JEEBUS WHAT HAPPEN?

It occurred to me today as I was trying to decide what to blog about that I haven't actually blogged about an R.E.M. album here, ever. WHAT THE HELL JASON?

Well, without further adieu,

Today's Music That Jason Won't Let You Forget About is Document, by R.E.M. I decided to start with Document simply because it might be my favorite R.E.M. album, though Automatic For The People or even Reckoning would have something to say about that. Even Life's Rich Pageant could get in on this argument. Maybe the reason I haven't blogged about an R.E.M. album yet is that it seems unfair to talk about one and not the others. Well, anyhow...

Document represented a fair turning point in the R.E.M. discography. While the Athenians were certainly not political Luddites prior to 1987, this represented a major step forward in expressing their political views through their music. See, R.E.M. was ripping the Republican party before it was cool (and by 'cool' I mean commonplace for every whiny black-hair no-action attention-whore band to do it, System of a Down etc. I mean you. Did you really think your video calling Bush a warmonger or a megalomaniac was going to change anything? Why do you think a cheap shot from a liberal bottom-feeder is something new to a rich Republican?).

Politics aside, this is a straight-forward rock album, definitely an intelligent alternative to the hair bands that stank up the radio in the late 80's. Some of these songs are still receiving regular radio play ("The One I Love", "Finest Worksong", "End of the World"), which is nice. There are a number of other good songs on this album - actually, I can't really think of any bad ones. I particularly like "Disturbance at the Heron House", "King of Birds", "Welcome to the Occupation"..."Exhuming McCarthy" is simple but as bright and driving as anything on the album. Even the closer, "Oddfellows Local 151" is enjoyable. The fact that I can tell you the names of almost all the songs on this album (I think I left out "Fire" and one other track, which I can't name right now) should be enough of an endorsement for you, given that you don't completely hate my taste in music. Which, if you've actually read this far (i.e. through the small rant earlier), you probably don't. But then again, maybe you are just looking for someone to disagree with. Well, that's what I'm here for, generally.