Reviews (page 10 of 15)
bit edge lord for me
Walking into this album, I knew two songs already. I despise "Everybody Hurts" and love "Man on the Moon," so this was gonna be fun. R.E.M. is a band I haven't listened to nearly enough, but I do enjoy their sound. "Drive" is a hell of an opener, with a (pun not intended) driving intensity that ebbs and flows. Overall, its alt-rock done right, and while not many of the songs were favorites, aside from "Everybody Hurts," they were all enjoyable.
Not bad.
Good listen.
Divorced Dad Music (?) I went into this album knowing absolutely nothing about R.E.M. Never heard of them. What I found was... well, it's music for dads. I know people love R.E.M., but I think they must be an acquired taste, because I just don't get it. The whole album is mid-tempo, stays in one gear, and doesn't really hit any peaks or valleys. The songs kind of blur together, all sounding pretty similar. There's not much upbeat energy and it just drags on. The only thing that really stands out is Michael Stipe's voice... it's unique and memorable. But overall, it's just tiring. "Drive" was pretty cool. Lyrics are nothing special. Kind of boring. 4-5/10. "Try Not to Breathe" sounds a bit folky. Weirdly upbeat song for somebody dying. Kind of boring for a while. I like the guitar singing a bit. 4/10. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is much more uplifting and poppy. It's fine. A bit funky. Organ is pretty prominent. Weird little lyrics. Don't hate it but it's so repetitive and doesn't really build. 5/10. "Everybody Hurts" is so boring. So cheesy, like from a really white movie. Strings coming in is nice. It's literally just fine. 4/10. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" is a weird little interlude. Not bad. Chill. 3/10. "Sweetness Follows" – I like the themes of this song. Very relatable as someone whose family fell apart after dad died. Very somber. Decent but still pretty boring. 5/10. "Monty Got a Raw Deal" – Purely acoustic guitar for the first part. Then drums and synth/harmonica comes in. It's alright. Don't hate it. Kind of folky. 4/10. "Ignoreland" – I like this. The lyrics are pretty sharp. Still kind of only blames one side whenever both are equally complicit. Take a social democrat stance, not really punk lol. Definitely the most energetic track. Still it sounds just fine and not actually getting me that excited. Really do love the Reaganomics critiques tho. 5/10. "Star Me Kitten" – Whispered melancholic bs huh. Very minimal. So slow. It's fine. 3-4/10. "Man on the Moon" – Pretty catchy. Almost a country feel to this. Very acoustic. Kind of upbeat. Pretty basic. 4-5-6/10 depends on mood. Still just kind of okay. "Nightswimming" – Kind of sounds like Bo Burnham lol. Prob the piano. Pretty sad lyrics. Pretty cool song. Very melancholy and nostalgic. 5/10. "Find the River" – Melody instantly seems familiar. I've probably heard this somewhere. 5-6/10. This album is well-made, I can't deny that. There's a lot of care put into the mixing, arrangements, and songwriting, and I respect the craftsmanship. But I'm never coming back to this. It's not bad, just not what I was expecting. The guitars feel kinda thin, like they could have filled out the sound more. A lot to admire, but nothing that makes me want to listen again. Rating: 5/10
A fine rock album, some songs impressed me but not enough to listen to it again 3/5
Pleasant. Like R.E.M but I've always been a fan of the singles and found the non singles a bit slow. My Dad had this album growing up, never made it through the whole thing. Glad for the excuse, appreciate the vibe, enjoyed it but wouldn't listen again.
I guess I’m just not a fan of R.E.M, this was ok, wouldn’t seek it out again
When R.E.M. began, they often had pensive and downbeat moments that made me want to give Michael Stipe, and I supposed the rest of the band, a comforting hug. They were not Smiths’ level depression, several songs explored the world and the past in a wistful manner. For much of Automatic for the People R.E.M. reached out to their audience like a deft counselor. They coupled this attitude with an embrace of nostalgia as references to childhood abound. While they do not quite get to the Sesame Street vibe of “Shiny Happy People” or “Stand,” Stipe and company channel a bit of Fred Rogers. I will admit that this approach would have been a major turn-off from another band. R.E.M. had built a level of admiration at this point to allow me to tolerate these moments. In addition, the songwriting, playing and singing manage to keep these songs uplifting rather than maudlin and cloying. Peter Buck remains in the background as “Ignoreland” has the bigger guitar sound of Document and Green. The chiming and murky sounds of the first four records also rarely appeared. Musical growth makes sense for the material on the album as the songs require understatement. The arrangements remind me of the less orchestrated ballads of peak Beach Boys. Gently keyboards, full fledged piano (“Nightswimming”) and stickless percussion give a new sound. This subtle touch adds pathos then allows some terrific choruses to shine during “Man on the Moon” and “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite.” Michael Stipe had also grown as a singer. Perhaps fully trusting his voice or desiring to give the lyrics a clear airing, Stipe gets pushed up in the mix, quite a shift from the Murmur singer. These changes allowed the lyrics to provide the comforting nostalgia that defines the record. I “Everybody Hurts” is as close to an anthem as R.E.M. was willing to release. It is not quite “Imagine” or “Help”, more at the level of a Carpenters’ song. Several songs make attempts to buoy the listener with a look at the past. “Nightswimming”, “Man on the Moon” and “Drive” with its nod to David Essex’s “Rock On” dip heavily into the members’ youth. Pleasantly sad, Automatic for the People lacks a true emotional wallop. Aside from the songs mentioned here, the tunefulness can’t match a similar record like Harvest, which keeps the record at a good, not great level.
