Automatic For The People

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.

surprising, bit weird, but not too bad. wouldn’t go for it but wouldn’t turn it off if its on.

Storytime... When I was a teenager I had a mate who was 15 going on 45. He was cool and all, but very responsible, he didn't partake in all the dumb shit we did. Anyway, this was one of his favourite albums, which we thought was hilarious as we saw it as dad music. I'm now a dad in my mid fourties, and found the album pretty cool. Makes me think, did that guy plateau at mid 40s, or is now 45 going on 90.

It's a good album but a slog to listen to.

Muy snoozando

Half of the songs I love. The other half are not very interesting but still really pleasant to listen to. Not my favorite REM album but I still enjoy it.

Started well then lost my interest

If you love R.E.M. you love this album. If you don't like R.E.M. you still enjoy this album. Yet another that was fine to listen to, but not one I'm marking for repeat listens. Radio hits were fine, some of the deeper cuts are fine. Overall... it's fine.

Yeah it's alright but can we just cheer up, and sing a little better please?

I don't think I've ever listened to a REM album in full before - it's not really my cup of tea, so I never bothered digging beyond their radio hits. It's not necessarily a bad thing, because I don't think I would have been able to fully appreciate their music a few years ago (unless it's Losing My Religion. I never get tired of this song). It's still not really my kind of music, but I did enjoy this album more than I expected. The instrumental parts are very good, and Michael Stipe is an amazing vocalist with a very peculiar voice. They do have a truly unique sound, with a bittersweet, melancholic vibe that you can't mistake for any other, and kind of stays with you after you finish listening. It's a solid album overall, even if a bit too much on the pop / folk side for me. Certainly not an everyday listen, but I may give a try to their other albums. 6/10

R.E.M. is such a surprising band, a mutant that evolved from the alternative scene into the biggest pop-rock act in the world with Out of Time and then this album, before drifting into a kind of soft grunge with Monster and eventually sinking into bland mush. Back then, R.E.M. was peak American-hipster hype, the kind of music you’d hear in TV shows like Friends, but it was good music: sensitive, well-crafted, and relatively rich. It’s a solid album that, in my opinion, helped define modern pop rock. I can listen to it without really getting hooked, but there’s a nostalgic layer now, a few memories attached. Still, too much impactful stuff was coming out at the same time for this kind of music to really leave a mark on me back then. I maybe appreciate it a bit more now.

I found this mostly forgettable, not a fan of Michael Stipe's voice. The second half was more enjoyable than the first, with Man on the Moon the highlight.

Eh..

memories of mom

3.5

3.0 - Ok

Was hoping to be more enthused about this one but didn’t do heaps for me. Saved a song: N RYM: Y (#722)

this album gets carried so hard by its end (last 3 tracks)

Beginning and end of album were quite boring but the middle of the album was great

Aldri blitt heilt venn med Stipern

Onhan tää ny aika nössöä mutta jotenkin tääkin on alkanut putoomaan mulle. 3/5

R.E.M is just boring. Like when they come on the radio they are good enough that you don't turn the channel but you're not sad their song is over, and this is just a whole album of it. 6/10

First listen

This isn’t my favorite album but REM is a great band. They have such a good, complete sound. They remind me of The Pixies in that regard; just a band that sounds good no matter what song they’re playing.

Never realized “everybody hurts” was an REM song. The soft easy listening sound and unique vocals really set them apart from other alternative bands of the same era. Overall not my favorite vibe but still an enjoyable listen.

I am very glad that I listened to this. I wish I could give it a 4 but there aren't enough songs that I genuinely liked for me to give it that score. But I really appreciated the acoustic emphasis of the album and the rather interesting lyrics too. Drive and Man on the Moon were my favorites, but Everybody Hurts is the classic here.

Too much minor for my tastes.

Good, just wish there were a few more up tempo songs 3.5

3.5 stars The 2 early 90s REM records were the first of their albums I listened to and thought i just wasn’t into the band. Years later I discovered their fabulous first 5 releases (EP + first 4 LPs). And with some context I eventually returned to Automatic for the People. It still doesn’t reach the height of their early work, but there is good stuff here. I don’t think it all works. I don’t have a deep affection for it or anything. There’s better 90s stuff to listen to.

I found this album to be generally sweet, genuine and maybe a little boring. I'm not necessarily interested male vocalists of this variety. I think it's biggest strength is that instrumental track and it's biggest sin is corny, could be worse.

Another band that never resonated with me. Sure I've always respected their place in rock music, in fact they were the band that I first understood to be "alternative" music. (Although back then it was "college rock") At this point deep into the 21st century with your streaming and lack of physical media it's easy to forget how huge a band like R.E.M. was. Name any of the biggest pop stars out there today, R.E.M. was just as big, maybe even bigger. I'd say their popularity was due in part to albums like Automatic For The People. It seems to appeal to the hardcore fan as well as a newer (at the time) fan. Overall I liked the album more than I expected. Some nice production. I was pleasantly surprised to read that John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures) arranged the strings. That kind of thing always lends credibility for me. It didn't gain a new fan but it certainly earned a bit of respect.

