1001 Albums Generator
Automatic For The People by R.E.M.

Automatic For The People

R.E.M.

1992
3.8
Rating
30660
Votes
1
2%
2
8%
3
27%
4
37%
5
27%
Distribution
Genres: Rock Styles: Alternative Rock, Pop Rock

Reviews (page 10 of 15)

STARK 3! solid album!!

One good song doesn’t make it a good album

Ja weet je, is prima muziek maar wel een beetje langzaam en niet heel lekker voor op de achtergrond

it's giving "music playing in the background of the dive bar where you're having a conversation with a drunk stranger twice your age," and not in an entirely bad way. some songs are stronger than others, but overall it fades a bit into the background for me

Not a big fan of the jangly rock/pop sound in which R.E.M usually dabble, but here there are some gorgeous melancholic touches that I really liked. Drive, Everybody Hurts, Sweetness Follows, Nightswimming and Find The River are some really beautiful songs. Michael Stipe sings very clearly with just the right amount of emotional intensity. But there are bad songs too. Songs that spoil the tone of the record. Ignoreland and some other forgettable tracks. Still, all in all, a pretty decent listen.

Listened to it many times before so know it's great. Tons of hits.

No private session required for Spotify. I used to listen to this CD a lot and really the last REM album I got into. It's a great album, more mellow than their previous work, but good. Three mellow songs from the album got constant radio play, so maybe that is why I strayed away from REM. Early REM epitomized college rock for me, then they had super mainstream success with this one. How dare they?

So good, the highs are extremely high, and the lows are fairly high too, to be honest.

outdated but famous songs were nice

nothing special

Favorite Track: Man On The Moon

I know this a classic in REM land, but I don't love it the same way I do their 80s output. Still solid though. 4/5

10/10 superb album

Excellent

Being the first R.E.M album Ive listened to, seems like a high mark to me. Everyone hurts and Man on the moon! Being their eighth album im not entirely sure where that lands in their discography but it was a great standalone album.

It was good. A few classics, a few hidden gems. I'll listen again. Drive was my favourite that I hadn't heard before.

Kinda like bob Dylan the music and the lyrics are cool but sometimes the guys voice annoys me. And I can’t stop picturing that bald guy singing the songs. Man on the moon is a cool song, I really liked that movie. Never listened to much rem but didn’t mind this and would probably listen again. Solid 3

Few stand outs songs, but the rest felt repetitive and hard to distinguish between them.

Amazing album

Wouldn't have thought of this as one of my top REM albums, but after not hearing it for a while, it really ranks way up there. Nightswimming into Find the River had me awash with nostalgia.

I liked this album, really solid alternative rock, I thought it started out a little weak with the first two songs, they felt kind of bland. But from then on there some genuinely touching pieces and a couple of straight bops too. Favorite song(s): Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon. Both will definitely go into my regular listening cycle. An enjoyable first album to get. 4/5~7.5/10

Forgotten how good this album is

I just find this album a bit too earnest, sorry.

Probably just in a bad mood but felt saccharine (if that's the right word) yet also just a bit depressing? The production and Micheal Stipes' voice grate a bit. Man On The Moon and Nightswimming are still good though.

Same as the other I’ve heard from them, pleasant enough, but won’t think about it again

I REALLY want to like R.E.M. because they were cool before I ever knew what cool meant. and some of their songs are so great, but most of them I don't think I'll ever really get, and at this point in my life I don't care anymore. I'm giving them a 4 for nostalgia sake.

It just personallyyyyyy really did not interest me the slightest bit.

Meh...I decided to give everything that is suggested to me a chance even if before I didn't care for it. This is the first time, I think, that I listened to this album from start to finish. My opinion didn't change really on this. I found the album pretty bland. Losing My Religion is not a terrible song and can at least see why it was a hit but the rest is not my cup of tea

Skvělé. Album mě bavilo. 9/10

What can I say about his album? It is a classic. I am an REM fan, so maybe this isn’t fair, but it is definitely a 5 star album. So many good songs and so accessible. Probably their most accessible album for casual listeners. just Awesome!!!

His voice is just depressing, but the music is pretty good. I don't love it but I enjoy it.

Yup. Good one

Not really memorable

This smacked fr fr Would like to have this on vinyl.

This was ok. Easy listening, but overall nothing that stood out too much. Can't help but feel like R.E.M. would have benefited by a singer with more presence. 'Sweetness Follows' was my favorite track.

It was a chill rock album i think. Not really my style.

This is another album inspired by turning thirty, although with REM their songs tend to the wistful and abstruse rather than gloominess. The opening track Drive sets the tone for the album with sparse acoustic guitars blossoming into a stunning string arrangement from John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. The remastered atmos mix also shines here, sounding intimate and epic at the same time. The highlight is still Stipe’s Elvis impression on Man in the Moon.

Did I already say that REM is a great band? Maybe I did. That's one of the few huge mainstream bands that I don't find overrated; actually I ignored them for too long because they were mainstream and thought there was nothing interesting to get out of them. Every time I listen to one of their records from their golden age, I realize how wrong I was. It's less stripped down and raw than Documents but the arrangements are subtle and everything is great, from the well-carved melodies to Stripe distinctive voice.

Pretty dope! They know how to throw an album together

Ist für viele sicher ein Meisterwerk. Und ich kenne die Hälfte der Songs aus dem Radio. Laufen dort schon seit Jahrzehnten. Keine Ahnung was mich stört. Die Stimme?

Whilst I don’t listen to this album anymore, and it certainly isn’t perfect, I feel it has to be a 5 star. The quality of the songwriting is absolutely superb and there is very little filler. I don’t love all the production choices and his voice is a bit grating but…

Four whole stars. Definitely an element of nostalgia in that rating but I’ll not be apologising for it.

Me gusto

I came back to this one after a few months, because I thought it needed another listen, and I like it a lot more the second time round. It was fine the first time, but I'm appreciating it musically more the second time around.

This is another album where the most popular song is my least favorite one (in this case, "Everybody Hurts"). The rest of the album is appropriately dreamlike and timeless.

Good sounding album with some really good tracks but overall feels like its missing something to bring me back to listen to it again.

Night swimming and Man on the Moon are the standouts here. A nice sound but nothing insane. 3.5

Amazing alternative rock origins

This is now I think the third REM album I’ve gotten on this list. One more and I may have to give up this endeavor. I realize they are popular, my for the life of me, I can’t see why. This album, for al it’s praise, is just as intolerable as their others. I’ve couldn’t stand them in the 80s and nothing has changed my mind yet. Michael Stipe’s warbling and whining is more grating than the proverbial nails on a chalkboard. I had hoped I didn’t like the band because I couldn’t pay attention through his voice. But then they had the dmoet boring Uber

Everybody hurts is way more powerful than I originally thought

Everybody Hurts - a devastatingly beautiful song. A great album.

