• Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Jul 12, 2011
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 37
  2. Negative: 1 out of 37

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Apr 6, 2012
    8
    Vintage early R.E.M and this has some of their best work (The wonderful Fall On Me and Cuyahoga are on it). They went on to produce much better records than this but this is probably their first really great album. It's the sound of a young and exciting band and I think this was the record where they seemed to discover their unmistakable style here, that match of quality tunes and great lyrics.
  2. Oct 18, 2012
    9
    That's music! And R.E.M. have done also much better during their career. It's the best of the I.R.S. years, after Murmur. There are many wonderful songs, and Cuyahoga and Fall On Me are especially great. After Life's Rich Pageant teir sound begins to change album after album, so I think it's the one of the last with R.E.M.'s original sound. Don't miss it!
  3. Jul 15, 2011
    10
    I assume this is showing up under "Current Music Releases" for some kind of re-release. It doesn't matter to me, I always thought this was a great band finding its accessibility stride. From Begin the Begin through Swan Swan H and culminating in Superman there isn't a single misstep. Simply a classic.
  4. Aug 29, 2011
    5
    REM's "pivotal" album???? Absolute hogwash.
    I love REM but this is one of their weakest. There are a couple of great tracks, up to par with tracks on their best albums, Murmur, Out of Time, Automatic for the People, but this one is not a gem. Lots of dear michael sounding decidedly rockish and losing his emotion, er, his religion.
  5. Feb 23, 2022
    9
    На этом альбоме имеется, пожалуй, лучшая песня «Fall on Me». За счёт неё и уйму других песен на альбоме он заслуживает быть одним из лучших в дискографии группы.
  6. Mar 10, 2023
    10
    Great album need I say more? What more can I say about an album from one of the best rock bands of alltime
  7. Jul 18, 2011
    8
    Not a bad track on the album a true R.E.M. classic. Begin the Begin, These Days, Fall On Me, I believe and just a touch make this an instant purchase! - FOR THOSE WONDERING ABOUT THE REMASTERING QUALITY - Yes you can tell the difference, the sound is more crisp and the vocal sharper. I have not listened to the bonus stuff much as yet, but you prolly already know if you like that sort ofNot a bad track on the album a true R.E.M. classic. Begin the Begin, These Days, Fall On Me, I believe and just a touch make this an instant purchase! - FOR THOSE WONDERING ABOUT THE REMASTERING QUALITY - Yes you can tell the difference, the sound is more crisp and the vocal sharper. I have not listened to the bonus stuff much as yet, but you prolly already know if you like that sort of thing. For me the remastered regular album was enough. Great Album. Expand
  8. May 29, 2017
    8
    Yes yes, ''Automatic for the People'' and ''Out of Time,'' but this is also an REM classic.
    Though far less popular than some of it's successors, it boasts some truly memorable and original songs. And unlike it's predecessors (Murmur, Recckoning etc.) is quite accessible to the more mainstream REM fans
    The most recognisable classic from this album is the beautiful ''Fall on Me,'' but
    Yes yes, ''Automatic for the People'' and ''Out of Time,'' but this is also an REM classic.
    Though far less popular than some of it's successors, it boasts some truly memorable and original songs. And unlike it's predecessors (Murmur, Recckoning etc.) is quite accessible to the more mainstream REM fans
    The most recognisable classic from this album is the beautiful ''Fall on Me,'' but there are others. ''These Days,'' ''Just a Touch'' and ''I Believe'' are enjoyable fast temp songs, and ''Cuyahoga'' and ''Swan Swan H'' Provide the slower moments; the latter of which is one of the most moody and well written REM songs of all time.
    A must buy album for ANY fans of the band, and highly recommended to most indie / soft rock fans as a classic.
    Expand
  9. Jul 20, 2011
    9
    This is a great album from beginning to end, from when REM was relevant and made great music. Alas, neither has been true for many years. At the time, it was a switch in tone from their previous album "Fables of the Reconstruction." "Fall on Me," their pro-environment statement song remains a poignant and important song. "Superman" is another terrific song. The 2011 Reissue also hasThis is a great album from beginning to end, from when REM was relevant and made great music. Alas, neither has been true for many years. At the time, it was a switch in tone from their previous album "Fables of the Reconstruction." "Fall on Me," their pro-environment statement song remains a poignant and important song. "Superman" is another terrific song. The 2011 Reissue also has demos of most of the songs on the original album plus a bunch more. It's pretty sad that a record from 25 years ago is better than almost everything being made today. Expand
  10. Jan 16, 2012
    10
    Quite simply one of R.E.M.'s best albums. It is here and only here that the band has the commercial style of 1987's Document while still retaining the raw energy of earlier albums such as Chronic Town and Murmur. This is a perfect album with no bad tracks. The best song here is probably "Fall On Me." The only R.E.M. albums I would recommend more are 1983's Murmur and 1992's Automatic ForQuite simply one of R.E.M.'s best albums. It is here and only here that the band has the commercial style of 1987's Document while still retaining the raw energy of earlier albums such as Chronic Town and Murmur. This is a perfect album with no bad tracks. The best song here is probably "Fall On Me." The only R.E.M. albums I would recommend more are 1983's Murmur and 1992's Automatic For The People. Expand
  11. Jul 17, 2011
    7
    Important release for sure, but i think Metacritic should stop putting reissues and greatest hits records under current releases and on the top rated music of the year.
  12. Sep 24, 2011
    8
    its a album from the period rem was awesome.But its not the pivotal album really.But this is very very good some great tracks and brings forth a lot of great memories,absolutely love it
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Q Magazine
    Aug 9, 2011
    80
    Before stardom, they stopped off to reinvent guitar rock. [Aug. 2011, p. 128]
  2. Aug 3, 2011
    90
    Taken as a whole, the two-CD incarnation of Life's Rich Pageant makes a case for the album taking its rightful place alongside such obvious classics as Murmur and Out of Time.
  3. Aug 2, 2011
    80
    Life's Rich Pageant rather sweetly gathers the emotions and carries them back to the time.