About this album
Where they were
Released in 1988, 'Eponymous' is R.E.M.'s first greatest hits compilation, encapsulating their early years following the breakthrough success of 'Document' just a year prior. This album serves as a pivotal moment, showcasing the band's distinctive sound just as they began to gain mainstream recognition.
Why it matters
The album reached No. 66 on the Billboard 200 chart, further solidifying R.E.M.'s place in the alternative rock scene. Its inclusion of key tracks like 'The One I Love' and 'It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)' helped introduce the band to a broader audience and influenced countless artists in the burgeoning college rock movement.
Essential tracks
- "Radio Free Europe (original Hib-Tone single)" — This track was R.E.M.'s debut single and a defining anthem of the early alt-rock movement, encapsulating their signature sound.
- "(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville" — A heartfelt exploration of nostalgia and loss, this track showcases Michael Stipe's poignant lyricism and emotional delivery.
- "It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" — 'It’s the End of the World...' became an iconic cultural touchstone, reflecting anxieties of the era with its frenetic energy and stream-of-consciousness lyrics.
- "So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)" — This song captures a sense of urgency and vulnerability, blending jangly guitars with evocative storytelling that is quintessentially R.E.M.
Release Date
October 1, 1988
Artist Origin
United States
Tracklist
- 1 Radio Free Europe (original Hib-Tone single) 3:49
- 2 Gardening at Night (different vocal mix) 3:30
- 3 Talk About the Passion 3:21
- 4 So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) 3:15
- 5 (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville 4:32
- 6 Can’t Get There From Here 3:40
- 7 Driver 8 3:24
- 8 Romance 3:27
- 9 Fall on Me 2:51
- 10 The One I Love 3:17
- 11 Finest Worksong (Mutual Drum Horn mix) 3:51
- 12 It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) 4:06
