Automatic For The People

What a boring album and a boring band.

Really solid album, great music and great lyrics that I feel I need a couple more listens of to properly ponder.

Wonderful album from a band at the peak of the creativity.

Maybe R.E.M's most beautiful record? I tend to be a greatest hits fan but this is just generally nice sounding alternative rock. Definitely of all the ones this site has recommended I'm enjoying this as a whole experience more. Liking ignoreland, nightswimming, the obvious great singles of "everybody hurts" and "man on the moon." Great openers and closers too. Definitely feels like subtle record too. It's not trying to be flashy just have solid rock jams and Michael Stipes voices is maybe the best part of R.E.M. for me.

3.5/5 - Ihan mukava ja toimiva levy. Mun mielestä alkuosa oli kuitenkin vähän tylsä ja biisit todella samantyyppisiä, mut loppulevy oli mun makuun. Laulajan ääni meni myös välillä hermoille, mutta joissakin biiseissä se taas toimi tosi hyvin. Koko levyn fiilis ja rakenne oli kuitenkin todella kaunis. Kiinnitin erityisesti huomiota tän levyn pianoon, mikä sopi todella hyvin tän levyn fiilikseen. Voisin kuunnella uudestaan!

Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on October, 1992, by Warner Bros. Records. Yielding six singles, the album reached number two on the US Billboard 200 and received widespread acclaim from critics upon release. Automatic for the People has sold more than 18 million copies worldwide, and has been listed as one of the greatest albums of all time, with Rolling Stone ranking the album number 96 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020.

Just a really good album. It’s sad but powerful, can be intense but also relaxing. I don’t love REM but everything about this album, including the sound, is very solid. I remember when the Everybody Hurts music video was on MTV and VH1 allllll the time and I still love that song.

Excellent! I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I djd

Volim ovaj album! 3/5, 6/10

The tracks, “Drive,” and “Man on The Moon” are stellar, but the rest of the album was fairly average.

Wow, surprised by how high the ratings are for this one. I've always been an R.E.M. fan, but this album is a bit on the languid side on the whole so I was expecting more 2s (especially since I thought a bunch of people just irrationally hate Michael Stipe). Anyway, this one is a mixed bag for me. The musicianship is high throughout and there are some great songs...but it drags somewhat in the middle. I liked the album overall, I just wish it had a little more juice. A good album for sad days, I guess. Random note: I'm again glad that Spotify gives you lyrics on most songs; "Ignoreland" is entirely unintelligible outside of the chorus, but the lyrics are really good! I wish the mix were better. 4.0

I guess I’m one of the few from my generation, but I find REM boring and simplistic. Who writes a song about Andy Kaufman?

Full of great songs, I have a thing for The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, the vocal melodies in the verse is so satisfying! Every once in a while, I'm thinking this might be the day I'm finally enjoying Man on the Moon, but that day has never come. It never hits for me... Also, I wanna say I do not like Stipe's lyrics, or at least on this record, I've just listened to it, so I don't feel conflicted about that statement. It often feels like placeholder lyrics before you'd come back to make it sound good and meaningful ! To be fair, many albums that I have been through here have awful or lame lyrics and I haven't mentioned it, it's just a shame with this one I think because this could be greater than it is. Oh and my rating is going to be good btw.

Such a good album, start to finish. Man on the Moon, Sidewinder, Nightswimming, Find the River (one of my favourite songs full stop), Sweetness Follows, Monty Got a Raw Deal … just great tune after great tune. Not just a five star album, but one of my favourite of all time.

favorite: the sidewinder sleeps tonight

I liked it, dragged in the middle a bit but started and ended quite strong, 7/10

Not my style of music… but still, didn’t hate it.

Vr 6 feb 2026 22:19 pm Ignoreland (0:00)

divorced dad music

Makes me have will to live again. The energy is ELECTRIFYING. Best album I´ve gotten so far. Fucking banger. Makes me feel like a main character.

It's got some hits and its the most radio friendly R.E.M. but its not their best. Playlist track: Man On The Moon

This is the first time I listened to a full REM album. Drive starts the album and as it started playing I knew this song but I didn’t know why. I liked this song. It’s really good. I love Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon. I knew them from watching too much MTV back when they still kind of showed videos. MTV loved REM. Try Not to Breathe was another standout on this album. I liked most of it.

Gotta hand it to em, den er sgu meget fed den her

Det er klart REMs banger-plade, men også produktions-mæssigt en af de mere kedelige. (hot take tror jeg)

Great songs.

Immediately identifiable sound. Unique and emotive. Brilliant lyrics and vocals throughout. Strings and instrumentation are powerful. Great dynamic shifts as the album progresses. Two or three classics that will never be forgotten.

The zenith of a certain strain of warm, jangly, intelligent, big hearted music broadly known as alternative in the 90s, or more aptly college rock. This is an album that wraps around you like a woollen cardigan. A deserved masterpiece.

Classic album. Not my genre, and still a banger

Spent a lot of time with this album. Was a great album then and still is today

This was really really good. Every song was well done and unique. I dont think I would add any to my playlist but I would love to hear it come on in passing or at a bar/resturant.

2.5 pretty good not bad maybe 3 stars

Whoa...I knew some REM songs, of course, but this album is...amazing?

Yes!

Sometimes I forget just how great REM was. Wow, what an album. Even the lesser known tracks are good, and it includes at least two of my favorite REM songs. Highlights: "Drive", "Everybody Hurts", "Nightswimming" and "Man on the Moon"

Really awesome, relaxing, melancholy album. Loved the music with Drive being my song of the album (and best first listen), with Man On The Moon and Find The River being other highlights

Drive Try Not To Breathe The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Sweetness Follows Ignoreland Man On The Moon Find The River

Magical moments in time. I was never a huge fan, but the nostalgia is strong.

Love it. Own it.

Really excellent, feels like a proper complete album.