Depressing, dreary, moany and whiney. But a very distinct sound! 3/5
Back half saved this one ngl
Lots of hits! Not really my thing but w/e.
didn't impress me i guess
Music for dads. Not bad though
non proprio il mio, molto orecchiabile e bella da tenere in sottofondo
Overall pretty solid - would listen again
Great album but a real downer
nothing special
Listening session: july 17th, while chilling at home Listened to before: listened to two songs before Thoughts: nice album with some classic songs but not something that really stands out to me as a whole Favourite tracks: Everybody Hurts, Man on The Moon & Find The River
A bit whiny and melancholy of an album. Radio Free Europe is a much better album overall. A couple of good hits makes this album better.
Tiene un álbum mejor a este. Está bien
Second REM in a row and third in 48! This one is actually pretty good. 3.5/5 Top tracks: Everybody Hurts, New Orleans Instrumental
Generally a snorefest as most 90s alternative rock is, but there was some highlights and some interesting musical elements. Some chords took me by surprise and for that you get a bump, REM. Highlights: Ignoreland, Find The River
Intrigued to listen to this again, so an improvement on the other R.E.M. albums on this list.
Great album for easy listening. A little lacking when it comes to any deeper listening for me. Obvious highlights are Everybody Hurts and Man On The Moon. Personal favorite is Nightswimming.
Good!
A lot of samey ballads one after another, but enjoyable nontheless.
Some beautiful songs like Nightswimming and Everybody hurts. But overall just a bit unexciting.
it has potential in the beginning but after a little bit it sounds like a very ordinary Americana divorced dad album.
Pretty good, but didn’t have the standout hits I remember.
It’s just too much REM.
Not super familiar with R.E.M. other than their hits, but there are 2-3 songs on here that I initially thought were Losing My Religion. Imagine my disappointment...
Now that I have a more complete picture of this band, this feels like their peak in terms of production value. Big strings and loads of instrumentation create a more cinematic and emotional REM. I’ve always liked Man on the Moon and found a few new ones I enjoyed.
A bit too suburban mall for me, but there are some good tunes on this. I can’t help but think of that one guy on 60 songs who trashed nightswimming because he thought it was obnoxiously self-indulgent nostalgia. I kinda get that. Although I also identify with it a bit too. lol.
Not a huge REM fan but this is one of their best
danilo i ja smo pojeli brauni koji nam je uros doneo za godisnjicu useljenja. dosta je gadan. album je oke za sad stigli smo do pola, ne mogu da kazem da bih ikad ponovo slusala ijednu pesmu. znam samo everybody hurts. ne svidja mi se njegov glas, osim toga nije lose. znam ipak i man on the moon.
This album makes Foever Blue feel like Carnival. I kinda stopped paying close attention to REM after Out of Time, maybe even Green, but obviously they were unavoidable in the 90s. I've never listened to this album as I whole and I never will again. It's even sadder than I remember people being in the 90s
Banco, pero hasta ahí. Un clásico R.E.M. igualmente
Vorige REM Album had ik een 1 gegeven. Dit albums is wel een heel stuk beter. Het is meer sferisch en de arrangementen zijn beter. De stem is ook iets lager wat minder irriteert.
Decent but not my jam
Hey maybe the UK knows how to do something else than Beatles slop
Early R.E.M. >>>>>>> later R.E.M. Never like this album. They're brilliant, but I'd take any of their first five albums over this one. Too much piano, mandolin, and warbling.
I once had this on my shelves, but I dont recall why it's not there any longer. It was interesting to hear it again after many years, after which I can't be sure how I feel about it. The hits are clearly standout and over the intervening years have received plenty of radio airplay, but as an album it kind of loses its way in places. I may buy it again, just to reinstate it on the shelves, which afterall are my life in music. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆☆(6/10) Total reviewed : 364 Already owned : 79 Purchased : 16 To buy : 7 Nope : 262
rock🔥
I've never really listened to these guys before. I recognized a couple songs that I've heard in passing but thats it. I really liked a few songs in particular, but the album as a whole did not invoke any strong feelings one way or another. I think this one might be an album that needs some time to grow on me. I'd be willing to give it another shot in the future but for now, first impression is that it's just alright.
not bad, to be honest, not my favorite album, but I did save one song. Find The River was my personal fave.
