in 1988 interview, peter buck described typical r.e.m. songs as, minor key, mid-tempo, enigmatic, semi-folk-rock-balladish things. s thinks , degree, s true. songwriting credited entire band, though individual members responsible writing majority of particular song. each member given equal vote in songwriting process; however, buck has conceded stipe, band s lyricist, can persuaded follow idea not favor. among original line-up, there divisions of labor in songwriting process: stipe write lyrics , devise melodies, buck edge band in new musical directions, , mills , berry fine-tune compositions due greater musical experience.
michael stipe sings in r.e.m. biographer david buckley described wailing, keening, arching vocal figures . stipe harmonizes mills in songs; in chorus stand , mills , stipe alternate singing lyrics, creating dialogue. articles band focused on stipe s singing style (described mumbling washington post), rendered lyrics indecipherable. creem writer john morthland wrote in review of murmur, still have no idea these songs about, because neither me nor else know has ever been able discern r.e.m. s lyrics. stipe commented in 1984, s way sing. if tried control it, pretty false. producer joe boyd convinced stipe begin singing more during recording of fables of reconstruction.
stipe later called chorus lyrics of sitting still r.e.m. debut album, murmur, nonsense , saying in 1994 online chat, know there aren t words, per se, lot of stuff. can t remember them. in truth, stipe crafted lyrics many r.e.m. songs. stipe explained in 1984 when started writing lyrics simple pictures , after year grew tired of approach , started experimenting lyrics didn t make exact linear sense, , s gone there. in mid-1980s, stipe s pronunciation while singing became clearer, band decided lyrics should convey ideas on more literal level. mills explained, after ve made 3 records , ve written several songs , ve gotten better , better lyrically next step have question , say, saying anything? , michael had confidence @ point yes . . . songs cuyahoga , fall on me on lifes rich pageant dealt such concerns pollution. stipe incorporated more politically oriented concerns lyrics on document , green. our political activism , content of songs reaction were, , surrounded by, abject horror, stipe said later. in 1987 , 88 there nothing active. stipe has since explored other lyrical topics. automatic people dealt mortality , dying. pretty turgid stuff , according stipe, while monster critiqued love , mass culture.
peter buck s guitar-playing style has defined r.e.m. s sound
peter buck s style of playing guitar has been singled out many distinctive aspect of r.e.m. s music. during 1980s, buck s economical, arpeggiated, poetic style reminded british music journalists of 1960s american folk rock band byrds. buck has stated [byrds guitarist] roger mcguinn big influence on me guitar player , said byrds-influenced bands, including big star , soft boys, inspired him more. comparisons made guitar playing of johnny marr of alternative rock contemporaries smiths. while buck professed being fan of group, admitted criticized band because tired of fans asking him if influenced marr, band had in fact made debut after r.e.m. buck eschews guitar solos; explained in 2002, know when guitarists rip hot solo, people go nuts, don t write songs suit that, , not interested in that. can if have to, don t it. mike mills melodic approach bass playing inspired paul mccartney of beatles , chris squire of yes; mills has said, played melodic bass, piano bass in ways . . . never wanted play traditional locked kick drum, root note bass work. mills has more musical training bandmates, has said made easier turn abstract musical ideas reality.
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