Around the release of Document (1987) REM was actually the biggest underground band of the moment. The group from Athens, Georgia had made a series of great records and had built up a large fan base without any significant airplay or MTV videos. Not much later, the four men would crawl out of their shells and conquer the world for good. Document was their last record for the record company and the
… large the band would love to offer a contract a year later. It is easy to understand why. On Document REM already sounded like a stadium rock band with enough qualities to bring alternative rock to a large audience. This actually worked pretty well, because single The One I Love for example already reached a neat ninth place in the American charts. It is nothing compared to what REM would achieve with (1991) and (1992). This record nevertheless shows how the quartet, together with producer Scott Lit for the first time, is taking the first steps on the path to global success. (JE)more
