Reviews (page 11 of 14)
3/5 some good song particulaly nightswimming but mostly forgettable
It was fine.
Sad album
Not really for me. A little to melancholy. Well done, but I won't come back to it.
Truly the unbuttered toast of music. Maybe even untoasted toast. I'm sorry Michael Stipe, I do not like your voice.
It has some bangers. But I can’t say I like the whole album.
A bit too simplistic and low-energy for my taste, but overall all the songs sound nice. Can’t say anything bad about them; I'm just not particularly thrilled. 7/10
Would give a 3.5 but can’t figure out how. I rock with it it’s just not music I’d listen to on a daily basis
Can’t decide if I like the repetitive flow of the album or not—though does have a “nostalgic” feel. Get the impression this would be good road trip music where you’re not rly listening to the lyrics and your mind is just wandering. (+)Try not to Breathe +Find The River +New Orleans Instrumental +Sweetness Follows (-)Man on the Moon (-)Everybody Hurts (Heard this one too much in commercials or skits growing up to not sound like nails on a chalk board to me)
I like but not love wish there was a 3.5 very high 3
I was a bit disappointed. I think the album is fine, but it lacks that forward momentum that made their earlier album Murmur feel so infectious to me. + The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Man on the Moon
Sounds like REM
Really enjoyed this one. R.E.M. is one of those bands I know I like but haven't spent enough time with. Between the hit songs on this were equally good tracks. Definitely coming back to this one.
The classics are good. But overall I don't think I really liked the style
Good album, even though the chorus to The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight is annoying af. Drive is dope. Everybody Hurts will tear your heart out. New Orleans instr. is cool. As is Man on the Moon. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 64/118
Gen x sad boi.
Some of them were familiar bangers. that is all
Heard the name. Not very familiar with that band. Nice vocal. Run of the mill rock & roll. Good album.
An undoubtedly beautiful album, but just not my thing
I know everybody hurts; but who hurt R.E.M? Beautiful album.
Good album, great production, although a bit too mellow for my tastes. 70/100
woke up this moooorning
default Pop Rock album
Great album, heavy atmosphere with penetrating songs, happy and sad at the same time
Acceptable album
1st listen: - drive; idk why I'm getting such midnight oil vibes lmao. But def a classic rock/western kind of vibe? Also a little Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam for some reason, also a band I can't remember rn but I'm getting the influence so heavily. Not much I liked lyric wise, just kinda there. Maybe didn't get the message straight away?? Also lowkey don't like the sound of songs like this one lmao. - try not to breathe; a little cranberries for some reason??? More lyrically descriptive, like it a little more, but still not vibing to it tbh haha. - sidewinder sleeps tn; like the beat more. Lyric wise I'm not liking how direct it is??? It's kinda stream of thought, which is great!! But I personally don't like how it's employed most of the time. - everybody hurts; meme classic. it's giving very church vibes??? Like hallelujah or smth lmao. It's a comforting song, but a little superficial for me (but I actually love how direct it is; I can see it actually comforting someone going through stuff, just not my type of comforting). Pretty nice arrangements by the middle with the acoustic and electric strings.
This feels like an album I'll have to listen to a couple of times to appreciate properly. It's not bad but it doesn't really click with me either.
Pleasant enough album. I like Man On The Moon, but everything else doesn't move me.
I never have been a big fan of REM so naturally my rating will be lowered. But after listening to the entire album I must admit it is well done, so that improves its rating. My favorites are Everybody Hurts and Find the River. Bottom line = three stars.
Another R.E.M. album in fairly quick succession for me here and yeah I like them. They're all fairly the same? If I didn't know any songs on this one, I wouldn't really be able to differentiate it much from Murmur. Okay, this one maybe has a bit more melody and Stipe's voice is a bit more elevated at times, but it's still a 3. A high 3 though
'Oh I need something to fly over my grave again'; 'A candy bar, a falling star, or a reading from Doctor Seuss'; 'The movies had that movie thing / But nonsense has a welcome ring.' While I still think Murmur is R.E.M.'s most remarkable statement, I by no means disparage their more pop orientated albums released during the early nineties. But I do think this record is slightly overrated. Even comparing it to the album released just after this one - Monster - I prefer the pop ballad 'Strange Currencies,' one of the all-time R.E.M. singles, to the ubiquitous 'Everybody Hurts.' Tho a band's most lauded album is not necessarily their best, it is self-important to prefer only the deep cuts. Yet, besides 'Nightswimming,' this is ordinary.
This list loves REM, but I’m pretty meh on them.
I didn't care for this album. I just don't like R.E.M. But I respect R.E.M. Most of the songs on this album are hits. My favorite song was "Nightswimming". I did not know that I didn't care for R.E.M. before listening to this album.
Ohne die nervige Stimme wäre es vielleicht ein Viersternealbum geworden
Lacks the edge and energy of REM at their best, it’s giving alt-goes-grunge in the worst way.
Yeah more REM. Totally average rock with the occasional decent song.
Like R.E.M but quickly get sick of his voice. Some great songs but 50 min is too long for me !
Wasn’t bad, not my favorite
I have a lot of respect for R.E.M. but unfortunately their music has never really connected with me, save for a few songs on each albums. On this one it's Nightswimming and Find the River, which are both beautiful and evocative.
Good title. My mind really goes on "automatic" when listening to this band. Pretty good anyhow.
Automatic for the People is one of those albums I want to like more than I actually do. I get why people love it — it’s moody, introspective, and full of emotion — but I’ve just never been able to get into R.E.M. There are definitely some solid songs here, and I respect the craftsmanship, but it doesn’t do much for me personally. Just not my vibe. Favorite Song: Man on the Moon
I am not the biggest fan of R.E.M. and I prefer them in the 80s over thus. Still a few undeniable hits. 3.5 stars
3.5
I love Everybody Hurts so much Edit Apr 22 2026: 4 --> 3
Classic 90s
-1 star for man on the moon, i hate that song.
7/10 Bonito álbum de canciones acústicas que pecan por momentos de aburridas.
Pretty good. There a couple of classics on there. Had not heard most of the songs.
Somber start to the day, but still a very good album.
Liking it more than I thought I would. I’ve never loved this band but I know all the songs are decent. To me the sound is a little to stiff and plodding. Nightswimming is great.
Man on the mon
This era of R.E.M. is what I was used to hearing on the radio as a kid, and to be honest, I didn’t really like them, especially that “Man on the Moon” track. Now that I’ve been listening to a lot more R.E.M. recently, and knowing their roots as a Jangle Pop band, I’ve gained more appreciation for this album. While it will never be at the top of my list for R.E.M., it’s a good album to play when you want something a little more mellow and chill. It leans more towards acoustic guitars with softer electric guitars and includes a good share of piano tracks. If I had judged this album 25 to 30 years ago, it would have rated a one. Now, with a more mature appreciation for music, I’d give it a three, maybe 3.5. Just maybe!
3 estrelas e olhe lá
1. Everybody hurts 2. Man on the moon 3. Nightswimming
REM, it turns out, is just a band whose album cuts do nothing for me. Gimme a greatest hits comp and I'm good.
i can appreciate the talent on display but this band bores me to tears
Uhhhhhhhh it's aight I guess but R.E.M kinda blows outside of a vacuum
This album is politically active & eerily prescient. REM foresees the growing corruption of politics into warring factions weaponizing misinformation and the cynicism & disdain for political engagement that results. It may also (unwittingly?) encourage the anti-intellectual nihilism (“If you believe they put a man on the moon”) that started in the Reagan 80’s & came to define American politics in the 2010’s. If Murmur suffers from REM not yet having found its purpose, Automatic for the People suffers from the opposite — its delivery is a bit too “on the nose” and earnest. The lyrics are all audible, and in some cases, there is no effort to be poetic. This is a moment where an edgy band lost its musical edge for a moment. There is inspired music here, though. If you Believe is *such* a great song! A solid album that people should hear for its insightful political commentary — but not “great” as an album.
No mal disco, pero los REM me dan mucha flojera. Lo siento, lo he intentado mil veces y nada más no. Tres estrellas por Everybody hurts.
