REMtrospective, 7: Document
Released on: Sept. 1, 1987
Favorite tracks: "Finest Worksong," "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," "King of Birds"
A thumbnail sketch. A jeweler's stone. A mean idea to call my own.
Document could be my favorite R.E.M. album. Of course, I have a lot of favorites, including Murmur and New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but Document is my favorite favorite. It may have the "biggest" and "tallest" sound of any of their albums. Certain "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" has their "fastest sound," although some tracks on Accelerate give the song a run for its money.
Document is the last R.E.M. album I bought on vinyl — Green and all the subsequent ones, I bought on CD. That's no doubt part of the reason why I associate the two sides of Document with having distinct identities. Side A seems to be about political action, and Side B seems to be more about disengagement, introspection and even immolation.
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