R.E.M.: Reckoning [Deluxe Edition]

R.E.M.
Reckoning [Deluxe Edition]
IRS/Universal Music Group [1984; re:2009]
(2 CD Set)








Fire Drill Review:
Reckoning was the total avoidance of the sophomore slump for R.E.M. in 1984. The remastering sounds great and Reckoning truly has aged gracefully but like Murmur the second disc to this package captures a concert from this era. It is an unreleased concert recorded during the band's Little America tour at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom on July 7, 1984 which covers Reckoning's songs, but also includes versions of "Driver 8" and "Hyena" which don't show up till album number three and four. This concert also sounds a bit tighter compared to the one on Murmur, which shows the bands performance growth in a short amount of time. This for sure is an album to either pick up if you don't have it or even if you do because the redo is well worth it for your collection.

Key Track: "Driver 8"

R.E.M.: Murmur [Deluxe Edition] [Fire Note Review 12/1/08]
R.E.M.: Accelerate [Fire Note Review 3/31/08]

Official R.E.M. Website
R.E.M. MySpace
R.E.M. Info [Allmusic]
Universal Music Group

-Reviewed by Aidan Rox