Reviews (page 3 of 15)
This is an amazing record. REM is one of the most important bands in my lifetime and this one could be most people's greatest hits album. Drive, Man on the Moon, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight and Everybody Hurts are all on this album. Then I have to separate Nightswimming. It might be my favorite song ever written. It's just simple and powerful. I often used to say the band I would pay the most to see get back together was Talking Heads. I think I'm leaning that title to REM now. I saw them once on the Monster tour, and I feel like I missed out on all the other tours. Great band, amazing record.
masterpiece
fantastic!
I once had this on my shelves, but I dont recall why it's not there any longer. It was interesting to hear it again after many years, after which I can't be sure how I feel about it. The hits are clearly standout and over the intervening years have received plenty of radio airplay, but as an album it kind of loses its way in places. I may buy it again, just to reinstate it on the shelves, which afterall are my life in music. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆☆(6/10) Total reviewed : 364 Already owned : 79 Purchased : 16 To buy : 7 Nope : 262
I bought Automatic for the People when I was 14 and my favourite track was Find the River. Then I heard that song on the radio and wondered why it didn’t sound as amazing as usual. I eventually realised the reason I loved it so much was because it was the perfect closing track, and it didn’t hit quite as hard out of context. All of which is my rambling way of saying that Automatic for the People taught me that an album can be a cohesive collection of songs that work together to create something bigger than the sum of its (already great) parts.
Overall Rating - 3.54/5 (7.08/10). Overall a good album. The two hits are definitely the stars, but the album is very much the campy, quirky R.E.M. sound we're used to.
great album in the pop genre
Muito bom o álbum, me lembrou muito da Tracy Chapman no estilo musical , porém, não gostei de duas músicas, ignoreland, pois rompe e muito com a pegada do album e a música em si não é muito boa e star me kitten, que não é ruim percê, mas não teria problema nenhum caso o album não tivesse ela. Minhas músicas favoritas foram drive, try not to breathe e everybody hurts
rock🔥
Muito bom o álbum, me lembrou muito da Tracy Chapman no estilo musical , porém, não gostei de duas músicas, ignoreland, pois rompe e muito com a pegada do album e a música em si não é muito boa e star me kitten, que não é ruim percê, mas não teria problema nenhum caso o album não tivesse ela. Minhas músicas favoritas foram drive, try not to breathe e everybody hurts
I've never really listened to these guys before. I recognized a couple songs that I've heard in passing but thats it. I really liked a few songs in particular, but the album as a whole did not invoke any strong feelings one way or another. I think this one might be an album that needs some time to grow on me. I'd be willing to give it another shot in the future but for now, first impression is that it's just alright.
not bad, to be honest, not my favorite album, but I did save one song. Find The River was my personal fave.
I listened to REM a lot in high school and college and even got to work on a couple of their music videos in the early 2000s. I think I got a little burnt out and haven't listened to them much since. So I sort of dreaded this one but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. In particular "New Orleans Instrumental 1" -- who knew how much I would like an REM instrumental -- and "Nightswimming."
nostalgies
R.E.M.'s masterpiece and therefore one of the greatest albums of the 90s.
That’s why I was regaining on this website to find out more good albums, and that’s what it was. I’ve never really dabbled in alternative rock, but after this album, I think it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful album with good music accompaniment and great lyrics. The pleasure was gained, I advise everyone to get acquainted with this band and specifically this album.
4 ottimi pezzi, il resto è dimenticabile
Nice, more chill than I expected, but I don't love the vocals. Solid 3 stars.
I enjoyed this overall. It drags a bit in the middle but otherwise was quite good.
9/10 - I've never given REM a chance outside of their hits until this, and I loved this album Fav Tracks: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts, Ignoreland Heard before? ---–- ✅ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ✅ Album Cover -------What is this big concrete object? Its... industrial? drab? a little hopeless
Last song was in fact beautiful. I really liked a lot of this album. Some that weren’t my favorites but then again some that slapped
I do like me some R.E.M! Starting off with Drive, relatively simple melodies but the way it built was great! Those strings and that guitar coming in halfway through was awesome! I like how steady Try not to breathe is. Was quite calming, but also the lyrics were quite miserable which is always nice. The Sidewinder Sleeps tonight had an interesting melody! I guess Everybody Hurts is on this album. Apart from being memed to death it’s quite a solid track. Instrumental #1, well it’s an instrumental. Sweetness follows was utterly miserable, I loved it. Nice guitar in Monty got a raw deal. Star me kitten had quite a cool vibe to it. Man on the moon is another classic! Haven’t heard this one since I was a kid. Great to have it show up like this. Nightswimming, also a classic. Find the river was a nice way to close things out. It felt final. 4.5/5 ⭐️ 173/1089
not for me
3.
# Playlist Track - Drive # Notes - "Everybody Hurts" is still kind of cliché and corny, but it's ageing gracefully. The crescendo towards the end is fantastic! - The whole album does, really. - Do I understand it? Heck no. I didn't back then and I don't do now. But it's fine. Great listen!
Buen album, se me paso bastante rapido el.tiempo escuchándolo, algo tranquilo pero poderoso
There are so many wonderful songs on here but I would give this a 5 just for Nightswimming. It is a great song but it is my association with listening to it while swimming at night in France that makes it so evocative for me.
Probably my favourite R.E.M. album. Likely where Stipe’s vocals are at his best, and both the music and lyrics have that wistful, bittersweet quality to them and with a quality of song that is sustained for the duration of the album. ‘Everybody hurts’ is overplayed at this point but there is still something about that ‘so hold on’ change to a major key that still gets me. The 3 song run at the end also shows the breadth of songs that they can write, with ‘nightswimming’ surely being up there with some of the best.
not my bag but pleasant to hear in Spatial audio Songs I liked: none
peak
They definitely influenced a lot of music I listened to growing up.
This whole time I thought R. E. M., Styx, and REO Speedwagon were the same thing
Eh, not bad
Didn’t actually listen bc I had REM for the last album and was bored
4, a classic but not super for me
it was more funky and british than other music i know by them
I can absolutely imagine spending more time with this and absolutely loving it and thinking it's one of the greatest (I think I did to some extent when I was younger). On this particular day though it felt shallow and kind of uninteresting. The sidewinder sleeps was still great fun. The other huge hits felt a little bit dry and formulaic to me though. Album tracks melted in a bit. I think maybe I didn't engage with the direct earnest delivery style today.
r.e.m. is one of america’s greatest bands. certainly of their era. so many classic tunes and albums and this is one of them. “drive”, “the sidewinder sleeps tonite”, “everybody hurts”, “man on the moon”, and “nightswimming” are classics. but the rest are great too - especially “monty got a raw deal” and “ignoreland”.
Sad but in a boring way. Feel like lead singers voice didn’t really carry the emotion of the lyrics making it feel a bit flat. Music was decent but did feel like it dragged
Definitely a classic album. Lots of great stuff but it didn’t blow my mind.
Frequently flaunted as one of the best albums ever I approached with a somewhat cynical view… but they are right. Great from start to finish.
I love R.E.M. I remember seeing them on the original Letterman Late Night show in ‘83 of the last century. They became my favorite band. I feel like I’m almost at the age where I can really lean into it, but I haven’t gone grey or shrunk five inches yet. I’m looking forward to it, but I digress. I was 13 and from a place where you had two kinds of music you could listen to. It was country, or metal, or you were a pariah. I was a pariah. I listened to little metal (I didn’t get country yet, but that changed), I also listened to a lot of stuff that I didn’t really talk about in mixed company. The radio and MTV were ok to watch just be careful about which artists you talk about at school lest your sexuality come into question. There were small enclaves of kids who liked different kinds of music with a little bit of crossover and my close friends who were very open about music. It should come as no surprise that the few gay kids at my school were in the cool music club. R.E.M. was one of those bands that the cool kids liked, but might get you punched or looked at like you had antlers growing out of your head. I remained an R.E.M. fan throughout the IRS years and through the Warner Brothers years even though I missed the jangly folk rock, they held my interest through all the evolution toward a more polished production and overtly pop sound. Automatic For the people was the biggest step to date. The album was darker in tone, in sound and lyrical content. I didn’t know if I liked it the first time I heard it. It took awhile for me to adjust. It was very different. I came to really love it, but I’m still adjusting to it. It’s not the first R.E.M. record I usually pull off the shelf, but every time I do, it still surprises me. It’s one of the few records that makes me feel like that. 4.7
Another R.E.M. album, another album filled to the brim with grating bleating vocals and the most derivative pop rock melodies you can imagine. Strings thrown in for "depth" instead stand out as incredibly corny.
Our third R.E.M. entry on the list, and for a refresher on my general opinion of the band, see my review of Green last year: "I am notoriously (at least among my music-discussing friends) not a big REM fan, though I definitely respect what they did for alternative music/culture, and there are some REM songs I do love. If you care about why I think I don't love REM as much as some others my age, ask me about my Older Sibling Theory. All of that being said, the hits on this album are among the first REM songs I remember being exposed to on MTV (after the tracks off Document that got a lot of airplay) and I generally like them now. I like this album now but it annoyed me back then. I also like most of what REM did before this album more than I like what they did after it, so this was kind of an inflection point." This album was two albums after that inflection point, so in its time I was not a big fan - I thought the hits were overplayed on MTV, which was how I ingested a lot of music then. Listening now, however, I appreciate it a bit more. I do really like some songs on here, but it's still the era of R.E.M. that I like the least.
Didn't really like it. The only song I actually liked was the last one: Find The River
Favorite Song: Man on the Moon
Not badly produced but SO boring
I remember hating on R.E.M for the longest time and I honestly can’t tell you why. This album slaps.
Ever since this album came out I've associated it with U2. Maybe because this came out right after Achtung Baby, with a cover by Anton Corbjin? Also - "Everybody Hurts" feels a lot like "All I Want Is You;" the REM song coming out in April of 93 and then the U2 song making a bit of a comeback in 94 thanks to "Reality Bites?" Am I making any sense here? Anyways. I was expecting the style on this album to be more electric, but nope, it is pretty on-the-money, peak-REM. I also had forgotten that this album has like three or four big singles - "Man on the Moon," "Everybody Hurts," and "Nightswimming." Some pretty significant REM signature songs all come from here. Overall, I really liked it, and want to listen to it more in depth soon. Good stuff. FOUR STARS
this is the second R.E.M. album I listen for this project and still is just not my thing
This was one of those albums that everyone had when I was a kid. Permenantly on the 3 for £10 HMV deal and on everyone's list of their favorite albums. I have to admit that when I was younger I thought that this was a really boring album. But something happens when you hit 35-40 that means you slow down a little (at times) and can appreciate the orchestral flourishes that REM have put into their tracks. This doesn't stop this album from being both mournful and melancholy. But in a catchy and fun way. (3.750)
Liked some songs, others were just okay. I think overall 4 star album. It's good but not exactly for me.
Not sure I have ever properly listened to 'Everybody Hurts' before, or perhaps it just hits different now I am a little older, but oh my, what an absolutely incredible song. What an incredible album from start to finish.
Before diving into these 1001 albums I'd have told you REM bored me to death. That they were slow, sad and dull. After getting some of their albums sent my way I realised I couldn't have been more wrong - Michael Stipe's dulcet tones aside, this band rocks. They're fun. They're bouncy. Lively even. This album proved me right at the start. Christ what a slog.
3/12, y like and its a good album, but dont make mi crazy i know 3 song of 12
This is the third (and probably my favorite so far) of R.E.M.’s albums that I’ve had so far on this list. I think I have a big enough sample size now to conclusively say that R.E.M. is good, I just don’t like Michael Stipe.
I sort of hate sentimentality in music—well, in everything. One of my least favorite sensations is the feeling that someone is attempting to manipulate me to get me to cry. One—the most—major exception to this would be the songs of Michael Stipe, unquestionably the most empathetic-seeming vocalist who ever lived. I don’t know how he does it, exactly, but something about the way he sings makes it seem as if he’s seen it all, he’s accepted it all, and no matter how screwed-up your life has been, how horrible it has been, he will still accept you, as well. There’s (seemingly – again, this is how he comes across vocally. This has nothing to do with how he might actually be in real life) no contempt in his vocals, no cynicism, endless humility. Even in a song ostensibly bashing Reagan-era America he still takes a moment to poke at himself (“I know that this is no solution, spleen-venting. Still, I feel better having screamed, don’t you?”). The opposite of his affect would be, I don’t know, someone like Mark E. Smith (because he detests the world and all its people) or maybe Frank Zappa (because he feels superior to the world and all its people). Oh, and the music that accompanies Stipe? Some of the most gorgeous pop ever written. Best track: “Drive”
chave
This is a great '90s album. “Drive,” “Everybody Hurts,” and “Man on the Moon” are all timeless tracks that still hold up decades later. The impressive thing is that the album isn't just carried by its biggest hits; there really isn't a bad song on here. The whole record has a warm, reflective feel to it, and it flows effortlessly from beginning to end. It's one of those albums that's easy to put on and let play without ever feeling the need to skip a track. Not every song reaches the heights of the classics, but the consistency is remarkable. From start to finish, it's just a really well-crafted album.
Moving away completely from the jangling guitars for a more acoustic and strings-laden instrumentation, R. E. M.'s eighth album might be their most accessible. Everything sounds so big on here. The vocals delivered by Michael Stipe are fantastic, but backing vocalist Mike Mills steal the show due to what they bring to the band' s already massive sound. "Everybody Hurts" is so timeless and sounds like it could have been record anytime in the last 50 years. It feels like the band's eighties stuff is more celebrated nowadays, but I believe this might be the band's greatest work. Starting my weekend off with this album made for a serene experience
It's not their best, but still lots to love here
I always enjoy listening to R..E.M but I would t know what the best album was. This is the 3rd album I have listened to so far this year and this may edge it
Rare for an album as heavily played as this to be so good to listen to every time. Wonderful songs and songwriting, a real treat.
You are are quite a run here RGP… After “Hunky Dory” yesterday it has been two days in a row where you have given us the best LP by an artist, remarkable stuff… If the final four songs here aren’t the four best closing album tracks of all time I don’t know what are. Tom.
Haven’t listen to this for a long time, it holds up well.
Some iconic songs that I can’t help but sing along too. Rest of the album was easy listening but not something I’d revisit
Falls short in the middle just a little bit too much to be a 5
Rather epic, though falling off toward the end.
Shite. Nearly fell asleep at the wheel. Had to call it a day at nightswimming
Just wonderful, not a bad thing about it. It has a bittersweet melancholy warmth that's so lovely to spend time in. Sidewinder and Ignoreland are insanely underrated to me, but they're up against some all-time heavy hitters. My first five stars, yay!
Great album! I could easily have given 5 stars for this as it is pretty much perfect. But then how do I rate albums I like even more? We need a 10 star system really then I could have given 9. I will justify it losing a star for track 5. I normally enjoy instrumentals but find this one, although OK, doesn't really add anything to an otherwise perfect album and I'm always waiting for it to finish to get on with the rest. I would hope/expect ‘Out of Time’ to be in this list too at some point as that is almost as good.
I came to REM quite late and aside from the obvious singles I didn’t really listen to them until I met my husband. Therefore they have been a band that I have kind of learnt to love over the years. It’s tricky to explain but I genuinely feel there are not many bands more perfect than REM. This doesn’t mean they are my favourite band or even one I listen to a lot (I do like a lot of messy bands!) its more that when you break down what a great band should be REM just hit all the goals. Anyway on to the album - it’s brilliant. Not even my favourite REM album (that goes to New Adventures in Hi-Fi) but still incredible. It was 5 stars before I even pressed play. Even the hugely overplayed Everybody Hurts still packs a punch.
An all-timer, listened to this endlessly in my teens, still love it. The refined yin to 'Out of Time's cheesy yang (a duality that I think then informs all their warner bros work going forward!), it's just a masterful use of major label money to make something strange and indescribable, but also chock full of hits. Stipe's lyrics are great as ever ('Ignoreland' is so so so so good and the blueprint for every political Thom Yorke lyric), it all flows together beautifully despite all the disparate elements, the willingness to abandon drums through a lot of the record is so rewarding - man, I could go on (and on), but it's just an absolute banger. Also, the last minute of 'Everybody Hurts' and the whole of 'Nightswimming', 'Sweetness Follows', 'Ignoreland' and 'Find the River' (one of the most beautiful songs about death ever written) are empirically perfect music, and I won't hear otherwise.
Fantastic. Man on the Moon is pretty overplayed but solid. Nightswimming is by far the best track on the album. Really beautiful backing piano with nostalgic lyrics.
I don't much like REM. Too whiney. They don't rock hard enough and their melodic and emotional quotient does not meet my threshold as often as it should. They should be a band I like, but they are too twee and Stipe's vocals are worse than, well, Trump's vocals. But i can't deny their impact and the fact that they still have a bunch of classics. I did enjoy this album when it came out, and it remains the only album by them that I can tolerate. Admittedly, I haven't heard them all, so maybe they have another I'll like. Stranger things have happened. Trump somehow has people who can tolerate his existence, for example.
it was alright, folkier than i thought
Great album, I listened to the remaster version which was great
You're the first born, and therefore never had the mythical 'older brother with the cool record collection' to advise you. Luckily, Brian did. The brother's college CD collection began to trickle into the Jeep Cherokee that picked you up for school most days in high school. The entire record is a texture, maybe it’s the accordion or the mandolin. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight -- it always made you tear up. It immediately felt nostalgic, despite it only being a few years old. Something in Stipe's voice, the loneliness, the reverb, the impressionism of the lyrics. The Jeep swaying dangerously along the curves of a country lane, the gravity of time pulling you along.
great album with a bunch of bangers
a bit slow and perhaps boring. some bangers
I was pretty burnt on REM when this album came out so I didn't appreciate it at the time, but it is a great album with some great songs.
A third R.E.M. album eh? This is probably their best one. It has a couple of OK songs (Drive, Man On the Moon) and a lot of forgettable ones. It's fine I guess.
Something about R.E.M. just feels strange and unappealing. I probably heard their whole discography and know a lot of it by heart. The problem I have with it is the emotional songs don't make me feel the same emotion they are singing about and the bops miss something poppy. On the other hand, I gave this a good listen and found that the less popular of their songs are more interesting to me than the hits. Songs I liked: - Sweetness follows - Monty got a Raw deal - Nightswimming - Find the river
A masterpiece of an album. Vastly overplayed which has diminished its value somehow, but I came to this not having listened to it in some years. There is not one weak song and many truly great ones. Personally, not a fan of Everybody Hurts as it's become almost a parody of itself but there's no denying it's still a great song.
An extremely well-written album with many beautiful songs. I feel sort of bad giving it three stars as it’s a solid album, but I think I just don’t enjoy it as much as some others. Just a bit too downbeat for me.
Pleasant, but some of the deep cuts are forgettable, I listened to murmur first out of this band and so far it’s my favorite, but this is still great and a step above document.
I listened to this album a zillion times in college. American pop culture seems to have forgotten about REM for some reason. Sure, some of it suffers from overfamiliarity (Everybody Hurts deserved better than to be a hit single), but the best tracks (Sweetness Follows, Nightswimming, Find the River) were terrific then and they're terrific now.
REM has been college radio darlings for a while, and they’d been gaining popularity in mainstream radio. But this album catapulted them into stardom. And with good reason.
Great album. Could be a five star album if the songs were reordered. Having “Drive” as the opener sets a tone that the rest of the album just doesn’t live up to.
Bloody love me some R.E.M. Brilliant, brilliant album, absolutely rammed with great songs. I will say though, for many years this was my favourite from them but Murmur has probably overtaken it now. Top Track - Bloody hell how to pick. Either Nightswimming or Man On The Moon
Honestly I did not mind the album it was a nice listen its not the typical thing I listen to but I did have a good time listening to it, it was giving me like old school redneck which is not bad and I did not know that one famous song was from this album I would give it 6/10
Really enjoyed. This is what I wanted from REM
3/5
Not a fan of REM. It's fine.
GREAT, THE END IS LITTLE BIT TOO SLOW
Best song is the sidewinder sleeps tonite.
Rock history
This the their saddest and most mature album; This is not the album of Shiny Happy People; Thoughtful and introspective
Everybody Hurts is a little overdone nowadays but that's not the album's fault. I liked The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Sweetness Follows was good. A bit more of a moodier album that I'd like but I get the appeal. Nightswimming was very nice. This album has a sort of raw tenderness to it that really gets to me. I love the lore behind Man On The Moon
Great album. Has hits but does everything really well. I even like instrumental interludes
saw this come up and went oh nooo but was OKayer than anticipated. still wont ever revisit. dont like the vibe of the band or the vocals and cant relate but i get thay theyre good songs. had to skip everybody hurts for grew up in the 90s reasons. fave track sweetness follows
Heard Before? Yes indeed. I was after all alive during the 90s. Notes: - typical list-fodder. universally acclaimed and overplayed. but does it interest me? - midtempo, midrange, not very dynamic. - the lyrics sound meaningful, but i didn't bother paying attention. - subtlety is the main theme here. slight variations in mixing, arrangements and songwriting, along with some masterful sequencing, keep things moving along quite nicely. i really appreciate how the ebb and flow of instrumentation props up what are very simple songs. - for me "ignoreland" is the strongest and most interesting song, while "star me kitten" is the only real dud. - a second listen revealed lots more fascinating subtleties, especially in the drum and keyboard parts. truly stellar production. still don't really care about the lyrics. Verdict: This strikes me as "mature" music, for better and worse. Much to admire, little for me to love. Listen Again? I'm only getting older, maybe it will appeal more later.
There's some pretty good songs on here. I like Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming.
This is a good R.E.M. album, not a great one. Some excellent songs,of course, but it ranks low in my band pantheon.
It's hard not grade on a curve. Maybe I'm doing that, not sure. The album sounds great. It has a ton of great songs like Try Not to Breathe, Nightswimming, New Orleans Instrumental No 1, Sweetness Follows and more. I really don't like Ignoreland and there are a few that leave me ambivalent like Sidewinder. I feel like there is more emphasis placed on Michael Stipe and his voice on this record and I prefer the full REM experience.
Most R.E.M. albums would be a 5 for me, including maybe all of their first 10, plus Eponymous and Monster and maybe a couple of others. Even among that group, this is a standout. Man on the Moon is one of their greatest, Drive is cool, and Nightswimming and Everybody Hurts are two of their best quiet tracks, but I'd forgotten some of the excellent subtle songs in the middle. One other thing that struck me during Find the River -- and to anyone paying attention this was old news by the end of Radio Free Europe -- was the excellence of Mike Mills's backing vocals.
5/5 - Totally transported to my college dorm room...REM's best mix of production and songwriting. I mistakenly said the other day that this wasn't a masterpiece, but it is. The opening tracks are outstanding, but the last three songs here are as good as any closing three on any album. Try Not to Breathe and Find the River will always be the standouts for me.
I gave this a few tries but it was really a bore. I didn't find Stipe's vocals enjoyable, the arrangements were uninteresting and the lyrics were somewhat goofy. R.E.M. might've been a pioneer of alt-rock but I think it pales in comparison to the bands the came after.
I already liked some REM songs but hasn’t heard this. Liked it, didn’t love it.
Great album with hits and good play through flow. Milestone on the alternative timeline. 3.5/5
Definitely in my top five of all REM albums. I remember buying this in college when it came out, and at first I didn’t know what to do with it. But, man it quickly grew on me and I began to understand it at the level it deserves. Essentially every song has something to like. It’s not quite up there with Murmur or Lifes Rich Pageant but still one I will always have in my playlist.
Certainly some solid songs. But middle part of this felt like a lot of filler to me and not very memorable. Maybe deserves another listen but first spin I thought this was on the high end of middle class. 3.25
Not entirely sure this is my favorite REM album, but it’s def the one most present in my life. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a good boy cry to Everybody Hurts? And it’s pretty much impossible to not sing the chorus of Man on the Moon whenever it comes on. Good stuff. 3.75/5
So.e great songs
Pretty good, a few highly recognizable songs on it
Magic album.
Great songs for a depressive episode. Some songs felt a little cheesy though.
This was more of what I thought about REM compared to another album I listened to. I find it decent and has its place and need in the world, but just slightly bland
it was ok
the sad slow songs here are much less unpleasant than the other r.e.m. lps i've gotten so far, the arrangements have more room to breathe and the vocals fit better.
Very polished album
Accidentally rated the last REM album a 5 when I meant to click 4 because this album deserves a 5 much more
My favorite alt rock album ever
Love this album
Nightswimming is a genuine banger
I cant believe one day prior I was hoping for a REM album and it delivered. A great gift
Great REM album poss best but sadly band never got back to this standard
This is my second REM album, the other one I got was Green. In my opinion, the later REM albums (from green and on) seem to be wayyy more boring than previous albums like Murmur and Document. Even so, I still liked this album, and I’ll definitely be giving those other two albums 5 stars, but I’m afraid that Automatic For The People will remain at 4.
