Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1986…
#4 – Lifes Rich Pageant – R.E.M.
Few bands had as a good a run in the 80s as R.E.M. Lifes Rich Pageant was the band’s fourth album in as many years and every one was a masterpiece.
Following up the murky folk rock of Fables of the Reconstruction, Pageant found the band in full rock mode, putting the muscular sound of their live shows on record for the first time.
This was also a shift to political material, with lead singer and lyricist Michael Stipe feeling more comfortable and confident as a front man. His vocals are strong and direct — in contrast to earlier albums, you can actually understand what he’s saying.
Lyrically, he tackles environmental issues and political oppression, but with enough of his trademark ambiguity that the call to arms never feels didactic.
Every song on this album is a treat, but best in show goes to ‘Fall On Me,’ one of Stipe’s most soaring vocal performances. ‘Begin the Begin,’ ‘The Flowers of Guatemala,’ ‘Cuyahoga,’ and today’s SOTD are other favorites.
R.E.M. would peak again in the 90s with Automatic For the People, but for my money this mid-80s run was their finest moment.
When I was young and full of grace
And spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor not to tell
I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract
Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there’s the key
Your adventure for today, what do you do
Between the horns of the day?
[Chorus]
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe
[Verse 2]
When I was young and give and take
And foolish said my fool awake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor, on your honor
Trust in your calling, make sure your calling’s true
Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make
Practice, practice makes perfect
Perfect is a fault and fault lines change
[Chorus]
I believe, my humor’s wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe
[Verse 3]
When I was young and full of grace
And spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor, on you’re honor
I believe in example, I believe my throat hurts
Example is the checker to the key
[Chorus]
I believe, my humor’s wearing thin
And I believe the poles are shifting
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
Meet Me In Montauk 
Automatic for the People remains my favorite album, but this is no doubt a great one.
Man, to be alive and listening to new music in 1986!
Another great one ❤️
What a year of music this was. I played this and Fables on repeat in my UF dorm. Might be slightly partial to Fables, but “Fall On Me” is one of my very favorite of their songs.