Fine! My biggest takeaway was learning that they did the hurt song
Ctrl + F "R.E.M", Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V
A nostalgic and shimmery sound that left me waiting at the crossroads of what this album could have been. One thing to note is that four songs on this record were already saved in my library. However, it had been some time since my last listen so my ears came into this fresh. I felt as if the majority of the songs failed to take that next step forward. At times the lyrics and harmonies seemed goofy and repetitive. “Nightswimming” did a good job of encapsulating a sense of farewell to a world that REM had built. REM are legends but this record didn’t quite stick with me as much as I wanted it to. Favorites: Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts, and Nightswimming
Something never fully clicks for me with R.E.M. The are an undeniably a tight band and the instrumentation is frequently interesting (shout out John Paul Jones for getting in the mix on string arrangements). Stipe's vocals and writing can shine on some songs ("Nightswimming") but there's not a big pull to come back to the full album. Maybe that's because almost all the songs are slow tempo...similar to when we were in the Leonard Cohen/Tom Waits albums...in order to really love those albums I think you either have to 1) be there when the album comes out or 2) have some connection to really sit with the album and explore the songs. Sadly....this album got a listen while i clicked away in Google Sheets and didn't crack me that way. Everybody hurts.
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite in a great song, which has me wondering what the differece is between that song and the rest of the album. I chose Drive as a comp. Sidewinder... - Interesting progression that keeps you guessing. - Soulful - Its a bop - the snare is driving things - rythym guitar playing the off-beat - Stipes delivering the vocals with conviction - His vocal delivery is also adding to the overall rythm of the song, occasionally aligning to the driving organ. - Somewhat vague but song about loss - Perfect bridge Drive (fucking awful song) - Downer finger picking minor chords - Lame halfway spoken word lyrics (echo to pick them up a bit) - Boring predictable chord changes - When it does resolve to an upbeat "chorus" it immediately fades back into nothing - Could be the theme music to True Detective - Extremely vague meaning In my review of Murmur I noted that the drums and bass combo were key to the REM sound, and this album is a departure from that, with the exception of The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. I think you can make a downer, minor chord, finger picking, predictable song but something needs to carry it. Most times it's really compelling lyrics or maybe a couple of chord changes that throw you. R.E.M were making an effort to move away from their alt rock sound and get more serious and introspective with this record, but in the case of Drive, and most of the other songs, it didn't work. Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming are hits, and at one point in my life I liked them so I need to give them credit for those. Frank and I played in a HS band and at some point added Everybody Hurts, a terrible decision I'm blaming on our temp keyboard player Pat, though I could very well be the culprit.
R.E.M. is mij wel bekend en heeft erg leuke liedjes. Ik vind dit album toch wel heel erg rustig met een paar saaie nummers. Maar verder prima artiesten.
Sounds like it was made in its time. Vocals are very recognizable, yet songs end up being somewhat forgettable. Classics "Everybody Hurts" and "Man On The Moon" remain the most prominent outliers. 6/10
Fine. Ok.
i think i just dont like rem
Even the happy songs are gloomy.
Man on the moon is the only good song on this album. REM sucks.
Not really feeling ready to write this but ugh it’s fine. The music is quality, conveying emotions and moods through interesting instrumentals and arrangements (strings added in nicely). Melodic basslines add nice accents to the music. They do lots of things subtlety, and plenty in your face as well: Very clear vocals in thr mix, making the thoughtful lyrics and memorable hooks really pop. An alt rock band who wants to convey deep emotions with pop hooks and sophisticated artistry. But it still doesn’t totally grip me.
3 stars.