4 ottimi pezzi, il resto è dimenticabile
Nice, more chill than I expected, but I don't love the vocals. Solid 3 stars.
3.
Eh, not bad
it was more funky and british than other music i know by them
Our third R.E.M. entry on the list, and for a refresher on my general opinion of the band, see my review of Green last year: "I am notoriously (at least among my music-discussing friends) not a big REM fan, though I definitely respect what they did for alternative music/culture, and there are some REM songs I do love. If you care about why I think I don't love REM as much as some others my age, ask me about my Older Sibling Theory. All of that being said, the hits on this album are among the first REM songs I remember being exposed to on MTV (after the tracks off Document that got a lot of airplay) and I generally like them now. I like this album now but it annoyed me back then. I also like most of what REM did before this album more than I like what they did after it, so this was kind of an inflection point." This album was two albums after that inflection point, so in its time I was not a big fan - I thought the hits were overplayed on MTV, which was how I ingested a lot of music then. Listening now, however, I appreciate it a bit more. I do really like some songs on here, but it's still the era of R.E.M. that I like the least.
Not badly produced but SO boring
3/12, y like and its a good album, but dont make mi crazy i know 3 song of 12
This is the third (and probably my favorite so far) of R.E.M.’s albums that I’ve had so far on this list. I think I have a big enough sample size now to conclusively say that R.E.M. is good, I just don’t like Michael Stipe.
It's not their best, but still lots to love here
Some iconic songs that I can’t help but sing along too. Rest of the album was easy listening but not something I’d revisit
it was alright, folkier than i thought
a bit slow and perhaps boring. some bangers
A third R.E.M. album eh? This is probably their best one. It has a couple of OK songs (Drive, Man On the Moon) and a lot of forgettable ones. It's fine I guess.
An extremely well-written album with many beautiful songs. I feel sort of bad giving it three stars as it’s a solid album, but I think I just don’t enjoy it as much as some others. Just a bit too downbeat for me.
Honestly I did not mind the album it was a nice listen its not the typical thing I listen to but I did have a good time listening to it, it was giving me like old school redneck which is not bad and I did not know that one famous song was from this album I would give it 6/10
3/5
There's some pretty good songs on here. I like Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming.
I already liked some REM songs but hasn’t heard this. Liked it, didn’t love it.
Certainly some solid songs. But middle part of this felt like a lot of filler to me and not very memorable. Maybe deserves another listen but first spin I thought this was on the high end of middle class. 3.25
This was more of what I thought about REM compared to another album I listened to. I find it decent and has its place and need in the world, but just slightly bland
the sad slow songs here are much less unpleasant than the other r.e.m. lps i've gotten so far, the arrangements have more room to breathe and the vocals fit better.
Nightswimming is a genuine banger
Great REM album poss best but sadly band never got back to this standard
REM remains one of the few things to come from GA that I genuinely like. Although this is not my fav album of theirs-- i tend to prefer their earlier stuff. Nightswimming is actually poetry. Put on on a drive home after work. Goodbye Atlanta
Good
I don't mind some of their big hits, but hadn't listened to an album before
The hits on this album are some of REM's best, the rest of the album is somewhat forgettable with a few nice surprises peppered in (nightswimming). There is something about this band I just dont enjoy and I can't put my finger on it. Kind of boring overall and I don't love the vocals but I can see how people would really gravitate to this album. Probably a 4 but for me a 3.
Some good hits but you need to be in a somber mood for it to be a banger
Highlights: - Sweetness Follows - has a ton of cool instruments and guitar feedback all contributing to a very cohesive sound, big fan - Find The River - we finally get to hear some energy in his voice! This is much more cohesive than the other album of theirs that has come up, green. It still doesn't feel super special to me. He's got a nice voice but we don't get to hear it for most of these songs. His singing is low energy or monotonous. Which is probably the point, it just clashes with the instruments doing a ton of interesting things and his voice isn't despite it being at the forefront... High 3
didn't blow me away, the other one was better
12 songs Added to liked: -Everybody Hurts (already there) -Man On The Moon (knew the song)
Det er okay, men R.E.M bliver altid lidt for monoton whining for mig 2.8
Would I listen again: sure This is a high 3 for me. Cosplaying Ollie in the shower. Liked the instrumentation and a couple of good songs I already knew on here
Forgettable outside of the hits
Buen álbum, pero creo que no lo volvería a escuchar. Lo sentí muy monótono, pero esta bueno para tenerlo de fondo. Everybody hurts es conocidísima, Star me kitten y Nightswimming fueron mis favs. Es un cambio radical en la tendencia de la banda, porque ya eran conocidos pero hicieron un álbum más suave y sensible. Overall, va bene.
chato. não chato do tipo insuportável mas aquele chato familiar que você deixa rolar pq não incomoda. chato tipo tarde de domingo com seu pai recém divorciado
A little melancholy. I liked it, but I wasn't too impressed. Maybe it's because I like this genre of music I'm being a more critical listener, but this album just wasn't for me.
