Lifes Rich Pageant

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
R.E.M.'s early recordings purposefully bury Michael Stipe's vocals, allowing them to dominate the audio mix no more than Peter Buck's jangly guitar figures or Mike Mills's bass. Lifes Rich Pageant represents a subtle shift in the program, with clearly audible lyrics (though they remain obscure in meaning) on most tracks. The band still has a bit of fun with its audience, listing the songs out of order on the album sleeve and leaving a couple of them ("Underneath the Bunker," "Superman") off entirely. As good as it is to hear Stipe enunciate while he sings, the music is equally revelatory and forward-looking on the radio-friendly "Fall on Me"; harder-rocking songs like "Begin the Begin," "These Days," and "Superman" (the latter tune sung by Mills); and the haunting, folkish "Swan Swan H." --Daniel Durchholz --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Lifes Rich Pageant
Average customer rating:

A slicker, harder rocking R.E.M. and one of their best

If you must have and REM record, get this one!

Soundtrack to my early love life

What on EARTH is that SOUND?!?!?!?!??!

R.E.M.'s Rich Recording

Lifes Rich Pageant
R.E.M.
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Fables of the Reconstruction

Reckoning

Murmur

Document

Dead Letter Office

ASIN: B000002UVZ
Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

Begin the Begin
These Days
Fall On Me
Cuyahoga
Hyena
Underneath the Bunker
The Flowers of Guatemala
I Believe
What if We Give it Away?
Just a Touch
Swan Swan H
Superman

Amazon.com

R.E.M.'s early recordings purposefully bury Michael Stipe's vocals, allowing them to dominate the audio mix no more than Peter Buck's jangly guitar figures or Mike Mills's bass. Lifes Rich Pageant represents a subtle shift in the program, with clearly audible lyrics (though they remain obscure in meaning) on most tracks. The band still has a bit of fun with its audience, listing the songs out of order on the album sleeve and leaving a couple of them ("Underneath the Bunker," "Superman") off entirely. As good as it is to hear Stipe enunciate while he sings, the music is equally revelatory and forward-looking on the radio-friendly "Fall on Me"; harder-rocking songs like "Begin the Begin," "These Days," and "Superman" (the latter tune sung by Mills); and the haunting, folkish "Swan Swan H." --Daniel Durchholz

Amazon.com

R.E.M. Photos

More from R.E.M.

Eponymous
The Best of the I.R.S. Years: Collector's Edition
Fables of the Reconstruction

Customer Reviews:

A slicker, harder rocking R.E.M. and one of their best.......2007-07-06

After listeners struggled to hear Michael Stipe's words on their first three albums (an intentional mixing decision), suddenly everything he had to say was crystal clear...well, not counting the frequently cryptic messages. But the passages and songs with the clearest purposes prove to be something of a mistake. What little there is to clearly comprehend is often heavy-handed, even preachy at times. Despite good intentions on environmentalism, does anyone want to listen to a college radio hero standing on a soapbox?

Maybe that's one of the reasons why Lifes Rich Pageant is one of R.E.M.'s most forgotten records (despite selling better than their first three albums). Another could be a dearth of popular tunes, but then again, the harder-rocking power pop of songs like "Begin the Begin" and "Superman" seem perfectly adjusted to the waves of radio America. Can this album match their first two efforts of the decade? Not quite. Should it be rediscovered by a generation that knows R.E.M. mostly by "Losing My Religion" and "Everybody Hurts"? Definitely.

Best cuts: "Begin the Begin," "Fall on Me," "I Believe," "Superman," "The Flowers of Guatemala," "What If We Give It Away," "Swan Swan H," "Cuyahoga," "Just a Touch"

If you must have and REM record, get this one!.......2007-06-22

This is good stuff. I was never a huge REM fan but I did like them because back in the day there were pretty cool. They had a cool stripped down sound that was unconventional at the time. What that means is they did not exactly rock my socks off but they were playing actual guitars, drums and basses instead of a synthesizer and drum machine. In my mind that was enough to make them pretty cool. My sister had Reckoning (also pretty cool) and Fables of the Reconstruction (which sucked) so when Lifes Rich Pageant came out I was pretty familiar with REM and kind of liked some of their stuff but felt funny about it because they were my sisters band. The video for Fall on Me is what sold me on the record and I am glad it did because this (as I have said) is good stuff. Buck's guitar had some snarl to it and the drums are heavy and driving - much more so than before or since. As I have admitted, I am not a huge REM fan but have never stopped liking this album.

