Document

by R.E.M.

Overview

R.E.M. began to move toward mainstream record production on Lifes Rich Pageant, but they didn't have a commercial breakthrough until the following year's Document. Ironically, Document is a stranger, more varied album than its predecessor, but co-producer Scott Litt -- who would go on to produce every R.E.M. album in the following decade -- is a better conduit for the band than Don Gehman, giving the group a clean sound without sacrificing their enigmatic tendencies. "Finest Worksong," the stream-of-conscious rant "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," and the surprise Top Ten single "The One I Love" all crackle with muscular rhythms and guitar riffs, but the real surprise is how political the mid-tempo jangle pop of "Welcome to the Occupation," "Disturbance at the Heron House," and "King of Birds" is. Where Lifes Rich Pageant sounded a bit like a party record, Document is a fiery statement, and its memorable melodies and riffs are made all the more indelible by its righteous anger. In other words, it's not only a commercial breakthrough, but a creative breakthrough as well, offering evidence of R.E.M.'s growing depth and maturity, and helping usher in the P.C. era in the process. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/02/2008
Label:	Capitol
UPC:	0076742205911
Rank:	23601

Tracks

1. Finest Worksong
2. Welcome to the Occupation
3. Exhuming McCarthy
4. Disturbance At the Heron House
5. Strange
6. It's the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)
7. One I Love
8. Fireplace
9. Lightnin' Hopkins
10. King of Birds
11. Oddfellows Local 151

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R.E.M.   Primary Artist
Carl Marsh   Fairlight,Synthesizer
Peter Buck   Guitar,Dulcimer
Steve Berlin   Horn
Mike Mills   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Michael Stipe   Vocals
Bill Berry   Drums
Hunt Waugh   Drums

Technical Credits

Bob Ludwig   Remastering,Mastering
Kevin Flaherty   A&R
Colin Newman   Composer
Elliot Scheiner   Remixing
Carl Marsh   Engineer
Graham Lewis   Composer
Darcy Proper   Mastering
Robert Gotobed   Composer
Scott Litt   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Peter Buck   Composer
R.E.M.   Producer
Mike Mills   Composer
Michael Stipe   Composer
Toni Green   Assistant Engineer
Bryan Kelley   Producer
Gary Laney   Engineer
Floyd Cramer   Composer
Peter Gabriel   Composer
Bruce Gilbert   Composer
Kenny Nemes   Project Manager
Shari Sutcliffe   Project Coordinator
Toni Greene   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Todd Sholar   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bill Berry   Composer
Jim McKay   Sleeve Design
Ron Scarselli   Packaging
Shannon Ward   Producer
Brendan Gormley   Editorial Supervision
Robert Grey   Composer
Ted Pattison   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Tom Der   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Steve Catania   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Michael Meister   Photography
Sandra Lee Phipps   Photography
Hunt Waugh   Drum Technician
Paula Court   Photography
Jim McKey   Photography
Michael Mills   Composer
Vara Radio   Live Recording