Not for me - I skipped Everybody Hurts

A near flawless record

REM is a pretty unique group, even for their time. They were part of a counter culture fighting back against the bombast and eccentricities of the 80s, helping to bolster the grunge movement. Hopeful and sad, their music mourns what has been lost but still seeks for better times. Michael Stipe’s vocals being it together while the rest of the band provides wonderful backup vocals and instrumentals. Clear influence from the goth music of the 80s mixed with folk from the 70s help give this album definition. Truly a solid, though not wholly fun, album.

This is the stuff. When the rest of the world was heading towards grunge, R.E.M. just continued doing R.E.M. things and quietly churned out this masterpiece. I don’t think there is a bad song on here, even though Michael Stipe is in full enigmatic indecipherable mode. Some of their most beautiful moments on record here, including ‘Everybody Hurts’, ‘Sweetness Follows’, ‘Find The River’ and the incomparable ‘Nightswimming’, that just makes we want to learn piano to be able to play it. Although ‘Man On The Moon’ can get a bit grating after the 500th listen, the rest is so great that it can only be 5 stars.

deadly

A pretty good album with some great classic rock on it

I mean, yeah, this is one of my all-time favorite albums. Lyrical and resonant and beautiful and playful and somber and gorgeous. Good way to start this project!

i’m not a fan of the lead singers voice

A 1992 highlight. This album still sounds as fresh and as important as it did 35 years ago. We never really did deserve R.E.M..

Listened 3 times today. Overall a smidge below 4, but gets better on each listen. I realized I have never fully listened to "Everybody Hurts" till today and it is surprisingly really good. Also the last 3, hell 4 songs are immaculate with "Man on the Moon" and "NightSwimming" and maybe my favorite song on the album "Find the River". high 3.5 (rounds to 4)

Very impressed with the mix on this. The performance is really nice, the vocal isn't doing too much and the instrumentation is lush and full. Rides the line between folk and punk without really feeling like it exists as some kind of middle ground for very long and I find that really impressive. The songwriting and arrangement are very purposefully done. It's easy listening, not too much of any one thing but also consistent enough to make it a very well rounded project. It doesn't lose me at any point. And it resolves in such an amazing way with Nightswimming and Find the River which are just awesome. It doesn't have as many huge highs as most albums that I'll round to a 5 to on here, but it is so consistently great that I can't give it anything else. 4.6/5

Having this album pop up today was right time right place. It's been a challenging few days, weeks, months, so listening to this emotional album full of joy and sadness, but importantly hope and optimism, was uplifting in the best way possible. I had heard half the album through various singles and loved the rest. Great record.

Great album. One of the best albums from the 90's. Some classics (drive, everybody hurts, man on the moon...) and great "less-known" songs (star me kitten, try not to breathe, nightswimming, find the river). Clearly a 5 star album for me.

Great album, Everybody Hurts was my fav song

Ok

Best album so far. A lot of iconic tracks and no filler at all. 9/10

Everything you want from an album. Bit of an experimental feel but still slots in with the norm to make a great listen. Doesn’t get a lot better. Favourite track- Man on the Moon

Not my favorite REM album, but still a great record. Sweetness Follows is the standout track for me, juxtaposing the beautifully simple instrumentation with the unpleasant subject of the lyrics to great effect.

it's one of those albums where i will bob my head throughout and when the album's done i'll go "mm, good album!".. and that's honestly all i can say about this one, it's hard to find other words for it. it's good! i like it!

Some great songs, but also some that strike me as filler, as with most R.E.M. albums. My personal enjoyment: 3.5/5, but taking into account its huge impact on alt/indie rock, 4/5.

One of my favourite REM albums, albeit still with a couple of lower points: The vocal on sidewinder is so high in stipe’s range that I think it gets grating, and ignoreland is just a skipper. Overall though, some brilliant songs and arrangements, and a good mix of acoustic feel and expansive strings. And Drive is a cracking album opener.

MW: 8.4 Fav: Nightswimming Least Fav: Ignoreland

la più carina everybody hurts, album non male devo dire lo ascolterei se stessi attraversando la route 66 in un van, quelle vibes mi dà

Опять не мой вкус, интересно спокойно возможно треки подойдут к какому-то фильму

Tbh this is R.E.M.’s best album without question. Drags in the middle a bit but the beginning and end are so incredibly strong. “Man On The Moon” might be their best song ever, but “Drive,” “Everybody Hurts,” “Try Not To Breathe,” and “Nightswimming” are also highlights. Fantastic album and an easy 5 stars.

Seen some other people say its boring so really hoped i could break the mould and be one of the many people leaving 5 star reviews, but regrettably, i did find this boring, i enjoy mopey music but i fear this isn’t my type of mopey music. Never knew they were the everybody hurts people tho so 2/5

Good one. Liked it. Heard a lot about it but never actually listened. Of course, I knew the single

This was the first album that didnt resonate with me.

A bit slow. Nightswimming

Absolutely stellar album. Some of the best 90s Brit rock going.

Probably the best album Led Zeppelin could say they are associated with.

Forgot just how good this album was

3.9 actually

Started really strongly with Drive and I really enjoyed the first three songs. Everybody hurts felt like a tonal change and this was the only song on the album that I’d heard before. Then the middle part of the album felt a bit flat but Man on the Moon, and Nightswimming were very good towards the end.

I have this album on cassette. It's one of two I spent a _lot_ of time listening to back in the early 90s (the other one being Metallica's black album). As such, I can't disentangle this LP from my life at that time. Basically, listening to it again, it makes me very sad to think of how good we had it in the 90s compared with now. Not only was I between 15 and 25 years of age, but the cold war was over, environmental progress was on the radar, and the culture wars and jihads of the 20th century hadn't yet started. This album was one of the soundtracks to a golden age of peace, prosperity and culture. If you didn't dig this back then, I somehow doubt you'll dig it now, basically.

Always nice to listen to R.E.M., but I can go a few more decades w/o listen to a full album again.

Moederautorijmuziek

😎😎😎😎😎😎

beetje saai

Really liked!!

Previously known. Not a fan.

Dafür braucht es nicht viele Worte! Klasse einprägsame Songs ohne Schnickschnack!