Soundtrack to my early love life.......2007-01-25

Sitting in my car in front of her house, 2am on a summer's evening, listening to this album. Sneaking into the backyard and waking her with pebbles against the window pane.

1987

What on EARTH is that SOUND?!?!?!?!??!.......2006-11-28

The opening riff of "Begin The Begin", the opening track to Life's Rich Pageant, floored me the first time I heard it, and still does today. I think i took about 10 plays for me to even get halfway through the song the first time because I kept backing it up to hear that near-east/Indian-sounding twang, almost sounding as if George Harrison had revved up his old sitar somehow with high octane speed.
LRP isn't REM at its best, however. It IS REM at its most preachy. Though many may argue that the message got watered down in subsequent years and releases, the fact is that was done with what I have to call calculated efficiency. No one (with an ounce of dignity) wants to listen to Michael Stipe stand on a soapbox and rant at them non-stop for 45 minutes.
No matter how awesome the sound of the music is, which it truly is on this album. It's big, it's beefy, it's their hardest-rocking album prior to Monster, and it's one of their better records...on the whole.
But remember something in that I am not alone in this assessment. Rolling Stone - in the mid 1990s - called this album the NADIR of Stipe's songwriting. It's just too preachy. After this the story stayed the same, the method in which it was delivered - lyrically and musically - became more user-friendly. If no one is listening to you yelling, make them hear what you're saying by pleasing them.
It worked, and I've no qualms with that.
As for this record itself, it's a jump in an ice cold pool on a 100 degree day in terms of going from early REM albums to this stage of the band's career. The drums are so prevalent in the mix they seem to obliterate the previous incarnation of the band's sound.
"Begin the Begin", "Fall On Me", "I Believe", and "Just A Touch" are some of their best tunes to listen to, even though some of the lyrical content is - as previously stated - a little heavy-handed. Though I may sound a bit harsh on this matter, I do love this album, and in fact, the guitar part for "Swan Swan H" - though it's subject matter is morose and dreary - was used as the wedding march by my first wife in our wedding.

R.E.M.'s Rich Recording.......2006-09-04

'Life's Rich Pageant' is the fourth R.E.M. full-length album, and like the predecessors, is accomplished. This album, like the others, has a trademark. Here it contains their most unconventionally conventional pop and rock songs. "...Pageant" contains propulsive anthems and some of their most pop-pleasing songs of any album. Their accomplishments were enough to propel them to the top ten next time around.

The anthems are positive pieces of power pop. "Begin the Begin," "These Days," and "I Believe" are uplifting. Some of the songwriting improved, and Michael Stipe can hardly be accused of mumbling the songs this time. "Cuyahoga" and "Fall on Me" are terrific lyrically and musically. They showcase how insightful R.E.M really is. The other songs are excellent as well, like the energetic and entertaining "Hyena" and "Superman" and the thoughtful and hypnotic "Why Don't We Give It Away" and "Swan, Swan H-". Song for song, 'Life's Rich Pageant' lives up to its title and delivers a C.D. just as worthy as most of R.E.M.'s best work.