I like R.E.M. but only to an extent, they've yet to totally effect me, but this is a classic collection of songs. I like Nightswimming, and I like night swimming, and I like the movie Night Swim. I also think Everybody Hurts is funny, but in a good way

Not as good as some others but solid. Mixed songs

Too sad, no thank you

As a long time REM fan, this one doesn't really do it for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Odotin aika paljon enemmän jostain syystä.

I really wish I liked REM more. I bought this album back in 1992 and have lived with it ever since. And I just cannot get into it? I never reach for it, I never think about it. This is obviously a great album. Find the River is such a stunning song. Ditto for Drive. But I cannot swing more than 3 stars because the album as a whole doesn't get under my skin.

Heb gewoon niet zoveel met R.E.M.

My first time listening to R.E.M. other than their big hits, despite how iconic this album cover is. I think definitely the kind of album that will grow on me with repeated listens as I can take in the lyrics more. I'm not immediately in love with Michael Stipe's voice but the lyrics that I picked up on are definitely special. Everybody hurts is a tricky one - it's been so overplayed that it takes a moment to actually appreciate it - but when you do it is a beautiful and devastating song. Other songs on here varied for me, not my normal cup of tea but I keep getting moments of greatness peeking through. That said, the last three tracks here are all incredible. Man on the Moon is just a great song, I know nothing about Andy Kaufman and I bet it'll only get better as I read up on him. Nightswimming... really special. No further notes at this time. And the Find the River, what an outro. A lot about death and mortality on this badboy. 3/5 for now but confident this will get bumped up once I've had more time to dwell on the lyrics.

Вполне приличный рок, но это не значит, что я его буду слушать

Not nearly my favorite REM, but still pretty good.

I liked it more than I disliked it, I hadn’t listened to R.E.M. prior to this and this wasn’t what I expected them to sound like, not in a bad way though. Didn’t quite hook me the way I need to really get into it but it was a nice listen and I enjoyed a lot of the lyrics, fits well into the era it was released in. Solid album.

Some classics and enjoyed, would give 3.5 if possible.

It was pleasant enough but nothing special

Gemütlicher Rock. Trifft leider nicht so ganz meine Wellenlänge.

Die finde ich überbewertet. Mag andere Alben von R.E.M. lieber. Dennoch: Eine der markantasten Stimmen der Popmusik. Erstaunlich, wie viele Riesen-Singles diese Platte hat. Finde sie aber nicht konstant stark.

Fine record. Couple of good songs. I can’t take the song everybody hurts seriously after it being used satirically in movies so often.

Ta be...3 de grans,alguna de aborridota i REM...sempre m'han agradat. Li poso un 6,5

A polished offerring, a dozen years into REM's career While I like REM, and this collection certainly ticks all the expected boxes, it is generally the earlier albums that I reach for these days That said, Everybody Hurts is a real gem and shows that REM was not just churning out radio-friendly tunes for the cash and chart fame Drive, Sidewinder, Nightswimming & Man on the Moon round out this album

For as much as I like a few R.E.M. songs, I don't think any of their albums have clicked with me from front to back. Which is kind of odd, I love a lot of '80s and '90s indie, I like sad music, and I can handle a little jangle. Side note: What the fuck even is jangle pop, I will listen to songs that I think sound "jangly" on some sensory level, but any effort I've made personally to define the genre has been largely unsuccessful, even though I can listen to something and say "yup, that jangles". Regardless, R.E.M. seems like a band I should like, and maybe I will like them in time. I enjoyed Automatic For The People a lot. While, perhaps not R.E.M.'s saddest, it may be competing for their slowest. This album consists almost entirely of largely downbeat, but nimble ballads. And I'd say it is largely engaging, even though this is a formula with a high risk of being boring. I think a lot of it comes down to the textural, dare I say, "jangly" guitar playing, and the distinct presence of Michael Stipe. He really knows how to write a melody, even when the songs lose me a little, he has a way of grounding things. Like, I don't think anyone else could've made a good song from The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight. He also, miraculously sells the pure melodrama of Everybody Hurts. This mega-hit could've been *insufferable*, but it remains a great song despite gratuitous airplay. Although I actually think this album works best on some other songs. The one-two combo of Drive, and Try Not To Breathe may be the peak to me. Monty Got A Raw Deal is also a pretty great summation of what's happening here. Also, I'd like to highlight Man On The Moon, which I *think* is a tribute to the late, great Andy Kaufman. Unfortunately, I don't think R.E.M. quite sticks the landing. I think that Star Me Kitten, Nightswimming, and Find The River start to drag a little. But it doesn't bring the artistic whole down *too* much. I do think this was a pretty great collection of songs, and a great showcase of balladry from R.E.M. I can only imagine I'll dig deeper from here.

Some boring and some absolute clinkers

later

Good album, not my jam. Recording quality is top-notch, and some really good songs.

I was trying to figure out why R.E.M. has just never landed for me, when I remembered a scene in Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the gang visits a bar in town that's winning all the awards. It's bright, pop music blares, and everybody's kind. After ordering drinks, Mac remarks about the bartender "Too soft! I want a little edge in my bartender." That sums up my feelings about R.E.M. and this album. There's nothing offensive about this album, not even Stipe's iconic voice. It's just all too soft for me. There are some good tracks, but "good" is the highest praise I can offer them. 3/5

R.E.M is a band that I’ve always put pressure on myself to find appealing. As a massive Radiohead fan, I have a lot of time for them given how important Michael Stipe was in their development. Unfortunately I really struggle to connect on any greater level to R.E.M’s work. Truth is that Stipe’s signature warble is sometimes kind of annoying and whiney. That doesn’t take away from quality of the stronger material. Nightswimming, Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts; these are all genuinely great songs. It’s just that I find it really difficult to sit through the deep cuts where Stipe’s screeching tenor begins to grate against some perfectly fine sounding 90’s alt rock arrangements. ✨

I'm not too big a fan of R.E.M, beyond their big hits they bore me a bit. This record isn't the exception. The good songs are excellent: "Everybody Hurts" is a classic and "Man on the Moon" is one of their best and catchiest songs. "Drive", "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" and "Nightswimming" were pretty good too. The rest I didn't really care for. Beyond the specific songs though, their specific brand of folk rock/pop just doesn't resonate with me and even though I can listen to them, I don't see this as one of the best albums ever.

Pretty good

Fav Song: Drive

6 I think REM are a bit bleh . I don't love his voice and the music is fine. I alwasy think of when I was a kid John taking the piss about the bit where he says yeah yeah yeah yeah in man on the moon. Gave me a nice nostalgia trip

forget all those shitty hacky sack bands that try and fail to reach the R.E.M. sound. i've heard some of the crap that played on the radio after this album hit it big and it's worlds apart in quality. i didn't appreciate this album so much back when i first listened, but boy does perspective paint this favorably. this is real shit. Spin Doctors and Soul Asylum and Gin Blossoms have worn my taste for mainstream alt rock to a nub, but this brought some of it back. real songwriting, real pathos. just not a personal favorite. i have higher hopes for Murmur deserves to be one of the 1001? yeah

Franchement c'est pas ce que je préfère je trouve ça un peu mollasson

Ik was bij het vorige album al klaar met het veel te degelijke R.E.M. Het eerste nummer van dit album, de hit Drive, is wel een lichtpuntje. Maar grotendeels zou ik mijn eerdere teksten hier gewoon weer kunnen herhalen.

Pretty much was I expected- decent collection of somewhat soft songs. Decent. But not much stood out aside from the hits.

Thought it was better, a bit boring tbh.

I expected to not enjoy this, but I was wrong. It’s an accomplished, enjoyable album. Preferred this to Murmur.

Influential but not exactly my cup of tea. Some great hits but a little boring in parts.

It sounds like R.E.M.

в моїй голові чомусь рем завжди крутіше ніж вони насправді є. звісно, я люблю Everyboy Hurts, але чомусь все інше не чепляє мене. це не погана музика, але, здається... вони спивають не для мене

Didn't know "Everybody Hurts" was from this album

Second R.E.M. album on this list. This one seemed more mellow than the previous album I listened to. Didn’t know the mean tweets theme was on this album. Favorite songs: Everybody Hurts, Man On the Moon

2.5 , was fine but nothing special

Ok A bit slow and dour but it's alright musically and lyrically

I was surprised that this album was ranked so highly. I mean, I liked it, but I don't think I liked it THAT much. In fact, the most lauded and listened to song on the album, "Everybody Hurts", is like nails on a chalkboard for me and it took everything in me not to skip it. Anyway, I clearly enjoy R.E.M. well enough, as they have never gotten less than 3 from me. But after this being my fourth R.E.M. album, I am in the camp of "this project doesn't need this much R.E.M.".

Solid album though certainly not my favorite from this band. Stipe’s voice is in prime form. 3.5 stars.

Lyst til å gi denne 4. Er flere 4er-låter her, men det er flest 3ere :)

I don't really have much to say about this album. I enjoyed it but it was pretty unremarkable, as is usually the case with R.E.M.

Kuuntelin taustalla enkä oikeastaan keskittynyt, joten spesifejä kommentteja ei ole. Ei huono mutta en valitsisi kuunneltavaksi. Hieman liian alavireistä makuuni.

I can see why this was such a massive album at the time. The usual range of good and bad tracks. Probably not what I would buy. But a decent listen, and im glad I did. A high 3.

The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite and Man on the Moon are great songs. Rest felt pretty forgettable for me.

Yeah this was okay. Nothing really stuck out though. Neutral.

Eh, it's fine. Not really my thing but it's fine.

I would say I like REM but struggle to listen to a full album of theirs. This has a strong start and finish but a lot of shit in the middle. A good 3 I would say

A wholly decent album and I value REM's contribution to rock. So no arguments from me about why it's here. I like the blend of instruments; the propensity for a minor key. But I did find that it dragged a bit more than I remembered. The songs can be a bit one-level in terms of energy, and I think Out of Time is a better album. Favourite song is Man On The Moon.

Found this quite bland and a few songs did the musical heavy lifting. None of it was unpleasant and perfectly reasonable background music for the most part. But I do like the general “sound” and it has a clear style. So a bit of a mixed review, could have been more compelling but enough in there to have not found it a bad way to spend 48 minutes.

There are some big tunes here and there is no denying that this is an influential album. It's just a bit dull. It's middle of the road music that my dad would listen to in the car on his way to a holiday cottage in Devon.

1. Genialny bas, fajny break z wejściem gitary, współgra dobrze z echami w tle 2. Zalatuje szantami ale w przyjemny sposób, można zaśpiewać przy ognisku, bardzo dobry Ignoreland zalatuje aerosmithem Reszta bardzo REMowa.

I respect REM way more than I like their music. The hits are fine, and this album has some solid material to offer, but it's never resonated with me the way it did with a lot of Gen Xers in the era before the indie boom.

Remarkably Enduring Meanderment.

Ok. Not my favorite REM but some decent stuff on there.

Full of absolute corkers, album prodded along fine otherwise.

Helt ok

Not bad but I can't get used to the lead singers voice Fav songs Drive, the sidewinder sleeps tonight, ignoreland and man on the moon

the majority of songs doesn’t progress or evolve throughout their duration whatsoever. only the last quarter of the album have some diversity inside the songs

I like R.E.M., but this is not one of my favorites. Don't like the opening track or Everybody Hurts. Man on the Moon is the best.

Another in the long line of albums that are fine, but somewhat boring outside the singles.

Wow, a two day streak I'm not giving an album a 1 or 2. It's a miracle!! I like REM, I really like some of their stuff. And some is meh. This album has a balance of that, I'd say 3.33, so it gets rounded down to a 3. The good, I wasn't real familiar with Drive, and I liked it.

Ill try to make more of an effort this time. For someone who hasn't listened to every R.E.M album before this or was a die hard fan during their prime, I'm probably not going to truly grasp how influential this album was. It was 1992, I was six years old, after all, busy rocking out to the Chipmunks' version of "Ice Ice Baby." Yet, even without that nostalgia, there's a lot to appreciate about this album. For a record that's melancholic almost all the way through, it's doesn't pull you down. It's musically layered and introspctive. It also happens to be packed with hit singles. Songs I eventually grew to know and love. So yah, I guess it's an alright album.

Revolutionary! Who'd a thought to sing about pop culture? Man on the moon lyrics are so unique. Everybody hurts is sad and comforting at the same time. There's definite juicy layers to this pop music.

It sounded kind of exactly like I expected. Some standout songs I hadn't heard before.

Enjoyable but I only really liked the few songs I already knew.

spoko tej

Songs are fine, but I'm not a fan of Stipe's voice.

There's a few catchy moments. I can appreciate its historic value, but I'm not looking to replay it. Maybe that's what I need for it to grow on me better. Time will tell. 2.7/5

Not bad. But a bit boring closer to the end.

Some big hits on there. Cant imagine listening to this as a teenager like Dave Rymer from the Library

good

Very 90s. Like the sidewinder song the best

Solid pop/rock album that is easy to listen to. Interesting arrangements and production details. Drive, man on the moon, everybody hurts and nightswimming are sweet memorable songs. And yet, this music still seems to lack some spice that gives it another layer for my taste.

Eh. Good songwriting, instrumentation, and arrangements. I found it kinda boring but I can't say that its a bad album. Also something about Michael Stipes voice rubs me the wrong way. I can see why people love it, but it didn't make me a fan

undeniably lovely and masterful music making, but not my jam

-I have heard some REM before, first song on album (drive) is slow but a good intro song. A little repetitive for my taste but not too shabby. -Pretty repetitive for a whole album, the hits off of it (man on the moon, everybody hurts) I’ve heard before and have liked. -Fine album musically I appreciate the different instruments and routes taken for each song, but overall for me, a meh listening experience outside of a few gems. Strong finish. I probably won’t listen to front to back again anytime soon, but I still appreciate it.

Roadtrip music by a band that thinks it's too cool to make roadtrip music.

REM and I have never really “clicked”. I’ve listened to nearly their full catalogue and I would put this one mid-way through with the earlier releases ranking higher.

Nightswimming ++

It was an album that felt like a folktale, telling a story however to me most of tge songs weren’t something I would listen to again, a lil slow however the beats and vocals were nice espcially on everybody hurts

Fairly boring until the last 3 songs which are really good. A bit samey and uninspiring on the whole.

While Automatic for the People was major in its reach and hugely influential during the genre’s heyday - especially in my own mid-90s “alt phase” - R.E.M. always felt like the adult in the room. There was this one older guy in high school who wore more billowing garments - often leaving his button up unbuttoned - and always danced in the in the rain without wearing shoes. He loved R.E.M. I, however, connected more with the energy of grunge / angst / punk acts at the time. Not that I dismissed it, but rather I’d never really ‘listened’ from start to finish, and after doing so, I did catch a few melodies looping in my head days later - a sign of its staying power. At times, the monotone melodic lean made me drift, but tracks like Sweetness Follows and the sly vocal delivery of Star Me Kitten are really beautiful. Everybody Hurts … who doesn’t get moved by that? And Man on the Moon may have been overplayed, but it’s still a classic.

R.E.M has kinda always been there, occupying the margins of my awareness by virtue of some hit alternative radio singles or iconic music videos in the late 80s and most of the 90s. Although they had origins in popular 80s college rock, by the 90s they began to sound like a distinctly American band; an Americana band even. There's a rootsy folkiness to their arrangements, themes, and instrumentation that somehow had them occupying a more alternative category despite the constant gold certifications. They have always been a little too dark and artful for straight pop music charting, although their alt-pop crossover appeal was clear based on their broader commercial success and accolades. I think I owned Out of Time on CD at one point a few years prior to this release, (because of a girl, without a doubt), but by the time this album came out I had moved on. This record seems to represent a maturation of their sound they began with Out Of Time. (I always think any time a rock band brings in orchestral strings to an arrangement, this is the point when they are getting way more serious about shit). Michael Stipe's vocals have often felt just a little too nasally falsetto—and Mike Mills' backups a little too wholesomely Beach Boys sweet—for my taste. But when R.E.M. does it right they really tap into something. I tend to connect more with their songs that are shot through with a measure of angst or melancholy. "Sweetness Follows," in all its cinematic wideness is a perfect example of this. "Drive" as well, invites us into an experience that is gonna probably be a little fraught. As sincere and sweet as "Everybody Hurts" may have come across at the time, the years have not been kind. It sounds treacly now; almost parodistically so. Right up there with Wilson-Phillips' "Hold On." What desperate shit was going on in the 90s, y'all? We were about to hit the millennium, ffs. "Man on The Moon" earns all the radio play it got. I remember hearing "Nightswimming"—maybe a live version—incessantly on the in-store play at Tower Records when I worked there and finding it irritating as hell, probably due to the constant repetition and inability to skip it. I had completely forgotten that "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight", with its catchy earworm chorus refrain, even existed until this listen. I haven't voluntarily listened to R.E.M. in decades. Overall, I can listen to them pretty easily if they're on somewhere, as long as it's not "Shiny Happy People." Probably deserving of 3.5 stars, but since there's no 1/2 star option, I'm rounding down. As soon as "Ignoreland" came on, though, it triggered some sort of memory. My super goth friend in high school had a punk chick visiting her, who was into all the most edgy dark punk AF stuff. She had an out-of-towner cool factor that kinda captivated us in the suburbs as exotic and somehow more, I dunno "real". One of her favorite bands was R.E.M., however, despite being covered in spiked leather and patches coding her as this outsider underground firebrand. I remember being puzzled at the contrast between the aesthetic she presented, and this particular favorite band of hers, (although I think some part of me recognized it too, as I had kinda the same thing going on in different ways). In those teenage days it wasn't cool to like popular stuff. Sigh. Anyway, one of my other memories of that chick is she was the first girl to ever have just ripped a full-port fart in front me with zero shame. She just laughed. She may have also been on drugs. I think this record was playing when that happened.

It's nice to be reminded that not all music from the "alternative music" era of the early 90s sucked. 3/5.

Expected this to be lousy but it was ok

Not too much to say here. Its good but nothing too spectacular for my tastes. Man on the moon is great. Same with everybody hurts but I think everyone likes those songs. Also very fond of the instrumental after everybody hurts, new Orleans instrumental 1. Very good. Probably my favorite. Just solid new wavy pop rock with an i think Irish tinge. Whatever they are the accent its neat. All around enjoyable without being mind blowing

Ok

Never really been sure how I feel about these guys. I've always found that, on the musical side at least, they lacked distinct personality, despite their undeniable influence. I do ike Michael Stipe's vocals and lyrics here; they're melodic, diverse, and quite impressive on songs like 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite'. While lyrically enigmatic at times, a song like 'Ignoreland' has a deep, cutting message. The only song on this album that I'd been previously familiar with was 'Everybody Hurts', and, sorry, it's all too simplistic, one-note, and overplayed for me to like here. Though again, Stipe's the undeniable highlight of the song. 'Man on the Moon', on the other hand, is an absolute banger, the best song on here in almost every way. The following 'Nightswimming' was also nice, feeling like a chill boat ride under a full moon with this quaint, and sort of hypnotic, piano driving the whole thing. So yeah, I was pretty lukewarm on this whole thing. The songs I find just way too long, and the production too clean and samey. But I'm sure there's something I missed, so I'll put a pin in this one for now.

A very solid album and an essential part of the early 1990s. Unfortunately, it’s REM’s ‘Joshua Tree’ - where commercial considerations appear to (at times) be more of a concern than remaining true to themselves. But this is a niggle - filled with solid material (‘Nightswimming’ is my personal favourite), this album should be owned and listened to. And then you should go and listen to ‘Life’s Rich Pageant,’ ‘Fables of the Reconstruction,’ ‘Reckoning,’ and ‘Murmur.’

i'm gonna crash out

Kos og finfin papparock. Var jo et par av hitsa her også!

Boring but ok. Couple acceptable tracks

wallpaper music but like 3 decent ones

I generally find REM tedious. But for whatever reason, this listen wasn't bad. Right mood for it, maybe? 3.5*

Decent.

A pleasant enough listen. A pretty understated album. Good opener, pretty weak closer. Bit bad. 3/5

7/10

Leider ziemlich langweilig. Kannte REM nur von den Hits und habe mir mehr versprochen. Stattdessen bekomme ich 50 Minuten recht generische Rock musik ohne große Abwechslung. Habe mehr erwartet ist aber immernoch ganz ok 3/5

181/1089 - After listening to a few of their albums, I think R.E.M. is an above average band. Nothing stood out to me very much but I'm willing to relisten at some point in the future.

Alt Rock with a unique and refreshing voice

REM is an underrated band I think.

An alright album, not my favorite but a fine listen throughout. 5.25/10 (2.625/5)

lolz

Classic Rock but aged very well. Everybody hurts is just a banger of a rock ballad

they jangly

This album really encapsulates how I feel about R.E.M. - some good or even great singles, mostly forgettable album tracks. They released this like 2 seconds after the huge success of their previous album Out of Time, which featured Losing My Religion. They were just that kinda band - constantly recording and releasing material, which must have been great if you were a superfan. Off the bat, Drive is considered one of their masterpieces, but I don’t like it. It’s dreary, repetitive, and it sounds like What It’s Like by Everlast. Yes I know that song came after. (The best thing about Drive is Adam Scott’s very detailed story about it on R U Listening to R.E.M. RE: ME. He appeared as an extra in the music video before he was famous, but could never find himself in it until he talked about it on the podcast and a listener found him.) The second track, Try Not to Breathe, is a rare R.E.M. album track I really like. It has a nice melody that belies its dark/sad lyrical theme. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite is not for me, but then they pull out a classic, Everybody Hurts. I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite R.E.M. song, but it’s undeniably a good song. Also, the lyrics are simple in a good way, which is a welcome change from Michael Stipe’s often oblique wordsmithing. It’s gospel-tinged in a way that could have gone cheesy, but they landed on universal and life-affirming. Then this album goes into a lull of quite a few songs until we get to another classic. A quick note about one of the songs in the lull, Monty Got a Raw Deal - I don’t like the song, but I do appreciate that it’s a tribute to Montgomery Clift. I had a whole Monty phase and have watched a lot of his movies. But The Clash wrote a better song about him - The Right Profile. Anyway, just when I’m about to fall asleep they drop another classic, Man on the Moon. I keep thinking I like this song more than I do, because the chorus is really good. But the verses are kind of throwaway. Nightswimming is ok and Find the River is a good closer but by this point I’m exhausted by this slow, sombre album. If I were to choose a word to describe R.E.M., it would be “dense.” They have endless material and their songs are heavy with meaning but also kinda drag you down (especially on this album). But just when you’re about to get sucked under they pull you back up with a sparkling pop single. There’s a lot, I don’t like it all, but usually they have something to keep me interested.

This was definitely an improvement on Document, but I still feel underwhelmed by this band. R.E.M. are supposed to be this iconic alternative rock band... but outside of the hits, it just sounds like hipster soft rock. It's almost like this band is for people who are too afraid to listen to punk or anything remotely abrasive, but also don't want to be seen as a mainstream and basic. That's not them, they're alternative and intellectual... and that's where R.E.M. swoops in to save the day and give them exactly what they need to feel cultured and respectable, alternative lefty pop rock and with a hug. I guess... good for them? But it's just not for me. Side note: It's strange. There really is no edge here that i can find. Not much musically interesting for me to hold onto. Perhaps it's in the lyrics (i'm guessing leftist politics)? But that would take more listens and reading that i'm just not willing to do for this band. Positives: The production does a lot to soften Michael Stipe's voice, which was a big sticking point for me on Document. I hated his voice on that album. I actually like his voice on this record. It works. I love Man on the Moon. Might be my all time favourite R.E.M. song. It's catchy, specific... a very interesting pop song. And it inspired that solid Andy Kaufman Jim Carrey movie. The one where Jim lost his mind going method. Kinda seemed like he was just being a dick though, but still a good movie. Everybody Hurts is okay. A little cheesy, but in the right mood it hits. I enjoyed New Orleans Instrumental No.1... probably the most interesting song musically on the whole album. I wish there was more stuff like this. I really enjoyed Nightswimming. Outside of Man on the moon, it's probably my favourite song on this album. I kind of wish it was the closer. Find the River is a solid track (actually kind of felt like a Neil Young track), but I'd swap the 2 in the track list to end on Nightswimming. When i put this album on in the background while working, it was very pleasant. A good vibe. Negatives: When I played it in headphones and it was my soul focused, I found myself bored outside of the songs listed above. I found a majority of the songs pretty bland. There aren't any bad songs, just a lot of middle of the road alternative pop rock. So i guess this album is better the less you pay attention to it? Eeeek. Ultimately, I want to give this a 2.5, but i'll round up to 3 because it deserves more than documents and Man on the moon is a banger.