Often cited as a left turn for a more commercial sound (for which I'd honestly credit Out of Time), Automatic For The People is also regularly named as R.E.M.'s best release. It's definitely up there. I'm not the biggest R.E.M. fan by any means, but Drive is one of the best songs of the decade and easily the best opener to any of their albums, along with Harborcoat. The album maintains momentum with a great set of diverse tracks in the first half. The second half is also filled with some spectacular highlights, Find The River in particular, but there is an odd track here that I regularly skip, which sadly isn't out of the ordinary for their albums. They just can't resist placing at least one stinker in all of their releases, but maybe someone will disagree with me on that. I still haven't listened to Monster and I definitely should, especially because I wonder how their next step sounded and if they pulled it off. Favourite track: Sweetness Follows (Drive isn't the only all-timer here)
Nice work here
REM remains one of the few things to come from GA that I genuinely like. Although this is not my fav album of theirs-- i tend to prefer their earlier stuff. Nightswimming is actually poetry. Put on on a drive home after work. Goodbye Atlanta
Very good
Sound der depressiv macht genannt depro Sound
I somewhat liked this. Took a bit to get into and the lyrics didn't really connect with me at all at least on a first listen, but there are some memorable tunes on here. I might come back to it with a more appreciative ear later down the line. EDIT: I did give this one another go after getting 2 back to back REM albums on consecutive days, felt like a sign. And I'm pleased to say the tracks did just need a bit of time to percolate and undistracted space to listen for me to get plenty out of this! Enough to bump this up to a 4 for the time being. Standout tracks: Drive, Everybody Hurts, Ignoreland, Man on the Moon, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
When this popped up, I figured it'd be an easy 4. I've always liked it, but don't think of it as an album I love. Color me surprised, though. This album is so good. I think I added most of the songs to my 1992 playlist - 5 Stars. Let's go
Would have given it five stars but some of the songs are a bit too dark.
Good
good
I can see this is a good album but not a masterpiece at first sight. Despite that, "Man On The Mon" is reeeally good.
I know and love Out of Time; this one is also terrific!
Solid
Ken ik wel maar nooit helemaal geluisterd. Vgm enige helemaal akoesrische REM album. Met its the end of the world as we know it. Ben benieuwd Try not to breathe en Everybody hurts driekwarts maat en daadwerkelijk wals cadans sick. Die laatste sws echt een banger. Heb ik een tijdje te veel naar geluisterd, maar nu hit ie weer goed Eerste indruk: Heel mooi. Hoewel ik niet heel scherp heb geluisterd echt goed qua pacing enzo. Er zit veel diepte in de teksten die ik er nog niet echt heb uitgehaald
I'm so confused
ngl i thought rem was a rage against the machine vibe... oops lol. my brother found me a copy of this cd so i listened in the car and blasting with the windows down is way better than listening on my headphones at work. no detailed notes, 4/5
A five star album for sure. A great blend of introspection, joy and sorrow. Really wonderful orchestration as well. And Nightswimming might be in the top ten rock songs for me.
I could really listen to this all day long - Man on the Moon is one of my all time favourite Pop Song!
I don't mind some of their big hits, but hadn't listened to an album before
The hits on this album are some of REM's best, the rest of the album is somewhat forgettable with a few nice surprises peppered in (nightswimming). There is something about this band I just dont enjoy and I can't put my finger on it. Kind of boring overall and I don't love the vocals but I can see how people would really gravitate to this album. Probably a 4 but for me a 3.
Been awhile since I listened to this. Can't imagine a better album.
Some good hits but you need to be in a somber mood for it to be a banger
I love everything about this album. The vocals, the production, the instrumentation, the lyrics. It sounds incredible even played from YouTube music through crappy headphones. Perfectly blends energy with melancholy. Legitimately deep. Hits me right in the feelings in all the right ways. The perfect R.E.M. album topped off with a healthy dose of nostalgia because this was a regular in my parent's 5-CD changer stereo. Can't be anything but a 5.
Highlights: - Sweetness Follows - has a ton of cool instruments and guitar feedback all contributing to a very cohesive sound, big fan - Find The River - we finally get to hear some energy in his voice! This is much more cohesive than the other album of theirs that has come up, green. It still doesn't feel super special to me. He's got a nice voice but we don't get to hear it for most of these songs. His singing is low energy or monotonous. Which is probably the point, it just clashes with the instruments doing a ton of interesting things and his voice isn't despite it being at the forefront... High 3
didn't blow me away, the other one was better
Underrated album, and it's superseded my expectations
12 songs Added to liked: -Everybody Hurts (already there) -Man On The Moon (knew the song)
Et par bangers i streg, lææækkert. Hvor er den akustiske guitar bare psycho clean på det her album mand, den lyder såååå sprød. Kirkeorglet er også ret sjovt. Sejt med strygerarrangementer. Føler en stærk 4'er.
Det er okay, men R.E.M bliver altid lidt for monoton whining for mig 2.8
A sonic treat, and a pop masterpiece. Michael Stipe’s crowning achievement and probably an excellent showcase of what Mike Mills quietly did for the musicianship of this band.
The production quality alone brings this well above the rest of the albums on this list. It's like audio recorded in 4k. Not only that but the mix of the highs, lows, and middle range of audio is perfect. This is my first time listening all the way through this album and I love it. It's easily one of the best albums I've heard on this list so far and definitely going on my daily listening playlist. What an experience. R.E.M. is quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. Michael Stripes voice in this album is so hauntingly melancholy and it does wonders with the lyrics being sung. This is definitely a 10/10 and I'll absolutely be revisiting this album.
Solid. Stands the test of time
Clean guitar, clean mix, voice fits, not bad.
Would I listen again: sure This is a high 3 for me. Cosplaying Ollie in the shower. Liked the instrumentation and a couple of good songs I already knew on here
By this time I became less of an R.E.M. fan. They had lost their rough edge and their college sound (best way I could describe it). Very polished record, which made it worse for me. Also, the music seems more pop (though it is odd to say because they are a jangle pop band). Not a fan of this record.
Love this album. Straight back to high school
Sublime. Haven’t listened to this for a good while but it absolutely sounds as good as it ever did. Up there as one of my all time time faves and I am so glad the generator has reintroduced us.
I do love this album , his voice is just unreal
This album received heavy play in my 1987 Honda Civic back in the day - I am familiar with it. This was college-era David Letterman part of my life and by this time REM had broken from their Indie roots and into the mainstream following Losing My Religion and Shiny Happy People roughly a year earlier. And while this album is better than Out of Time, I still prefer their earlier material from high school - especially Document, Green and Dead Letter Office. That said, listening today reminded me just how great this band was from top to bottom. This album contains my favorite REM song of all time: Nightswimming and several other greats (Sweetness Follows and Find the River not to mention Drive and Everybody Hurts). 5/5
totally rips. changed my life probably
Can’t stand it, hat his voice and the instrumentals are boring as hell
This album takes me back! Another form favourite from the past, but one that feels like a few weak songs on it and so don't listen to much anymore.
ILOVEIT
Отличный альбом.
Not the best album theyve done, but that might just be me because I love the song losing my religion which was on Out of Time. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing this again.
Dad rock
Forgettable outside of the hits
At first blush I was pretty underwhelmed by this album - the first third/half had me waiting for the shoe to drop. So imagine my pleasant surprise when I finally got on board with this record earnestly and ended up quite liking it. All in all I don't think REM's much up my alley, but credit where credit's due, they write good music. A surprising smattering of fun recognisable singles amongst some somewhat forgettable folk-infused alt-rock. Maybe it deserves a quiet night for a re-listen. Fav tracks: Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming
Good listen. No new faves; Nightswimming ftw.
There were a lot of songs here that went in one ear and out the other, but the ones that stood out stopped me dead in my tracks. “Try Not to Breathe”, “Sweetness Follows” and “Night Swimming” touched me in particular.
Buen álbum, pero creo que no lo volvería a escuchar. Lo sentí muy monótono, pero esta bueno para tenerlo de fondo. Everybody hurts es conocidísima, Star me kitten y Nightswimming fueron mis favs. Es un cambio radical en la tendencia de la banda, porque ya eran conocidos pero hicieron un álbum más suave y sensible. Overall, va bene.
R.E.M. has never been a band that I seek out. They are far from my favorite and I generally think they are revered more than they should be. That said, they undeniably have carved out a place for themselves in rock history, and this album is a very good one. I know that Everybody Hurts and Drive are two of the hits off this record, I'm just not a fan of either one of these tracks, as they are both heavy handed for me. They're fine, just not amazing songs for me. In fact, I find the whole front half of this album to be just ok. It's fine, just sort of there. The back half of this album, however, is great, starting with Monty Got a Raw Deal. This song builds well is very strong after the whole band is in it. Ignoreland and Star Me Kitten are both good tracks as well. Man On The Moon and Nightswimming are where this album really soars though. The former is such a well-constructed track about Andy Kaufmann with a great chorus. The latter might be my favorite R.E.M. song ever. The way the piano and orchestra come together is just outstanding. The closer, Find The River, is another excellent track and brings to a close a final 6 songs which are way better than the first 6. An overall excellent record, probably the best of R.E.M.'s career. 4 stars.
This one is beautiful and perfect and the sound of R.E.M. all grown up, and yet it wouldn't even make my top 5 from the band. The middle half is a bit less memorable than the rest, but that start and end are both world-beaters. In particular, I think "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" might be one of the all-time most quotable songs.
It’s a shame that R.E.M’s best album Reveal is not on this list but the presence of this goes somewhere to righting that wrong. Full of hits with the best being the legendary Everybody Hurts, it is an album which has something for everyone. No listened to he album in full for ages so doing so today reminded me what a great band R.E.M were who despite their vast catalogue disappeared munch too soon. 5/5 15/5/26
idk if this is a 5 but it's a 4 all the way, maybe even a 4.5??????
I’ve never gotten the impression REM felt haunted by Murmur, that they were constantly trying to match that album’s cohesive sound and quality of songwriting and falling short...but...there are countless bands with a stellar debut that never recapture that early glory - The Strokes - and perhaps Automatic is that for some people. Much like OK Computer’s Electioneering, Automatic runs into a wall with the incredibly on the nose Ignoreland, which would’ve made for a forgettable album track on Document or Fables. That’s it though, the rest is perfect.
R.E.M. is one of my two favorite bands, but this album is kind of mid in my ranking of their albums. I mostly like earlier stuff better -- and Everybody Hurts and Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight are too... what, immature? Not my faves. That said, Nightswimmer is one of my favorite songs of all time by any artist.
It was great to listen to this fantastic album again. 5/5
chato. não chato do tipo insuportável mas aquele chato familiar que você deixa rolar pq não incomoda. chato tipo tarde de domingo com seu pai recém divorciado
A little melancholy. I liked it, but I wasn't too impressed. Maybe it's because I like this genre of music I'm being a more critical listener, but this album just wasn't for me.
top, y me escuché de paso su otro album, locuuuura
4/5 just because of Everybody Hurts
Absolute classic
Really, really good.
R.E.M: R - Really E - Solid M - Album
Nothing that really stands out to me but overall a solid album.
If i haven't listened to REM for a while i tend to think they’re over rated. But listening again always bumps them back up again.
Can’t explain it but it’s such a human sounding album
great, interesting voice and nice melodic tunes, need to give it a go a couple more times 8/10 Will I add this album to my library? yes
Where is the 6 star at? This album deserves it.
Sounds good to me, this album... 3 stars
Absolute great album from beginning to end, it's a modern sound but same feel of R.E.M. songs. Undeniable vibes but incredible lyrics too. The chemistry between all the members of the band is 100% in this album.
Me gustó mucho, muy tranqui, muy lindo como suena, no mucho mas que decir, esta muy bueno la verdad.
When I listen to R.E.M., I know I will positively enjoy it, and the same was true for this album. It starts very mellow, with great songs such as 'Drive' and 'Try Not to Breathe,' and then progresses into some of their greatest work, like 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' and 'Nightswimming.' 5/5
😐
Timeless music with imponderable lyrics. Classic.
9/10… rock / 90s indie / *1992
Vel...
nothing special
My first time listening to this album all the way through. I like Michael Stipes voice for ballads. The piano on night swimming is gorgeous and magical. Everybody Hurts is an anthem for a reason. The instrumentation of the whole album is beautiful.
For my money, the best R.E.M. album ever, and that is saying a lot. It has a handful of standout tracks that did well on the charts, but the entire album works incredibly well together and benefits from listening to it in its entirety. It is beautiful and deals with life and mortality and depression. A wonderful mix of darkness, difficulty and intense beauty.
Nightswimming alone makes this top tier
Nice sounds, great instrumentation. It's great i guess, just not for me
I know that this is their most commercial album, and the one where a lot of their earliest fans regarded the group as "selling out," but to my mind this is R.E.M.'s best album. That's no small feat when you consider the strength of the rest of their discography. The singles remain the standouts with "Man On The Moon," "Nightswimming," and especially "Everybody Hurts" being all time classics. That said, none of the rest of the tracks can be regarded as filler. Something about the juxtaposition of melancholy lyrics and upbeat music (or the inverse in the case of "Drive") just works for R.E.M.
so great all the way through
i´m not gonna lie, "everybody hurts" makes me giggle.
During that period, R.E.M. could have recorded an album of nothing but farts, and it would still have looked like the Sistine Chapel. Incredible!
