U.S., with sessions taking place at Livingston Studios in London with producer Joe Boyd. The record displays a darker, murkier sound than its predecessors, with lyrics drawing from Southern Gothic themes and characters. The album also utilizes more varied instrumentation, including string and brass arrangements and banjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Buck</span> American guitarist for R.E.M., songwriter

Peter Lawrence Buck is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his career with R.E.M. (1980–2011), as well as during his subsequent solo career, Buck has also been at various times an official member of numerous 'side project' groups. These groups included Arthur Buck, Hindu Love Gods, The Minus 5, Tuatara, The Baseball Project, Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3, Tired Pony, The No-Ones, and Filthy Friends, each of which have released at least one full-length studio album. Additionally, the experimental combo Slow Music have released an official live concert CD. Another side project group called Full Time Men released an EP while Buck was a member. As well, ad hoc "supergroups" Bingo Hand Job, Musical Kings and Nigel & The Crosses have each commercially released one track.

<i>Document</i> (album) 1987 album by R.E.M.

Document is the fifth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released on August 31, 1987, by I.R.S. Records. It was the first album by the band to be produced by Scott Litt.

<i>Dead Letter Office</i> (album) 1987 compilation album by R.E.M.

Dead Letter Office is a rarities and B-sides collection by R.E.M., released in April 1987. The album is essentially a collection of many additional recordings R.E.M. made from before Murmur to Lifes Rich Pageant that were outtakes or released as B-sides to their singles internationally. Many of the tracks are favorite cover versions indicating the band's disparate influences and musical tastes, including three Velvet Underground covers, and songs by Aerosmith, Roger Miller, and fellow Athenians Pylon ("Crazy").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightswimming</span> 1993 single by R.E.M.

"Nightswimming" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in July 1993 by Warner Bros. as the fifth single from the band's eighth album, Automatic for the People (1992). The song is a ballad featuring singer Michael Stipe accompanied only by bassist Mike Mills on piano, a string arrangement by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, and oboe by Deborah Workman in the latter part of the piece. Mills wrote the music and Stipe the lyrics of the song, but it is credited to the entire band. Stipe sings about a group of friends who go skinny dipping at night, which draws from similar experiences in the band's early days. The music video for the song was directed by Jem Cohen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Free Europe (song)</span> 1981 single by R.E.M.

"Radio Free Europe" is the debut single by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1981 on the short-lived independent record label Hib-Tone. The song features "what were to become the trademark unintelligible lyrics which [sic] have distinguished R.E.M.'s work ever since." The single received critical acclaim, and its success earned the band a record deal with I.R.S. Records. R.E.M. re-recorded the song for their 1983 debut album Murmur. The re-recording for I.R.S. became the group's first charting single, peaking at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is ranked number 389 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2009, it was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for setting "the pattern for later indie rock releases by breaking through on college radio in the face of mainstream radio's general indifference."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talk About the Passion</span> Song by R.E.M

"Talk About the Passion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single released from its debut album Murmur in 1983. It was released in Europe only, on 12" vinyl. This song failed to follow up on the success of "Radio Free Europe" released earlier in the year, as it did not chart. A live performance at Larry's Hideaway, Toronto, Canada, from July 9, 1983, was released on the 2008 Deluxe Edition reissue of Murmur.

<i>And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987</i> 2006 compilation album by R.E.M.

And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987 is a compilation album by American band R.E.M. It features songs from the band's years at I.R.S. Records. All tracks have been remastered, and the set was released 12 September 2006. A companion DVD, titled When the Light Is Mine, was released the same day.

"Gardening at Night" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was recorded for the band's 1982 debut EP Chronic Town.

Community Trolls was the group name of a short-lived musical duo between Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Matthew Sweet. In 1983, they collaborated as part of the Athens, Georgia, music scene, writing and recording three songs together. One of the compositions, "Tainted Obligation", was nearly released on a compilation album in 1986, and later appeared on bootlegs; it was released officially in 2002. Another Community Trolls' song, "Six Stock Answers", appeared in an unreleased indie film featuring Stipe, Sweet and some of their friends.

"Sitting Still" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. that was issued on their first single in 1981 and on their 1983 debut album Murmur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R.E.M.</span> American rock band

R.E.M. was an American alternative rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style; Stipe's distinctive vocal quality, unique stage presence, and obscure lyrics; Mills's melodic bass lines and backing vocals; and Berry's tight, economical drumming style. In the early 1990s, other alternative rock acts such as Nirvana, Pixies and Pavement viewed R.E.M. as a pioneer of the genre. After Berry left in 1997, the band continued with mixed critical and commercial success. The band broke up amicably in 2011, having sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and becoming one of the world's best-selling music acts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty Persuasion (song)</span> Song by R.E.M

"Pretty Persuasion" is a song by R.E.M. that was first released on the band's 1984 album Reckoning. It was released as a promotional single and reached number 44 on Billboard's Rock Tracks chart. According to R.E.M. biographer Tony Fletcher, it is often regarded as "the 'archetypal' R.E.M. anthem".

<i>Green</i> (R.E.M. album) 1988 studio album by R.E.M.

