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Title: Back when they were good.
Review: Never underestimate the power of a rhythm section. In the mid to late 80s REM evolved into one of the best of the alternative bands because they had a powerful sense of crafting uptempo rock and roll numbers that showcased a rhythm section built around the passionate low-key voice of Mr. Stipe. Life's Rich Pageant, top to bottom, is the classic REM album and had them at the peak of this definitive sound. Begin the Begin and Finest Worksong and who can forget the refrain, "This one goes out to..."While they had their moments in the 90s and here now in the 21st Century they are still putting together well-crafted songs, the exuberance, the unabashed layers of guitars and drums, that made those late 80s years so striking, has left them too tame to rival their past.If you want to hear a band at its peak of both musicianship and influence, this is the place to start.
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