Life's Rich Pageant - R.E.M.
Life's Rich Pageant Image
Metascore
93 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The legendary band's pivotal album is remastered and reissued since it's 1986 release--complete with a bonus disc of demos.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Beats Per Minute (formerly One Thirty BPM)
    Jul 15, 2011
    100
    Time has only been kind to Life's Rich Pageant, and, hopefully, not much more time will be required to it to take its place in the rock and roll canon as the practically perfect album that it is.
  2. Uncut
    Jul 28, 2011
    100
    R.E.M. were already walking head and shoulders taller than most by now, but Life's Rich Pageant was nevertheless a startlingly great leap forward. [Aug 2011, p.102]
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  3. The Independent (UK)
    Jul 15, 2011
    100
    Twenty-five years ago, Lifes Rich Pageant found R.E.M. metamorphosing from what was effectively a turbo-charged folk-rock cult indie outfit into a proper rock band capable of filling stadia.
  4. Q Magazine
    Aug 9, 2011
    80
    Before stardom, they stopped off to reinvent guitar rock. [Aug. 2011, p. 128]
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See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. JUIKER
    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.… Expand
  2. thatbeatleskid
    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 For The People.… Collapse
  3. Ricko
    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.… Expand
  4. brix
    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.… Expand

See all 9 User Reviews

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