Nothing that really stands out to me but overall a solid album.
Sounds good to me, this album... 3 stars
nothing special
Moui
Jag trodde jag tyckte bättre om den här. Hitsinglarna är bra, Man on the moon, Drive, Everybody hurts. Men sedan blir det lite långtråkigt.
Jag tycker nog att detta är betydlig roligare än förra R.E.M.-albumet vi hade. Här finns ganska många i grunden rätt bra låtar som Drive, och förstås Everybody hurts. Däremot är produktionen inte den bästa. Lite väl svulstigt och radioskvalsanpassat på samma gång.
A bit of melancholic nostalgia
Yet another good album from REM. But no need for more than one. This album is fine but I still like Fables of the Reconstruction (or is it Reconstruction of the the Fables) better. Although they still made some some really good songs, the later albums seem more cut and dried and less edgy than the earlier ones.
Some really great tracks on here but at the end of the day, I can't bring myself to truly enjoy what REM offers. A good listen but probably won't be back for awhile.
Cool! Cool! Cool! Comme quoi, j’aurais pas cru. 3.5/5
Pretty good
Nice cover. The third keyword listed in the reviews for this album was "boring" and I think that's about how I feel about it
Not bad. Liked well enough
a marked improvement from murmur with some actual standouts, but suffers from an overly drab and slow middle act
Beste Rem Album bis jetzt
Klarer ikke å bli fanget, synest det meste av REM e bare helt ok. Sterk 3er
Liked
намного больше мелодии чем я думала, хороший, даже вроде не надоел, надо потом ещё проверить
I guess I just don't find most of R.E.M.'s music that compelling. Not an active dislike but definitely not a rousing enjoyment from me.
This came out right around the time I was shifting away from pop music. I recognize so many of these songs but was surprised to learn that none of the singles charted that high. There certainly are some truly great songs on here as well as the usual somewhat experimental folkish filler. It sure is great to listen to this band again and to hear the complete albums. I’ve gained a new appreciation for this band and am looking forward to listening to some more recordings by this band.
i once tried listening to this album when i was first getting into 90s music, i also had the CD at some point which i gave away. I like drive but the second song began and i decided that’s enough. for an actual first listen, it’s not as bad as i expected. you always hear “Man on the moon” on the radio and i used to hate that song a lot. but the album isn’t my thing but it was a worth while listen. it sounds like how i thought all 90s music sounded when i was a kid. definitely a big player in the soft rock that would emerge in the late 90s
Muy folky, slow para mi gusto. Los instrumentales son hermosos
I always thought Shiny Happy People was on this album. Glad it wasn't. This is a much better album than I recalled. Night Swimming is their best track.
This is moody REM - good but not great
I recognize the hits, but I don't really care for his voice. Nothing mind blowing with the music.
Muy depre y no en el buen sentido. Aunque me sirve Everybody Hurts. Nota: 3.2
Lindo álbum. Buenas canciones. Transmiten nostalgia y melancolía. Bajon del lindo. No me llegó tanto, pero se lo disfrutó a primera escucha. 6/10
Not one of my favorite R.E.M albums but it does have two great bangers on there. Just like I've never had a bad pizza I've never heard an R.E.M album I did not like.
Not what I usually go for but did enjoy
This REM album sounds like other REM albums. Some decent acoustic cuts, some annoying whiny piano type songs. Not really my thing but OK. Low 3.
Lot of bangers on this..
Came out when I was in college. Still remember how hot we all thought the girl in the Man on the Moon video was lol As an early fan of Reckoning, Murmer, DLO...this album kind of hit as pretty "mid" to me at the time. On relisten I am struck by how pretty a lot of the songs are (Everybody Hurts of course, but also Sidewinder and others) but its kind of "oh yeah that's nice" not "oh yeah let me slide that back in the rotation".
i think this is a great album, the problem is it took me 3 days to listen through...i don't know WHY it took me so long, but i guess this just means i personally didn't enjoy it THAT much.
REM cranks out some pretty solid hits, but I've never really been over the moon about their stuff. Although I've definitely listened to "Everybody Hurts" at a few low points in my life and made many feeble attempts at singing along with "It's the End of the World as We Know it." Also making a song about comedian Andy Kaufman was an interesting choice, but works surprisingly well.
The album was pretty good but I was in a bad mood for it.
Fav- everybody hurts 3/5
definitely something my mom would play in the car...
Pas mal. Un peu répétitif quand même c’est sympa en musique de fond
Not usually a fan of R.E.M., but this was a good one. Very nice sounds and the vocals were not as annoying as I remember. It has some bluegrass elements mixed with the quintessential soft rock sound that R.E.M. is known for. This was a surprisingly likeable record.
It definitely had good songs but not my cup of tea
Clasiquitos y tal pero flojea porque acaba sonando repetitivo, que no mal. Un poco condicionada por la racha que llevo.
starting to get really sick of rock ngl.. trying to remain objective bc songs are okay but had a hard time getting through it
very solid, beautiful writing. 3.5 stars
A little bit boring, vocals a bit whiney and samey, but not bad. Not as much punch as I might have hoped for.
boredom for the people. igual me gustaron los violines (creo q era un violin).
