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Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe's growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga." The group hasn't entirely left myths behind -- witness the Civil War ballad "Swan Swan H" -- but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like "I Believe," "Flowers of Guatemala," "These Days," and "What if We Give It Away," it's ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity "Superman," which is sung with glee by Mike Mills.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Gary Zekley, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - Robert Vosgien, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Don Gehman, Producer, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Edward, Mixer, Recorder, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mitchell Bottler, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
DISC 2
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, Composer - PETER BUCK, Composer - William Berry, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Bill Berry, ComposerLyricist - Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, ComposerLyricist - PETER BUCK, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, Composer - R.E.M., MainArtist - MICHAEL STIPE, Composer - William T. Berry, Composer - Peter L. Buck, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
R.E.M., MainArtist - J. Michael Stipe, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Mike Mills, ComposerLyricist - R.E.M., MainArtist - William T. Berry, ComposerLyricist - Peter L. Buck, ComposerLyricist - J. Michael Stipe, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
Album review
Fables of the Reconstruction was intentionally murky, and Lifes Rich Pageant was constructed as its polar opposite. Teaming with producer Don Gehman, who previously worked with John Mellencamp, R.E.M. developed their most forceful record to date. Where previous records kept the rhythm section in the background, Pageant emphasizes the beat, and the band turns in its hardest rockers to date, including the anthemic "Begin the Begin" and the punky "Just a Touch." But the cleaner production also benefits the ballads and the mid-tempo janglers, particularly since it helps reveal Michael Stipe's growing political obsessions, especially on the environmental anthems "Fall on Me" and "Cuyahoga." The group hasn't entirely left myths behind -- witness the Civil War ballad "Swan Swan H" -- but the band sound more contemporary both musically and lyrically than they did on either Fables or Murmur, which helps give the record an extra kick. And even with excellent songs like "I Believe," "Flowers of Guatemala," "These Days," and "What if We Give It Away," it's ironic that the most memorable moment comes from the garage rock obscurity "Superman," which is sung with glee by Mike Mills.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 31 track(s)
- Total length: 01:33:23
- Main artists: R.E.M.
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Capitol Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2011 Capitol Records, LLC ℗ 2011 Capitol Records, LLC
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