R.E.M. – Green – 9⭐

A couple of months ago I had one of those moments where you encounter a band – one that you’ve always liked but never paid attention to – and you’re suddenly appreciating it even more. That’s R.E.M. in my case, they’re becoming one of my all time favourites and I’m glad this early album of theirs came in the 1001 queue.

Technically speaking, “Green” was released in the ’80s, but it doesn’t sound like most bands you’d associate with that era – nothing electronic, disco, starry-eyed… Quite the opposite. It’s mature and grounded, with heavy rhythms and metallic sounds. This album might just be one of the pioneers of the grunge and alternative rock genres that developed in the ’90s.

I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it’s all, it’s all for nothing

It’s restless, distinct, political and has some memorable and offbeat lyrics. Take “If wishes were trees, the trees would be falling” or “Run a carbon-black test on my jaw, And you will find it’s all been said before”. Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy put it best: “What I love about it is the immensely unlikely lyrics.” Agreed. 9/10