Ignoreland was... interesting. Hurt is a classic. Overall the album is a bit more sad than my preference. I did enjoy the orchestra and piano pieces.
annoying. best song is the one where he isn’t singing Fav tracks: Drive; New Orleans Instrumental No. 1
There’s some nice guitar tones in this album and of course ‘Everybody hurts’ is a timeless track but nothing else sparked much feeling.
Ascoltare l'album intero mi ha fatto (ma solo un poco) vincere la repulsione che ho per i REM.
Objectively, this is great music, but for the life of me, I just can't connect with it for some reason. The melodies are great, the lyrics too, I don't know. Maybe it's the singer's voice?
2.5/5 Can’t stand his voice.
losing my religi
2.5
One of the classic midlife crisis albums.
Esta bueno. Tiene temas muy tranquilos. Lindas armonias y la voz de el es espectacular.
Not a whole lot to say about this one, its pretty solid I especially like the instrumentation. Some of the songs were slightly annoying (everybody hurts) but in general I enjoyed the listening experience.
Rating: 3.5/5 Favorite song(s): perhaps Try Not to Breathe Review: I was honestly not very familiar with R.E.M. before this. I knew their hits, liked some of them, was annoyed by others, but didn’t really know what to expect from this album. In a lot of ways, it was better than I expected. The instrumentation was interesting, though the lyrics and vocalization sometimes came off a bit trite. There were some cool riffs and good musicianship throughout. I still dislike “Everybody Hurts.” It somehow manages to disrupt an otherwise pretty good rock record with a weird ballad that gives kinda vapid Peter Gabriel vibes. I’m kind of torn on the rating here. I feel like a lot of qualities of this album make it deserve a 4, but this is my personal rating system after all. I don’t see myself re-listening to any of these songs, despite whatever more objective artistic value they may hold. I just can’t give higher than a 3 to something I don’t ever think I’ll seek out again, but it is a pretty solid album. Listen again?: No
great álbum but not mi vocal vibe
Uplifting and different
There's a couple of really high highs. "Sweetness Follows" is one of my favorite songs (not just on the album), and "Man On the Moon" is excellent. However, they aren't enough to raise the entire album to anything more than average for me.
prima
First time listening to an R.E.M. album front to back. 's a good album but didn't blow my socks off.
A few great songs, but did not appreciate the whole album
nostalgia
Good album but not their best.
It's fine. It's a good album. All it does is reinforce my opinion that REM are largely a singles band, with the exception of Murmur. I always rate the production on their stuff though.
not bad, not good
This album transcends seasons. Some songs fit a glorious sunny spring day, others (Everybody Hurts and Sweetness Follows) merit more of a melancholic cloudy grey day. Classic songs like Nightswimming and Man on the moon perfectly capture Stipe’s iconic voice and the consistent use of orchestral instruments and piano make this an album bring a tide of nostalgia over you
Bored :(
Added 'Drive' and 'Monty Got a Raw Deal' to THE playlist. Pretty good album, love the guitar and almost country feel to the songs. The whole album carried a sad undertone with raw realism and political uprising.
At least I'm 3/4's of the way through the REM albums on this list. Of all of them this is probably my favorite, but that's not saying much. Man on the Moon is a pretty solid song, but Everybody Hurts makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a spoon. Why a spoon? Because it’s dull, you twit. It’ll hurt more...
Jingly jangly pop, or depressing ballads. Not liked REM ever since I went to a gig and Stipe stared at me funny. Still, maybe give it a 3, its not terrible.
Quite enjoyed that one. Barely knew any songs
nightswimminggggg
I’ve tried to like rem…
I was scared that the rest of the album wouldn’t live up to the biggest songs… consider me startled.
Nice sound, relaxing, can be catchy.
Thought this one was pretty boring but I love Man on The Moon so I’ll give it a bonus star
Never been a huge fan and wasn’t too blown away by listening to their earlier stuff for the first time on here, but let’s see. Instantly recognisable cover. Got a bit excited to be surprised from reading the other reviews, but in first couple of tracks, kinda what I expected and not too impacted. I REALLY feel like I’m missing something with these and this album. Just really doesn’t do it for me and feel like a lot of the reviews are in a completely different place 🤷🏻♂️ and actually maybe beyond unimpacted, not very impressed at all.
Not as good as Monster or Murmur, but definitely has some Hits; Nightswimming!
Not exactly my kind of rock but I can definitely see why people love this band. Loved the vocals in Everybody Hurts.
It was fine, I can see myself liking it if I listened to it multiple times. I usually like music with more of a punch, this feels a bit too somber. Its nice to listen to, but it drags me down a bit.
Good
I know it is a good album. I've never been a big R.E.M. fan but have been surrounded by many.
