“TOURFILM” R.E.M. <i> Warner Reprise Video laser disc ($29.98)</i>

R.E.M., one of the most inspiring American rock bands of the ‘80s, put too much thought and not enough heart into its 1989 tour. Instead of relying on the purity of the musical vision that characterized the group’s cult days, the quartet apparently felt it was necessary to pump itself up theatrically when it moved to a mainstream arena setting. Michael Stipe, the main offender, went from merely mysterious and eccentric to a self-conscious mix of David Byrne artiness and Morrissey super-sensitivity. The good news is this concert documentary is music-only (no obligatory traveling/backstage shots), the sound and picture quality are excellent, and, after some establishing footage, the music (from “Feeling Gravity’s Pull” and “It’s the End of the World . . . “ to “Finest Worksong”) serves as more of a centerpiece than Stipe’s mannerisms.

Items in this periodic survey of pop-related books, videocassettes and laser discs are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic).