Automatic For The People

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

How boring can you get and still call it rock? It's the curse of the Gen X aging hipster that we experienced the decline of our essential bands (yes, all of them) in real time, so we cannot evaluate each album independently. However, even if I weren't comparing this to Murmur or Reckoning I would still think it sucks.

Started well then lost my interest

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

I've heard of this band but never got around to listening to them, glad I finally did. They're like a more country Bowie, and remind Willow of "high winds and the smell of fish". I can see them playing this in a clapboard house on the east coast. "Nightswimming" was teetering towards "Dear Evan Hansen" at first, but grew on me. Would get high and just exist to this album. 7.5/10

honestly dope album, would listen to some of the songs again. felt like a coastal town and an old cat

Love this

A perfect album. The more I listen to R.E.M. the more I like them. And I think A Man on the Moon might actually be their best song

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

Best Track - "Man On The Moon"

better than I remember 4/5

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

It seems I was never really into R.E.M. Very 80 after all. The synths are often too much, the voice... The hit "Everybody Hurts", rings familiar and almost right after so many listening even though the singing does seem a screaming complaint.

It's a fairly rhythmic album, and I must admit I enjoyed listening to it... without being too enthusiastic. The worldwide hit "Everybody Hurts" is quite unique on this album, but it has such poetry, such a beautiful melody, that I'm almost tempted to give it 4 stars... and that's exactly what I'm doing!

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

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

Im alr starting to dislike it its kinda shit i wont lie.

Just great Alternative rock. The hits like Drive, Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts. are amazing and the rest is solid too.

Well, I honestly only understood about half of this when it first came out. I was 10, hearing it via honestly mediocre music videos on MTV. Coming back to it now, it is clearly a masterpiece. I don't think of myself as an R.E.M. fan, but this could sing along to probably half of this album.

Great album. Remember buying both this and Out of Time on CD. Listening again, I think I slightly prefer Out of Time - I know the critics rave about this album, but there we are.

01) Drive - 10,0 02) Try Not to Breathe - 8,5 03) The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite - 10,0 04) Everybody Hurts - 10,0 05) New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 - 8,5 06) Sweetness Follows - 9,0 07) Monty Got a Raw Deal - 8,5 08) Ignoreland - 8,5 09) Star Me Kitten - 8,5 10) Man On The Moon - 10,0 11) Nightswimming - 10,0 12) Find The River - 9,0 TOTAL: 9,21 (92/100) Current ranking: 36/752

Yeah a really solid R.E.M. album. They have such a unique sound and I enjoyed it immensely. Everybody Hurts is just one of those quintessential sad songs and it’s one of my faves.

I think I maybe know one REM song, so I'm excited for this. This album is 1 year older than me! Tracklist thoughts: 1. Drive: I'm bad with music comparisons, so I looked up who they were influenced by/influenced and I can hear Velvet Underground, definitely Radiohead, and even bits of the Decemberists. It's fairly simple in construction with the finger picking guitar and ethereal voice (almost Smiths/Doors-y?). I do think the song is a little too long for how simple it is and how much they repeat the chorus, but in the age of 1min TikTok songs, maybe it's not a bad thing (or my brain is broken). 2. Try Not to Breathe: I keep thinking the singer sounds like someone else, but I wonder if I'm just thinking of other REM songs. Very repetitive lyrics again. They're good lyrics, but they're said over and over without much change in the guitar melody. Again, maybe 4 minutes is a bit long? They probably did something crazy with their instruments or voices or whatever that makes them revolutionary in 1992, but I'm a bit bored. I actually zoned out the last minute. 3. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight: I love that he vocalizes the beginning of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for a hot second before he launches into the lyrics. The music and lyrics of these one are the most unique and fun so far. I love the chorus and the bridges as well as the harmonies in the back. 4. Everybody Hurts: ohhhhhhkay, yes. Now I remember which song everyone knows by REM lol Amazing singing here, sad af. The guitar feels a bit 50s/ Buddy Holly, but the string instruments and his shaky voice plus when the electric guitar layers in makes it such a unique and messed up song. Almost 6minutes for this song and I feel it's a bit too long again, but it does change up a lot and I can see someone just vibing to it and their feelings over and over. I'd never heard the ending "newscast" part before where apparently people just leave their cars and disappear?? I wonder if it's just for the music video. 5. New Orleans Instrumental No. 1: There isn't a No 2 on the album, so I wonder if they never made one? I love the idea of an interlude/short instrumental on an album though, especially one where they obviously love messing around with their sound and layers so much. 6. Sweetness Follows: oh man these lyrics are fucked up-- definitely a 90s grungey vibe. I really like how he sings the refrain "sweetness follows". More experimenting with electric guitar and organ music now. I wonder if these guys are classically trained? Note: the answer is no, they just have been jamming for a while 7. Monty Got a Raw Deal: love a song with characters/a story (see: Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles). **Note: I got so comfy in bed at this point that I fell asleep to the rest of the album. It was actually rather soothing.

Eh..

Мое первое прослушивание данной группы. В целом, альбом достаточно хороший, но не более. Опять же, эффекта «вау, что за мелодия ласкает мои уши» не было. Просто хороший релиз, который приятно слушать, он по-любому меньше 4 не заслуживает, но 5 я не поставлю. Твердая 4

Great album. Loads of famous tracks. I’m not even an REM fan but I knew almost all of them.

Full confession-I was a fan of REM from the beginning with Murmur. I was a sophomore in college and beginning to discover the alternative scene. I loved it, but my favorite album of theirs was and remains Reckoning. I loved each of the next few albums as well. For many of us early fans, the jump to a major label and more clearly heard lyrics did not bode well. Out Of Time was fine, but there was reason to doubt REM could give us another amazing album. The first single released from Automatic For The People was Drive, and this indeed seemed different. It was certainly not Shiny Happy People. When the album dropped it took me a few listens before I really got into it, but then I really loved it. There are the obvious hits, but also songs like Ignoreland and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite blew me away. I hadn't listened to the entire album in many years, so I was excited to do so today. And interestingly, it was just like the first few times I'd played it way back in 1992. The songs that stood out then still stood out, but the ones that took a while to really get into still did that for me. Ultimately the album ends on such a strong note that I totally got into it again and wished it was a bit longer. Definitely still one of their best albums. And their last great one IMO.

Great songs, great instrumentation, great vocals, great production, class all round.

Wasn't keen on the first track but man did it pick up after that! So many classics! Such a great use of a distinctive sound

Great album, but not their absolute best

On this one, REM mixed indie sensibilities with a bit of acoustic instrumentation. They didn’t follow a country or folk format, just borrowed some of the sounds. I really like Peter Buck. He stands out as a guitarist. Michael Stipe is what makes REM but at the same time I get tired of his voice. Really good record. Not perfect.

Good One!

-this isn't the best REM album, it might not even be top 5, but it's still a perfect record. That's how good REM were. -a true "no skips" album. -REM were excellent songwriters who didn't just lean on "great songwriting." They were also powerful performers who brought a lot of soul, groove, expression, etc. to every note they played. -this album is a bit slicker and more "commercial" than some other REM records, but it doesn't feel cheap or gaudy. -I've been listening to this album since high school (!) and my new hot take is that REM is what you should listen to when you think want to hear the Smiths. They are the more clever, groovier, less pretentious, more earnest queer Byrds fans.

memories of mom

amazing amount of good songs on this 1 album

80

Really cool, great stuff. 4 stars

3.5

Easiest five ever. This is one of the best albums of all time.

3.0 - Ok

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

Wasnt a big fan of this

An easy five. Richly textured and beautifully executed. It’s a rare giant hit record that was artistically daring and stands the test of time. Every song is wonderful and weird in their own way. REM became mega-stars in the most REM way imaginable.

Some great songs on here that really pushed the curve for the time period it was in. Always will like R.E.M.

