Reckoning (R.E.M. album)

Infobox Album
Name = Reckoning
Type = studio
Artist = R.E.M.


Released = start date|1984|4|9
Recorded = start date|1983|12|9–end date|1984|1|16 at Reflection Sound, Charlotte
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 38:11
Label = I.R.S.
Producer = Mitch Easter and Don Dixon
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A8wavqj5boj0a link]
*Robert Christgau (B+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1140&name=R.E.M. link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/rem/albums/album/213934/review/6068345/reckoning link]
Last album = "Murmur" (1983)
This album = "Reckoning" (1984)
Next album = "Fables of the Reconstruction" (1985)

"Reckoning" is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina and released in 1984 by independent label I.R.S. Records to critical acclaim and stronger record sales than the band's debut album.

Details

"Reckoning" features some of R.E.M.'s more popular early songs, including "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" and "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville." Avoiding romantic themes once again, lyricist Michael Stipe instead ruminates on cold weather, a fairy tale in which a child drowns, a flood, superficiality, and separation. The upbeat tone of the music contrast with the dark lyrics. The final song, "Little America", is written about rural America [cite book |title=Reveal: The Story of R.E.M. |last=Black |first=Johnny |year=2004 |publisher=Backbeat Books |location=Milwaukee, WI |isbn=0879307765 ] , and adumbrates the Southern themes on the following album, "Fables of the Reconstruction" (1985).

The cover art for "Reckoning" is the result of a collaboration between lead singer Michael Stipe and Georgia artist Howard Finster.

"Reckoning" reached #27 in the U.S. (where it went gold in 1991), and became R.E.M.'s first UK chart album, where it peaked at #91.

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

ide one

# "Harborcoat" – 3:54
# "7 Chinese Bros." – 4:18
# "So. Central Rain" – 3:15
# "Pretty Persuasion" – 3:50
# "Time After Time (Annelise)" – 3:31

ide two

# "Second Guessing" – 2:51
# "Letter Never Sent" – 2:59
# "Camera" – 5:52 [A brief, informal jam takes place at the end of the track.]
# "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" – 4:32
# "Little America" – 2:58 [A 28-second noise collage followed this song on the initial vinyl pressing and the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab gold CD release. It can be heard as incidental music during the "Left of Reckoning" video.] cite web | url = http://orangefox.svs.com/rem/discog/album-i.php | title = R.E.M. discography | accessdate = 2006-10-03]

"Track listing note:" On the original vinyl release, side one was labeled "L" and side two "R".

"The IRS Years" reissue

On August 10 1992, EMI (which owns the I.R.S. catalogue) re-released "Reckoning" in the EU with five bonus tracks:
#

"Wind Out" (with friends), guest vocalists Bertis Downs, IV and Jefferson Holt (previously unreleased)
#"Pretty Persuasion" (live in the studio - previously unreleased)
#"White Tornado" (live in the studio - previously unreleased))
#"Tighten Up" (Archie Bell, Billy Butler) (live in the studio - originally released as a free flexi disc with "Bucketful of Brains" magazine, Start date|1985|1.
#"Moon River" (Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini) (live in the studio - previously unreleased)

The original studio recording of "Windout" can be found on the soundtrack to the 1984 film "Bachelor Party" and "Dead Letter Office", which also features the original 1981 recording of "White Tornado."

Personnel

* Bill Berry – drums, percussion, vocals
* Peter Buck – guitar
* Mike Mills – bass, vocals, piano
* Michael Stipe – vocals,harmonica

Trivia

*Courtney Love of the band Hole claimed she was kicked out of an earlier band (Babes In Toyland) because she listened to "Reckoning" too much.
*According to the song "Unseen Power of the Picket Fence" by Pavement, which was originally released on the 1993 benefit album "No Alternative", "Time After Time (Annelise)" is Stephen Malkmus' least favourite R.E.M. song.

Excerpt:

Flashback to 1983,
"Chronic Town" was their first EP.
Later on came "Reckoning",
Finster's art...
With titles to match:
"So. Central Rain",
"(Don't Go Back To) Rockville",
"Harborcoat",
"Pretty Persuasion",
You're born to be a "Camera".
"Time After Time"'s my least favorite song,
"Time After Time" was my least favorite song.

Charts

Album

Certifications

Notes

External links

*MusicBrainz album|id=d1df43dc-8b15-4a43-8c9f-114eb00cea62|name=Reckoning