Not bad. Probably not something I’d revisit though
I wasn't as impressed with this album as I thought I'd be
5/1001 Automatic For The People is a boring and at times uninspired album with a lot of songs just kinda blending together to create a sense of nothingness. When it shines, it shines bright though with obvious rock radio classics like Everybody Hurts and Man On The Moon. But again the rest of the album is made up of inferior versions of basically the same songs. The only songs who really manages to escape the pitfalls of the others are The Sidewinders Sleeps Tonight and Ignoreland by mixing up the pretty basic formula of the rest of the album with interesting vocal melodies or added distortion. 2,5/5 I relistened to it, and though most of my original thoughts still hold true, the rest of the album isn’t as bad as I initially thought, so I numbed it half a rating up. 3/5
This era of R.E.M. is what I was used to hearing on the radio as a kid, and to be honest, I didn’t really like them, especially that “Man on the Moon” track. Now that I’ve been listening to a lot more R.E.M. recently, and knowing their roots as a Jangle Pop band, I’ve gained more appreciation for this album. While it will never be at the top of my list for R.E.M., it’s a good album to play when you want something a little more mellow and chill. It leans more towards acoustic guitars with softer electric guitars and includes a good share of piano tracks. If I had judged this album 25 to 30 years ago, it would have rated a one. Now, with a more mature appreciation for music, I’d give it a three, maybe 3.5. Just maybe!
2.5/5
This album's first four songs are the strongest, I think; the rest of the album is a bit more uneven, but still listenable. This isn't my favorite REM album, but still pretty good. Everybody Hurts/New Orleans Instrumental/Sweetness Follows give Eels vibes to me (I know the Eels came later, but still).
Not huge on R.E.M. but "Everybody Hurts" was really great.
I know this artist. I know maybe 1 or 2 tracks never really heard a full album of theirs. I definitely know this first track. Think I may sit and listen to the whole album, very interested in these guys. Was not aware, 'everybody hurts', was on this album.
Loaded
Nice voice, nice guitar work. Sounds almost Celtic. Not singable or danceable. Everybody Hurts gets the most airplay. A bit too plaintive for my tastes but if I was sad, this might be just the ticket. 3.5/5
Hmm... OK. So REM is one of my all time favorite bands. B U T !!! REM also has, in my opinion, two "eras." They had somewhere around the 80's era, and then as we got into the 90's... a somewhat different era... the problem is that I LOVE almost their entire catalog from that early period and it remains among my most beloved go to music. It is raw and open and feels like a small night club at some ski area somewhere. Cosy and intimate. And then somewhere in the early 90's, definitely by this album, they started to sound ... "overproduced" and commercially viable somehow. I can still sense them underneath, especially in certain songs, but that wonderful kind of "here for the love" vibe more or less went away. Honestly, in a nut shell, they lost something as they hit it big.
Great album, strong 3.
3 because I detest Nightswimming and Man on the moon both.
Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album by R.E.M., originally released in 1992. REM take so much inspiration from post-punk that I legit only found out recently that they're American. Wild world. I think they do a great job at blending post-punk with alternative rock. This album of course has the iconic "Everybody Hurts" which I'm not a big fan of. However, most of the other songs were solid. There seems to be a lot of introspective themes on this album, which I dig. And the production is great. Probably not my favorite REM, but very solid.
Everybody Hurts is a great song
Quite liked this, close to a 4 but not quite. Will probably listen again.
Sehr nices brutalistischs sowjet union ahghuchts Album Cover, da hani richtig bock uf es biz Kommunismus! ich bin mer grad chli banausig vorcho, dass R.E.M. 18 millione monthly listeners hend und die 460. meistglossti Band uf spotify, da ich sie nebe ihrne bekanntischte Lieder nonie aktiv wahrgnoh han. E Band also, woni paar lieder immer widermal durs Lebe ghört han, mich aber nie so küzlet het, dasi unbedingt han müsse usefinde vo wem das Lied isch. Und so het sichs für mich au dur das Album durezoge. Finds sehr idylisch alles aber sogar für de Softy-Timon isch das Album zu Soft. Album vode 80er und 90er jahr miteme brutalistische Cover münd eifach chli meh tschäddere und innegrätsche! 'Ignoreland' gaht scho meh i die richtig. Darum gits nur drü ganz sanfti Küss uf em Lenin sini pollierti Glaze
H.A.L.L.O Ich bin biz ideelos fürs review hüt. Mondays. Guuts album? 2 schöni tracks süsch durchschnittlich. Wür sege es guets D.R.E.I puntos
au wenni nie extrem viel R.E.M gloset han hetts doch lustigerwis en platz ih mim hertz gfunde als chind bini en rise fan vom lied "drive" gsi und au so lieder wie "everybody hurts" hend scho en vibe natürlich isches au sehr es vibigs album zum ih dinnere couch surf sleeping nook irgendwo ih de outskirts vo den haag uf de abighimmel zluege während sich de liminali dutch landscape de horizont entlangzieht und du dini ustusch täg namal vorem innere aug entlangzieh lahsch aber was macht das ezt uf de global scale for beeing fun - ich würd sege es trois rois mit potential uf eh quattro stagioni wommer aber alli chässorte zemmemischt anstatt dases separat sind en guete
According to Spotify, I listened to the US version of this album. Whether that makes a huge difference, I couldn’t say. This album… exists. It’s never boring, but it also never truly grabs me. Michael Stipe’s vocals are fantastic, and the overall sound is pleasant enough, but it just doesn’t leave much of an impression. It’s an album I wouldn’t mind hearing again, but I doubt I’d actively seek it out. Standout Track: Man on the Moon Score: 3/5
Saved from the 2* whimsical mire of Stipes incessant whine by the beautiful uplifting everybody hurts. Otherwise this served as a reminder to why I detested REM as a young man. Musically I find it uninteresting, vocally I find it jarring.
