In my opinion, this is REM's 13th best album, over Accelerate and Reckoning. Fall On Me and Cuyahoga are great, though Hyena and Just A Touch are average. Begin The Begin is a good opener, and I like These Days and I Believe too. Underneath The Bunker is great!!! But it's less than 90 seconds long! The Flowers Of Guatemala is average until the solo comes in, then the quality lifts. The other three are quite good, though Superman is a bit cheesy and Swan is very monotonous.
I'm sorry to be down on your reviews again. Zeus Blackfoot bought me back to your page with his insulting remark. I think it's great you like REM. I've read your remarks and it looks like you're giving the album another shot.Well done. I thinks you'll be rewarded. As for Zeus he can bend over and smell my anal vapour.
Your review is worse than AVERAGE. It's one of the great REM albums. You diss it then give it 9 for Originality, go figure. The Flowers of Guatemala is a huge song. Please listen to album again and again. I would recommend this REM album for a noobie. The whole album is outstanding.
Forgot to add it's hard reviewing records because people will never be happy with what you say, but your videos are what YouTube should be about. Good work.
You must take into account how this sounded in 1986, what an antidote it was to 'Fables'. You are listening having heard everything they have done to date, but when 'Pageant' came out it was amazingly joyous. Why R.E.M. became successful and maintained this is because each year they made a better record than the last. 'Pageant' is a deliberate leap away from 'Fables' and a natural step towards 'Document'. It shows them being intelligent, loud, serious and playful, with a bunch of mighty songs.
I think this is probably their most balanced album. It has some upbeat stuff, some more "robust" material (part of their transition), and some soft, melodic stuff. I gotta say... I love "Flowers of Guatemala". On the surface, it's kinda corny, but it's a political song, the "blooming" representing explosions.
I think Pageant is a pretty good album, much more powerful, positively driven and polished than Document I would say. I don't think there are any bad songs on this album, just less than spectacular perhaps, but nothing that I would skip over. My faves are BeginTheBegin, Fall On Me, Cuyahoga, I Believe & Swan Swan H ( little gem there). I like Flowers and Stipe's gentle approach to it as well. This album holds a special place in my heart and always cheers me up when I hear it.
Hey. If you listen to albums like this more it will grow on you and you will learn to like it. I thought the same thing with Fables and now i think its the most underated album of all time (that may be an overstatement to others but thats a personal preferance). Im still even trying to get into the first two tracks on this album.
You must be kidding! is one of the best albums is history, politically, lyrically and musically (as garage band talking off curse). But I understand that you haven't digest it 100% yet, it took me about 10 years to recognize it.... keep on trying it. I would recomend look up for the meaning of the historical figures in each song... that inspires!
This is the only REM album review you've done where I would strongly disagree. Maybe because you havent listened enough, I dont know. Of all the great early albums they made this is usually their best to me dependinding on my mood. Go listen several more times when you get the chance. It would be interesting to see if your view changes or not....
Another good review for another good R.E.M. album..I disagree with you on terms of the album being mediocre, this was early R.E.M. at it's most accessible, with the song writing being some of the most coherent. It rocks when it rocks, it's calm when it's calm. You are right that it was a transition into Document, and it was a good transition.
I implore you to listen through it again, you'll more than likely find more to love about it.
I keep on meaning to come back to this album but I just can't find the groove, any way to settle into it. It still has this mediocre feeling for me, though maybe in the future my thoughts will change. Thanks for the comment!
Life's Rich Pageant was my first R.E.M. album. Got it when it came out. Always was one of my favorites. I feel Document is the average album and Pageant is great. Ok there are a few weak songs but the good songs more then make up for it. Fall On Me is pure beauty
You have to listen to this one more. For sure. I think it's probably R.E.M.'s best album. Given your love for Document it's surprising that you're so luke warm on this.
My luke-warm attitude definitely comes from not being experienced with the album, something which I freely admit. I will definitely be listening to it more though! Thanks again for the feedback!
Did you know "Flowers Of Guatemala" is about the missions that the CIA was in South America, and the USA's support for south American Dictators. That's cool ain't it?
Your reviews are very good and I totally respect your opinion, dude :)
I just gotta say that Life's Rich Pageant is one of my all-time favorite albums. It's a little rough around the edges, but that's just what makes it unique to me lol.
I just felt like sayin that haha. BTW I'm subscribing.
Thanks for the feedback, and I totally understand. I mean, there's no doubt it's a good album, it's really my lack of experience that forms my opinion. I'm sure if I listened to it more , I would grow to love it. Thanks a lot for the sub too man, I appreciate it!
The track-listing is also in the wrong order!
museandmanicsfan 3 months ago
In my opinion, this is REM's 13th best album, over Accelerate and Reckoning. Fall On Me and Cuyahoga are great, though Hyena and Just A Touch are average. Begin The Begin is a good opener, and I like These Days and I Believe too. Underneath The Bunker is great!!! But it's less than 90 seconds long! The Flowers Of Guatemala is average until the solo comes in, then the quality lifts. The other three are quite good, though Superman is a bit cheesy and Swan is very monotonous.
museandmanicsfan 3 months ago
this album has some throwaways that's true but...
begin the begin, fall on me and cuyahoga are 3 of rem's best songs ever and it would be criminal to gloss over that.
citehman 3 months ago
Lifes Rich Pageant is among my top 3 R.E.M. albums, the two other ones would be Murmur and Automatic For The People.
lyonslaforet 3 months ago
I love the flowers of Guatemala! but to each is own. Good review!
jesuscat29 9 months ago
@jesuscat29 me as well.
MusicNut2004 7 months ago
I'm sorry to be down on your reviews again. Zeus Blackfoot bought me back to your page with his insulting remark. I think it's great you like REM. I've read your remarks and it looks like you're giving the album another shot.Well done. I thinks you'll be rewarded. As for Zeus he can bend over and smell my anal vapour.
rugshort 1 year ago
Your review is worse than AVERAGE. It's one of the great REM albums. You diss it then give it 9 for Originality, go figure. The Flowers of Guatemala is a huge song. Please listen to album again and again. I would recommend this REM album for a noobie. The whole album is outstanding.
rugshort 1 year ago
I hope this classic album grows on you, it's one of their best
boognish94 1 year ago
YOUR OPINION is utter rubbish. You know very little.
rugshort 1 year ago
@rugshort Once again its an "Opinion" like you said. You fucking moron.....
ZeusBlackfoot 1 year ago
@ZeusBlackfoot Cool name, let's see greek god and american indian. Big up yourself. Please don't call me names buddy. I've seen your videos.
rugshort 1 year ago
This review is rubbish. Your reviewing an album that came out 20 odd years ago. How can you say now it wasn't original then? STOOPID.
rugshort 1 year ago
This review is clueless. This is the BEST ablum.
enzyme12345 1 year ago
Glueless review
enzyme12345 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
You shouldn't have made this review if you haven't heard it like the earlier ones...or the future ones
themooddisorders 1 year ago
You shouldn't have made this review if you havedn't heard it like the earlier ones...or the future ones
themooddisorders 1 year ago
Forgot to add it's hard reviewing records because people will never be happy with what you say, but your videos are what YouTube should be about. Good work.
arizonabay15 1 year ago
You must take into account how this sounded in 1986, what an antidote it was to 'Fables'. You are listening having heard everything they have done to date, but when 'Pageant' came out it was amazingly joyous. Why R.E.M. became successful and maintained this is because each year they made a better record than the last. 'Pageant' is a deliberate leap away from 'Fables' and a natural step towards 'Document'. It shows them being intelligent, loud, serious and playful, with a bunch of mighty songs.
arizonabay15 1 year ago
I think this is probably their most balanced album. It has some upbeat stuff, some more "robust" material (part of their transition), and some soft, melodic stuff. I gotta say... I love "Flowers of Guatemala". On the surface, it's kinda corny, but it's a political song, the "blooming" representing explosions.
ultramegaunknown 1 year ago
I think Pageant is a pretty good album, much more powerful, positively driven and polished than Document I would say. I don't think there are any bad songs on this album, just less than spectacular perhaps, but nothing that I would skip over. My faves are BeginTheBegin, Fall On Me, Cuyahoga, I Believe & Swan Swan H ( little gem there). I like Flowers and Stipe's gentle approach to it as well. This album holds a special place in my heart and always cheers me up when I hear it.
mozfan2792 1 year ago
Hey. If you listen to albums like this more it will grow on you and you will learn to like it. I thought the same thing with Fables and now i think its the most underated album of all time (that may be an overstatement to others but thats a personal preferance). Im still even trying to get into the first two tracks on this album.
llamasarus1 1 year ago
I don't understand how you can love document so much and find this one mediocre.
KevinHeaven9 1 year ago
You must be kidding! is one of the best albums is history, politically, lyrically and musically (as garage band talking off curse). But I understand that you haven't digest it 100% yet, it took me about 10 years to recognize it.... keep on trying it. I would recomend look up for the meaning of the historical figures in each song... that inspires!
ParkerMonster 1 year ago
This is the only REM album review you've done where I would strongly disagree. Maybe because you havent listened enough, I dont know. Of all the great early albums they made this is usually their best to me dependinding on my mood. Go listen several more times when you get the chance. It would be interesting to see if your view changes or not....
sweetness2follow 2 years ago
Another good review for another good R.E.M. album..I disagree with you on terms of the album being mediocre, this was early R.E.M. at it's most accessible, with the song writing being some of the most coherent. It rocks when it rocks, it's calm when it's calm. You are right that it was a transition into Document, and it was a good transition.
I implore you to listen through it again, you'll more than likely find more to love about it.
Good review, still.
Flyboy150 2 years ago
I keep on meaning to come back to this album but I just can't find the groove, any way to settle into it. It still has this mediocre feeling for me, though maybe in the future my thoughts will change. Thanks for the comment!
SirAllAboutMusic 2 years ago
begin the begin was awsome, good video dude!!
shanedoucette 2 years ago
This one is interesting. I see it as kind of a transition into Document. Stipe seems to gain more confidence as a vocalist with Lifes Rich Pageant.
musikgeeek67 2 years ago
Life's Rich Pageant was my first R.E.M. album. Got it when it came out. Always was one of my favorites. I feel Document is the average album and Pageant is great. Ok there are a few weak songs but the good songs more then make up for it. Fall On Me is pure beauty
ACrackInTheWall2006 2 years ago
Yeah, I've listened to it more since I did this review, and I'm starting to see the pieces come together.
SirAllAboutMusic 2 years ago
You have to listen to this one more. For sure. I think it's probably R.E.M.'s best album. Given your love for Document it's surprising that you're so luke warm on this.
registeredb 2 years ago
My luke-warm attitude definitely comes from not being experienced with the album, something which I freely admit. I will definitely be listening to it more though! Thanks again for the feedback!
SirAllAboutMusic 2 years ago
Did you know "Flowers Of Guatemala" is about the missions that the CIA was in South America, and the USA's support for south American Dictators. That's cool ain't it?
nicholsjoshua15 10 months ago
listen again--this is some great work--almost document's equal
redpaul79 2 years ago
Your reviews are very good and I totally respect your opinion, dude :)
I just gotta say that Life's Rich Pageant is one of my all-time favorite albums. It's a little rough around the edges, but that's just what makes it unique to me lol.
I just felt like sayin that haha. BTW I'm subscribing.
DurhamrockerZ 2 years ago
Thanks for the feedback, and I totally understand. I mean, there's no doubt it's a good album, it's really my lack of experience that forms my opinion. I'm sure if I listened to it more , I would grow to love it. Thanks a lot for the sub too man, I appreciate it!
SirAllAboutMusic 2 years ago
That I can do. Thanks for the suggestion!
SirAllAboutMusic 2 years ago
dude can you review some sabbath?
lokicure 2 years ago