Question: What American rock band that formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 had its albums produced by Mitch Easter from 1981 through 1984?
Context: Reckoning is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 9, 1984 by I.R.S. Records.  Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984.  Dixon and Easter intended to capture the sound of R.E.M.'s live performances, and used binaural recording on several tracks.  Singer Michael Stipe dealt with darker subject matter in his lyrics, and water imagery is a recurring theme on the record.  Released to critical acclaim, "Reckoning" reached number 27 in the United States—where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1991—and peaked at number 91 in the United Kingdom. Let's Active is an American rock group formed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1981, and often identified with the jangle pop guitar work of the group's frontman and songwriter Mitch Easter.  After disbanding in 1990, the group reformed in August 2014 to play a benefit show in North Carolina. The Orange Humble Band is an alternative rock band formed in early 1995, by Darryl Mather (ex-The Lime Spiders, The Someloves) on guitar.  He was joined by Anthony Bautovich (Lonely Hearts), Mitch Easter (an American indie producer-manager) on vocals, and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) on lead vocals.  The group issued two albums, "Assorted Creams" (1997) and "Humblin' (Across America)" (2001) before disbanding later that year.  They reformed in March 2012 and issued a third album, "Depressing Beauty", in May 2015. Big Plans for Everybody is the second studio album by American rock band Let's Active, released in 1986 by I.R.S. Records.  It was produced by band leader Mitch Easter at his own Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Mitch Easter (born November 15, 1954) is a musician, songwriter, and record producer.  Frequently associated with the jangle pop style of guitar music, Easter is known as producer of R.E.M.'s early albums from 1981 through 1984, and as frontman of the 1980s band Let's Active. Give Me Mine is the second album by American rock band Jonas Sees in Color, released independently on April 16, 2013.  Recorded on 2-inch reel-to-reel tape at Fidelitorium Recordings, the album is a departure from the band's previous material of pop rock to a more minimalist hard rock sound.  The album was produced by Ted Comerford and mastered by Jamie King.  Mixing and "gizmos and gadgets" are credited to Fidelitorium founder Mitch Easter, established musician and producer of artists such as R.E.M. and Ben Folds Five, among others. Velvet Crush is an American power pop band from Providence, Rhode Island, United States, that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s.  The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004.  Vocalist/bassist Paul Chastain and drummer Ric Menck are the band's core members, having previously worked together as Choo Choo Train, Bag-O-Shells, and The Springfields, and they share singing and songwriting duties.  Guitarist Jeffrey Borchardt (of Honeybunch) played on the band's first three albums, "In the Presence of Greatness", "Teenage Symphonies to God", and "Heavy Changes".  "In the Presence of Greatness" was produced by Matthew Sweet, while the second and third albums were produced by Mitch Easter. Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things was the 1993 debut album by The Loud Family, a band formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Scott Miller after the dissolution of his critically acclaimed 1980s band Game Theory.  It was Miller's fifth album to be produced by Mitch Easter. R.E.M. was an American rock band that formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by lead singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry.  One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Stipe's particular vocal quality and obscure lyrics, Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style, and Mills' melodic basslines and backing vocals.  R.E.M. released its first single—"Radio Free Europe"—in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone.  The single was followed by the "Chronic Town" EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records.  In 1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, "Murmur", and built its reputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio.  Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I Love".  The group signed to Warner Bros.  Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental concerns while playing large arenas worldwide. The Cyclones were a rock and roll band that helped pioneer the new wave music scene that erupted in the New York City area during the late 70s, early 80s.  A female fronted trio, they began as a rockabilly cover band, became an original group in 78/79 which lasted until 1984.  Original members included Dan Reich on drums (who remained throughout the band's tenure) and Walter Sczesny on bass.  The group came into its own with addition of singer/guitarist/songwriter Donna Esposito.  After a few transitions on bass guitar (including Mitch Easter of Let's Active), the band's stable lineup was complete in late 79/ early 1980 with the addition of Marc Seligman.
Answer: R.E.M.