I expected to like it more

i wish i liked it more sorry

Grew on me as I listened. A little anemic in general, but “night swimming” and “find the river” were nice surprises

Decent

It was a fun time, but it could have been more memorable. Probably gonna grow on me later though

More like automatic for the threeple

A lot of meh.

encore un nouveau album pour moi

If you belieeeeeve

Outside of the hits, not very good.

Not bad. Can see why it’s on the list. Best songs: drive, man on the moon.

Kind of low key melodies

Oh, brother. First we had Nirvana and now we have R.E.M. I can finally close the sordid chapter of my early music listening years. When I first started out listening to music it took an inordinate amount of time for me to come across bands I liked. Because of this I, rather hastily, pinned myself as a fan of Nirvana and R.E.M. to use as a point of discussion. The problem being that the total number of songs I listened to between both artists was a solid ~3. There were so many bad conversations I had throughout that period to the point where I never wanted to revisit either band when I finally found music I enjoyed. With Nirvana's main discography under my belt, I guess it's time to give R.E.M. a listen. The sound of this album is quite pleasing when it's good. The acoustic guitars are nice and make for a dreamy atmosphere when paired with the reverberating backing instruments of the album. This is the strongest aspect of the album. It's precisely because of this strength that the first stretch doesn't hook me. Tracks like Try Not to Breathe and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite are much too lively for me, though after Everybody Hurts the album mellows out in a nice way. Speaking of which, Everybody Hurts is good. I hate being jumpscared by songs I recognise and this was one of those situations - the intro of the song doesn't sound anything like it's iconic chorus. Everybody Hurts' lyrics are surprisingly quite minimal and sparse for such a mature instrumental, though I admit it's part of the charm. Instrumentally, the song has a lot of good musical flourishes, especially the deep, free-flowing strings that hang over the piece. The organ isn't half-bad, either. I say this as someone who feels an extreme antipathy towards the instrument. After this, the album branches out into the stuff that I enjoy more. Sweetness Follows is a very melancholic piece, though it easily has the best lyrics on the album and is paired with a very nice instrumental. Again, the organ is a nice inclusion and in this case is thematically appropriate. So is the spacy atmosphere and warm acoustic guitar. Monty Got a Raw Deal is good - some very solid songwriting. I also enjoy the accordion or whatever instrument is in the background. It works well with the more conventional instruments of the album. Man on the Moon is another good cut and one I'm certain I've heard before. The backing vocals are effective and I enjoy how the subdued verses contrast with the more lively chorus. It's placement in the album is also good, working well as a late-album track. Overall the album is a mix between tracks I care and don't care for, though the good stuff wins me over enough to where this album is deserving of three stars. May as well enrich my musical know-how by reading the book. A change in style and tone for the band. That's the long and short of it, really, Granted, I can't fault this inclusion. It's massively acclaimed and massively successful. A solid inductee into the list.

A bit more melancholic than the last REM album. Pleasant and chill throughout, though I did miss the upbeat energy I usually associate with them. For a band I really don’t know much by, they have a very unique sound. Which is weird because they feel very middle of the road in terms of their era and genres, but something about them is just distinct. Maybe if it was raining out when j listened this would be a 4.

the thing about R.E.M. is that their good songs are really good, and then everything else is just... kinda on the album. Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts, and Monty Got A Raw Deal really boost this album. but otherwise... its fine

Sounds exactly what you would expect an R.E.M. album to sound like, except just a little more depressed. Was a decent listen with a couple well-known songs but those are probably the only ones I would seek out again.

R.E.M. is so hard for me to like. My dad liked R.E.M. growing up. Not listening to them, but playing and singing their songs. Every big event we hosted he would eventually pull out the guitar and everyone would gather around to hear him play Jimmy Buffet, John Denver, and R.E.M.. I grew up listening to a lot of the songs on this album, but my dad's version of them. I loved them and they always remind me of him. That being said, I really don't like the original R.E.M. version of them. They just sound wrong because I'm so used to my dad's version. I've tried to break through this barrier, but I just can't get over it. I don't think I'll ever enjoy listening to R.E.M.

2.5

Fun, summery, a bit too much of the same, but cohesive in that same way

Just ok. This album didn't resonate with me. A couple of good songs "Drive" being one of them but overall just ok.

buddy was writing songs for his discord kitten in 1992

Ok

REM always a vibe, going into it only knowing man on the moon I figured I would enjoy it and the album delivered 6.8/10

R.E.M. has never held my attention on the whole - They had several songs that I find endearing, but the majority of their work just does not entertain.