First listen. Decent.

That was alright

Might regret this later the music gets old really quick. Edit: I regretted it later and edited it to a 4

Well recorded but REM isn't really for me

Great album! Can't believe I haven't listened to it before. Finishing with Man On The Moon/Nightswimming/Find The River was crazy. The first half of the album sorta falls short for me, but the second half is incredible. I haven't listened to much REM outside of the really popular songs, so it was nice to hear a bit more of them. Overall I really liked it and will probably listen to it again. I wouldn't say its a new favourite by any means though, most of the songs I've already completely forgotten.

So many great songs! R.E.M. Was such a good band.

One of my favorite albums. I remember listening to it in high school, it was one those albums that "smart" or "deep" people liked. I definitely thought I was those things when listening to it back in the day. Some great songs, Night Swimming is one of my favorites of all time. Going to listen to this one again without a doubt.

masterpiece

Really great!

Thoughts before listening: For years I thought this was my favorite REM album, but I now think I prefer the early stuff better. There are some great, iconic songs on here, but it tends to drag in places with some slow, boring tracks. Still though this is REM's best 90's album and I am glad to have a reason to listen today. Review: Despite my belief that the earlier more energetic albums from REM are better than this, I can't deny that this is a masterpiece. Its just a largely somber, melancholy masterpiece as opposed to the fun poppy indie rock of their past releases. 5-stars

Come on, it’s a classic. And one of the best 80’s alt rock albums out there. Can’t go wrong.

Man, R.E.M. is a special band for me. It reminds me a lot of my parents and growing up. This album came out the year I was born and we listened to a lot of R.E.M. as I grew up. This album is quality and the production still holds up so well.

This is a really awesome and fun album. I love that its kind of a wide variety of emotions. Some songs are moody, others are more upbeat and energetic, and some are kind of both? Its like sad songs that are fun. REM's style is super unique too. They kind of "play" with genres in a way that reminds me of Dire Straits. They never fully commit. Which then makes this kind of unique sound. Its like they were punk rock kids from the south that can't stop get away from rockabilly and southern rock but they want to be punk rockers but they never lived in NY or LA. So the music really resonates with your average listener. It kind of sounds like suburbia. A few notable songs: - Drive. What a fun song. Its dark, but its upbeat. Its bluesy, but not really. I really like how this sets the vibe for the whole record. - Everybody Hurts. Chills, man. What a song. - Sweetness Follows. Haunting but also kind of inspiring sound to it? Its gives me all the feels. - Monty Got Real. I love the blues influence on this one. - Man on the Moon. So good. I love this tribute to Andy Kaufman. -Night Swimming. All the feels.

The album that moved R.E.M. from arenas to stadiums. This album at the hits from it were massive and the album is fantastic for a band that had been going for a long time and always released good albums they deserved the break this album and predessor Out Of Time have them. The album is full of pop, rock and folky gems the hits Drive, Man On the Moon, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite & Find The River are great Everybody Hurts & Nightswimming are beautiful and the album tracks more than hold their own beside the many hits. Monty Got A Raw Deal, Ignoreland & Star Me Kitten are great and my personal favourite Try Not To Breathe is stunning. What an album

I bet this album hits way harder if you’re depressed

Nightswimming is a masterpiece. Lovely album.

Is this a parody of overly dramatic motorcycle songs? Like wanted dead or alive or turn the page? Really weak start. Overproduced pseudo country riff sounds like it’s dying to be in a Harley Davidson Super Bowl commercial. Lulled me into an angry sleep. More sea shanty like somehow but Jesus it’s the same song structure. Simple riff accompanied by needless melodrama. Preferred the overall tone of this but it went forever. Will there be alt rock?? My note again is I hate the production of this. This might be exciting if it was some underground album and had a hint of irony. I kind of like the lead vocals here. The wail is good, but the mouthful chorus is obnoxious and gets worse as it goes on. This is by far the best song so far, but it again runs out of ideas before it runs out of track. And then here we go. How do you develop fresh thoughts on a song that has blasted in dentist offices across the continent for three decades. Like the last song, there is a touch of elements from the 50’s somehow. Like prom songs in back to the future. I hate the sentiment of this song and again it follows this repetitive song structure that is akin to being hypnotized at a poorly attended casino magic show. PASS I’m starting to lose interest big time. It really insists on announcing its arrival and then gazing at its shoes and barely playing boring rock ideas that have been executed better. I’m not feeling the emotion at all. This instrumental is a good place to ignore the mediocre music bereft of ideas and update on what is a mess so far. I find the hushed, understated nature of this album to be off putting rather than charming. There’s something that makes this sound like Christian rock or something. Song titles aside, Sweetness follows everything on this album. And it’s far too sweet. I’m looking for excuses to leave the desk. I watched trucking TikTok’s. What is with the simple repetition? Every song has the same four chords punctuated by a bad vocal melody. I thought this one might be more upbeat. Medieval guitar stabs are alright in the middle. Some variance and a little bit of a driving rhythm. Better. Oh this sounds like a Bon Jovi B side. Wait, is there energy?? Yes, Undirected energy with obnoxious instrumentals. This album doesn’t do anything right and fills with a melancholy I don’t think it intends to. While these notes are first run, stream of consciousness, the song “Star Me Kitten” compels me to sit and think. This song is obviously out of the ordinary for the album. I had to take a minute. This takes the 50s prom nostalgia to the extreme and beats you into somnambulism via a low crooning over a dream sequence soundtrack. If it’s a parody, it’s unfunny and if it’s serious, it’s an embarrassment to the band and me for having sat and wasted my time. This song is unlistenable. Time for another hit. Wrestling mentioned. BLASSIE MENTIONED. Immediately better. This song is much more charming. There’s a confidence not displayed in the previous songs. Great hook. A strength of this album is the uniqueness of the vocals and it’s far too rarely utilized. After the thrill of the chorus, their verses are a return to tedium, but this song is good to great. Rarely does the interesting music climb the charts, but I guess this is one instance. The album is getting a little better as time goes on. This song has a magnetic quality of some description, but also seems like an ironic Christmas carol. It’s fine, but can’t save this bad boy overall. A low energy end to a low energy album. This is what happens when a band has a bunch of money and no longer feels the pull of struggle. This album is bad. It unlistenable, but bad. HIGHLIGHT: Man on the Moon.

They really just pick one dynamic level and stick with it for the whole song. Very little variety.

Great stuff. Love the mood of the album. Sidewinder has been a favourite of mine since it came out.

A little greater than adequate. I recognize/respect the influence. But this is an album I may never be in the “mood” for. Ie. depressed

i feel like i would have enjoyed this album much more if i were an angsty teen in the 90’s. it was not completely intolerable, but that’s kind of a low bar to be setting for an album that’s supposed to be a must-listen. not a low rating because some of the lyrics and musical themes were interesting, but after a minute i started dissociating from it. the theme was past its prime and so is this album imo

The closing 1-2-3 of Man on the Moon, Nightswimming and Find the River are unmatched

On first listen, it didn't really vibe with me. However, the more I thought about it throughout the day, the more I enjoyed the cohesiveness of the entire album and how the songs flowed into each other.

I have it as my 6th favorite album of all time - and the 2nd best of the 90's and #1 in REM's catalog.

It's my time to finally admit that I really, really enjoy R.E.M.'s music.

For some reason, I always thought that R.E.M. were a 70s band, so I was surprised to see that this album came out in 1992 after it popped up. But after having listened to it, I now fully understand why I was under the impression that R.E.M. were a 70s band. This album sounds dated as hell, completely behind its time. I can't find anything to hate about it, but it just feels like a super generic 70s album, except it came out 2 decades too late.

So many people in high school and college were obsessed with this album… I don’t necessarily get it, I mean it is a decent album, but not something I have on rotation… even if it is catchy at times.

Everybody hurts a little for having to listen to this album. Earlier REM albums are better (thru Green). This one is way overrated

Just fine, a few decent songs, never been a fan.

Great album. Enjoyed this.

A classic and rightly so! They never bettered this if you ask me, it’s a corker with great tune after great tune!

Always kind of forget what these guys sound like. Good stuff.

Pretty boring album

he wants the kitten to do WHAT?

Sometime it is a bit of a shock how old an album is, this is one of those times. I do not think I have listened to a full R.E.M album just singles. I have always like Michael Stipe has a great voice and lyrics. Stand out tracks: - Drive - Try not to breath - The sidewinder sleeps tonite - Everybody hurts - Sweetness follows - Man on the moon - Nightswimming

Listened Before? Y A staple of my late teens and early 20s, this album is a classic to me. I'm incapable of an unbiased review, but I'll say that I prefer a lot of REM's earlier stuff more. This is still a great record, but it has a different vibe. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Nightswimming

Second album de R.E.M généré, après Document. Je connaissais Everybody Hurts, sans plus. Je n'accroche pas du tout, aucun morceau ne m'a marqué, contrairement à Document. =>2/5

Rolig klassisk REM, lyder som en “best of”

It’s okay

Not sure why but despite Document including three of the R.E.M. songs I like most, I prefer this album. Both were between a 3 and 4 so I’m rounding up this time.

He escuchado este disco decenas de veces y me sigue sorprendiendo. Es de lo mejor de ellos.

I liked Man On The Moon, but little else

I enjoyed this very much. Could have been a fiver on another day. Simpsons: Yes

Pleasant to have on, nothing stood out to me though. Maybe on another day I'd appreciate it more, but felt like a solid 3.

Some absolute belters on here. Definitely their best work.

I really liked this album, wasn't expecting to as much as I did but that's what this journey is all about. Nightswimming hit differently listening to it this time.

One of my favourite albums, Find The River and Man on the Moon two of my favourite songs ever. Regret not seeing them play their own show live but did see them twice at T In The Park.

going off these a bit by this point, liked the earlier stuff more like a big old pretentious nob. still ok

It's fine but his voice ain't half annoying

Not bad. Some good songs. I like it, but it's not life changing.

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Brilliant from top to bottom...first R.E.M. album I ever bought and remains among my favorites from the 90s.

I’ve always looked at Green as the dividing line between REM 1.0 and REM 2.0, with Green showing elements of both. This album falls fully into the REM 2.0 era, and I’m not a huge fan. Feels like they are actually writing songs for the radio and for MTV and not for themselves and the fans. 3.0 (boosted because they’re REM)

You enter the club, feeling yourself, looking the best you’ve ever have. You look a cross the room and there she is, the one you’ve been waiting your entire life for. You both lock eyes, this album blasts in the background as you maneuver your way through the crowd to her. Just as you both make it to each other the beat drops and you both dance the night away. That’s what this album sounds like to me lmfao

OK REM. Hits you know, nice tunes... yawn

3.5 REM is a band I always have wished I was more into. Unfortunately, I just really like them, don’t love them. There’s some songs of their’s I adore, and mean a ton to me, but overall, I respect what they do; it’s just not my favorite.

it was ok

Pretty good

Kind of bland, but easy enough to listen to

I have tried, like really tried, to enjoy this band as much as other people seem to (and, to be frank - the makers of this list. Is every album on here?). But I just can't. The hits are good, but the rest are just okay. Best I can do is 'like.' 3/5

I remember hearing this in Streetside Records, unaware that they had a new album out. I was a huge REM fan but hadn't liked their last 2 albums at all (didn't even buy Out of Time). What a comeback! Not quite as good as Murmur or Reckoning, but still damn good. Their last great album.

fágað og gott amerískt gítarpopp. 4.

This album is full of soft enjoyable music. I enjoyed the entire album.

Everybody Hurts // Man On The Moon // 2.5/5

Really solid album that made me appreciate REM more.

I like it

Well, it's time for the fourth, and final, R.E.M. album of the list. I'm gonna miss these. I truly had no idea going into Murmur for the first time back in December that I would end up liking them as much as I do. So how is Automatic for the People as a closer on this arc of my life? I think this is the best one yet. While there is still enjoyment to be had, there's a deep layer of emotion in this one. This is most evident in songs like "Everybody Hurts" and "Try Not to Breathe." These songs are supplemented with your more high-energy tracks like "Man on the Moon" and "Ignoreland." That's not to say that one is better than the other. Every song on this album is quite good. But the variety on this album is really something special. Everything else that makes the prior R.E.M. albums great is here and they're arguably better than ever. Everything from the writing to the instrumental talent to Michael Stipe's singing is all spectacular in this album. I can totally see why people say this is R.E.M.'s best album. I can understand why someone might prefer the other albums, but this one is my current favorite. Because of that, I think this warrants a light 5/5.

Everybody Hurts is one of the worst musical crimes ever committed. And this is by no means my favorite REM album. But it's a solid effort. 3.1

Ya think they’d be offended if I called them the American Smiths? Arguably their masterpiece. Every song on it (ok, fine, after 30+ years I’ll admit it, even “Everybody Whines”) is better than good; it’s like its own little journey of a story.

I remember getting this album when it came out and I didn't enjoy it very much. I'm glad that I got relisten to it. I like it quite a bit this time through.

Honestly, and this kinda sucks...but closer to a 2

Never liked them

Incredible album. I ended up Spotify-liking 9 of the tracks, and they were NOT the popular ones (which I also like but were overplayed).

Funny to have this and Siamese Dream back-to-back, since I probably bought both tapes on the same day. I know real REM fans would fight me on those, but this gets my vote for their best album. If for no other reason than nostalgia.

After two, earlier in their discography albums, this one feels a bit more cinematic & produced - while still being solidly twangy and alternative as you’d expect REM to be. But for Everybody Hurts, which I heard a bit too much when it first came out, this was an excellent listen with only a few lulls.

I dont really understand why rem is so popular, if the album didnt get better as it went along i wouldve put two stars. Theyre really deserving of their name cause all they do is put me to sleep.

REM is nice

decent songs gets a little slow and drags in parts

Odd second REM album choice.

Introspective and yearning masterpiece

Too melancholic for my likes. But a couple of good songs.

I just can't stand his voice vibrato

I'll say the same about Automatic For The People as I did Green when we had REM three weeks ago, they're not my think beyond a certain point, they're fine, Stipe is the star of the show and creates the atmosphere with his voice and the lyrics over some relatively unambitious compositions. Green was a low 3, this gets a high 3 because of Everybody Hurts and the last two tracks; Nightswimming and Find the River are both excellent and elevate a record I maybe expected more from but didn't enjoy as much as I hoped.

This is the best REM album we've had by a long shot. There's so much less filler (the instrumental and Sweetness Follows are the only tracks on here that I'd chop if I could), almost all of it offers something, and it changes mood really smoothly. The middle section is the weakest, but Drive/Try Not to Breathe/Sidewinder/Every Body Hurts is a great start, and Man On The Moon/Nightswimming/Find The River is a brilliant way to end. 4/5, that little dip in the middle stops it from hitting 5 territory.

I'm going for the 5. This album is stacked with critical hits and is a beautifully composed album. 1992 alternative music peak

I’d forgotten how much this album was part of my life growing up. Like visiting an old friend. Apart from the big hitting singles there’s some wonderful album tracks - ignoreland from example really rocks

This is one of my all-time favorite albums and may be the album I’ve listened to from start to finish more than any other. Songs about death and aging and loss and anger and whatever “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” is about. There are artists who do things different than what REM was doing better than this, but REM is the best there is at what they do. I love this album like an old friend.

It this supposed to be cheesy? Because, if I'm being perfectly honest, this is just repetitive chord progressions and bizarre lyrics. It's a guilty pleasure album, but it's not even something that I take pleasure in.

Cool album, the only song I had added to my library was Everybody Hurts. Mix of fast paced and slow paced songs. Definitely everything has a very R.E.M sound.

Great album! Personal favourites are Man On The Moon and Everybody Hurts 4/5

das mir alles zu langweilig

Ok album. Not a huge fan of the guy's voice, plus it tends to get lost in the mix a bit. 2.5/5

Excellent

Forgot how awesome this record is. Hits are hidden among soulful and sweet and sonically luscious tracks. Absolute solid gold.

Another classic from REM

Essential 90s monster album of awesome. Probably the best REM album - top to tail. Everybody Hurts is the 90s equivalent to You Can’t Always Get What You Want. If we’re comparing apples to dem apples, 5 stars isn’t hard to fathom.

The hits are good, the rest is pretty boring.

Absolutely loving it, have discovered in this an artist and album which I will listen to for years

Ah yes some good ol REM. Pretty sure laura had this album when I was growing up. Good stuff. It was good, It's been a long time since I've heard it. I'll give it 4 stars.

Meh. Mopey

Simple as that, 5 stars. Perfect. Night swimming would need six stars.

Probably their most accomplished album in terms of the strength of each song.

Hugely powerful and understated, this is a late masterpiece and refreshing new chapter from a legendary band that already had well and truly confirmed a first-rate legacy. The album is masterfully constructed with nary a misplaced note. The strings and winds are beautifully and judiciously used, complementing the yearning, often pleading vocals. This might be peak Stipe, too – a master class in fully realized rock vocalizing and mature art-making; he shows great range and versatility, from the jokey “Sidewinder,” which he delivers with abandon, to the sweet tenderness of “Night Swimming,” to the resigned acceptance (yet still hopeful) “Find the River.” The organ beds on early songs set the tone of wistful sadness and moderated joy. So many terrific cuts – and the best known in this case are the actual best, “Drive,” “Sidewinder,” and “Man on the Moon” – but there’s no filler at all and every track holds up well and distinctly within the a coherent and impressive whole. Given the richness and sheer beauty of Automatic and the precipitous fall in quality on the records that followed, one can be forgiven for wishing that this was the swansong.

Really close to a 2

Forgettable

Aside from the 2 popular songs, the album didn't really hit.

A bit uneven but some incredible highs (Nightswimming).

Loved every second

An absolute classic. I LOVE this album.

Favourite tracks: everybody hurts; sidewinder sleeps tonite; drive; ignorant; man on the moon; nightswimming

I liked this record quite a bit, but that said, I've never been a super huge R.E.M. fan and it's probably because everything is just way too straight. I like weirder music, and while they definitely are not mainstream pop, they are closer to that then they are progressive rock or new wave or Zappa. My feelings about R.E.M. are probably colored by my belief that they were one of the last "record label" pushed bands -- they were allegedly alternative but that said they weren't as adventurous as other bands of the same era, and their singles and videos were always on heavy rotation... the hype around each new release just built and built for years and years.

Fantastic album

More of a 3.5. Good instrumentation and typically eccentric lyrics, but just a bit too easy listening for my liking.

Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album from REM, which many regard to be the band's best work. This collection of songs includes more ballads than the band's previous material, and incorporates string sections, contributing to the band's somber, serious tendencies. This collection of songs showcases Michael Stipe's rich voice, and the band's collective songwriting abilities. REM dominated 80s and 90s pop and alt-rock charts, and this album is full of beautiful, engaging pop songs that can explain that dominance.

That was nice! I enjoyed it a lot. Would listen again.

Great that I "had to" listen to this album again since a long time. One of the more intimate REM ones, and I love it (I also love their earlier work). Lots of fabulous songs and the opening track (Drive)... superb as are Night Swimming, Everybody Hurts and pretty much the entire album.

I didn’t realise how many REM songs I knew, and also just how many are found on this particular album. If I have the radio on, I could probably safely bet money on hearing at least one song from this album every day. I’m curious of if that’s simply a UK thing or if REM are this played everywhere. The familiarity definitely enhanced the listening experience, although I do want to note that the tracks I didn’t already know were also good fun. I quite liked this. More, in fact, than I expected to.

I'm finding this just about tolerable, and significantly more tolerable than the other R.E.M. albums we've had. Its earnestness is barely just under the line, in that I can sometimes appreciate the lyrics if I don't concentrate too hard on them. When they start doing that recitation thing, I just cringe so hard I need to hold onto something. It's just totally uninteresting. But this album is sliiiiiightly less bad for that stuff than the other albums we had by R.E.M. Earnest and boring, never a great match. 2/5

I know that R.E.M. isn’t a goofy band, but I always associate them as such a bit. This album is definitely a departure from that persona.

This is the iconic album for Michael Stipe and R.E.M. Drive is a classic, no questions about that. The album is well put together from a flow perspective, all songs go together. Just misses my 5 rating as I look for those same elements but more hits to carry you all the way through. I loved it and still love R.E.M. as they were a bad that fully influenced an era and their music stands the test of time!

it’s been a few days since listening to this and i don’t really remember it, i think i had the exact same experience as i had with the previous r.e.m. album i listened to. didn’t have a bad time listening but nothing stood out to me.

I've never been a great fan of REM. Something about the sound I find a bit repetitive, something about his voice doesn't quite do it for me. But then this album has such a rich set of songs, Peter Buck hadn't yet bought a mandolin to ruin every song and it's as good an album as you will hear. Four or five absolute classic songs.

4 out of 5, classic R.E.M. It's been a while, but Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite and Everybody Hurts are great songs. Overall good album, probably my third favorite of theirs.

It’s a brilliant, beautiful album. It has gotten better over the years too.

-I wasn’t a huge fan at first but I got more into it during the second half of the album, his voice is good -Favorites are Drive, Monty Got A Raw Deal, and Star Me Kitten

A masterpiece that re-invented an 80s powerhouse into a 90s machine.

It was a cozy album, easy to listen to. I would listen to the whole album again.

Didn't think I was into R.E.M, but this proved me worng A couple of world hits, that I also think are great songs as well - and the rest of the track list is quite alright. Had to listend to it twice to figure it out... But the conclusion is that I just really like it. 4,5/5 - but Man on the Moon gives it the last boost.

God damn an album!

Such an iconic album. This is what I consider peak R.E.M. The album comes through as hauntingly introspective and quite melancholic and the vocal successfully sells this feeling with palpable emotion backed by tight strings that you just can't ignore. There's a lot of great alt-rock from the 90's and still this album stands out as one of the greats with music and lyrics that tackle timeless emotions. Standouts Man On The Moon Everybody Hurts The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite 5/5

Nostalgia! It feeds that hole in the stomach. It's the longing it pulls out, and not all music succeed in that. This is the album that really manifests the timeless spirit of R.E.M with songs unforgettable. It is always going to be a fantastic album, through and through, for me.

Another banging classic. Needs no more review than that

I hate to say it, but, minus “Nightswimming” and the hook on “Man On The Moon,” I find this really, really, really, really, really, really, *really*, reallyreallyreallyreally – no, like, I’m being serious, REALLYYYYYYYYYY – boring.

This is my most-scrobbled R.E.M. album according to my Last.FM stats, with 3 full plays in the past 9 years plus numerous selections of individual tracks. I have a fair familiarity with it. If it was the first time I'd heard this album I wouldn't be a fan. Drive isn't a particularly ear-catching opener, but purely out of familiarity, I felt somewhat connected to it. It's interesting how you react to music differently after you've already been exposed to it. I'm giving it a 4 because I enjoyed re-hearing this collection, but I'm adamant I would have given it a 3 or lower on first spin.

Brilliant album, probably the R.E.M. album that has the biggest collection of their commercial hits although I would argue it is not necessarily the pinnacle of their oeuvre. Contains one of my most ridiculous misheard lyrics as for ages I thought Sidewinder featured a 'Homily to Cheryl Baker'

REM is the DROAT (dad rockiest of all time). Quite a few big time tracks on this one, outside of those everything blends into same-ness for me. I think if lyrics were higher in my criteria it would be higher, 3.5/5

these guys are always a good listen

R.E.M. býr til þessa líka prýðilegu plötu sem ég mun reyna eftir fremsta megni að muna eftir að setja á af og til. Ég fíla þá og hálfpartinn skammast mín fyrir hversu sjaldan ég spila plötur með þeim. Þessi fengi 3.5 stjörnur en ég í skömmustu minni toga hana upp í 4

++: Everybody Hurts +: Try Not to Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Sweetness Follows, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Ignoreland, Star Me Kitten, Nightswimming +-: Drive, Find the River -: Man on the Moon 6,4/10

Lost the Grammy to Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard. That alone makes this a 5.

Appropriately named band for this album. Actually easily put my kids to sleep in ride. There are a couple ok ones on here though but definitely to slow for my taste. Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts gets a three though.

I never realized how “Irish folk”-y REM was. Not bad.

Waar REM in de 80s bekend stond om z'n aanstekelijke jangle pop, opgeladen met punk energie, tekent dit album wel echt een kentering in de band's benadering van indie muziek. Uptempo en quirky akkoordenschema's worden veelal vervangen door kalmere en romantischere geluiden, wat de muziek doet transformeren in indie ballads, als je het zo mag noemen. En waar ze wel dichterbij hun rock roots blijven, hangt het resultaat meer richting de art rock van Radiohead, bijvoorbeeld. Zoals in de opener 'Drive'. Een goede mood setter, maar die Western-achtige sfeer krijgt geen vervolg op het album waardoor het achteraf helaas een beetje een vreemde eend in de bijt was. De timide aanpak, en het ontbreken van een pakkende atmosfeer zoals die in 'Drive' levert vooral in het middenstuk een gebrek aan spanning op. Lackluster mag je het noemen. 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' heeft nog wel die 80s energie die ik toch wel erg mis, maar het houdt niet over. Vreemd genoeg is het dan wel het trio dat de plaat concludeert, bestaande uit nummers die symbool staan voor het nieuwe imago van de band, die voor mij de plaat 'redden'. Waar het voor een groot deel van het album ontbreekt aan fantasie, zijn de laatste drie nummers een prachtige toegift. 7/10 Highlights: Man On The Moon Nightswimming Find The River

No brainer - 5 sterren Eén van de beste albums aller tijden, en zeker van de jaren 90. De energie in R.E.M. tracks heeft altijd iets heel bijzonders. Het hoeft daarvoor niet hard, snel of opgefokt te zijn om er door geraakt te worden. Ignoreland en the Sidewinder zijn hiervan goede voorbeelden. Het album start echt razend sterk en interessant. Try not to breathe en the Sidewinder is een mooi duo, van dromerig en langzaam naar open en snel. Het enige minpuntje vind ik dat het album na het wat zoete Everybody Hurts een beetje inzakt. Het is niet slecht maar boeit wat minder. Iets jammer na zo'n frivole start. Fascinerend aan Automatic for the People is dat je ondanks de hoge kwaliteit toch de hele tijd zit de wachten op het afsluitende drieluik. Ignoreland en Star me Kitten werken er naar toe, laten het helemaal stil vallen, de plaat lijkt eigenlijk klaar en dan: Man on the Moon - Nightswimming - Find the River. Amen. 9,5/10 Highlights Try not to breathe Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Ignoreland Man on the Moon Nightswimming Find the River (beste R.E.M. track)

This is my first album of 1001. I've listened to R.E.M. before, but I've never sat down with this LP. MY familiarity was limited to Chronic Town & Murmur, plus 'Losing My Religion', all of which I enjoyed to some degree. Even at it's best, I think my enjoyment of most R.E.M.'s material is an indifference towards Michael Stipe, and generally finding the group's style a bit uninteresting. I suppose the benefit of R.E.M.'s earliest moments was that you could credit them with some serious forward thinking - there's something of the air of 90s alternative that they'd captured far in advance. So, on first listen I can't say I care too much for this record. I mean, this is 1992 we're talking, and the world of rock music had changed drastically in the decade since R.E.M.'s prescient debut. At its worst, you've got songs like 'Star Me Kitten' which sounds like the band trying to pull some c. 1977 Genesis shtick, and 'Everybody Hurts' which is about as corny a quasi-adult contempory alt. ballad you can get. 'Drive' is a pretty solid song, as is 'Sidewinder...' (Thanks to John Paul Jones? I'm not sure), but even a song like 'Man on the Moon' which seems to capture the attention of many a fan doesn't really do a whole lot for me. I'm not sure what to say about it. I think what's happened here is a combination of things: I liked early R.E.M., but I wasn't particularly enthused about them or attached to that sound. Given some time, they'd matured, but the basic building blocks of what they were remain the same. That's something to rejoice in if you're a fan of the band, no doubt, but as I said before, Stipe doesn't really do much for me (and this record seems to place him front and centre even more than before), and I'm left without much to enjoy here. I'm open to the idea of some of these songs growing on me (this is a competent and talented band, no doubt, and Stipe isn't a poor songwriter) but, if I'm honest, this feels a bit too overproduced for it to be my moment of revelation with R.E.M. The next time I come back to them, I think I'll make it one of their first five LPs.

Without doubt my favourite REM album. I saw them play at Slane festival with 110,000 other people and they were awesome I love this album and I especially love 'losing my religion', 'Drive', 'Man on the moon' and 'Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' I really love 'Drive' Wish this was a weekend album!

I've never been a massive REM fan and I find Michael Stipe's vocal style a little irritating, BUT theres a lot of nostalgia here! REM absolutely ruled the airwaves when I was growing up and despite having never owned any of their albums I can still sing a bunch of their tracks word for word. I really enjoyed this listen through, particularly the songs that haven’t been overplayed to death on the radio.

Prior to listening to this album I had convinced myself I wasn’t a R.E.M. fan. I decided they were boring but to be honest I had not ever given them a fair chance. Well now I’ve listened and boy was I right to make assumptions. Man on the Moon is interminable. Nightswimming just goes on and on. Sweetness Follows has absolutely inane lyrics despite the weight of the topic. I think my big issue is the lyrics. They are just very mundane. I can enjoy a long meandering alt rock song, LCD sound system do a fantastic job for example. But this was so boring it took three days to get through. Giving it two stars though because, as mentioned, I am trying to give it a fair assessment, and I did quite enjoy the first two tracks, Drive and Try Not to Breathe.

Pure perfection. One of my top 5 albums of all time.

Great album, really enjoyed this one.

I've always enjoyed REM when I've heard them but until recently hadn't listened to any of their albums back to front. So far I've heard this one and Green. I prefer this one without question. Definitely gonna save this one to revisit later.

Great album, has some of the big hits and typical R.E.M moodiness

What can I say, this album is just fun and beautiful.

I want to rate it higher. And I took another day to listen. But it just didn't catch me.

I simultaneously like and dislike REM. It's really song by song. This album is somewhat weak. I found Ignoreland to be imagination-less. Which is strange because I think I can hear the John Paul Jones in that intro, but then the song just wanders into an area, or space, where it does not get my attention at all. I found it easy to just ... not think about it, or be aware of it. I wish I could think of a good word for that place. Anyway, they followed that up with Star Me Kitten, which also was a low point. Unfortunately the hits were the high points here. The deeper cuts seemed fairly benign. I don't think this album is as good as the previous two, but we'll find out when they pop up on this list (I'm assuming they're on it.)

Day 24 - June 25 The epitome of college rock. Grungy, emotional, edgy, perfect. I would argue its three song closing sequence is one of the best in the 90s college rock scene. 5/5

I never been a big fan of R.E.M but somehow "Automatic For The People" and "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" has made in into my CD-collection. I have listened to both albums a good deal and I still find them good.

I have so many fond memories of all these early R.E.M. albums. I was in a high school band around the time Out Of Time was released and I remember our bass player being obsessed with R.E.M. to the point to where he’s the first person I think of every time I listen to them. I particularly remember a time when I walked out to our drummer's garage/rehearsal space and there was our bass player playing R.E.M. songs that he’d been learning. In that moment it struck me how memorable those bass lines are. They have so many songs that you can hear the bass line and immediately know what song it is. Obviously this is true for really all four musicians in this band. Since then I’ve really come to admire Michael Stipe for his take on being an artist and his political activism. Recently I was listening to his interview on the Smartless podcast and was really struck by how much this band was just trying to figure things out for those first 3 albums. I mean the first song on their first album was a radio hit immediately and they kinda had no idea what they were doing. Obviously by the time this album came out they had things figured out and it shows here. This is a collection of perfectly crafted pop rock songs that on their own could stand the test of time, but it’s Michael’s heartfelt vocal delivery that send these songs over the top. The Sidewinder Sleeps At Night, Man On The Moon and Nightswimming are my favorites from this one.

Man, I am NOT an R.E.M. fan, so I'll get through this one, I guess... My old roommate's dad was in a bunch of Savannah bands back in the 70's and 80's, and he used to tell us that his band played in Athens one time, and they had to open for some shitty house band named REM. I guess they aren't so shitty, because they've sold a ton of albums. Good for them. Maybe Jeff's dad was just jealous. It just isn't for me. I'm actually upset, because now the Spotify algorithm will try and infuse this into my recommendations... There is a nostalgia to some of these tunes. I watched MTV a lot back when this came out, so I was inundated with the "hits." If I had to pick, I like the album before this one, and I like Orange Crush off of their 88 album Green. Favorite song on here, Man on the Moon.

After the success of "Losing My Religion" from the previous album, the world of music changed, and grunge and 'alternative rock' marched in with its own sounds and ideals that the radio and MTV ate wholeheartedly. Many groups jumped on the bandwagon and rode the wave. How did R.E.M. respond? They didn't. They just kept doing what they do really well, and the world returned to them, grunge still in tow. Automatic For The People was not solely responsible for the openness and acceptingness of the times that allowed grunge and non-grunge to coexist peacefully together (radio played piano art of Tori Amos, industrial Nine Inch Nails, bubblegum Cardigans, prog-metal Tool, squealing noise-rap of House of Pain, sugar pop of Sugar Ray, etc. all in the same hour), but I do believe it helped to make room for more than just one sound or style to be appreciated. My general complaint about R.E.M. is that most of their 'songs' are the same 4 chords repeated consistently. From a chord standpoint, there is no intro, verse, chorus, bridge, or coda. The band plays a chord arrangement, and Michael lays down some evocative musings and if he repeats a phrase, "Hey! There's a chorus!!" For the most part, the song still turns out well. But when the songwriting ventures to add a chord change or two, we get an elevated version of themselves, and we see that version explored a bit more during the Warner Bros years, including here on Automatic For The People. "Nightswimming" is one of R.E.M.'s best songs in their entire catalog, and hits like "Drive" and "Everybody Hurts" validates a place for honest sensitivity in pop music. Michael Stipe has one of those emotive voices that make everything he says sound deep and meaningful. The softer songs on this album shine through the most for me on this album. Congrats on their recent induction into the songwriter's hall of fame.

