If you click on this link, I reckon that you'll go back to the main R.E.M. page ... Reckoning is Beckoning Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 I'm disappointed! Murmur was a post-punk-pop-whatever album that was so good that it had goodness written all over it and was filled with good-custard with good-chunks. Reckoning is still a good album ... it's just not *as* good. For starters, the whole uncanny magic that made Murmur such a special, delightful listen are missing. Where's the magic? IT'S GONE! Plus, I don't think the material is quite as strong as the tracks in Murmur was. Although, there are three tracks in here that rank as "superb." They are "7 Chinese Bros.," "So. Central Rain," and "Pretty Persuasion." All the rest of the songs are still good ... and they are consistently good, even. They're just not as good. And I'm disappointed. Hmph. The style of both these albums are similar. They consist of rather quiet and understated songs. Although Reckoning is certainly more diverse, it would require a careful analysis in order to discover exactly what is diverse about these songs. I probably should undergo such an analysis but I won't, because I don't feel like it! On the surface level, though, I can tell you that some of these tracks are slower, some are quicker, some are louder, and some are softer. Oh, yes. That's diversity for ya! Reckoning isn't an album that I can get enthusiastic over. But it is a formidable one. It's also tasteful and enjoyable. So all R.E.M. fans can rejoice! IT'S FORMIDABLE! HOORAY!!!!! Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (Reckoning is similar to Murmur except it's not quite as magical. 'Tis still a strong album, though, and if you find you're an undying fan of Murmur, then Reckoning would be a necessary purchase.) Average Song Score: 8.7 (This is a pretty good set of tunes. Only three of them are 'amazing,' though.) Album Tilt: 8.5 (There is not a bad song on here. This is a fairly consistent album.) Artist Rating: 8.5 (Even though it's a disappointment from Murmur, Reckoning is still a good, tasteful album.) Track Reviews Harborcoat 8.5/10 Pretty good! It has similar qualities as the songs from Murmur had. It's kind of quiet and understated. Unfortunately, what's missing from this one is that strange magic the best songs from Murmur did. So, "Harborcoat" is a good song ... it's just not special or anything. It's fun to listen to, though. 7 Chinese Bros. 10/10 Good riff! That's what really makes this song so great. "Harborcoat" was good, but there was little about it that made me want to listen to it over and over again. "7 Chinese Bros" on the other hand is a song that is catchy and does make you want to listen to it over and over again. A very nice song!! It's probably even classic!!..!...!....!.....! So. Central Rain 10/10 This song is not only catchy, but it's bouncy! BOUNCY BOUNCY! Oh yes. I like bouncy ... stuff. I don't know why they're talking about. Central Rain ... SO??? I don't know about that. But I like the song. Good, good song. I want to lick your ankles. Pretty Persuasion 9.5/10 ANOTHER cool song! How cool is that? The melody is written very well. The drums are very loud. (That's cool.) It's catchy. (That's cool.) And I like it. (That's very cool.) I also think the riff is cool. (That's extremely cool.) My name is Michael (That's cooler than chipmunks and most other rodents and turtles and extinct mammals such as the saber-toothed tiger). And the instruments are played very well. (That's cooler, even, than most Pepsi products, except for Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Crack Cocaine.) Time After Time (Annelise) 8/10 This one gets more atmospheric and stuff ... it's almost like The Velvet Underground atmospheric stuff except that it doesn't suck that much. I don't know. I still find it kinda boring, you know. But I do appreciate it. Second Guessing 8.5/10 Pretty good. Though, maybe this one is simpler than most of the other songs from this album. I don't know ... I'm just not incredibly enthusiastic about it, although it does have a pretty good riff. Letter Never Sent 8.5/10 A letter never sent is like a burned dog: You- OH SHUT UP! Oh! Hi! Yes, I'm reviewing Reckoning by R.E.M., aren't I? I remember. Oh! Hey! This song is pretty good, too. I'm not head-over-heels screaming "OH MAN! THIS IS CLASSIC AND STUFF!!!!!" at it, but I'm thinking "hey this is niiiiice" at it. So. Central Rain. Camera 7/10 SNAP! Oh. Boo. This. Song. Is. Kind. Of. Boring. It. Is. So. Boring. That. It. Makes. Me. Want. To. Write. In. Really. Short. Sentences. Nevertheless. It. Was. Written. Pretty. Well. It. Has. A. Nice. Chorus. And. Stuff. Like. That. But. It's. Still. Kind. Of. Boring. It. Is. Also. Too. Long. I. Think. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville 8/10 Good melody! I also like the use of the piano. It almost reminds me of Bruce Springsteen ... but this is still R.E.M. I know. I read the CD jacket. ANYWAY, I am so unenthusiastic about this song, but it's pleasant. And. I. Like. It. Little America 8.5/10 This has an interesting and complicated riff! That's pretty cool. Apart from the riff, though, there is nothing to make this song a special one to listen to. I was hoping that R.E.M. would close Reckoning with a 10-scoring song ... and so I will forever spend the rest of my life wondering what it might have been like. Oh bother. Send me your comments of reckoning here!

All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence. For weeks, he gets away without using deodorant!!!