Platonic ideal of a 90s soft rock album

This was a pretty good album, not one that I. Normally think of when I think of R.E.M. but it was good

Solid album. Not my usual sort of listen but very good. I liked ‘Man on the Moon.’

okay, not bad

I really liked Sweetness Follows. The album is good, very chill 90s alt rock. I don't really know what genre R.E.M. is, to be honest. But they're iconic of the era. I can see why, but I can't exactly say why. They have this approachability, catchiness without crossing into pop. Melancholy, but not sad sound.

I remember seeing the jewel case for this album always just laying around my house as I grew up, but never hearing it play. Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming are undoubtedly the my favorite parts of the album, and really the songwriting is a strong suit through the whole album. However, outside the hits, the rest of a album was a bit of a chore to get through, but damn do they play the keys well.

Pretty decent, I really liked the songs I recognized but the others were mediocre.

This was okay, didn't really pull me in but wasn't bad either. "Nightswimming" was a highlight. Unlikely to revisit, but fine.

Good start, an interesting Album that I wouldn’t have heard otherwise. A bit too melancholic for my taste though

quite impressed by few first songs but the second part of an album doesn't grow on me yet

Favorites: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Man On The Moon I appreciate R.E.M. a lot for being a band that mixes the really cool jam band style of rock with a more gritty edge. While I don’t think on the whole this album is for me still, there’s quite a few tracks on here I adore, especially Drive.

Solid album, but not something I'll be itching to revisit.

Pretty OK.

Quiet songs, hard ones too, i like it

Some legendary songs on this, but perhaps Michael Stipe’s maudlin angstiness hasn’t aged all that well.

not a big REM guy. some songs were ok, others were boring and redundant.

Would go 3.5 here. Not quite a 4. They never reached the high of Murmur again

Carino, ma anche qui niente slancio

Not for me but I can respect it

3, first time listening, favourite song: everybody hurts

feel-good, dad-rock album with vocals thoroughly hitting the mark. dulcet tones with a healthy mix of higher energy. a classic, but nothing i'm writing home about. standout tracks: new orleans instrumental no. 1; star me kitten.

Great more R.E.M, next please

Boring and sad. Give us a smile pussy cat. The song about the Jamaicans wasn't bad tho

Pretty unremarkable album, nothing memorable and certainly nothing gained

I'm not a huge R.E.M. fan. All was pretty bland to me. I like "Man On The Moon" but the rest of the album is just meh

Nothing bad, but nothing outstanding

I really want to like REM. And to a certain extent I do. But not sure this album is the masterpiece they say it is.

This came at a perfect time because I was just wondering if REM was actually not that good and if it was just my family who liked them when I was growing up. Turns out they ARE pretty good, they're popular outside my family, and really its just not my cup of tea

Good easy listening but doesn’t blow my mind in any way

Much cooler than I thought it’d be but not really vibing with it. Makes me sleepy.

Started out not weak, but I started to appreciate the songs more in the 2nd half

I think I had a little too high expectations for this one since I absolutely love the song 'loosing my religion'. The album However is quite mid

I appreciate good songwriting and production but REM bores me to death.

Great vocal performance.Nice rwcording and mixes. Some interesting melodies. Somewhat predictable harmonic decisions and got a little samey sometimes. There were a couple of good songs that stood out

I really wanted to like this but I was kinda bored.

Like the hits are ok, REM are just boring to me

2.5

Didn't love it so I didn't finish the album.

Started off well and has some highlights (Everybody Hurts, Ignoreland), but gets slow and kind of boring towards the end.

Was an interesting album. I don't think anything in particular stood out

I like R.E.M. a lot and have ever since I first heard "Radio Free Europe" on WXRT in 1983. I have mixed feelings about this album though. One one hand I dislike "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and "Man On The Moon" so much that I rarely listen to the rest of the album. On the other hand it has "Nightswimming" which is gorgeous and probably my favorite song of theirs. Everything else is somewhere in the middle, which is fine. And that's my review of this album - It's fine.

Fine. Some nostalgic songs on there, but there’s quite a few sub-par tracks on there. Haven’t sought out any REM album to listen to again, perhaps this is why.

Its a decent album, never been a big fan of the hits so listening to the full album I'm happy to say theres a lot more there musically. Not really for me but doesn't offend and some good songs on there.

R.E.M. all sounds the same to me. Man On The Moon and Everybody Hurts are iconic, but the rest is just background music. I think this is era-music. You had to be there otherwise it’s just something for commercials and the grocery store.

Some pretty good highlights on this album which cemented R.E.M into 90s rock. 'Try Not To Breathe' and 'Ignoreland' are the best outside of the massive singles, though there is nothing too much to add on top of those. This band mostly does one thing well, but at least repeated 10 times across an album. Best Tracks: - Try Not To Breathe - Ignoreland - Man On The Moon Worst Tracks: - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Rating: 6/10

idk irgendwie gibts nix zu sagen

Hab was anderes errwartet

I’m curious