Pretty good album. The non hits are largely like "hey, this is REM". When the hits play though, they're just so good. Love Michael Stipe and the gang. Incredibly unique while still having a quintessential 90s sound and vibe. Good combo

My first introduction to R.E.M. and its an automatic four for me! Tracks to Track: Man On The Moon, Try Not to Breathe

Hightlights: - sweetness follows - nightswimming Nicht schlecht, aber sehr dad rock Leider nicht meins

Very good, but it feels like there are a bit to many effects, like they were just starting to throw things at the wall.

Rips

Automatic For The People by R.E.M. A truly great L.P. and an easy 5 ⭐️. I was 15 or 16 when this was released and my friends and I listened to it a lot as well as other LPs by the band. I tried to ignore the fact that I know I love this LP and the band and listen with fresh ears, I still love this LP. Although it does hit differently as I approach 50, far more melancholic than I remember. I have so many memories attached to this record and it is truly a masterpiece.

There are certain bands that you can only describe as "rock" which were destined to be middle of the road from the start. REM is one of those for me (U2 another). I was surprised that a couple of tracks on this I found quite moving but I would never put it on. I find the opaque lyrics quite irritating and tracks like nightswimming feel overly-sentimental; reaching for the nostalgia levers to try to cheaply elicit an emotional response.

After spending much of the 1980s as one of the brightest acts of the American underground, R.E.M. had started to infiltrate the mainstream with 'Document' (1987) and 'Green' (1988), before landing their first worldwide success in 'Out of Time' (1991). The alternative rock explosion in the early 90s benefitted R.E.M. greatly, but 'Out of Time's' generally happy, upbeat tone was a bit out of place in the more angst-ridden, pessimistic culture of the time. R.E.M.'s response to this was 'Automatic For the People', an album considered by many to be the greatest from the Georgian quartet. With three stellar rock singles in 'Drive', 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight' and the Andy Kaufman tribute 'Man on the Moon', as well the ultimate sad song 'Everybody Hurts' and thr tender piano ballad 'Nightswimming', R.E.M. hit a creative and commercial peak on 'Automatic For the People', with Michael Stipe's deep, introspective lyrics, Peter Buck's stunning guitar and string arrangements, and the ever-solid rhythm section Mike Mills and Bill Berry coming together to craft this enriching and lyrically dense set of songs. There's even a prominent guest appearance by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, who contributes orchestral arrangements that help build upon the grandiosity of the record. It's fair to say 'Automatic For the People' is R.E.M. at the peak of their powers and were finally reaping the commercial rewards for their meticulous work as an underground band in the 1980s. The eclecticism of the 90s were a better fit for R.E.M., and they were one of the few 80s underground acts to successfully transition into 90s success. While I wouldn't call it a perfect album; there's some parts where you can tell Stipe's getting a bit pretentious and preachy; 'Automatic For the People' deserves its legacy status as a standout 90s classic. Best songs: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts, Ignoreland, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, Find the River

I wouldn’t call myself an alt-rock zealot. I don’t carry the torch for every jangly guitar and murky lyric from the early 90s. But Automatic for the People has hit the mark for me for close to thirty years now, and at this point it’s pretty clear that isn’t nostalgia talking. It’s just a genuinely great record. What floors me is how confidently it leans into quiet, reflective spaces without ever turning dull. “Try Not to Breathe,” “Sweetness Follows,” “Nightswimming,” “Everybody Hurts”—these songs go straight for something human and vulnerable without slipping into melodrama. There’s a sincerity at the core of this album that most bands would break trying to reach. Even the bigger moments, like “Man on the Moon,” feel earned rather than showy. The whole album radiates that strange little R.E.M. magic trick: they sound completely relaxed and somehow world-weary, but they never lose their footing. It’s gentle, melodic, and deeply emotional without ever begging for attention. For me, this is one of those rare records that becomes part of the internal landscape. Sunday night reflection, long drives, quiet mornings—you drop it in, and suddenly you’ve got a companion that doesn’t demand anything but gives you a lot in return. That’s the territory of a five.

this was honestly a masterpiece and i’m so glad i listened to it

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

REM best

This is the only R.E.M. record that's ever done much for me. It felt like their songwriting craft took a massive leap forwards at this stage, away from the jangly indie nonsense and middling alt-rock of their earlier works into something much more memorable and engaging. It combines moroseness and self-reflection with energy, vigour and rich, yet relatively simplistic soundscapes.