REM is one of those bands that I was looking forward to listening because I largely ignored them when they were active. I think “Shiny Happy People” ruined them for me. The songs I like here I really like: “Drive”, “Sidewinder”, “Man on the Moon”, “Everybody Hurts”. The rest were OK, some a bit boring. Maybe I will like other of their albums better?
Drive is incredible, everything else is meh
Phew...kind of boring.
Feel like I should have heard of this band?
This is what America sounds like. I caught myself thinking that I don’t really get why this album is considered 'the best.' I guess it’s just one of those moments where you don’t fully understand an era or a culture you aren't familiar with. I did find some music I might like, so listening to it wasn't a waste of time, but it’s still not quite my cup of tea. My life wouldn't be complete without discovering 'New Orleans Instrumental No. 1,' but even so, I can’t give this album a high rating.
Great songwriting, always dig REM but nothing blows me away.
The only song I knew on this album going in ended up being like the worst one.
Decent album, a few great songs on here - vocals and band nice easy going tunes whilst walking the dog
it was ok, not my cup of tea
Star me kitten was a choice
Boring but okay overall. Did not like Star me Kitten.
I think a 3 is appropriate for this album because it was neither good nor bad. I did enjoy some of the first few songs but the end of the album kind of lost me.
I don't hate it, but I don't love it. Not really my sound. Enjoyed it more than some other REM records I have listened to.
7.5 / 10
Nice but not quite my vibe
Didn’t particularly like any of the songs but I wouldn’t say they were bad just not my thing.
I was a huge fan of this album when it first came out. Now, many years later I don’t think it has aged particularly well. Originally Everybody Hurts was one of my favorite songs but now I find the lyrics a bit cringy. It seems as if they polished, over produced, their music chasing a more pop friendly sound.
Promedio.
R.E.M songs have never quite clicked for me in spite of their lyrical strengths. Will try and listen more actively.
THIS IS COLTON
This came out when I was 18, and I just wasn't ready for it. I wanted something that I could thrash around to or that had a killer beat. This felt like middle aged music. I think I owned the CD at the time but never really listened to it. Then it popped up on my list today over 30 years later, and I realized something. I'm still not ready. These songs are soulful and beautifully crafted. There are few voices as recognizable as Stipe's. I really enjoyed it, but I kept waiting for the uptempo part that I could really sink my teeth into. After listening to Document and Green countless times, this felt like a little too much of a downshift for me. I completely understand that as the band matures their sound will too, I'm just going to stick with the energy of their earlier work for another decade and check back in then. 3.7
A little sedated and off-the-wall, but still interesting.
Not a bad album. I’m just more of a fan of their earlier albums.
Pretty good. "Man on the Moon" is my eduring favorite but probably my first ever true listen through. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and "Monty Got a Raw Deal" standouts at first pass.
Fine, some memorable staples
I understand that many think that this is the ducks guts, but it didn't do it for me. There were several songs that were great - Drive, Nightswimming, Find the River. But at least two of the songs - Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts - have become such overplayed FM radio staples that if I never hear them again it will be too soon. And a couple of songs - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight in particular - are weak to the point of filler. So, good in parts
NGL I was vibing to this album but i got SO distracted by "everybody hurrrrrrts"
I liked it more than I thought I would.
Skimmed throught it cuz im very behind but nothing from the soundscape grabbed me. Kind of tired from the standard band setup that seems to flood the list.
I can't really articulate why, but listening to 80's punk/rock bores me to death. I just don't find it interesting. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, also just not anything worthwhile to it
Nice songs, with a surprisingly soft touch and a strong message. Still on the softer side for me, I often just find myself zoning out on albums like these. 7/10
If here of them before, and I have listen their most famous songs. And on that note I didn't quite like the other songs, they were ok, but nothing really interesting or engaging for me.
I can't pretend I'm any sort of REM fan. They've always been around and perfectly fine, but not a band I've cared to really explore any more than even I've heard on the radio and whatever. This didn't really change my opinion but it's enjoyable enough.
Good stuff. It might grow on my over time. Stand out tracks were Man on the Moon, and Nightswimming
It was fine. I listened to it in the car on a roadtrip so maybe I missed some of the finer points, but it was a fun album just not really my style
3.5, Stipe’s voice gets annoying after a while
The album is alright. The songs are good but not particularly unique, making the album a bit repetitive.
This sounds like nostalgia. It doesn’t doesn’t sound nostalgic it sounds like nostalgia. It’s not my favorite but it’s so interesting.
Not my type
Wish it had been a manual. Might have had less trouble getting up to speed. The hits are great. Lots of filler. Ends with a whimper
Good but not great
Volim ovaj album! 3/5, 6/10
The tracks, “Drive,” and “Man on The Moon” are stellar, but the rest of the album was fairly average.
favorite: the sidewinder sleeps tonight
I liked it, dragged in the middle a bit but started and ended quite strong, 7/10
Not my style of music… but still, didn’t hate it.
divorced dad music
It's got some hits and its the most radio friendly R.E.M. but its not their best. Playlist track: Man On The Moon
Det er klart REMs banger-plade, men også produktions-mæssigt en af de mere kedelige. (hot take tror jeg)
Drive Try Not To Breathe The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Sweetness Follows Ignoreland Man On The Moon Find The River
Magical moments in time. I was never a huge fan, but the nostalgia is strong.
