hellfudge's Full Review: Life's Rich Pageant by R.E.M.
Much has been said about the fact that Lifes Rich Pageant was the first release by R.E.M. on which the vocals were clear and audible. Their previous releases, while each containing incredible songs, were muffled and almost unintelligible.
In 1986, Michael Stipe suddenly shouted at the world and came out of the closet as a thinking man. Not that R.E.M's previous efforts were by any means the dopey fun rock that bands like Huey Lewis & the News were putting out at the time, but neither were they the rallying cries that Automatic For The People's "Ignoreland" or Document's "Exhuming McCarthy" would be.
For his first statement, Stipe went against his former declaration that music and politics don't mix with "Begin The Begin", a song that also was a coming out for guitarist Peter Buck as a straight-forward rock guitarist rather than just an art-rock guitarist. The main riff of this song remains to this day one of Buck's finest moments.
The momentum of "Begin The Begin" is carried on by "These Days", another in-your-face lyrical accomplishment for Stipe and another rocker from the rest of the band.
And that's what separates R.E.M's career into two eras (one could easily argue that other events and albums later in their career separate it even more). Lifes Rich Pageant is the first R.E.M. album comprised of more "rockers" than "swayers". This would be repeated on their next album, 1987's Document, but not again until 1994.
But the rockers aren't the only good thing on Pageant. Its best song (and one of their best ever) is the incredible "Fall On Me", which arguably features the best harmonizing of their career. In fact, the sound of that song, whether they knew it or not, was to become their signature sound for years to come. Listen to "The One I Love", "Stand", or "Try Not To Breathe" and you will hear the sound of "Fall On Me" as Stipe and bassist Mike Mills interweave separate lyrical directions well enough to stand with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. (Coincidentally, this is one of the major things missing from their more recent - and less appealing - releases).
Most of the tracks on Lifes Rich Pageant would be the stand out song on any other record by any other band. "I Believe" is an excellent country-flavored rocker, "Cuyahoga" is both sad and angry, and their cover of The Clique's "Superman" is probably the best cover this band has done on an album (though there haven't been many).
"Just A Touch" is another good song, though the demo version released over a decade later on Essential: R.E.M. In The Attic is far better, even if it does revert back to the mumbled vocals of old. "Underneath The Bunker" is a short but sweet guitar solo that vaguely recalls a number of different sounds but presents them as a new variety all its own. Over the last two verses, Stipe recites a few lines with a humorous delivery that can easily make one wonder what context they were written in - they could be sad or funny.
The only song on Pageant that doesn't stack up is "The Flowers Of Guatemala". While it's a beautiful piece of poetry, it's an uninteresting piece of music, a rarity for R.E.M., especially in the 80's.
R.E.M. has done better albums and they've done worse albums. But few are as important to the band's history as Lifes Rich Pageant. Even if "Fall On Me" were the only song on it, I would still recommend this album to anyone who likes good music.
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