‘Document’ by REM

‘Document was the fifth album by REM, but on some level, it feels like a debut, probably only because it’s the earliest one I own, and I don’t think I know any songs that predate it. In addition to this, it sounds like a debut should – a bit rough and ready, a couple of really good songs, and a lot of potential. It’s hard to imagine a band getting to a fifth album these days without having passed this stage.

‘Finest Worksong’ begins the album with a decent amount of bluster before ‘Welcome To The Occupation’ serves up a more typical slice of folk-inspired vaguely political meandering, made great by it’s two part harmony, a feature that REM used a lot at the time. ‘Exhuming McCarthy’ is a jauntier track – like a prototype ‘Stand’ with allegedly weightier lyrics.

Variations on these three track types fill the rest of the album, to a generally high level of success. There are further standouts – ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’ is successful as a result of its speed, and its determination to cram in as many lyrics as possible, ‘The One I Love’ succeeds through having a very strong (if simple) melody. The rest of the album just sort of chugs along happily until the end comes. A perfectly decent listen, but nothing to get wildly excited about.