R.E.M.’s ‘Disturbance at the Heron House’ Tackles Orwell and ReaganR.E.M.’s ‘Disturbance at the Heron House’ Tackles Orwell and ReaganMichael Stipe was inspired by 'Animal Farm' to create an animalized revolution put down by the Reagan administration. Bryan WawzenekBryan Wawzenek
35 Years Ago: R.E.M. Make a Mysterious Statement with Debut EP ‘Chronic Town’35 Years Ago: R.E.M. Make a Mysterious Statement with Debut EP ‘Chronic Town’After the success of their "Radio Free Europe" single, R.E.M. took the next step with the 'Chronic Town' EP.Annie ZaleskiAnnie Zaleski
R.E.M. Takes a Bite out of Dogma on ‘Exhuming McCarthy': The Story Behind Every ‘Document’ SongR.E.M. Takes a Bite out of Dogma on ‘Exhuming McCarthy': The Story Behind Every ‘Document’ SongR.E.M.'s most topical album yet just kept getting more intense. Nick DeRisoNick DeRiso
R.E.M.’s Anger Comes Into Focus on ‘Welcome to the Occupation’R.E.M.’s Anger Comes Into Focus on ‘Welcome to the Occupation’The second track on 'Document' was the third R.E.M. song about U.S. intervention in Central and South America. It was the band's most direct repudiation yet.Bryan WawzenekBryan Wawzenek
‘Finest Worksong': R.E.M. Gets Loud and Political but Stays Weird‘Finest Worksong': R.E.M. Gets Loud and Political but Stays WeirdAs R.E.M. sprinted toward a long-developing commercial breakthrough in 1987, they came to more fully understand their own powers as a band.Nick DeRisoNick DeRiso