In this book about rock group REM's debut album Murmur , music writer Niimi discusses the early history of the band, the studio environment in relation to the making of the album, a song-by-song description of the album, his own experience with the record and its relationship to 1980s culture and Southern Gothic, and an analysis of vocals and language. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)