| Song | Lyrics | Save | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1,000,000 |  |
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| 2 Stumble | |
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| 3 Wolves, Lower | |
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| 4 Gardening at Night | |
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| 5 Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) | |
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Chronic Town established R.E.M.'s signature sound immediately, expanding the jangling riffs of their debut single, "Radio Free Europe," into a full-fledged modus operandi. Recorded at Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studios, the EP has an endearingly ragged sound -- it's a garage band playing jangling pop songs, and while the music is melodic and memorable, it has an underground mentality that keeps it from sounding conventional. Not only does the lo-fi production keep the music underground, but so do Peter Buck's ringing arpeggios, Michael Stipe's incomprehensible mumbled vocals, and the band's amateurish enthusiasm. They might not be accomplished players, but already their songwriting is distinctive, with "Gardening at Night," "Wolves, Lower," and "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" ranking as early classics.
It's been 27 years since it came out but R.E.M.'s "Chronic Town" EP still sounds as timeless as ever. It's a howling, haunting, hell of a debut for a band. I came to the EP as many others my age have, through the collection Dead Letter Office. On cd. I finally emptied my pockets for the vinyl version last year only to find my record needle in a broken condition. Regardless of the way I hear it,...
More >
It's been 27 years since it came out but R.E.M.'s "Chronic Town" EP still sounds as timeless as ever. It's a howling, haunting, hell of a debut for a band. I came to the EP as many others my age have, through the collection Dead Letter Office. On cd. I finally emptied my pockets for the vinyl version last year only to find my record needle in a broken condition. Regardless of the way I hear it,...
More >
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 "Chronic Town")