reminds me of the 90's
It's pretty good, but I've always found REM to be too slow. I think I probably would have really liked this in another life.
Strong start, very slow and a bit sleepy though the middle, picked it up again for the finish. Man On The Moon (best cut) got some play on 90s radio. Everybody Hurts gets you on the 1001 list. R.E.M has better (2.8*s) from both.
R.E.M. has a unique sound that I'm fine with but I know a ton of people who just don't like them. $100 that it's Stipe's voice alone that's so polarizing, but I think his arching, nasally sound is actually the band's best instrument (and it's certainly on display here.) Overall, this is a solid album, lags a little in the center and don't love "Man on the Moon" but a few really good hits. R.E.M. is somehow traditional alternative that also managed to feel modern. I dig this slower, more melancholic set from them. Ends with a strong finish, really interesting lyrics and meaning behind "Find the River". 3.45 ginger, lemon, indigo.
Very nice, slightly softer side of R.E.M. on this album. 2 hits and the rest good support. Not a bad track here and just solid all around. Love to see that JPJ provided string arrangements which unsurprisingly enhanced the project. Stipe got a knack for producing a unique sound that has carried through the decades as his own and continues to age nicely...3.4.
Ultimately not interesting, but REM was not something I had decided to explore more previously. The post-punk influence seems obvious now but I had missed it before. Their earlier work seems like it may be more pace after a very cursory listen. Radio free Europe seems overhyped but pilgrimage and laughing are very solid.
Eh
This is a very good record. They took the 70s acoustic rock/folk thing and made it more interesting. Also the vocals suit the songs very well.
This was better than I expected, I have never thought much about R.E.M but now I feel like I need to reconsider. I really liked 'Drive' and 'Everybody hurts'. I would say this deserves a 3.5/5 rating.
3.5
It was alright, an easy listen
i really like the song without Michael Stipe
I like it, i don't LOVE it, but it has some great songs on it
mid - some tunes tho
Dramatic. Suspenseful. There were moments I really enjoyed, but also lacklustre moments without much going on. Highlights: Try Not To Breathe The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Monty Got A Raw Deal
Classic
This was a rather pleasant album!
There really isn't much that I can say about this album that already hasn't been said, except that it isn't Chronic Town, which is by far my favorite REM album.
REMin kuuloista folk alt rokkia. Kevyttä soundia. Everybody Hurts tällä. Parhaat: Drive, Find The River
STARK 3! solid album!!
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.
outdated but famous songs were nice
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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
First listen. Decent.
That was alright
Well recorded but REM isn't really for me
Really great!
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
Always kind of forget what these guys sound like. Good stuff.
5/10
6.5/10
I liked Man On The Moon, but little else
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.
going off these a bit by this point, liked the earlier stuff more like a big old pretentious nob. still ok
Not bad. Some good songs. I like it, but it's not life changing.
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)
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
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
Everybody Hurts // Man On The Moon // 2.5/5
Really solid album that made me appreciate REM more.
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
Honestly, and this kinda sucks...but closer to a 2
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.
decent songs gets a little slow and drags in parts
Odd second REM album choice.
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.
