'' is the first full-length album released by
Athens, Georgia Alternative Rock band
R.E.M. .
Released in April
1983 , ''Murmur'' was preceded by the ''
Chronic Town ''
EP the previous year. ''Murmur'''s sound characterized the quieter, introverted side of the first wave of
Alternative Rock in the
U.S.A. . The sound was new at the time, though not stepping beyond the constructs of traditional rock music. The
Guitar s have a bright ring like chimes that brought on comparisons to
The Byrds , and the
Bass Guitar has the bright punchy sound of the
Rickenbacker favored by
Mike Mills . As the most experienced musician in the group, Mills carries much of the melodic element of the music on the bass, contributing to the moody sound of early R.E.M. albums. Also contributing to this sound is the distant singing of
Michael Stipe whose obscure lyrics lend to the mystery and depth of the music. Although more conventional, ''Murmur'' also owes a debt to the
Post-punk movement, with one or two tracks like ''9-9'' discernibly influenced by
Gang Of Four . Though ''Murmur'' is a much-respected 1980s album, and remains a fan favorite, little about it would foreshadow the huge popularity that would eventually find R.E.M.
The atmospheric and stylistic success of ''Murmur'' owes much to the mix, with prominent bass and vocals diminished into the mix, similar to that favored by post-punk band
The Psychedelic Furs on their first two recordings. The album was produced and engineered by
Mitch Easter and
Don Dixon , recorded in
Charlotte, North Carolina , and released on indie
I.R.S. Records . The cover art features sepia-toned photos of a trestle and kudzu vines covering the ground and nearby trees. The song titles are written over the brown tones in blue, rendering them almost unreadable, particularly with "Moral Kiosk" cutting vertically through the titles.
The trestle featured on the album's cover, originally part of the Georgia Railroad line into downtown Athens, has become something of a local landmark. Plans to demolish the trestle, now commonly referred to as the "Murmur Trestle", met with public outcry. On October 2, 2000, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted to save the trestle.
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Initially reaching #36 upon its release in the U.S., ''Murmur'' was certified gold in 1991. In 2002, ''Murmur'' was listed as number 197 on the
List Of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time and in 2003 the TV network
VH1 named ''Murmur'' the 92nd greatest album of all time.
All songs by
Bill Berry ,
Peter Buck ,
Mike Mills and
Michael Stipe .
#"
Radio Free Europe " – 4:06
#"Pilgrimage" – 4:30
#"Laughing" – 3:57
#"
Talk About The Passion " – 3:23
#"Moral Kiosk" – 3:31
#"Perfect Circle" – 3:29
#"Catapult" – 3:55
#"Sitting Still" – 3:17
#"9-9" – 3:03
#"Shaking Through" - 4:30
- ''Includes a brief untitled instrumental after the song's conclusion''
#"We Walk" – 3:02
#"West of the Fields" – 3:17
- Published in 1983 by Night Garden Music and administered throughout the Universe by Unichappell Music, Inc.
- Don Dixon – Producer , engineer
- Peter Buck – Guitar
- Mitch Easter – producer, engineer, Mixing
- Mike Mills – Bass , Drums
- Michael Stipe – vocals
- Bill Berry – bass, Percussion , drums
- Carl Grasso – album art