I'm going to be a little biased here as R.E.M. is one of my all-time favorite bands and I bought this when it first came out. After Out of Time, this album turned a little more somber, a little more introspective while still keeping the core R.E.M. sound - and I love that. A great album among a big catalog of great albums, at least in my book. (Just skip past "Everybody Hurts".) - Heard before? So many times. - Will I listen again? You couldn't stop me. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yep, I've got another R.E.M. album playing right now. Notable songs: Nightswimming, Try Not To Breathe, Sweetness Follows, and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight (I smile every time I hear Michael Stipe's little laugh after the Dr. Seuss line).

I like the non-single tracks better than a few of the hits on this one. The "commieshattahwammawakener" refrain on Sidewinder and "ollieollieollieollieollie... baby" on Drive bother me. Everybody Hurts was way overplayed on the radio and is overrated. The strings backing on some songs seems overused and trite. On the other hand, Ignoreland is a banger and Man in the Moon is a wonderful arrangement. Nightswimming sounds like a happier version of The Wrong Child from Green.

1992 was a wild time for music. So many different styles and important albums dropping. REM was college radio until Automatic For The People. Even your mom liked the radio hits off this one.

Dichtbij vijf sterren. De hoogtepunten als drive, nightswimming en man on the moon zijn simpele maar mooie nummers die op een of andere manier een soort nostalgie opwekken. De strijkers zijn erg geslaagd. 8/10

Good album, possibly their last great one. There are certainly some memorable lyrics.

ach schon toll! c

Chill

aside from the new orleans instrumental track, this is a great listen …. so many lovely memories of this album and it still holds up as a comforting listen. Stand out track and still one of my favourite songs ever is “night swimming” …. honestly not a die hard REM fan, but have much love for this particular album!

It's... fine? Again, got bored and DNF'd

Pretty good. Started sounding like Pink floyd but diverted a bit eventually. Questionable conspiracy slop undertones?

A few hits but overall 😴💤😴

Good songs:

A lot better than expected!

ich mochte vor allem man on the moon

A classic!

4.5 (48:52, 12 tracks, 8th album, 1992) Alt Rock By 1992 what was called “College Rock” or “Jangle Rock”, which REM more or less invented, in 1983 with their debut Murmur had become Alternative Rock, a genre REM dominated even while bands like the Pixies (and Nirvana) were taking the genre to a harder post-punk song known of course as Grunge. I’ve always loved this album, The Smashing Pumpkins and so many others were doing this type of Alternative Rock; but there is no doubt REM was the/a driving force defining the genre which saved America from “Hair Metal” (now I loves me some hair metal, but there was only so far we could ride that burning ship before it sunk.) The album is a bit faster paced; more rock less alternative than some REM records. Alternative radio really fell in love with this album. By 1992 REM had hit their prime where they could have written some really experimental, fan and radio unfriendly, shit – I’m glad they went this direction, they didn't "sell out" they sold in - and everyone is better for it. It’s slow yet rocky, less Jangle Rock than their debut stuff. So why so sad? These guys were entering their 30’s, punk was dead and they just crushed (pun intentional) it. Stipe struggled with anxiety and his sexuality (pretty much an open secret at this point he was gay) but did NOT, despite rumors, have AIDS. It’s a mood album, sometimes, depending on my mood, it’s my favorite REM album. Hard to say it was as influential as their earlier works but still just a classic album. Track listening * denotes radio released single (all of which got seemingly unlimited radio play in the early 90’s). A – F (A being great, A+ classic, F being terrible) grading of songs. 1. *"Drive" – 4:31 A (great opening track, just dives right into it) 2. "Try Not to Breathe" – 3:50 A 3. *"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" – 4:06 A 4. *"Everybody Hurts" – 5:17 A 5. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" – 2:13 B 6. "Sweetness Follows" – 4:19 B+ 7. "Monty Got a Raw Deal" – 3:17 B 8. "Ignoreland" – 4:24 A- 9. "Star Me Kitten" – 3:15 C+ 10. *"Man on the Moon" – 5:13 A 11. *"Nightswimming" – 4:16 A+ (favorite song on album) 12. *"Find the River" – 3:50 A (great ending) album opens and closes so strong. SNEAKS into the 5 category, I feel it doesn't deserve a 5 (not trendsetting, nothing 'you must listen to before you die' but look at the grades (first time I've done this) - there isn't a bad song on this album. It's also in perfect album format album where each song flows into the next.

Prima album maar weinig bijzonders. Op de 2 bekendere nummers "Everybody Hurts" en "Man on the Moon" na ook niet andere waarvan ik kan zeggen dat ik ze ooit heb gemist. Ik kan eventueel wel begrijpen dat dit een album is wat op je kan groeien gezien de themas waarop dit album is gebaseerd. Echter na 1 keer luisteren nog zeker niet het geval. Overigens ook geen slecht album dus gewoon een gemiddelde 3 sterren waard.

Het was een droevige bedoeling op deze Blauwe Maandag. Deze plaat - die door velen, alsmede de band zelf, als R.E.M.'s beste wordt beschouwd - staat vol met melancholische, nostalgische melodiën. De snaar arrangementen, gitaar melodiën, rauwe vocals en poëtische teksten sleuren je mee; als je daarvoor open staat. Tijdens werk, werkte dit niet echt. Echter zijn er natuurlijk af en toe wel dagen dat ik comfort zou kunnen vinden in de klanken van dit album. Naast ballads, staan er ook een paar wat meer 'rocky' tracks in, welke mooi in balans staan met de rest. Alleen The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite lijkt niet helemaal in het plaatje te passen. Grappig genoeg las ik later dat de band dat zelf ook vond achteraf. En dan ja, Everybody Hurts. Wat moet ik er nog over zeggen? Drummer Bill Berry schreef het als een anti suicide nummer, een poging om hoop te bieden en levens te redden, wat schijnbaar gelukt is. Het lied wordt in het album opgevolgd door de instrumentale New Orleans Instruments No. 1, wat ik een hele goede keuze vind. Het geeft de luisteraar even de ruimte om het lied ervoor te laten bezinken en bemediteren (is dat een woord?). Mooi spul. Liked songs: Drive, Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts, Man On The Moon, Find The River.

Deze was echt alles dat mis was met blur. Eerste album dat ik 2 x heb geluisterd sinds we dit doen. Niet echt de tijd om een uitgebreide review te schrijven. Zit tussen 4 en 5 in maar doe niet aan pussy voting.

Het aantal albums dat niks voor mij is begint aan me te vreten. 2/5

Remarkably average

Great songwriting and Stipe’s vocals are iconic

I had it on 3 stars … and then I remembered what a great song nightswimming is 😊

I think R.E.M. might be the prime example of what alternative rock is. So many times during this album I was struck by how interesting the melody and harmony were together, and the number of non-traditional instruments they were played on for a rock band. Something about it is just feel-good music, even when the lyrics are contemplative and melancholic. I will likely listen to this again.

...

eeeveeryyyyyyboooodyyyyy huuuurrrtttttssssss

C'était plutôt sympa, des mélodies qui rentrent bien en tête, mais il faut bien dire ce qui est : vers la fin, j'en avais un peu marre. C'est pas que c'était nul, c'est plutôt que ça ne me parle pas plus que ça. C'est du rock très accessible (c'est pas forcément une mauvaise chose), franchement bien fait, je comprends pourquoi il est si populaire (contrairement à Radiohead, tiens), mais ça n'est pas vraiment fait pour moi, je suppose.

I listened to this a while back, i thought it was lowkeyly boring. tbhly. I can't say I was paying too close attention though. it was like sophomore year of college, I think I just listened to it while I was walking to and fro classes.

honestly a good start, listened to it twice

Not my style

Not a bad album overall, but I'm not really into it. The lyrics are great, though. The interesting fact about this one is that it was the last album Kurt Cobain listened to before his death.

memorabilia

It's a bit boring, but still really good.

Not too bad! A little bit floaty at times, but a solid modern version of Simon and Garfunkel

One of the most solid albums out there. Highly recommend for grieving people cause Michael Stripe's voice hits me like few singers before him (shout out Jerry Garcia). Thank you R.E.M.

Great sounding album with lovely production and instrumentation. However, REM always leaves me wanting more. I liked the new orleans instrumental. That was neat. On to the next one.

Most excellent

The good songs make up for Man on the Moon, which I find viscerally irritating. I even like Everybody Hurts! This is the sort of album that I could get a lot out of if I get back to it outside of the album-a-day pace.

It is difficult to approach "Everybody Hurts" as an actual song instead of a punchline. That's how it feels approaching a lot of albums like this really, the ones by Important Bands or that have outsized pop culture presence or are foundational to other groups, so on. Ideally(?) you approach each album as its own thing independent of anything else and rate it on its musical merit alone. That's not easy. You've got this weight bearing down on you, pretending it doesn't influence how you rate the album. Listening to "Everybody Hurts", it is absolutely that overly sincere song so easily used as a punchline. It's also kind of beautiful as you focus on the strings and gentle melodies, how the song crests and falls. That's why I'm enjoying the album list even though I've spent as many hours complaining about its inclusions/exclusions as I have listening to the music. Even something I know as well as Automatic For The People can feel like a new experience with proper listening. Anyway. It's good! I don't think I ever properly appreciated how good the string work is here or that John Paul Jones was involved with the album. I don't think REM's ever going to quite hit a 5 for me on an individual album and it definitely wouldn't be this one (Man on the Moon is godawful, like anything associated with Andy Kaufman) but it's a confident 4.

Always a classic.

6.5/10

Album assez lent, inspiration country / rock alternative americain. Ambiance bar conservateur des états du sud des états unis. Années 90, titre phare -> everybody hurts

Everybody hearts шикарный трек из альбома

Album number three baby! I had a great time listening - it does feel like each of the albums I've listened to so far has had one iconic, zeitgeist song. In this case it was everybody hurts. Rather than the one song that I'll know, I tend to like some other song much better. Toward the end of the album, my attention span started to fade.

An alternative classic, a very rewarding and emotional listen.

Lots of great musical ideas happening in this album. From bright melodies to melancholic feels it's a nice journey to go through. The vocals were hit or miss at times but when they did, it added a wistful element to the track. 6.5/10, favorite song: Monty Got A Raw Deal

“Monty got a raw deal”

Matched my mood great

Underrated

It gives me Phil Collin’s kind of vibes. I love it

A little too much Pop for me but still good. My favorites were “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight” and “Man On The Moon”.

Top songs: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Everybody Hurts Nightswimming

The album sounds alright, I just don't vibe with the style of writing.

This is one of my all time favorite albums now. Nightswimming is the best REM song hands down.

I'm not a big R.E.M. fan besides Losing my religion and Everybody hurts but this was a nice opportunity to revisit their discography. It gave me a nostalgic rock vibe. I'd probably give it another more focused listen and hear the lyrics.

So this album came to me on a Monday and set the mood for the day. It was a moody Monday. I was familiar with "Drive," "Everybody Hurts," and "Man on the Moon." The other songs were a blend of blahness. I'll stick to the songs I know.

Everybody hurts is here! Better than I expected

Perplexing selection. Not even in the top 1001 REM albums...and by the end of it I appreciated better what Stipe means when he sings that everybody hurts cuz I certainly am at this point.

I'm not a big REM fan, and there are far too many of their albums in this collection (although weirdly they didn't include "Out of Time"), but this is definitely the best REM album I've listened to, by a long shot. I'm not sure exactly why or how the band tamed Michael Stipes' often nasal/whiny style, but aside from the fluffy "The sidewinder sleeps tonite", and to some degree "Man on the moon", the tracks are much more somber and weighty, and they sound so much better for it. My favorites of the lot are the opening "Drive", crowd favorite "Everybody hurts" (with an interesting video too), and the curious "Sweetness follows". Also interesting to read that they got Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones to do the string arrangements on several tracks. It's a shame that this collection doesn't pick from any of their albums after "Automatic for the People", as it would be (mildly) interesting to see where they headed after this, but I'll admit not interesting enough to pursue that on my own.

