R.E.M. Life’s Rich Pageant released

Life’s Rich Pageant R.E.M.

Released: July 28, 1986 Peak: 21 US, 43 UK, 39 CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 3.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: college rock

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Begin the Begin (16 CO, 31 DF) These Days (24 DF) Fall on Me (8/9/86, 94 BB, 5 AR, 7 CO, 2 DF) Cuyahoga (32 DF) Hyena (32 DF) Underneath the Bunker Flowers of Guatemala I Believe (31 DF) What if We Give It Away? (32 DF) Just a Touch Swan Swan H (24 DF) Superman (11/1/86, 17 AR, 19 CO, 3 DF) Total Running Time: 37:24 The Players: Bill Berry (drums, percussion) Peter Buck (guitar.) Mike Mills (bass, piano, keyboards) Michael Stipe (vocals)

Rating: 4.212 out of 5.00 (average of 27 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Life’s Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic Begin the Begin and the punky Just a Touch.” “From the first sonic blastoff of Peter Buck’s opening riff on ‘Begin the Begin,’ it’s clear this was the moment when the darlings of college radio decided: To hell with student unions, we want to fill arenas!” EW’12 “The cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe’s growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems Fall on Me and Cuyahoga.” “The group hasn’t entirely left myths behind – witness the Civil War ballad Swan Swan H – but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like I Believe, Flowers of Guatemala, These Days, and What if We Give It Away, it’s ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity Superman, which is sung with glee by Mike Mills.”

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for R.E.M. AM AllMusic.com review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine EW’12 Entertainment Weekly (9/27/2012). “Top 100 Albums” Other Related DMDB Pages: Last updated 6/18/2024.