Moui
qué puto discazo
Great album with some legendary songs! 7.7/10
listening to this on a rainy day hits the spot. a couple songs were kinda slower but honestly i enjoyed the whole album. nice guitar playing, good rich emotion, kinda gave me seal vibes. 7.5/10
- Oh, I know this album well and still love it! It takes me back, and it really felt so fresh at the time. Honestly, there isn't a bad song here. - This album has a really introspective, sensitive vibe, but still with great melodies and sweeping instrumentation - I especially like the strings.
O.M.G. So fuxking boring so fuxking lame, total waste of time.
Det är bara att krypa till korset, det ÄR jävligt bra det här. Lysande produktion, perfekt stämningsskapade och alldeles lagom mörkt och skevt. En hel drös med fantastiska låtar dessutom. "Drive", "Try not to breathe", "Find the river", "Sweetness follows"är alla yppersta klass och sen då alldeles underbara "Monty got a raw deal" som är hur bra som helst. Fyra som sneglar uppåt
Jag trodde jag tyckte bättre om den här. Hitsinglarna är bra, Man on the moon, Drive, Everybody hurts. Men sedan blir det lite långtråkigt.
Jag tycker nog att detta är betydlig roligare än förra R.E.M.-albumet vi hade. Här finns ganska många i grunden rätt bra låtar som Drive, och förstås Everybody hurts. Däremot är produktionen inte den bästa. Lite väl svulstigt och radioskvalsanpassat på samma gång.
Det här var släpigt. Everybody hurts motiverar inte en plats i boken. Det är först i Man on the moon som det händer något.
The sidewinder sleeps tonite is my favorite one its very all over i didn't understand it at first and then I looked up the meaning its very weird song all over the place great instrumental but weird song overall I give the album 4.7/10 great instrumental great voice but lyrically not that much
Very scaled back and organic without sounding choppy and underproduced. Somber and sweet, full of sorrow in the best way. Lead singer has a very distinct voice I feel like I’ve heard them before. It is giving the kind of guy that thinks he’s having very big philosophical revelations but it’s the average thought I had at 7 years old. Sonically it’s very pleasant to listen to, composition is very different and interesting but lyrically isn’t wowing me just yet. Ahhh Everybody Hurts that’s who these guys are, yes very moody and drama that’s their thing. I’m loving the scores and musical makeup a lot I think it’s very experimental for its time and takes lots of risks in that regard. Are those sleigh bells???? Sick!!!! I love Ignoreland but I’m so sad thinking about all the men who probably love this album but are unfortunately republican now.
A bit of melancholic nostalgia
Yet another good album from REM. But no need for more than one. This album is fine but I still like Fables of the Reconstruction (or is it Reconstruction of the the Fables) better. Although they still made some some really good songs, the later albums seem more cut and dried and less edgy than the earlier ones.
Me encantan las bandas que desarrollan su propio sonido. Esas que aun sin conocer la canción sabés quien la está tocando, porque suena a ellos. Es el caso de R.E.M. De este álbum recuerdo dos canciones muy exitosas: "Everybdy hurts" y "Man on the moon". Es un buen disco musicalmente hablando, y temáticamente cargado de dolor, nostalgia y algunos temores. Me gusta mucho.
Some really great tracks on here but at the end of the day, I can't bring myself to truly enjoy what REM offers. A good listen but probably won't be back for awhile.
A few years ago I tried to get into R.E.M. since it seemed like a massive oversight given the rest of my particular likes. Much to my chagrin, it did not totally take. And when choosing to relisten to Automatic For The People, I was a little bit worried that it would be as it lived in my memory - which was not super memorable. I recall all the tracks sort of ran together until the ones that I had heard a million times like Man on the Moon. I felt like I'd heard every song used at the end of an episode of Scrubs. I was wrong! Loved this on a relisten, I guess I'm just more used to Michael Stipe now and find his sort of weepy cadence endearing and affecting. Favorite Tracks: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Monty Got A Raw Deal, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Ignoreland, Man on the Moon (it's a hit), Find the River
A lot of big songs on this one. Enjoyed.
YESSSSSS
Cool! Cool! Cool! Comme quoi, j’aurais pas cru. 3.5/5
good album, kind of sad but still with a beat. dig the vibes. i wonder how differently it would hit if i were already steeped in rem from the late 80s.
Wasn't the bangers I was hoping for.
This is tied for my very favorite REM LP.
the last three songs on this album carry it
Pretty good
Nice cover. The third keyword listed in the reviews for this album was "boring" and I think that's about how I feel about it
I liked it more than the other one I gave 4 stars it was pretty good but I may now demote the other one to 3 stars lol
Not bad. Liked well enough
Nothing groundbreaking or particularly unique. I just really really enjoy just about everything on the album. I grew up on R.E.M. as they are one of my mom's favorites so they are a huge comfort band to me.
it is good but nothing crazy. Nothing bad either
a marked improvement from murmur with some actual standouts, but suffers from an overly drab and slow middle act
7.5/10 It's an enjoyable listen, Michael Stipe's voice is so pleasant to hear.
Einzigartig unverkennbar allgegenwärtig aber irgendwie auch langweilig
Beste Rem Album bis jetzt
Mange høydepunkter, men ikke hele plata greier å holde samme nivået.
Klarer ikke å bli fanget, synest det meste av REM e bare helt ok. Sterk 3er
E vel en eller to låter som føles ut som fyllstoff, ellers e dette et mesterverk.
Veldig bra! Hvis æ må sette fingeren på noe, så blir det at ingen låte e 10/10. Så e det ingen låte som e svak heller da. Vi ende på sterk firer. Den ble utgitt på toårsdagen min🎉
Hørt så solsenga på Granka.
Klassiker. Mye nostalgi knyttet til denne.
This is one of the albums that is the soundtrack to the 90s(for me)
One I feel I'm more familiar with, but I've only heard a couple of the songs already. I'm listening to the Dolby Atmos mix/remaster so perhaps has more "features" than the original mix but obviously essentially the same. The songs are fine I guess, all decent and fine. 2/5.
Liked
намного больше мелодии чем я думала, хороший, даже вроде не надоел, надо потом ещё проверить
Halfway through the R.E.M. in this collection and I like this one a lot more than the first one I got, Murmur. It helps that this one has one of my favorite R.E.M. songs in "Man on the Moon" but I can't deny how good songs like "Everbody Hurts," "Nightswimming," and "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" are. Some of the other songs don't hit as well as the ones I listed above so for that reason I'm giving it a 3.5 rounded to a 4/5.
I guess I just don't find most of R.E.M.'s music that compelling. Not an active dislike but definitely not a rousing enjoyment from me.