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.
The hits are good, the rest is pretty boring.
Really close to a 2
Forgettable
More of a 3.5. Good instrumentation and typically eccentric lyrics, but just a bit too easy listening for my liking.
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.
It was a cozy album, easy to listen to. I would listen to the whole album again.
++: 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
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
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.
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.)
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 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
Good but not great
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
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
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.
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
An enjoyable listen.
not bad but for vibes only
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.
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
Favourite song - Night swimming 3/5
Solid
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.
Sad
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.
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.
Classic. Didn’t like it when it came out. Was too young to appreciate
At least it’s better than the other REM album. 2.58.
Fine I guess but extremely boring to me
Better
Not a big REM fan, it's good though
89/1001
I'm not sure I really "got" this one... I liked all the big songs but the others didn't really stand out to me :(
I still just can't get into REM. They're a talented group but nothing they do grabs me at all. Maybe they just lack some good hooks? Idk, I still respect something like this but I don't feel the need to come back to it anytime soon. Fav song: - Everybody Hurts
I need to listen to more of their stuff. I like the singer's voice, I just feel the music is a little boring. Memes aside Everybody Hurts is one for the vault.
Some very good songs, some of it is a bit forgettable.
some classics in there
repeat listen, love "nightswimming"
It's okay. I like R.E.M. enough to appreciate them.
This is a good album
si qsy siempre suenan así. 7/10
Besides the hits, which don't seem to have aged particularly well, I don't think there's a ton of depth here (besides "Nightswimming," which I had forgotten).
Good
started strong, became mid
To me, R.E.M. is a good middle ground between grunge and britpop. Being that middle ground removes the angst of grunge and the fun swagger of britpop though, so it results in something that's a little too mellowed out. Sometimes it works - Man on the Moon and Ignoreland are some standouts, but most times R.E.M. fails to really grab your attention with this record.
This is a musically very accomplished album, but boy can it be a chore to listen to. I firmly believe that both "Everybody Hurts" and The Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" would be better placed as feature songs in a Futurama-style suicide booth. Urgh. Abysmal. Fortunately, there's a couple of tracks to lift this album up again. Michael Stipe actually has a decent singing voice that makes him nice to listen to. His success is pretty well deserved, but I just can't rate this high given the dirges on the disc.
Great record. I’ve really only ever been a fan of their classics, but this album expanded their catalog for me.
Alright, good stuff, not bad at all, not exceptional
It was not bad. I understand the hype behind the album.
An interesting mix of alt-rock belters and slower piano and strings-based ballads, the latter of which I certainly wasn’t expecting. It is easy to see the influence that R.E.M. had on bands that followed in the coming decades, and evidently this album was a cementing statement to hold their alt-rock greats status.
pretty solid, all kinda blended together a bit though. Man on the moon is really good
#3) I can't get into this one and I can't quite figure out why. Oorah
I've reviewed two R.E.M. albums previously as part of this musical journey. One was not so good, the other was a little better. This one was the best of the lot, but that's still "the tallest midget" type accolade. Some tracks were decent, some were dire.
real acoustic from REM, didnt have time to hear the whole album. but great stuff
Sovietico el estílo ché. Loooco son els de "'cause evrybody huuuuurts" bajonero tot el disco i hui divendres com a que no. La veritat que igual atre dia me lo como pero hui bajona no.
it's fine, but a bit boring
In general, I don’t like this album much at all. It is down beat and musically uninteresting, I think with document you could literally hear them hitting a wall and I don’t think this is an interesting way through it. I almost want to give it 2 but Sweetness Follows, ignorland, man on the moon, and night swimming save it from being a disaster. This coming from someone who saw them 3 times live and I really do love some of their early work.
I guess classic REM. Many songs sound the same.
mix of songs that are super typical REM and others that are not. Good slower background
It’s prolly REM’s most listenable album
Pronation Rems best album. 3/5
i liked a few songs recognised a few songs nothing super special to me
yeah its pretty average
Pierwsza piosenka super, reszta do obiadu ale zapominam że lecą
relisten. liked it better than the first time id ever listened to it (circa 2017). the opening song is incredible but it feels like it promises an incredible album that never comes and then it just goes down from there. still a solid, coherent album with a pleasant 90s vibe. might even go back to it sometimes.