This seems to be everyone’s peak REM, but to me it is a little bit too well produced. I like my REM a little more raw. This one does have a couple of bangers and really like the way it ends. Those last 4 songs are so epic, especially Nightswimming!

Pleasantly surprised! Not a R.E.M. fan, so I didn't know what to expect. Really nice music, easy to listen to, finally an album I must listen to that doesn't suck!

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

Aldri blitt heilt venn med Stipern

Solid

Very good album with some of their most recognisable songs, good vibes listening to it. One I’ll come back to every now and again

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

Ei jotenkin nappaa vaan jää tylsäksi. vaikkakin ihan pätevää.

A favorite of mine. REM at the peak of their powers. Sad, political, driving. Many hits here but Nightswimming is such a special song.

R.E.M. never seems to come up in the conversation of best rock bands. Their run of albums through the 80s and 90s is genuinely impressive, but they never quite have that one masterpiece. I have been enjoying Automatic For The People more with every re-listen -- maybe one day I will see it as that masterpiece?

If R.E.M. had a 5 star album, it would be this one. There are two songs on here I haven't listened to before, the rest I have had. I have heard the hit ones many times. Such a great album!

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

I’m embarrassed to admit this is the first time I’ve ever listened to this full album. I’ve always had a reverence for R.E.M. as the father of something that I loved musically. But couldn’t get past shiny happy people. This is a wonderful album. I’ll listen to it a lot. Aside from the big songs There’s a couple gems that I’ll probably play on Repeat before I put this down.

First listen

It was omnipresent growing up. All thriller, no filler.

REM at their peak.

Very enjoyable album!

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

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

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

Every song on this is good or great. Definitely a five.

Gets better every listen

Es un grupo que normalmente no me apetece escuchar pero cuando suenan me gustan bastante. Este disco es probablemente mi preferido. Es un disco formidable.

Iconic album

I had a friend a long time ago who LOVED REM and would always tell me to check out their discography. I feel bad that I never did until today, especially since I really enjoyed this one.

Too much minor for my tastes.

Soft 5 but love the bangers

Nice

One of REMs best

nicht wirklich was ich mir anhören würde… ein lied ist sehr bekannt aber ich glaube nicht dass ich das album sonst einfach anmachen würde

No.

Classic album, captures an era. Brings back memories. And is lovely.

Solid 4, easy listening, clean. Soothing voice and just in general well balanced album. time spent well. The end is powerful

R.E.M. was the first band that I would say I was a fan of. This album got me into them. It has a special place in my heart. This is actually a 4.5. Liked Songs: Every Song

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

R.E.M. going soft and wistful... call me basic, but it's their most popular album for a reason, it truly stood the test of time

Again, first real dive into REM besides the hits. I like it. Will listen to more albums

R.E.M. have such a distinctive sound. I don’t know *that* many of their songs names, but you could put on anything from their discography and I could identify it as an REM song. This has seeped into my subconscious because of growing up with my dad’s music playing. It’s pretty darn good

I've been a R.E.M. fan since Murmer came out and still have a personal fondness for the early IRS albums. However, this one is right out there with the early albums as a favorite of mine. I particularly love “Monty Got a Raw Deal” and “Ignoreland”. If I could give if this 6 stars I would.

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

I liked it! Chill, some really nice moments with 80s drums blending well with acoustic instruments to make sad songs more interesting. I'll probably come back to this one

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

"Meh". That's been my thoughts on R.E.M. for years. In my opinion they have two good songs, and only one of them is on this album. Man on the Moon will make the playlist. The rest of the album is just filler.

REM is some melancholy stuff. Everybody Hurts and Man On The Moon are the well known tracks from this album and they're pretty typical of the rest of the album. Decent album, but kinda sleepy.

This is just such a lovely album, and I don't think it's even my favorite REM. Automatic 5 stars!