My third REM album in 2 weeks and I wasn't sold after the first two but WOW this album is just so great. Could definitely listen to this again and again.
Det här är en av de där ovanliga plattorna, som är helgjuten. Alla låtarna är fantastiska och de bildar en än starkare helhet. Skivan tar dessutom ut en ny riktning, med ett nytt sound. Från ett band som redan var så etablerade att det bara kunnat fortsätta i samma spår. Michael Stipe har aldrig sjungit bättre. Det bara fortsätter ... En solklar femma!
yep
at first it was boring but the second half of this album is really good. I like the sidewinder sleeps tonite, man on the moon and find the river the most.
This was the first R.E.M. album I ever owned but I slept on it a bit at first. I got the album after this Monster for Christmas and initially didn't enjoy it: I wanted more acoustic ditties a la Automatic rather than creepy glam rock. However, after a few listens I did a 360 and became absolutely obsessed with R.E.M and going back through their impeccable -to that point anyway- catalogue. I still feel a greater personal attachment to Murmur and Document but this was probably their artistic peak in terms of songwriting, and despite the bleak the sombre themes, I feel it's ultimately en uplifting meditation on death and loss. There are a couple of songs I'm.not crazy about (the jaunth Sidewinder feels out of keeping with the rest of the album and Star Me Kitten's would benefit from less vocal loops) but those are minor quibbles. 5 stars?.Automatic.
3/10 I got a lot less out of this than I did with Document
This came out right around the time I was shifting away from pop music. I recognize so many of these songs but was surprised to learn that none of the singles charted that high. There certainly are some truly great songs on here as well as the usual somewhat experimental folkish filler. It sure is great to listen to this band again and to hear the complete albums. I’ve gained a new appreciation for this band and am looking forward to listening to some more recordings by this band.
para iniciar los 1001 albumes si m costo escucharlo como escucha consciente, pero una vez pasas la barrera de volver a escuchar musica de +3 minutos, es una experiencia que me transporta a la soledad en una fabrica a las 4 de la mañana en un turno nocturno
What a boring and uninteresting album. Negative stars
Not my favorite REM this far, but pretty good. Did find some of the tracks a bit boring compared to others. Strong 3
A very good album, it would have been a truly great album had it not had Everybody Hurts on it. Man on the Moon is an incredible song, one of the best I've heard on the list. Find The River not a very good closer.
4.1/5
i once tried listening to this album when i was first getting into 90s music, i also had the CD at some point which i gave away. I like drive but the second song began and i decided that’s enough. for an actual first listen, it’s not as bad as i expected. you always hear “Man on the moon” on the radio and i used to hate that song a lot. but the album isn’t my thing but it was a worth while listen. it sounds like how i thought all 90s music sounded when i was a kid. definitely a big player in the soft rock that would emerge in the late 90s
4.5
I like REM and this album is much better than I remember. Man on the Moon is a very catchy song. I still prefer their stuff from Document and earlier, but I enjoyed listening to this one quite a bit. Great album by an amazing band.
Muy folky, slow para mi gusto. Los instrumentales son hermosos
Good
Really solid and consistent album. Man on the Moon is such a banger.
Maybe the first of the “modern-sound” version of this quintessential band, mature and more likely to be found on adult-oriented radio than college stations. Not a bad thing, but it lacks the zeal of their earlier work and their sound palette changed over the previous couple of records as they wrestled with stardom. Give me the first three records….i do occasionally spin this and enjoy it. 3.5
Love this album! It’s not perfect by any means but it has so many great tunes and vibes. I want to give it a 5!
This album made me feel things.
I always thought Shiny Happy People was on this album. Glad it wasn't. This is a much better album than I recalled. Night Swimming is their best track.
Not their best but very good
R.E.M son más grandes que la puta vida. Recuerdo con exactitud la primera vez que les escuche, en un puto campamento. Era el Out of Time que me dejó loco. Luego comprobé que ese disco ni siquiera era de los buenos. Su puta madre. Rajo a quien se meta con R.E.M. ¿Sabéis por qué nadie hace versiones de R.E.M? Porque es imposible llegar al tono de puto Stipe y siempre vas a hacer el ridículo. Hasta tengo una letra en español para The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite con el estribillo que dice "¿Cómo no le voy a echar beicon?". Pero a ver quién se la juega.
Great album. I can get most of the songs on it stuck in my head just by reading the track list. It’s a bit on the quiet side for my taste but definitely great.
Was good, already new a few songs
Notably decent record. I appreciate REM's influence and songwriting. I wouldn't deny the greatness of this record, I'm just not sold on every song.
Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but it's still a 5-star album. So many pure classics on here. Drive, Everybody Hurts, Nightswimming, Man on the Moon...it just keeps going. Brilliant.
This is moody REM - good but not great
I listened to this so much back in the day that I kind of overdosed and rarely revisit it now, so this was like catching up with an old friend. It is just brilliant, with genuinely moving reflective songs alongside some of their catchiest pop songs.
There are a few tracks from this that are immediately recognizable by title. And I don't really like R.E.M. in general, and don't enjoy the tracks I recognize either. So I don't really have high hopes for sitting down to listen to this start-to-finish. I don't like Michael Stipe as a vocalist, and the music just generally is uninteresting. No thanks.
The singles are easily the strongest part for me — they give the album most of its memorable moments. 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 sets the tone well with its slow build and slightly ominous feel. 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 is more playful and catchy, but still has that reflective edge. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘀 is the most direct and emotional moment on the album — simple, but very effective. And 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 is easily one of the highlights, with its stripped-down, almost fragile atmosphere. The rest of the album holds up nicely too. It’s more subdued overall, with a consistent, melancholic mood that ties everything together. Not every track stands out individually, but it works well as a complete listen. A very solid record that I can see myself coming back to.
I recognize the hits, but I don't really care for his voice. Nothing mind blowing with the music.
manly pop depression, i didnt know the history behind it at first but after finding out its hard to separate the two. still a good album tho
When to listen: In my feelings, a dark night in New Jersey. A strong no skip album. Nightswimming will always be a fave. Also really enjoyed The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight.
My ex bought me this in cassette form for Christmas 1992 and it's the only thing I'm grateful to her for.
Loved this when it came out and love it today. Find the River is one of my all time favorite songs. Nightswimming, Try Not to Breathe, Man on the Moon, Sidewinder….From beginning to end, this is an easy 5. The only weakness I can find with this album is that I have listened to it too much and sometimes tire of it.
Automatic 5
4.5