I never listened to this album straight through before, so this was interesting. Overall I found it to be a tad somber and pensive in tone, sometimes a bit sparse but creative with the instrumentation, not your standard rock sound. The songs I enjoyed the most were the ones I was already familiar with, the singles, but I appreciated the full listen-through nonetheless. R E.M. always struck me as a rather thoughtful, literary band, which I appreciate representing Georgia, as a change of pace from most of the other popular music from here. I do think I enjoy songs of theirs from some of their other albums more, though. 3.5

R.E.M are another one of those bands that were always sort of in the background for me. I am familiar with their radio hits and I own the Monster album, which I really liked, even though I think a lot of hardcore fans did not like it at the time if it's release because of it's departure from their usual sound. The songwriting and sounds on this one sound pretty straightforward. This project is interesting because it's causing me to listen to a lot of albums out of the time period they were written in and I guess sort of out of context. I never listened to this album when it came out. Today was the first day that I've ever listened to it, though I am familiar with the singles. Michael Stipe has a good voice and it's overlayed on top of some interesting things going on in the music. My favorite is Man On the Moon. The album title makes me think of some type of government mandate that forbids people to drive manual transmission cars. Also.....if Michael Stipe were to leave the band could that be considered a Stipend? Sigh....sorry just the way my mind works

R.E.M. at their absolute peak, I loooove this album 4.6

In my view this is would make a very short list of greatest American works of music. It was a seismic shift in what storytelling, musical variety, and production means for rock music. It opens with four incredible consecutive tracks in Drive (a great tone-setting opener), Try Not To Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, and Everybody Hurts. Everybody Hurts is probably the most well known, and it’s a great song, but it’s probably my least favorite of the four. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight is the high point of the first half of the album. Every track is great, and most are categorically perfect songs, none more so than Nightswimming: it’s a song that could not possibly be better in my opinion. It’s one of the best songs ever recorded I think. Man On The Moon isn’t far behind. MOTM -> NS is one of the best two song runs on any album. Every song on the back half is good, but Ignoreland is the other most excellent track. While I think this is an all time great record, if I could change one thing about it: I would have ended the album with Nightswimming. Find The River is a good song, but it’s one of the least memorable song on the album and can feel a bit lackluster after the musical/emotional juggernaut that is Nightswimming. It’s still arguably the best album of the 90’s and one of the greatest albums ever made.

Nice album, with some line-less pieces

What an unreal record, I've gone so deep on REM these last 5 years and this might be the best one

Composition and songs flow well.

This was hard because it's probably one of my top listened to albums as it goes. That said, Everybody Hurts is the worst REM song and it kills the momentum on the album in a way that it never fully recovers from. My tape was slightly warped from always skipping that song. I decided to be fair and include it in the listen this time. Still sucks.

When I was in high school, my mom got a new car that came with a Sirius XM subscription. Channel 33 was First Wave, which I became fanatic of. They regularly played REM singles, which I liked. I was also long into Hole and Courtney Love (who is a longtime friend of Michael Stipe), so I had heard a lot about REM. They were one of those bands I knew I would like if I gave them a chance. However, I torrented two best of CDs and it just wasn’t sticking. They didn’t sound like anything special compared to the grunge and post-punk and folk music I was otherwise into at the time. I didn’t get the hype, but felt compelled to figure it out. When I was in community college, I decided the time was right! I decided to go through their entire discography in chronological order until I found something I liked. For each album, I would make a list of every song I liked. I found that I liked them more and more with each album but it wasn’t until I hit Green (1988) that I felt like I really truly Got it. The three album run of Green, Out of Time, and Automatic for The People is an impressive near-perfect three album run (I also love Monster but it feels slightly less consistent to me, the highs sometimes even higher but the lows lower). While Automatic For The People wasn’t my favorite REM album at the time (Out of Time was), I feel like it’s grown on me more and more over the years. Everybody Hurts feels melodramatic in retrospect, but I think only because it’s become the kind of song that might as well have been playing during the prehistoric era— as in, it feels like it’s existed for all time. Can you imagine a world before that song??? My favorites are: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Ignoreland, Man On The Moon, and Nightswimming (one of my favorite songs of all time and one of the songs I most commonly add to playlists). Ultimately, I love REM!!! And none of the current music I like would exist without them. Also, Michael Stipe is who everyone wishes Morrissey was. Hooray for REM!

Good but not great

dig the instrumental!

Far be it from me to indicate the inflection point when REM turned from indie to industry. I lost track of them right around the "Shiny Happy" phase, though oh god please do not disregard Fretless, the same duo performance on the Until the End of the World soundtrack. Where was I? Oh yeah, I can appreciate this record like lukewarm tapioca pudding. Inoffensive, mildly alluring, yet bland and FFS inoffensive to anyone. Hey Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Everybody hurts hearing this record.

Enjoyed most of it, the last few songs are a bit too gloomy for me

Really liked this band

Really not a fan of the digital remastered sound on this one. Sounds too “airy” and takes away from the rawness of the original album

Its REM classics , no surprise

Coincidentally I'm in Atlanta, GA and R.E.M is from Athens, GA. Was listening to Man on the moon and ran into Lewis

Man On The Moon Idk if it’s because I’m hungover or what but this album was not doing it for me. Felt boring

I’d never listened to this album and it had more radio hits than I realized. Just the sound of Michael Stipe’s voice fills me with feelings of nostalgia. To fresh ears, the album probably wouldn’t sound relevant today, but for me, REM is all about the feels. Night Swimming! Great album. 3.9

It's well produced and sounds really good (HT to John Paul Jones for the strings?!). I didn't realize Nightswimming, Everybody Hurts, and Man on the Moon were from the same album. I suppose this is peak R.E.M. It's good, but probably better in '92. 3.6

I like R.E.M's style and have listened to another of their albums before. I enjoyed this one and loved the famous Everybody Hurts.

Nightswimming might be the best REM song, and the rest of this album is killer, albeit equally depressing. Not a bad thing, but you have to be in the mood for it for sure.

