R.E.M. - Reckoning (1984) – Factory Sealed

$

120

A rare copy of R.E.M.’s landmark sophomore album, Reckoning. This 1984 original US pressing on I.R.S. Records is Factory Sealed and has never been opened, handled, or played. An immaculate time capsule for serious alternative rock, indie, and 1980s music collectors! 
Released in April 1984 and produced by the legendary duo of Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, Reckoning was the critical breakthrough that proved R.E.M. was the future of American independent music. Following their staggering 1983 debut Murmur, the band recorded Reckoning at Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina in just 16 frantic days. Dixon and Easter purposefully utilized binaural recording setups to capture the raw, unpolished, and hyper-kinetic energy of R.E.M.’s sweat-soaked live club performances. 
The record is an absolute monument of jangle pop. It includes the timeless, mournful single "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" and the iconic, driving rhythms of "Pretty Persuasion" and "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville." Driven by Peter Buck’s shimmering Rickenbacker guitar arpeggios, Mike Mills’ melodic basslines, Bill Berry’s driving drum pocket, and Michael Stipe's famously enigmatic, heavily layered vocal delivery, this album established the literal sonic blueprint for the entire 1980s and 1990s alternative rock explosion.
The packaging is also highly famous for its striking abstract cover illustration, designed by visual artist Howard Finster, depicting a two-headed snake framing the band members' names.
Item Specifics • Artist: R.E.M. • Title: Reckoning (Alternatively titled "File Under Water" on the jacket spine) • Label: I.R.S. Records (International Record Syndicate) • Catalog Number: SP-70044 • Format: Vinyl, LP, Album • Country/Pressing: US (Original First Pressing / Presumed Quiex II Translucent Variant) • Release Date: April 14, 1984 • Genre: Rock • Style: Jangle Pop / Alternative Rock / Indie Rock
Condition Grading:
Vinyl Disc Condition: Mint (M). Still Sealed. Never extracted from its original packaging, never handled by human hands, and entirely unplayed. Completely free from spindle wear, paper scuffs, environmental dust, or fingerprint degradation.
Jacket Cover Sleeve: Near Mint (NM). Beautifully preserved, thick rigid cardboard construction with striking, sharp 90-degree corners. The spine is perfectly squared with crisp, flawless factory typography. Print finishes remain extraordinarily vibrant with zero ultraviolet sun-fading or color bleeding. Absolutely NO promotional punch-holes, cut-out saw-marks, or corner-clips.
Shrink Wrap Integrity: Crystal clear, original factory heat-shrink seal. No compression splits, stress tears, or ring-wear scuffing. Includes original factory "breathe holes" in the shrink wrap, validating its untampered authenticity.