I'm not, as an ex once hoped, "REMish" but I've got to give it up for this: Drive and Man on the Moon are too superb to not give this album the full 5.

very good

Not my favorite, but 2-3 tracks I’d keep. Not sure how this all works. I keep trying to Save this, but it never does. I do not see a Rating part either

Feels like looking out the backseat window, face pressed to the glass, breath fogging it up dramatically (positive)

Forgot how many great songs were on this album

Really good.

REM for REM sleep 😴

Good album.

overall a very beautiful album. It’s very melancholy and bittersweet sounding. I I love the guitar and how jangly some of these songs sound. Fav songs: everybody hurts, sweetness follows, nightswimming

REM are conspiracy theorists?

great album full of wonderful songs. there’s a reason ‘everybody hurts’ is one of their GOAT songs.

zjakkssk

Great

One of my first favorite albums ever. I've loved it since I was 11 years old.

Man on the Moon is probably one of the first contemporary rock songs I remember hearing on the radio as a kid. Perhaps the lyrics were fun? Do you remember hearing songs in your very early years and then later in life wondering if they ever existed? I always felt that way about Beck's 'Loser'. Regardless, I've been pretty anti anything REM on this list (that's right, I ignored the full stops!). This one was slightly more engaging than what I expected it to be. Everybody Hurts was actually the first song I ever learned on guitar. I'm going to give it 4, purely because it rose beyond the background music that the rest of the albums gave me from this band. 4 stars.

This album is like driving home from a family holiday. You were stuck in traffic earlier, but that has died down now. It is getting late, and the sun has set. You press your head against the windows and look up at the night sky, while trying to get a bit of sleep. You have a couple more days of holiday before going back to school, so you don't need to worry about that yet. Instead you'll just bask in the joy of the refreshing time away you have just had with loved ones.

Opens with a track that deffintly went on to inspire Everlast's "What it's like", which is a track Kid Rock deffintly loves. And he went on to headline a racist alternative half time show to the superbowl. Now, I'm not saying REM are a bunch of White Speritists, but it makes you think. There are some good tunes on here. Nightswimming being a great ballad and a showpiece of its time. And man on the moon has a great chorus. Other songs however just bring back memories of 90s radio and having to listen to whatever uninspiring songs were on. Everybody hurts being an example. Its juat such a dull song overall. And they sure love the use of delay on the vocals. This didnt live up to their previous efforts.

decent, some good songs

This! This album is brilliant. A dramatic departure from the previous album. Has probably not been another album like this for decades.

Album i po. Hit za hitom a gdje su trebali biti filleri opet odlične pjesme. Da je cijeli album samo Drive opet bi bila petica ali drago mi je da nema ništa da sroza ukupni utisak. Remek-djelo.

Es un álbum que escucharías en tus peores momentos pero si no estás en ese mood sentimental/existencial no es algo que te encantaría escuchar, no porque sea malo sino que es muy calmado.

Pretty decent. Several songs reminded me of beachy yacht-rock.

Favorite song off the album: Man on the moon Number of songs I liked/added to a playlist: 4 Not one I’m likely to repeat but generally pleasing, it was pretty good and not quite but almost rock.

☞ “Everybody Hurts” Wow wow wow please play this at my 80’s themed prom where my hair is tousled and puffy and my sequined aqua dress straps keep falling down and I’m slow dancing with my prom date before we ditch and get a milkshake with two straws. Please.

I loved this, which came as no surprise since I just completely vibe with R.E.M.’s sound. Just a classic listen.

Clearly this is a masterpiece, but not one I think I will ever come back to. I love Stipe's voice, the songs, the mood... and yet there's something off. Maybe it's the lyrics. Too much allusive nonsense interspersed with faux-deep emotive lines that don't quite hang together. Maybe it's just overwrought. Almost cheesy.

loved this but you gave it to me yesterday, can i please get a new album?????

Carino ma non mi ha preso troppo. Non l’ho analizzato approfonditamente anyways

Its a REM album, a good one but I really only thought about how yeah it sounds like REM

Perfect atmosphere for current times, with a few cuts I hadn't heard before. Nightswimming is a haunting highlight.

First impression was this sounds great. The mixing is fantastic and all the instruments are balanced and sound good. Second impression is the album is great. It builds it has hit songs I didnt realize, and the songwriting is consistently good. Easy 5 star album will listen to again.

some nostalgia via the man on the moon movie

Another great REM album. I've listened to this all the way through before, and I'll say that the while the singles are really excellent, the rest of it is just as good. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is a great song, despite the cramming of too many words in one sentence in the refrain, which somehow works in this case. The strings in a bunch of the songs add to it without being pretentious, and the classic instrumentation of the band is front and center with every instrument clear and loud. The emotions are all front and center, and while this is a "sad" album I find plenty of joy in it as well. It's not a depressing album, more of a sweet melancholy. Really excellent.

I really enjoy this. Some great tracks I’ve heard a lot before and others wondering why they didn’t get the airtime? Something about R.E.M. just sounds dated although this was mixed very well. I think it’s just the era or style of music.

I heard Man On The Moon and Everybody Hurts previously but never gave the whole album a listen. Such a soothing listen.

I will listen Monty got a raw deal again 😛

I’ve been looking forward to listening to this album given Man on the Moon is a banger. Enjoyed the album with a few key songs and the album is certainly REM. Shoutout nightswimming for a fun piano backing and everybody hurts for being a song im pretty sure I knew but now I definitely know

I have a vinyl and cd of this one from what may be the greatest band of all time. Great to listen again

no es mi estilo, pero es muy bueno

very good lyrics. I like nightswimming and the sidewinder sleeps. The ending of everybody hurts has a nice orchestral build but the song is simply too overplayed. I dont like the lead singers voice that much and overall this sounds like something they’d play at the thrift store. I’m sure it’s influenced a lot of alt rock I listen too though.

Half the album was mush that wasn't memorable. Songs that were memorable were quite good and made sense for the album to be on this list.

Not particularly engaging for me personally, but another indisputably quality album.

A good album from a great band that sort of slipped by me on this listen. The production really didn't grab me this time around. Standout tracks: Everybody Hurts.

I’m moving in a few weeks and this was a great album to pack to. Very melodic, soothing.

ew

Great album. Everybody Hurts still hits!!

This is capable but kind of somnolent in a way that I don't really love. Michael Stipe is good, the lyrics are pretty good (for the most part) but there's something about the...warmth? of the sound that makes me go, "hey this is soft (insulting)." Murmur had an edge that this doesn't - it's like a butter knife. I like butter and butter knives are useful but nothing special. The songs I, uh, like? Not like, LIKE-like, just like, are ok but this never really gets going for me.

I really liked this. First album of the project and I listened all the way pretty much instantly. First track grabbed me and I recognised the lead's voice instantly. It includes Everybody Hurts on it which is a famous one of theirs I reckon. Have now put it together that Losing My Religion is probably why I know his voice - and now I also know his name is Michael Stipe! Enjoyed this album a lot and love this concept as a way to listen to new music!!

ghhh

No conecté mucho con las letras pero si con las melodías de algunas de las canciones de este álbum. Igual capaz me hace falta conocer el contexto.

Did not feel like anything special, I do like the sound but the lyrics and vocals are not that impressive. So overall don't think I’ll come back to it in the future, though trying a different album by them is not a bad idea.

Hit and miss, I added a few songs to my playlist but some were not for me

Refreshing and new for the time. Holds up wekk

Meh, not my favorite. Very much divorced dad music imo.

Where have I been? I didn't think R.E.M. was still around doing big things in the 90s. Over halfway through, and I don't really get it? It's good, but I wouldn't call it great. It's just dad rock. Without anything really special going on. They're like the precursor to Nickelback. And I think I'm just experiencing disappointment. I hadn't really listened to R.E.M. before, but by name alone, I held them in a fairly high regard, and this is just meh. The last song was pretty good, though, that was nice way to end the album. Favorite Song(s): Sweetness Follows, Find the River

Automatic for the People is one of those albums that feels quietly monumental, never raising its voice yet carrying enormous emotional weight. It strips away any remaining noise or bravado and replaces it with space, patience, and absolute confidence in restraint. Everything here feels deliberate, from the pacing to the arrangements, creating an album that moves slowly but never drags, heavy without being suffocating. What makes it extraordinary is how direct and human it feels without ever becoming sentimental. The songs deal with loss, memory, mortality, and compassion in a way that feels clear-eyed rather than dramatic. Michael Stipe’s voice is calm and grounded, letting the words land without forcing them, while the instrumentation supports rather than competes. Strings, acoustics, and subtle dynamics are used with real discipline, giving each track room to breathe and resonate. By the time it ends, Automatic for the People leaves behind a stillness that feels earned. It does not try to console or resolve, it simply acknowledges difficult truths with grace and honesty. There is no filler here, no excess, just a sequence of songs that feel perfectly placed and deeply considered.

Their singer might not be as technically gifted as others, but boy does he know how to deliver a song.

Decent album, I understand that for its time it was probably revolutionary for the alternative rock scene, not for me though.

Love!

A classic!! Lovely, including the iconic ‘Everybody Hurts’ …. Sometimes…. 💭🎶

Surprised by how much I didn’t like this. REM being the most REM they could be and it’s annoying. Man on the Moon is doing a lot of work here

This album is a bit of a let down to be honest especially compared to the others I've gotten by them, like Green and Murmur. They just sound so underwhelming on this release. One thing that hasn't let me down is that R.E.M. has some of the most intriguing song titles ever, like a good one would be one present here,"New Orleans Instrumental No. 1." I also quite like the chamber music elements they added to this one. But alas this is a miss for me. Highlight Song/s: "Drive" and "Man on the Moon"

It was a tough listen at first but it does get better. Man on the moon, the sidewinder sleeps tonite, and New Orleans no.1 are great listens.

SiriusXM lithium has made me hate REM but I can't deny that this is a good album

This is for the people who feel that life moves forward automatically. The songs do not give clear answers. Instead, they show the feeling of living inside a flow that cannot be stopped. There is both resistance and quiet acceptance toward this automatic river. I did not understand this album when I was much younger, but feels different to me now.

Stipe's lyrics are so exhausting

Didn’t Mind the record I liked Ignoreland I can see how this resonates with lots of people in that era

pretty unforgettable honestly. Not much enjoyment out of this one.

Booooring. Why is REM so boring? They've got like 2 good songs, the rest is like a worse version of the Cure. Two stars since they're 'influential'

- Dad Rock - Fun

Not bad. Easy listen. Reminiscent.

I'm not a big fan yet. It feels like the kind of album I’ll appreciate more in a few years

the slow songs are painful for me. not one of my REM faves

This is a good album, it has some great sobgs. Michael Stipe can also come across whiny as all hell.

Album was slow thought it ramp up but never did 2

eh. the single was about the only highlight

My exposure to R.E.M. has been largely confined to the In Time compilation, so having the chance to encounter tracks deemed 'less popular' was fun. A very good, albeit very acoustic (IMO), album. Drive, Monty got a Raw Deal and Ignoreland made it to the Liked list, alongside Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming.

Great easy listening with good post-punk guitars TOP 3: Man On The Moon, Nightswimming, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

Yes.

3/5 Objectively a really good album, but just not my cup of tea. I like a few REM songs, just not an album full of them.

It was okay, nothing special

Let's see, how many of these album I already own...

Can't get past the cringy corniness of Sidewinder and Man on the Moon. Such beauty in songs like Nightswimming and Drive. What a mixed bag.

9.5/10 really enjoyed

Favorite Track: Man On The Moon

Because of its ubiquity in pop culture, you forget how good Everybody Hurts actually is, and how crazy it is to jump into that track off of the power of The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. This is a mature album that I could not have appreciated as a teenager or maybe even as a young adult. It's wild to think this came out in 1992 and everything else going on in the musical landscape at the time. IF YOU BELIEVE, THEY PUT A MAN ON A MOON!

7/10

My second REM album and a similar review to the first. Enjoyed it but nothing extraordinary, pretty middle of the road album for me.

Beautiful songs. Beautiful album

181/1001 :: R.E.M. - Automatic For The People Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 9 Listen before you die: Yeah It’a not hard to appreciate and or love this album. The songs are great. The flow is great. I don’t generally think of this as their best album but today while I was listening I was questioning whether it was or not. I generally don’t love Everybody Hurts but within the context ion the album it’s amazing. It’s also an important moment for mental health. Also, if I had to pick 1, Man On The Moon really up there a far as favorite R.E.M. songs go (easily Top 3). Just fun, catchy, insightful, etc… Anyway you slice it, this is an amazing album by a great band.

I’m a big REM fan but probably underplayed this one back in the day. Not quite sure why as it’s clearly a belter of an album with some big songs on it. Even outside the big hits there are a lot of strong songs. Nightswimming is a beautiful song and one of my favourites but also love Ignoreland and Try not to Breathe. Clearly a great album.

I think I prefer their earlier stuff but there are some great songs on here.

I think these must be up there as four of the best opening tracks on an album ever. But then, well, how do you follow Everybody Hurts. Turns out you stick a nothingy instrumental in, and then a good second half which just doesn’t quite stack up against the openers. Maybe there is a drop, or I couldn’t fully cope with the melancholy any longer, probably a bit of both. I’ve never thought of them as musically that strong, but the strings were used really help, but overall it’s definitely a Stipe masterclass. I can’t quite give it a 5 though.

3.5/5

I liked almost every song. Definitely will listen to it again

Uno de los mejores discos denla banda. Grandes clásicos como “Everybody hurts” y “Man on the moon”

Maybe a grower? A little slow for my taste and too many songs in minor key, but the good songs really stand out.

Another 90's classic. Moody but solid, has the hits, classic cover, no one didn't own this at the time. The Hits" "Drive" (108M listens) is an anthem, still heavily played. Check out the MTV music awards version, it's faster and got a bit of anger weaved in. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" (37M) is catchy and upbeat. "Everybody Hurts" (547M) is a timeless song that bridges generations and gets a ton of airplay still. "Man On The Moon" (223M) is a huge hit in it's own right, hooky, great video and you can hear it regularly on the radio. "Nightswimming" is a giant fan favorite. The Glue Tracks: "Try Not To Breathe" (16M) revisits their early sound. "Find The River " (45M) is another fan favorite and a lovely way to finish the album. Solid from top to bottom! The firepower of songs that defined 1992 and 1993 is undeniable. Influential, hits, impact and longevity.

clasico de clasicos

Banger after banger

Wow

One of the BEST ever!

7/10. A classic. Really enjoyed this. Forgot how good it is.

I don't think this is the craziest hottest take I've ever thrown out but I wanted to love this album, I'd only listened to it a couple weeks ago and I thought the same then. I really like R.E.M, not my favourite of the 80s/90s bands but extremely important and foundational to my taste so when I threw this on with relatively high expectations based on reviews (both here and on RYM) as well as my other opinions of R.E.M albums I came away wanting... more? It's also worth saying I am sick to death of Everybody Hurts, seriously god knows why it's so beloved it sounds like it was written by a teenager trying too hard. Maybe as an album it's a bit too melancholy for me at this exact moment but it's definitely a bit too casual and slow, even if I love that sort of sound usually it just presents in an uninteresting and uninterested fashion for most of this albums bulk. Songs like Man on the Moon and Nightswimming are excellent, if the whole album were of this energy and calibre I'd be singing praises but the pacing just varies a little too much for a coherent listen. It's still a good album album, if I could be specific I'd say something like 3.7 which tracks with the reviews and lines up with the rating of a 4 but there are maybe 3 R.E.M albums I'd slot above this (one of which isn't even on this list. Reckoning absolutely robbed) but they will get their love down the line. This album is ultimately good but I can't at all agree this was R.E.M at their most influential nor at their best or most interesting. Best songs: Man on the Moon, Nightswimming Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 17/31 (below Boston, above If I should Fall from Grace with God)

REM il rate jamais

Excellent super voix super mélodie rien à redire. Grosse hésitation avec le 5

Boring, uncreative, soulless.

3, didn’t finish lost interest. Thought I liked R.E.M, do but maybe not as in depth as I thought.

R.E.M. has great musicality, production, and hooks- the problem is that the albums themselves are so BORING! You are good musicians, let's do something cool instead of 20 years of the same jangly sparse indie rock!

I’m the exact right age that I should love this but I don’t. Some songs are pretty good. And others are a snooze fest. 3/5

156/1089 i had heard of REM before but subconsciously I had thought they were more metal/rock-y rather than sort of folk/indie ish ofc I know Everybody Hurts so it was nice to hear where that came from are REM “fake moon landing” truthers?? I liked Try Not To Breathe and Monty Got A Raw Deal but otherwise I wasn’t particularly enthused by this project. it was alright just not really part of my interests apparently there are 3 more REM albums on this project so hopefully they’re more my speed 47/100

Kinda al sounded the same. Saved 1 song

Wasn`t expecting to know that many songs from this album and it was a pleasant surprise. Even though this genre is not exactly my cup of tea I thoroughly enjoyed it! Also, listening to Ignoreland in today's political climate is... certainly an experience. My top three songs: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Sweetness Follows.

Pretty good but got kind of repetitive, found some good songs though to add

I’ve always hated the song everybody hurts. I don’t know why but it always made me feel this weird pit in my stomach like it’s too sad to be on the radio. I think it’s really the sound of Michael’s voice. It’s haunting, but really draws you in. I liked ignoreland as it drew away from his voice slightly, and star kitten really feels Christmassy. Might just be the time of year. I think I would listen to this again, which I am surprised at after seeing everybody hurts was on this.

