R.E.M. :: CHRONIC TOWN 1982 - Early E.P. | TWILIGHTZONE

R.E.M. 

“Chronic Town" 1982

Chronic Town established R.E.M.'s signature sound immediately, expanding the jangling riffs of their debut single, "Radio Free Europe," into a full-fledged modus operandi...

R.E.M. in ’82 at TWILIGHTZONE here

..Recorded at Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studios, the EP has an endearingly ragged sound -- it's a garage band playing jangling pop songs, and while the music is melodic and memorable, it has an underground mentality that keeps it from sounding conventional. Not only does the lo-fi production keep the music underground, but so do Peter Buck's ringing arpeggios, Michael Stipe's incomprehensible mumbled vocals, and the band's amateurish enthusiasm. They might not be accomplished players, but already their songwriting is distinctive, with "Gardening at Night," "Wolves, Lower," and "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" ranking as early classics.

This is really great and better than one might imagine . . . . . . . the germ of a band it is more than that as they find their signature style and sound

I know I post TWILIGHTZONE’S  ‘history’ postings usually and maybe one could be forgiven for not expecting R.E.M. here but they are nothing is not eclectic and the comments are well worth a read as ever . . . . . . really cool stuff for more than just avid fans