Murmur is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 12, 1983, by I.R.S. Records. The album was recorded in the winter of 1983 at Reflection Sound Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, with musicians Don Dixon and Mitch Easter serving as producers. Murmur received critical acclaim upon release for its unconventional sound, defined by lead singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly playing, and Mike Mills' melodic basslines.