Ok
A bit slow. Nightswimming
3.9 actually
Always nice to listen to R.E.M., but I can go a few more decades w/o listen to a full album again.
beetje saai
I like the non-single tracks better than a few of the hits on this one. The "commieshattahwammawakener" refrain on Sidewinder and "ollieollieollieollieollie... baby" on Drive bother me. Everybody Hurts was way overplayed on the radio and is overrated. The strings backing on some songs seems overused and trite. On the other hand, Ignoreland is a banger and Man in the Moon is a wonderful arrangement. Nightswimming sounds like a happier version of The Wrong Child from Green.
Chill
A few hits but overall 😴💤😴
ich mochte vor allem man on the moon
Prima album maar weinig bijzonders. Op de 2 bekendere nummers "Everybody Hurts" en "Man on the Moon" na ook niet andere waarvan ik kan zeggen dat ik ze ooit heb gemist. Ik kan eventueel wel begrijpen dat dit een album is wat op je kan groeien gezien de themas waarop dit album is gebaseerd. Echter na 1 keer luisteren nog zeker niet het geval. Overigens ook geen slecht album dus gewoon een gemiddelde 3 sterren waard.
Remarkably average
...
eeeveeryyyyyyboooodyyyyy huuuurrrtttttssssss
C'était plutôt sympa, des mélodies qui rentrent bien en tête, mais il faut bien dire ce qui est : vers la fin, j'en avais un peu marre. C'est pas que c'était nul, c'est plutôt que ça ne me parle pas plus que ça. C'est du rock très accessible (c'est pas forcément une mauvaise chose), franchement bien fait, je comprends pourquoi il est si populaire (contrairement à Radiohead, tiens), mais ça n'est pas vraiment fait pour moi, je suppose.
I listened to this a while back, i thought it was lowkeyly boring. tbhly. I can't say I was paying too close attention though. it was like sophomore year of college, I think I just listened to it while I was walking to and fro classes.
memorabilia
Great sounding album with lovely production and instrumentation. However, REM always leaves me wanting more. I liked the new orleans instrumental. That was neat. On to the next one.
6.5/10
Album assez lent, inspiration country / rock alternative americain. Ambiance bar conservateur des états du sud des états unis. Années 90, titre phare -> everybody hurts
Lots of great musical ideas happening in this album. From bright melodies to melancholic feels it's a nice journey to go through. The vocals were hit or miss at times but when they did, it added a wistful element to the track. 6.5/10, favorite song: Monty Got A Raw Deal
Top songs: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Everybody Hurts Nightswimming
The album sounds alright, I just don't vibe with the style of writing.
Not my favorite, but 2-3 tracks I’d keep. Not sure how this all works. I keep trying to Save this, but it never does. I do not see a Rating part either
Good album.
great album full of wonderful songs. there’s a reason ‘everybody hurts’ is one of their GOAT songs.
zjakkssk
Opens with a track that deffintly went on to inspire Everlast's "What it's like", which is a track Kid Rock deffintly loves. And he went on to headline a racist alternative half time show to the superbowl. Now, I'm not saying REM are a bunch of White Speritists, but it makes you think. There are some good tunes on here. Nightswimming being a great ballad and a showpiece of its time. And man on the moon has a great chorus. Other songs however just bring back memories of 90s radio and having to listen to whatever uninspiring songs were on. Everybody hurts being an example. Its juat such a dull song overall. And they sure love the use of delay on the vocals. This didnt live up to their previous efforts.
decent, some good songs
Es un álbum que escucharías en tus peores momentos pero si no estás en ese mood sentimental/existencial no es algo que te encantaría escuchar, no porque sea malo sino que es muy calmado.
Pretty decent. Several songs reminded me of beachy yacht-rock.
Favorite song off the album: Man on the moon Number of songs I liked/added to a playlist: 4 Not one I’m likely to repeat but generally pleasing, it was pretty good and not quite but almost rock.
☞ “Everybody Hurts” Wow wow wow please play this at my 80’s themed prom where my hair is tousled and puffy and my sequined aqua dress straps keep falling down and I’m slow dancing with my prom date before we ditch and get a milkshake with two straws. Please.
Carino ma non mi ha preso troppo. Non l’ho analizzato approfonditamente anyways
I will listen Monty got a raw deal again 😛
very good lyrics. I like nightswimming and the sidewinder sleeps. The ending of everybody hurts has a nice orchestral build but the song is simply too overplayed. I dont like the lead singers voice that much and overall this sounds like something they’d play at the thrift store. I’m sure it’s influenced a lot of alt rock I listen too though.