Folksy, kinda pleasant but moody. Bit more down-tempo than I prefer, but overall a good album!
Ignoreland rulz
Not sure why I'm not a bigger fan. I liked that.
Easy to listen to. Not great but good.
Thumbs up
1 song added to playlist. Drive 7.5
First half of the album sucked and was boring. Got better at the end
A solid alternative album.
Being high definitely enhaunces this album, at least for the first half. There were already a few of my favorites from R.E.M. on here like "Nightswimming" but I never realized how strong the first 2 tracks were as well. But, the album did sort of start to lose me near the end, so ultimately I think 3 is pretty fair
Good album. Has a couple of the bands more known songs, but the rest of the album just doesn’t inspire in the same way. 3/5 Might listen again
3.5
Not bad. It feels a lot more of it’s time then I thought it would going into it, very 90’s radio rock, but I think the production helped push it that direction as much as the actual music. But still not bad, I enjoy Michael Stipe’s distinctive voice.
Huge swathes of muddy time
Wat is everybody hurts wel een zeiknumner zeg. Verder wel ok
Nice album, but not totaly my vib
Kende hier al wat van: Everybody Hurts & Nightswimming, dat zijn wel echt goede nummers. Zitten wel paar mindere nummers tussen, vind Star Me Kitten en New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 niet heel boeiend, en op een gegeven moment was ik vergeten dat ik aan het luisteren was. Find the River wel echt nice, kende die nog niet. Beetje saai misschien
Had some popular songs on it.
Me gusta, aunque le falta un poco de emoción o algo para que sea más memorable.
I liked it. I liked Everybody Hurts and Night Swimming
3,5
Solid album with a lot of memories.
Nice soundtrack for working. Admittedly when listening to this I forgot that REM and Radiohead were different bands
Not the quintessential REM but a pretty good sampling of their work
Nice album from the 90s. But I was never a R.E.M. fan. For me they play music, which is nice to hear in the background, good melodies and songs but nothing more.
~90s alt mood~
Nightswimming is such a jam. I don't really like R.E.M.
I really enjoyed this album, was a nice easy listen. Not super familiar with REM but I was pleasantly surprised after listening.
Het is dadrock. Dat is alles wat het is. Ik vind het prima, er staan 2 hits op(everybody hurts, Man on the moon) maar als ik dit album nooit had gehoord had ik het ook prima gevonden. Ik irriteer me nergens aan, het album is prima qua lengte, de muziek is prima. De zanger heeft geen vervelende stem. Het enige, was het nu echt nodig om 2 R.E.M. albums op de lijst der lijsten te hebben? Maar goed, die vraag heb ik al vaker gesteld bij sommige bands, het is toch wel echt een lijst die heel erg naar dadrock/oude witte mannen muziek leunt. Prima joh, weet ik dat ook weer. Zou ik weer eens een hiphop album mogen? FAVO: The sidewinder sleeps tonight, Everybody Hurts, Man on the moon
I haven't quite pinned down their sound yet, but its good
Some enjoyable songs, but overall not for me 3/5
I'm in two minds about REM, sometimes they sound like the blandest band you could think of but they have some great songs and I'm not really sure why they are great. The best REM songs werent really on this one, everybody hurts is too overplayed, and outside of man on the moon/nightswimming it passed me by. 2.5.
favourite song: man on the moon the high points on this album are so good but the bits in between are fairly boring imo. torn between a 3 and a 4 here.
Good thing they’re called R.E.M because they put me to sleep
Didn’t leave much of an impression on me, in fact I don’t think I added a song from it to my library
Bättre än jag hade tänkt mig
Holy shit. It’s been a long time since I listened to this one. I could listen to Nightswimming on repeat for days on end. It might be their prettiest song. Even though I own this one and saw the live tour, this is not my favorite REM. It’s nice that they became wildly popular around this time. They deserve recognition. But I don’t think mainstream popularity helped their music. Their sound became too conventional. Everybody Hurts is a drag and I could live without ever hearing it again. But Man on the Moon is still great.