Average customer rating:

Without Equal
A career defining highpoint
It's All Part Of.......
An all-time classic Alternative album
Best REM album everyone knows but has rarely heard

Lifes Rich Pageant
R.E.M.
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fables of the Reconstruction
Document
Murmur
Reckoning
Dead Letter Office

ASIN: B000005RQF
Release Date: 1993-01-26

Tracks:

Begin The Begin
These Days
Fall On Me
Cuyahoga
Hyena
Underneath The Bunker
The Flowers of Guatemala
I Believe
What if We Give it Away?
Just a Touch
Swan Swan H
Superman
Tired Of Singing Trouble
Rotary Ten
Toys In The Attic
Just A Touch (Live In Studio)
Dream (All I Have To Do)
Swan Swan H (Acoustic Version)

Album Description

Mid-priced reissue of the foreign edition of their 1986 top 30 album with six bonus tracks added, 'Tired Of Singing Trouble', 'Rotary Ten', their cover of Aerosmith's 'Toys In The Attic', 'Just A Touch' (Live In The Studio), their cover of the Everly Brothers hit 'Dream (All I Have To Do Is)' and 'Swan Swan H' (Acoustic). 18 tracks, also including the chart hit 'Fall On Me' and the college radio staples 'Superman' & 'Begin The Begin'. 1993 release.

Album Details

Now at a Lower Price.

Customer Reviews:

Without Equal.......2006-11-02

Like many, this was the first R.E.M. album I purchased. I had heard of them before, of course, but they were never my cup of tea. I have since bought them all, but this one remains their masterpiece, in my opinion.

There simply are no fillers here. Highlights (and there are many) include "Fall On Me" "I Believe", "Flowers", and "Cuyahoga," but the ones not mentioned here are great, too. If there is anyone on the planet that has never purchased an R.E.M. disc, this is where to start.

A career defining highpoint.......2005-06-29

This 1986 release, the band's fourth full-length LP, may be the very best -- or at least "most REM-like" -- in their catalog. As has been pointed out several times, "Life's Rich Pageant" represented a turning point in REM's sound, pushing both drummer Bill Berry and vocalist Michael Stipe to the front of the mix. The result is a punchier sound that strips away Stipe's mumbling to reveal his impressionistic lyrics. It's not always clear what he's singing about, but at least you don't have to struggle just to decode the words. Though there are moments and songs on "Murmer" and "Reckoning" that may supersede anything heard here, the accessibility of Don Gehman's production, and the catchiness of these songs (including Mike Mills' cover of The Clique's 1969 then-obscure "Superman") make this on of REM's most spinworthy releases.

It's All Part Of..............2004-01-23

Michael Stipe referred to this album in Mojo magazine as being the most like REM that REM has ever sounded. And I'm inclined to agree.

For fans like myself this is the ultimate REM experience. For newcomers, an excellent introduction. For those sitting on the fence, it'll knock you clean to the ground on the REM side.

On previous albums, Stipe's vocals remain firmly buried in the mix, the lyrics practically indecipherable in places. This album shows Stipe's astounding vocal ability off to it's best. Heart-felt, passionate, full of emotion. The lyrics are often cryptic and abstract, yet somehow relevant ; as we've come to expect.

The instrumentation is virtually perfect, and not rooted in the 80's which means that the album hasn't aged at all, it's timeless and classic. This could be REM of the 80's, of the 90's, of the 21st century. Layers of delicate sound, blended to make the rich, soul-inspiring melodies which can lift us up or send us down effortlessly.

Stand out tracks include the beautifully simple "What if We Give it Away?", and the heavier yet controlled "Begin the Begin". The folk-esque "Swan Swan H" sticks in your mind with it's melodic guitar and lilting phrasing, and "Superman" is worth listening to for the harmonies alone. Tremendous.

The pivotal importance of this album in the career of the biggest band in the world today cannot be overplayed. This is the very essence of REM. Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe all at their creative best. Essential.

An all-time classic Alternative album.......2001-08-27

This is one of the great college rock (or 'alternative') albums of all time. The song "Cuyahoga" is a college rock masterpiece - take one listen to this song, and you will wonder how you ever lived your life without this song in it. Fall On Me and Superman are also really great. Take the time to go back and check out the old R.E.M. albums. It's a fascinating musical journey to take - and a rewarding one.

Best REM album everyone knows but has rarely heard.......1998-08-31

This album has a great pop confection without pandering to the masses. Many have dissed it as fluff but all I have to say is listen to the bridge in "What if we give it away" and you'll understand the purity of R.E.M..