R.E.M. “Murmur” released on this date, April 13th, 1983. R.E.M.’s debut album set the tone for a certain strain of American indie/alternative rock, characterized by Michael Stipe’s enigmatic, mumbly lyrics, Peter Buck’s jangly guitar, Mike Mills’ melodic bass and an overall “quieter, introverted” side to rock music. Murmur reached #36 on the US album chart and the lead track, “Radio Free Europe” (originally released as a single in ‘81; an alternate version appears on the LP) hit #78. Rolling Stone rated it the best release of 1983 and in 2013 placed it at #18 on its “100 Best Debut Albums of All Time” list.

“Radio Free Europe” is one of my favorite R.E.M. songs, but I also love the quiet sweet sadness of “Talk About the Passion” (also released as a single in Europe, where it failed to chart). “Perfect Circle” is lovely, spacious and sorrowful with actual piano rather than the 80′s ubiquitous synth sound. Mike Mills’ melodic bass prowess is demonstrated on tracks like “Catapult,” a more upbeat song, relatively speaking, on Murmur. “Sitting Still” was the B-side to “Radio Free Europe” and is one of the earliest penned tracks by R.E.M.; they wrote and recorded it in ‘81and the original version appears on Murmur. Reading about the lyrics to “Sitting Still” made me laugh: “Stipe has acknowledged that the first line of the refrain, ‘Up to par and Katie bar the kitchen door but not me in,’ does not mean anything. In a 1991 interview he did provide some insight into a potential meaning, stating that ‘Katie bar the door’ is a Southern expression for barring the door to prevent a child from escaping punishment and is used as a warning that the child better watch out. Another line, ‘We can gather, throw a fit’ has often been misinterpreted as ‘We can gather, throw up beer.’ He has also acknowledged that much of the song is made of nonsensical vowels strung together and that he merely approximates the words when he sings the song in concert.”