No band was vital to the growth of America like Athens, Georgia's R.E.M. was. They kept individualism and creativity alive during very questionable times in this country. I don't suppose there's ever a moment like hearing the guitar intro to “Pretty Persuasion” for the very first time, and with this anniversary edition-deluxe remaster of Reckoning, R.E.M.'s gift to the modern age of rock – aka Peter Buck's right hand – is sent up for a grand salute.
Practically all of Reckoning sounds as inspired today as it did at the time of release twenty five years ago. A very young Michael Stipe is but a whisper in your ear on “Letters Never Sent,” and up in your face on “Second Guessing,” proclaiming “here we are!” with valiance, as bassist Mike Mills joins in for the now-classic, R.E.M. harmonies. There is, of course, drummer Bill Berry, solid as any man who ever played the instrument, and every bit as integral as any of his fellow band mates – being the pulse behind the passion. Featuring hits like “So. Central Rain” and “Don't Go Back to Rockville,” Reckoning introduced R.E.M. into the conversation regarding greatest American songwriters, surely.
With a second disc featuring a live performance from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago from July of 1984, this set captures R.E.M. at the onset of a songwriting blitzkrieg, and is a snapshot of the men behind the songs who were about to achieve nothing short of greatness.
Practically all of Reckoning sounds as inspired today as it did at the time of release twenty five years ago. A very young Michael Stipe is but a whisper in your ear on “Letters Never Sent,” and up in your face on “Second Guessing,” proclaiming “here we are!” with valiance, as bassist Mike Mills joins in for the now-classic, R.E.M. harmonies. There is, of course, drummer Bill Berry, solid as any man who ever played the instrument, and every bit as integral as any of his fellow band mates – being the pulse behind the passion. Featuring hits like “So. Central Rain” and “Don't Go Back to Rockville,” Reckoning introduced R.E.M. into the conversation regarding greatest American songwriters, surely.
With a second disc featuring a live performance from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago from July of 1984, this set captures R.E.M. at the onset of a songwriting blitzkrieg, and is a snapshot of the men behind the songs who were about to achieve nothing short of greatness.
