R.E.M.

While the band's political convictions were now so central they went and named their major label debut after them, the perfect pop songs remain the most memorable things about "Green" (especially the insanely catchy "Stand"). "You Are the Everything" has an early taste of the mandolin riffing that would crop up to more lucrative commercial effect on "Losing My Religion."

On Green, R.E.M. dares to think positive. Songs like "Stand," "Get Up," "World Leader
Pretend" and "The Wrong Child" are a continuation of the upbeat call to arms sounded on
Document's "Finest Worksong." It was no coincidence that such a hopeful record was
released on an election day whose outcome was a foregone conclusion. Now is not the
time for despair, R.E.M. seems to be saying, but for a redoubling of efforts. Havin... More >

The "air" side combines the bite of their realest rock and roll with the shameless beauty their cult once lived for--it's funny and/or serious and/or rousing and/or elegiac right up to "The Wrong Child," a title that speaks for itself and heralds the sh*t to follow. Which they dub the "metal" side, with heavy tempos and dubious poetry that make good on their intermittent moments only during the funny, serious, elegiac "I Remember California." (Grade - B+)