Not particularly engaging for me personally, but another indisputably quality album.
A good album from a great band that sort of slipped by me on this listen. The production really didn't grab me this time around. Standout tracks: Everybody Hurts.
This is capable but kind of somnolent in a way that I don't really love. Michael Stipe is good, the lyrics are pretty good (for the most part) but there's something about the...warmth? of the sound that makes me go, "hey this is soft (insulting)." Murmur had an edge that this doesn't - it's like a butter knife. I like butter and butter knives are useful but nothing special. The songs I, uh, like? Not like, LIKE-like, just like, are ok but this never really gets going for me.
ghhh
Hit and miss, I added a few songs to my playlist but some were not for me
Decent album, I understand that for its time it was probably revolutionary for the alternative rock scene, not for me though.
This album is a bit of a let down to be honest especially compared to the others I've gotten by them, like Green and Murmur. They just sound so underwhelming on this release. One thing that hasn't let me down is that R.E.M. has some of the most intriguing song titles ever, like a good one would be one present here,"New Orleans Instrumental No. 1." I also quite like the chamber music elements they added to this one. But alas this is a miss for me. Highlight Song/s: "Drive" and "Man on the Moon"
It was a tough listen at first but it does get better. Man on the moon, the sidewinder sleeps tonite, and New Orleans no.1 are great listens.
SiriusXM lithium has made me hate REM but I can't deny that this is a good album
Stipe's lyrics are so exhausting
- Dad Rock - Fun
Not bad. Easy listen. Reminiscent.
I'm not a big fan yet. It feels like the kind of album I’ll appreciate more in a few years
the slow songs are painful for me. not one of my REM faves
This is a good album, it has some great sobgs. Michael Stipe can also come across whiny as all hell.
3/5 Objectively a really good album, but just not my cup of tea. I like a few REM songs, just not an album full of them.
It was okay, nothing special
Can't get past the cringy corniness of Sidewinder and Man on the Moon. Such beauty in songs like Nightswimming and Drive. What a mixed bag.
7/10
My second REM album and a similar review to the first. Enjoyed it but nothing extraordinary, pretty middle of the road album for me.
3.5/5
Maybe a grower? A little slow for my taste and too many songs in minor key, but the good songs really stand out.
3, didn’t finish lost interest. Thought I liked R.E.M, do but maybe not as in depth as I thought.
R.E.M. has great musicality, production, and hooks- the problem is that the albums themselves are so BORING! You are good musicians, let's do something cool instead of 20 years of the same jangly sparse indie rock!
I’m the exact right age that I should love this but I don’t. Some songs are pretty good. And others are a snooze fest. 3/5
Pretty good but got kind of repetitive, found some good songs though to add
I’ve always hated the song everybody hurts. I don’t know why but it always made me feel this weird pit in my stomach like it’s too sad to be on the radio. I think it’s really the sound of Michael’s voice. It’s haunting, but really draws you in. I liked ignoreland as it drew away from his voice slightly, and star kitten really feels Christmassy. Might just be the time of year. I think I would listen to this again, which I am surprised at after seeing everybody hurts was on this.
govt lies, lovers ill still follow, family loses and what follows, in the end we are all here being influenced by the other. 3/5 a sweet sorrow album
Instruments: 3/5 Lyrics/Storytelling: 3/5 Production: 3/5 Vibes: 2/5 Emotional Value: 2/5 Stand Outs: Star Me Kitten, Drive Overall Rating: 2.6
R.E.M. just not quite for me, there are some good tracks on here Will I listen to again: 50%
Everybody hurts trækker det op
Quintessential car music (complimentary).
Good album, not great. A few old classics. Like Everybody hurts and Man on the Moon. Drive was good aswell, other than that none really stood out on first listen. 3/5.
My dad called, he wants his easy listening record back I’ll never forget being on X at 2am in the Ruston Walmart watching an employee mop the floor while Everybody Hurts played softly in the background I like how they turned the tremolo on the Rhodes and called it a New Orleans song
Comfortingly sad with some real bangers.
A fiew good music but kind of boring :/
Some solid hits. I lost interest halfway through and was more excited to come into the first so g after the album.
Not a direction I was expecting from R.E.M, definitely more enjoyable than the last few albums. Can you believe? They put a man. On the moon.
Decent REM album. I enjoyed the consistency. Good kind of somber but yet oddly upbeat vibe.
The songs from this album played consistently alongside my years in High scholl and the formative memory of those years. I havnt revisited it much since those times. It was a fun tour through those years.
Better than I remember, but lacking some of the greatness of other albums by these guys.
super
This is a tough one for me. The record is very sentimental to me and also has some of my top, favorite REM tracks but I also think it drags overall and it doesn't even make it into my top three REM albums. So, I'm going with a very strong 3.5...
Kind of faded into background noise for me after a while unfortunately. The lyrics might have been interesting but I did stop paying attention. Not a bad album by any means, just not my favorite.
This album blows
Decent rock album. Only got halfway through it.