It feels like a nightowl album so it might not be the fairest to rate it during the day The songs are floating around my head without touching my brain. Midway through only the first track catched my attention Ok I only listened to losing my religion prior to this album, at least it made me realize that I don't like REM And I just realised the reviews are public

Great album

one of the last great REM albums. different than their earlier music but still great songs.

Not my cup of tea

I’ve never considered REM to be one of my bands, but whenever I listen to them on more than a one-song basis, I think “Dang REM is kinda cool.” Wish we had half stars. This is a definite 3.5, and could be a 4 should I ever follow through on the idea that REM is cool and I should listen more.

A couple familiar songs. Pretty mellow feeling throughout the record. 3.5/5

I predict this will be our group’s first album where we all rate it 5 stars! I didn’t need to listen to know this would be a 5-star album for me, but I did anyway. Twice. I was right. Nightswimming is my favorite track (and one of my all time favorite songs) but this album is full of great songs. I saved way too many to my “1001 albums faves” playlist. I needed this after a string of mostly “meh/fine” albums!

A lovely album. Great songs, has a good vibe throughout, lyrics are more discernible than on many of their others. 3, maybe 4, legit “hits” and the rest of the tracks are all quite intriguing.

Another all-timer. I got pretty into REM as a kid and ended up owning Eponymous, Out of Time, Monster, and this. A few years ago a podcast I like listened to their whole discography and I listened along. And while I recognize the impact Murmur had, for my money this is their best album. Everybody knows “man on the moon” and “everybody hurts” but “sweetness follows” and “night swimming” are my personal favorites. There’s something about night swimming, especially. I’ve never been skinny dipping, and I’ve only been swimming in the dark a few times, but a song that’s about nostalgia and water and *feels* like a warm summer night is going to get me every time. Also, might as well add this, even though it’s a bummer, because it is so indelible in my mind. A classmate died at school during sophomore year. His name was Andy. After school that day, the administration let students commandeer the PA system and I have such a distinct memory of other classmates playing “man on the moon” as we all left school in tears. It’s totally the wrong tone for that moment, but it does use the name Andy. So I can never hear that song without thinking of that moment.

Not my favourite band but the singer has a unique voice. I don’t really hate it but I don’t like it.

Nobody does sad dad rock like REM

I Love REM, another nostalgia album, one of mum's favourite bands and this album has some true classics in the genre Another biased opinion but there's something about this sound that is just good. Man on the moon is an all timer.

An enjoyable listen.

Top ten album of the 1990’s. REM was great alternative music for me growing up.

not bad but for vibes only

Incredible. Back driving in the car with mum in the nineties!

I've heard of a few of these songs on the radio but had no idea they were theirs. Nice little album, nothing too exciting but pretty good. If there was a 3.5, I would give it that but 4 is usually for albums that I enjoyed quite a lot.

The hits are hits, the rest are shits

Tres ó cuatro canciones memorables. REM alcanzan su plenitud.

Good album, just not so much for me. I like Nightswimming though!

Pretty good R.E.M. album, never been a huge fan of them. The only album I love by them is their first, the rest of their popular albums are overrated. But this one of their better albums of their later period. 3/5

nightswimming!!

Favourite song - Night swimming 3/5

Gran disco.

I don't really like acoustic rock much, if I could give this a 2.5 I would

Classic. Also, amazing.

The last great entry from REM; some favorites here.

Best album so much angst

sorry for ruining the perfect score. i rly only like a few from here, and the rest im meh on.

REM - eine homage an meine Studiums- und Examenszeit. Geniales Album mit tiefgründigen Texten und unvergesslichen Songs “Drive”, “Everybody Hurts” und “Man on The Moon”. Die Streichereinlagen werten die Musik noch auf. Ich finde “Automatic for The People” ist ein unvergessliches Album aus der Zeit als uns die Welt noch offen stand 😊.

My dad loves REM and I only really knew their singles so was looking forward to giving this a go and was not let down. Sidewinder sleeps tonight and man on the moon are two of the greatest songs in history, nightswimming is a classic, while the last track was also brilliant. Not surprised at how good it was and it’s a nailed on 5/5 - let’s get a sixer, shoot some hoops and listen to automatic for the people

Two classics on here with Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon. I always loved their singles, especially Everybody Hurts, but I was never an REM fan as a whole. The rest of the songs didn't capture me here and I think I said the same on a prior REM album. Nothing against them, they are just fine to me.

Damn, okay. Number three from REM, still no sign of "Losing My Religion." But this has to be my favorite that we've had so far. A few big hits, like "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon," plus some others that I hadn't heard before but loved, especially "Nightswimming." I really love Michael Stipe's voice, and this album is just really excellent. I'm not holding my breath at this point for the "Losing My Religion" album, but if they all sound this good, I'm chilling. Favorite tracks: Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, New Orleans Instrumental. Album art: Not entirely sure what I'm looking at, some sort of spiky block or something, over a mostly blank, grey backdrop with a bit of texture. Not too elaborate or memorable, but the bold font helps a lot. 4.5/5

REM holds up when it comes to 80s and 90s tunes. This album was cool, mainly due to Stipe’s vocals and quirky lyrics. It was interesting listening to “Everybody Hurts” as intended. I cried.

Fantastic album.

30 years ago thos was a high 4 or a 5. On a re-listen, it's a solid 3+. It's solid, but it hasn't aged well for me.

Good. A couple clunkers.

I should probably listen to more REM

Have loved this album for a long time! It set the tone for the nineties. IT was on heavy rotation on the CD player in my car!! The band was groundbreaking in the eighties and then got the recognition they deserved in the 90's. Sounds as fresh today as it did then!

I think R.E.M grew in an interesting way. It makes sense. But I prefer the earlier, more rocking stuff better. That said, this has some incredible songs and even if it's not my favorite it's still really really good.

Classic. Didn’t like it when it came out. Was too young to appreciate

everybody hurts

DNF. Der erste Song war cool und der Instrumental auch

I really hate this one you guys. Its torture, with the most brutal of its tortures 'nightswimming' saved for the final stretch. Just when you think it can't get any more painful on your eardrums, you get bludgeoned with nightswimming.

Amazing album! Drive Everybody hurt Man of the moon The best songs of this album It's a 4.5/5

At least it’s better than the other REM album. 2.58.

Fine I guess but extremely boring to me

It's an overall really nice album, with some great hits in there. It's strange, but when you're actively listening to an album you notice so much more. I wasn't too aware before just how much organ was on some of these songs. I also like the jangly guitars and the violins. There's some standout songs in here. Everybody Hurts has to take it though, it's such a beautiful song, my god. My favourite songs are generally the ones I already knew, but 'Find the River' is a lovely end to the album. Great stuff.

REM sells out and we all benefit.

Got to rep my neighbouring 'hometown'

Not a big REM fan, it's good though

2.5 meh. Maybe my expectations were too high after Losing My Religion