His voice is painful, but there are a few classics in here
Pretty good
I’ve always found REM to be good but not my cup of tea. This is higher than a 3 but not a 4
One of the most important and defining indy bands of the 80's makes music for morose middle aged divorcees.
duplicate
Meh.
Slow start, some cool stuff in the back half. Ignoreland is the surprise on this one.
Good album of course, but was a little dreary to listen to the entire thing after a while.
will listen again but not a favorite
favorites: drive, monty got a raw deal
Enjoyable!
Gutes Album aber der R.E.M. Sound ist einfach nicht so meins.
REM is a top knotch group for me, but this is a less enjoyed album compared to their earlier work.
enjoyed some of the darker songs! but the ballads were a little much
Previously rated: Document (4/5) ************************ Man on the Moon is the highlight for sure, and it's the only song I *really* like. The others are fine, they might get better with repeat listenings.
Eh, I guess this was alright but there wasn't anything really memorable here.
Pas mauvais, plus relax et traite de sujets plus lourds que l'autre album de eux j'ai écouté (Document). Quelques classiques radio (Man on the moon et everybody hurts).
eeevryyyyyyybodyyy hurrrrrtsssss
Not the vibe
Had this album in HS. Good shit.
Appropriate band name, shit had me snoozing.
I wasn't as completely engrossed in this album as much other people, and this may be because a lot of 90's pop culture references and references to living in America obviously do not click with me. Nevertheless there were some stand out tracks (Drive, Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts). Rating: 3/5
Good Album, but I don't like REM, so 3 stars
In my millennial mind, this is dad rock. It’s not terrible, but probably won’t listen again.
It is interesting to listen to three R.E.M. albums in a row from different points in their career and popularity. This is clearly one of their most mainstream and popular albums, but it doesn't connect with me the way Murmur does. Some good songs on this album but some misses as well. Lyrically it is pretty good. Favorite Songs: Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, Find the River. 3 out of 5
Listening to three R.E.M. records in a row makes me feel like some people might connect with them the way I do The Smiths, particularly the lean, occasionally jangly music and the idiosyncratic frontman with introspective lyrics and a penchant for drama. I enjoy and appreciate R.E.M., but they rarely move me the way The Smiths do often, despite these apparent similarities. This feels like R.E.M. at the height of their powers but presenting a vision that is a little too polished despite its gestures towards intimacy. The writing and performances are stellar and impossible to fault, but the production leaves me a little lukewarm. That said, when it transcends, it really takes me somewhere (see: \"Nightswimming\"). Favourite songs: Nightswimming, Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts, Star Me Kitten Rating 3.5/5
The softer songs are pretty nice. Overall quite decent.
Man on the Moon is a classic I love it. I always forget to put REM on but really enjoy it :)
Are REM ok? Who hurt them? This was melancholy but beautiful, I think basically all tracks were in a minor key. Favorite track was everybody hurts.
Disappointment is inevitable when doing this. And albums like this make me question whether I should stop coming up with expectations before I listen to something. I had an idea of what this was going to sound like in my head, and with no prior experience with R.E.M., learning that was not what it sounded like was a letdown. This is just so much cleaner and softer than I imagined. I think I saw alternative rock, and zoned in on only that. I don’t hate the pop rock sound. But it just feels a little too mellow, and the songs are honestly slightly boring. There are a couple highlights, but nothing that really blew me away. If this is regarded as the best album from the band, I’m afraid it will only get worse from here. Rating: 5/10
Honestly I’m think this is a really good album, personally I didnt grab my attention. But I feel this definitely deserves a re-listen, and I can never objectively grade an album just based off on listen
Not my preferred vibe, but was able to like a couple of songs. Curious as to what cultural significance this holds.
R.E.M. feels like U2's edgier, younger brother that went to art school. Still has the feel of 80s/90s rock band. This album starts off super strong and ends strong as well. Loses its way a bit in the middle, but songs like Drive, Everybody Hurts, Sidewinders Sleep Tonight, Man on the Moon, and Night swimming are enough to make me feel it's overall pretty darn solid.
Was nice, not too hot not too cold. Had one or two songs I really enjoyed
R.E.M. is not remotely good enough to warrant this many fucking albums on this list.