Green is the sixth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released on November 7, 1988, by Warner Bros. Records. The second album to be produced by the band and Scott Litt, it continued to explore political issues both in its lyrics and packaging. The band experimented on the album, writing major-key rock songs and incorporating new instruments into their sound including the mandolin, as well as switching their original instruments on other songs.

References

  1. ↑ "A Brief History of Jangle Pop". Masterclass.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ "R.E.M.'s legacy: 6 ways the band changed American music". The Week . September 22, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "R.E.M. - Reckoning review". Allmusic . Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (December 6, 2001). "Automatic For The People : R.E.M. : Review". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  5. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). p. 930. ISBN   0-87930-653-X.
  6. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . 31 May 2009.
  7. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . 31 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 Earles, Andrew (2014). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Voyageur Press. p. 256.
  9. ↑ Buckley, p. 71
  10. ↑ Black, p. 72
  11. ↑ Buckley, p. 72
  12. 1 2 Buckley, p. 78
  13. ↑ Buckley, p. 79
  14. ↑ Buckley, p. 89
  15. ↑ Hogan, Peter (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of R.E.M. Omnibus Press. p. 3. ISBN   0-7119-4901-8.
  16. ↑ Rod Brakes (2021-06-03). "Producer Mitch Easter shares the inside story of R.E.M.'s early recording sessions: "It was glorious. They rehearsed a lot just because they liked to play together"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  17. ↑ R.E.M. (April 12, 1983). Murmur (liner notes). I.R.S. Records.
  18. ↑ "Murmur Trestle Information". Archived from the original on February 21, 2001. Retrieved 2005-04-27., Athens-Clarke County Online. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Jim (July 9, 2016). "'Murmur' trestle likely to come down someday, commissioner says". Athens Online.
  20. ↑ Thompson, Jim (August 18, 2016). "Transportation tax could fund work at 'Murmur' trestle in Athens". Athens Online.
  21. ↑ Allen, Stephanie (July 9, 2021). "Athens' 'Murmur Trestle' being removed, replaced as part of Firefly Trail construction". Athens Online.
  22. ↑ "Sub-Project 4: Firefly Trail - Trail Creek Crossing | Athens-Clarke County, GA - Official Website".
  23. ↑ Satzberg, Steve (February 16, 2024). "Live Review: Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy Play REM's Murmur @ Black Cat — 2/10/24". Parklife DC.
  24. ↑ Hogan, Peter (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of R.E.M. Omnibus Press. p. 7. ISBN   0-7119-4901-8.
  25. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Murmur – R.E.M." AllMusic . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  26. ↑ Dolan, Jon (March 2008). "R.E.M.". Blender . Vol. 7, no. 2. pp. 106–107.
  27. ↑ Kot, Greg (March 24, 1991). "Traveling Through The Years With R.E.M." Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  28. ↑ Browne, David (March 22, 1991). "An R.E.M. discography". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  29. ↑ Deusner, Stephen M. (November 24, 2008). "R.E.M.: Murmur[Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  30. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (February 2009). "R.E.M.: Murmur". Q . No. 271. p. 120.
  31. 1 2 Pond, Steve (May 26, 1983). "Murmur". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  32. ↑ Nawrocki, Tom (2004). "R.E.M.". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  685–687. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  33. ↑ Mueller, Andrew (January 12, 2009). "Album review: R.E.M. – Murmur". Uncut . Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  34. ↑ Christgau, Robert (May 31, 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Buckley, p. 357–358
  36. ↑ Buckley, p. 95
  37. ↑ Search for R.E.M.: Gold and Platinum data. RIAA.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
  38. ↑ Gregg, Jonathan (June 1983). "Murmur review". Record. 2 (8): 22.
  39. ↑ Buckley, p. 77–78
  40. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time". Music > Lists > Debut Albums. Paste . 2023-11-06. ISSN   1540-3106 . Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  41. ↑ "Rocklist.net Rolling Stone Lists - Main Page". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. 2002-10-17. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  42. ↑ Hoye, Jacob, ed. (2003). VH1: 100 greatest albums. New York: Pocket Books. p. x. ISBN   978-0-7434-4876-5.
  43. ↑ Thompson, Gareth (2006). "R.E.M.: Murmur". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p.  505. ISBN   978-0-7893-1371-3.
  44. ↑ "Rolling Stone Top 100 Albums of the Last Twenty Years". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  45. ↑ "100 Alternative Albums". Spin . Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  46. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork Media. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  47. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All-Time". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  48. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  49. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  50. ↑ "500 CDs You Must Own: Alternative Rock at Blender.com". Blender. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  51. ↑ "The 40 Best Albums of the 80s". Q . No. 241. August 2006.
  52. ↑ "100 Records that Changed the World". Mojo . No. 163. June 2007. p. 69.
  53. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine . 5 March 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  54. ↑ "The Top 100 Debut Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  55. 1 2 3 REM: Perfect Circle, Tony Fletcher, Omnibus Press (p 85–86)
  56. ↑ "Chart Log UK – Chart Coverage and Record Sales 2009 and Special Single-File Version". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  57. ↑ "Blair Packham: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1053". TorontoMike.com. 20 May 2022.
  58. ↑ "R.E.M. Announce Murmur Deluxe Edition". Pitchfork. 16 October 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  59. ↑ "R.E.M.HQ: NEWS - Murmur Deluxe Edition". Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.