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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Much as the outtake and B-side collection Dead Letter Office anthologizes the many oddities of R.E.M., 1988's Eponymous is a document testifying to the astounding strength of their formative I.R.S. years. Eponymous reinforces the notion that the inchoate R.E.M. was a rare and brilliant gem of a group. While a somewhat brief CD, it provides quality listening from start to finish with hits such as "The One I Love," "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," and "Driver 8" tucked amid the likes of an alternate take of "Finest Worksong" and the wonderfully mysterious "Gardening at Night." Especially noteworthy is the inclusion of the original seven-inch version of "Radio Free Europe," the band's 1981 release. --Lorry Fleming
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R.E.M. Photos
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More from R.E.M.
 Lifes Rich Pageant |  The Best of the I.R.S. Years: Collector’s Edition |  Fables of the Reconstruction |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This collection gathers the better radio tracks from REM's first (and, to these ears, best) six years together. It's hard to remember how organic and dynamic underground-turned-mainstream hits like "South Central Rain" and "Radio Free Europe" (heard here in its original demo version) were until you hear them again, especially in the 80s when alternative radio was restricted to college frequencies.
The group had already concocted muscular folk-rock melodies based on the genre's heroes. The Byrds' country and folk-rock influences all the songs, as does Alex Chilton's Box Tops and Michael Nesmith's First National Band ("Rockville" closes with a quote from Johnny Rivers' "Poor Side of Town.")Who could forget Michael Stipe's distinctive voice buried in musical quicksand, and trying to decipher his cryptic lyric images?
Highlights include the staples "The One I Love" and the fun, if silly "It's The End of The World" (the conductor, Communist, comic and critic fit together only rythmically), the gorgeous "Fall On Me" from their only Don Gehman-produced album (with softheaded Biblical imagery reminiscent of his other major client, John Mellencamp) and Bill Berry's great drumming throughout, especially on "Can't Get There From Here" and "Gardening at Night." Recommended early music from a Hall of Fame-bound rock band.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By mwreview
Format:Audio CD
Eponymous was the first R.E.M. album I purchased and it turned me into a loyal fan. I soon snatched up their entire back catalog and they were a significant part of my music listening life for years to come. That is about as good a tribute to an album I can give.
Of course, being a greatest hits compilation, all the songs here are great, but there are some alternative mixes here for fans who already have these songs on the studio releases. There is a different version of "Radio Free Europe" here although I like the one on Murmur better. The bass stands out more on the Murmur mix whereas the bass on this album's version is less prominent and seems to be covered up as well as some of the other sound details. I do prefer the different vocal mix to "Gardening at Night" than the one on Chronic Town. The Chronic Town version has very weak sounding vocals which had a negative effect on the song. The vocals here are a lot clearer so the song sounds much better. I disagree with the note on the record sleeve that the Eponymous version of "Finest Worksong" (the 12" and 7" version) is better than the original off Document. This mix has a horn section that I do not care for. A track that some R.E.M. fans may not have is "Romance." It is a very early track that surfaced on the "Made in Heaven" soundtrack (a film I have never heard of but it briefly plays this track). It turns out to be one of my favorite R.E.M. songs. The intense bass really drives the song and makes it unique. Eponymous is worth picking up for that track alone. Eponymous also includes interesting comments about each track.
Of course, being a greatest hits compilation, all the songs here are great, but there are some alternative mixes here for fans who already have these songs on the studio releases. There is a different version of "Radio Free Europe" here although I like the one on Murmur better. The bass stands out more on the Murmur mix whereas the bass on this album's version is less prominent and seems to be covered up as well as some of the other sound details. I do prefer the different vocal mix to "Gardening at Night" than the one on Chronic Town. The Chronic Town version has very weak sounding vocals which had a negative effect on the song. The vocals here are a lot clearer so the song sounds much better. I disagree with the note on the record sleeve that the Eponymous version of "Finest Worksong" (the 12" and 7" version) is better than the original off Document. This mix has a horn section that I do not care for. A track that some R.E.M. fans may not have is "Romance." It is a very early track that surfaced on the "Made in Heaven" soundtrack (a film I have never heard of but it briefly plays this track). It turns out to be one of my favorite R.E.M. songs. The intense bass really drives the song and makes it unique. Eponymous is worth picking up for that track alone. Eponymous also includes interesting comments about each track.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Eponymous was the final release by R.E.M. on the IRS label. Even though it was released to fulfill contractual obligations, it is a great overview of the band's work for the seminal label. There most well known songs from this era like "The One I Love", "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville", "Can't Get There From Here" and "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" are included. There are few treats like the original 7" Hibtone version of "Radio Free Europe", an alternative take of "Gardening At Night" and a horn mix of "The Finest Worksong". If you are only familiar with the band's Warner Brothers output, then Eponymous is a great place to start to hear what the band sounded like in their early, formative years.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Classic REM!
I had this album on cassette and nearly wore that out. It has always been a favorite, something reliable to pop in the car and hit the road with! Read more
Published 2 months ago by H.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleased
I had purchased a song from the album and had meant to complete my collection. I like R.E.M.'s music and was pleased with what I got and the speed and condition that I got it in.
Published 6 months ago by Happy Jack
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic!
I bought this disc to replace the scratched up original one I got years and years ago. I love this CD.
Published 15 months ago by John Wyckoff
4.0 out of 5 stars
your better off buying the whole collection
Just Buy the rest of their albums and forget this one. The music is great, but why buy twice, just buy all the rest and ,dare I say, pass on this one. Read more
Published 18 months ago by jonathan brailsford
5.0 out of 5 stars
The R.E.M. collection to own
R.E.M.'s music is among the most influential of all-time. Their hits like 'Orange Crush' and 'Losing My Religion' still get played on FM radio stations everyday. Read more
Published on April 15, 2008 by Johnny Boy
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Than in Name Only
'Eponymous' is R.E.M.'s conception of their greatest hits from their formidable years with IRS. It is admirable: It works well as a sampler; it adds to the experience with... Read more
Published on September 28, 2006 by "Rocky Raccoon"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eponymous in name only
I want to start this review by saying that another reviewer called this album a waste to get, simply because all of the songs can be found other releases by R.E.M. Read more
Published on August 12, 2006 by T. Cronin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great collection of R.E.M. classics
While its always better to have each of the individual albums to get some of the deeper cuts. This disk has a great collection of R.E.M. classics.
Published on August 11, 2006 by Chad Williams
1.0 out of 5 stars
Get A Less Expensive CD of This Album
I love this album.
The problem is that the older copy I bought years ago sounds terrible - muddy low volume, poor dynamics. Read more
The problem is that the older copy I bought years ago sounds terrible - muddy low volume, poor dynamics. Read more
Published on June 13, 2006 by zugzwang
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essentially a 'Best of' collection of REM
This CD is basically a compilation of the first 6 years of REM forming and producing records. So infact this is REM's early songs bundled in one friendly CD. Read more
Published on February 21, 2005 by Petar Vodogaz
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