Tough listen this one. The vocal is so irritating and the lyrics so cringeworthy. Some of the instrumentation was interesting but most of it just so plodding.

Classic.

govt lies, lovers ill still follow, family loses and what follows, in the end we are all here being influenced by the other. 3/5 a sweet sorrow album

Instruments: 3/5 Lyrics/Storytelling: 3/5 Production: 3/5 Vibes: 2/5 Emotional Value: 2/5 Stand Outs: Star Me Kitten, Drive Overall Rating: 2.6

Brilliant. Utterly Brilliant. I love Drive, and the video for Everybody Hurts has stuck with me but there is so much more to this album. I think it's REM's best album by some distance

R.E.M. just not quite for me, there are some good tracks on here Will I listen to again: 50%

Everybody hurts trækker det op

Quintessential car music (complimentary).

Good memories. Not my favorite album of theirs but still one of the good ones. 3.8

Good album, not great. A few old classics. Like Everybody hurts and Man on the Moon. Drive was good aswell, other than that none really stood out on first listen. 3/5.

My dad called, he wants his easy listening record back I’ll never forget being on X at 2am in the Ruston Walmart watching an employee mop the floor while Everybody Hurts played softly in the background I like how they turned the tremolo on the Rhodes and called it a New Orleans song

Comfortingly sad with some real bangers.

evrybdy Hz

overall i think mid but it all sounded almost the same to me, although i added some songs to my playlist i was lowk bored and didnt really enjoy, it almost felt like a chore

A fiew good music but kind of boring :/

Some solid hits. I lost interest halfway through and was more excited to come into the first so g after the album.

There’s a feeling of grandiose and maturity in this record. This was R.E.M.’s launch into the stratosphere, but they did it on their terms.

An hour ago if you'd asked me to rate this album based on memory, I'd have given it a 4. I would have been so wrong. What a damned masterpiece.

This album exudes how I perceive rural/suburban American youth. It's both concrete and earth, fireflies and lampposts. Driving in your parent's car and exploring with the backwoods with your friends. Combines the Ying and Yang and the transition to a different kind of society.

Not a direction I was expecting from R.E.M, definitely more enjoyable than the last few albums. Can you believe? They put a man. On the moon.

Decent REM album. I enjoyed the consistency. Good kind of somber but yet oddly upbeat vibe.

The songs from this album played consistently alongside my years in High scholl and the formative memory of those years. I havnt revisited it much since those times. It was a fun tour through those years.

Better than I remember, but lacking some of the greatness of other albums by these guys.

Classic REM

super

Overall: 4.9/10 Didn’t enjoy this. I found it boring. Kept waiting for it to get good and excite me but it never did so I spent the whole time waiting for it to end. Drive- 4/10 (boring) Try not to breathe- 5/10 (fine I guess) The sidewinder sleeps tonight- 6.5/10 (knew already, half point for nostalgia) Everybody hurts- 6.5/10 (knew already, it’s good, he’s not very good at riffs) New Orleans instrumental no.1- 3/10 (sounds like the type of beat I cook up on garage band) Sweetness follows- 4/10 (was optimistic at first but was too repetitive for me) Monty got a raw deal- 4/10 (waited for it to get good but it never did) Ignoreland- 7/10 (first one I actually like) Star me kitten- 3/10 (snooze fest) Man on the moon- 5/10 (missed opportunity to say hey mama as elvis, may have better rating because baseline of album is ass) Nightswimming- 5.5/10 (I’m so disappointed by this album) Find the river- 5/10 (I’m so bored thank fuck this is the last one)

Beautiful album. I had already heard "Everybody hurts" before and loved it. I'm from a different generation so I'll need to do some research to fully understand some things and get the music on a deeper level. But simply from a musical point it felt like a warm embrace from the beginning and as someone dealing with grief I felt understood. Ignoreland is deeply underrated, I was surprised to see it was the least listened to on the album since the topic of the song is very relatable to today. I didn't like a couple of sounds and the kitten song but overall I feel it's an album that I will listen again and again in the future and I hope one day to own it physically.

There was one song that I didn't like, but the rest carried. Easy listening. 4/5

Great album. Feels a little lower energy than Document, but still some amazing tracks.

This is a tough one for me. The record is very sentimental to me and also has some of my top, favorite REM tracks but I also think it drags overall and it doesn't even make it into my top three REM albums. So, I'm going with a very strong 3.5...

Michael Stipe's haunting voice, orchestrated alt rock backing and understated but catchy meldies melt together perfectly on this one. Put it on and float away. Faves: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts, Find The River

Kind of faded into background noise for me after a while unfortunately. The lyrics might have been interesting but I did stop paying attention. Not a bad album by any means, just not my favorite.

This album blows

Decent rock album. Only got halfway through it.

Peak dad rock

Don’t like the first song, i skipped half way through this is like if an emo kid fell in love with a country boy and wrote an album for him i’m liking sidewinder sleeps tonite but it might just be because the drums are more interesting Everybody hurts instrumental sounds like a cigarettes after sex but the singers voice is really not it for me I fear i’m half way through and was not very wowed by any songs

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

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

1. Good but a bit repetitive (there's french tho) 2. Vrm bonne melo et accords sympatoches 3. Un chouille repetitive mais Dididi + côté police sympa 4. 🥀🥀🥀 5. Interlude mais cool 6. Ouuuuh avec violoncelles super however paroles bien tristes 7.great 8. Moins bien à cause de l'effet sur la voix mais c'est ok 9. Chill et sympa 10. Très jolie but stop the yeah yeah yeahs, refrain < couplets 11. Chiantos 12. Plutôt bien Bilan : the contrast between happy chords and depressing lyrics est au top + good melodies in general but sometimes his voice...

Loved it kinda reminded me of taking heads and weezer idk

Good use of unconventional instruments in pop music like mandolin, English horn

This album is immaculate. Love every note of this record. Love R.E.M. and could listen to this everyday of the week.

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

Muy snoozando

No way to be objective about this one. It has carried me across the Atlantic so many times. Nightswimming is a top-10 cut for me.