User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Life's Rich Pageant
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Life's Rich Pageant Image
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

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

Top Track

Fall on Me
There's a problem, feathers, iron Bargain buildings, weights and pulleys Feathers hit the ground Before the weight can leave the air Buy the sky and... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List ยป
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. 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.
  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]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Slant Magazine
    Jul 15, 2011
    90
    Life's Rich Pageant serves as both a guidepost for how R.E.M. moved in an arena-sized direction and as another extraordinary album in the band's uninterrupted run of true greatness that spanned between Murmur and Automatic for the People.
  4. Blurt Magazine
    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.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jul 15, 2011
    88
    It's both epilogue and prologue, yet these songs retain their own specific flavor, as R.E.M. map the borders between small clubs and large venues, between underground and mainstream, between rhythm and melody, between outrage and hope. That in-between quality still sounds invigorating so many years later.
  6. Q Magazine
    Aug 9, 2011
    80
    Before stardom, they stopped off to reinvent guitar rock. [Aug. 2011, p. 128]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Paste Magazine
    Jul 15, 2011
    70
    Although it shines a giant and unmistakable signal toward the direct and poppy approach the band would undertake on their next few albums, Pageant still retains the mumbles of Murmur, the jangles of Reckoning, and the rustic tones of Fables of the Reconstruction.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. JUIKER
    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 aI 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
    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 stillQuite 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
  4. Gosh_reiners938
    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
  5. Kronosmother
    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 forthits 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… Expand
  6. johnbobs1
    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    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
  7. Ricko
    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 muchVintage 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.… Collapse
  8. fredphoesh
    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    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.    … Expand

See all 12 User Reviews