R.E.M. "Green" (1988)

vinyl cover

Green
release date: Nov. 7, 1988
format: vinyl (925 795-1) / 2 cd (2013 reissue - 25th Anniversary Edition)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,36]
producer: Scott Litt and R.E.M.
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Pop Song 89" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Get Up" (4,5 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 3. "You Are the Everything" (5 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 4. "Stand" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "World Leader Pretend" (4,5 / 5) (w. lyrics) - 6. "The Wrong Child" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Orange Crush" (4 / 5) - 2. "Turn You Inside-Out" (4 / 5) - 3. "Hairshirt" (4 / 5) - 4. "I Remember California" (4 / 5) (live from Tourfilm) - 5. [untitled] (5 / 5)

6th studio album by R.E.M. is their first on Warner Bros. and it's the band's second to be produced by coproduced by Scott Litt. On the original vinyl release, side A is labeled 'Air' and the B-side is labeled 'Metal'.
This one is like the amalgamation of what I enjoy the most about the band: the strong original R.E.M. sound, which has its origins in the 1960s folk rock guitar-string bands, their combo of jangle pop and alt. rock, and the blend of energetic electrified compositions with great vocal harmonies and choruses. I see this as the best of Lifes Rich Pageant (1986), Document (1987), AND its successor Out of Time (1991). Some tracks are sheer energy: "Pop Song '89", "Get Up", "Turn You Inside-Out", others are beautifully arranged serenity: "You Are the Everything", "Hairshirt", and "[untitled]" (the end track), and then some that are more complex compositions within the same musical space as later hits ("Losing My Religion"), "Stand", "World Leader Pretend", "Orange Crush", and "I Remember California".
Imho, this is simply the band's best album ever, and it's the best alternative rock / pop-rock album of 1988, and quite naturally, it has been enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
The album was reissued in a remastered 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition including the bonus disc "Live in Greensboro 1989".
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

2013 25th Anniversary
Deluxe Edition

1988 Favourite releases: 1. Chet Baker Memories: Chet Baker in Tokyo - 2. R.E.M. Green - 3. Talk Talk Spirit of Eden

Top 5 albums by R.E.M.
1. "Green"
2. "Lifes Rich Pageant"
3. "Document"
4. "Monster"
5. "Automatic for the People"

Show lyrics <- click...

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"You Are The Everything"

"Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
(say, say, the light) I'm very scared for this world
I'm very scared for me
(say, say, the light) Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene: you're in the back seat
(say, say, the light) laying down the windows
wrap around to the sound of the
(say, say, the light) travel and the engine

All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end
But slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone you are the everything

I think about this world a lot and
(say, say, the light) I cry and I've seen the films and the eyes
(say, say, the light) But I'm in this kitchen
Everything is beautiful and
(say, say, the light) she is so beautiful
She is so young and old
(say, say, the light) I look at her and I see the beauty
Of the light of music

The voices talking somewhere in the house
Late spring and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth
You are here with me
You are here with me
You have been here and you are everything

Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
(say, say, the light) I'm very scared for this world
I'm very scared for me
(say, say, the light) Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene: you're in the back seat
(say, say, the light) laying down the windows
wrap around to the sound of the
(say, say, the light) travel and the engine

All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end
But slowly drifts into sleep
The greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone you are the everything
For you alone you are the everything"

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