Distinctive sound with a number of iconic songs on here. It’s easy to understand how someone would love it, but unfortunately it just didn’t click. Feels like a case of “lead-singer-itis”, where you either love his sound or hate it — same case as Oasis! Also, driving to pickup pizza at 8pm to Everybody Hurts was a horribly depressing experience.

This was surprisingly great, I wonder why I never gave it a fair shake when I was younger. Singles are obviously strong, but so is some of the back-half material - Nightswimming and Find the River end things well.

A very special magic album for me.

Whilst not my favourite REM album, it's still good. I know this is the one which the public tends to gravitate towards, but I find it's one where you have to be in the right mood to really enjoy it.

I have loved REM songs before, this is the first record I'm checking out by them. I'm not a huge fan. There are moments of greatness but most of it is... for lack of a better term, whiny, to my ears. I respect it but it ain't me. I think I'll check out some of their earlier jangle pop work because those are the songs I've heard that really click for me.

one popular song

Excellent

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

I always have a hard time with REM. They're good at what they're doing and sound very tight and deliberate. The tragically hip being the Canadian REM always feels fair when you listen to either of them. It's not my favourite way for music to sound but I wish more bands were this good and purposeful in their own direction. Ignoreland had a vibe that kept my attention.

It's interesting that this followed the greatest hits album and this would contain most of their greatest hits. I enjoy a lot of these songs. I haven't heard most in a very long time. But I won't need to hear them again for a while. There is just something that is overall bland about the production. If there was a dial that could turn up the folk I'd do that. Get some of the 1980s stank off. All that said, this is a great album for fans of R.E.M.

Listened, I don’t like rem

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

these guys rock

Not my favorite REM but any REM is good…this is when they started making the turn to a megaband — and started losing the rough energy that made them so so so amazing….

It’s just so beautifully sad

Not as good as some others but solid. Mixed songs

Nightswimming is an all time top five favourite song. This album is a masterpiece.

Too sad, no thank you

I read the reviews of this before writing my own because I already have an opinion on this record, and someone said Sweetness Follows is the worst song on AFTP. No, there are no bad songs. And SF is maybe the best of the batch so ... Anyway, AFTP is a demonstration of why music exists. An all timer, one of the greats, no notes. Putting this record on in the dark can take you places.

Banger an album so well ordered and with songs that libge one into the other but dont sound the same. Its a poetry album that was sung with passion and feeling that we dont usually hear.

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

It's been a while since I had listened to this album. I had forgotten how good it was, from the emotional depth of Nightswimming and Everybody Hurts, to the lesser known tracks, especially Sweetness Follows and Ignoreland. Nightswimming is one of those rare songs that I can remember where I was and what i was doing the first time I heard it. Consistently good, timeless and deserving of 5 stars.

Quite impressed, I didn't know any track outside of Everybody Hurts and Man On The Moon, but I didn't expect this much variety and range from this album. Definitely will listen it again!

I know Everybody Hurts is supposed to be the big hitting song of the album, but I find Man On The Moon to be a lot more agreeable. Overall, this is just one of those other 90's album that I feel we have a ton of in this list. It's not bad, but it's not revolutionary either. I'm getting sick of 90's alternative rock, but it would be disingenuous to give it anything below a 4; the album is still enjoyable.

On hyvä. Remmin toppinkia

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Odotin aika paljon enemmän jostain syystä.

Ooh this is cool! Really vibed to this one

This list has made me realize just how much I love R.E.M. I knew I liked this one, Document, and some of their other stuff, but going back through their discography has been a great experience. This, though not quite as good as Document, is still a masterpiece. "Drive", "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", "Everybody Hurts", "Man On The Moon", "Nightswimming", and my personal favorite, "Ignoreland". I mean, what a lineup. Easy 5.

Yeah this is really a stinker. I don't enjoy it at all and I don't think it needs to be on a list of music to hear before one dies.

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

Really solid REM album.

You really going to send this to me on a rainy day. Really. 5 BABY.

Only familiar with Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon before listening. I enjoy the guitars in most of the songs, however they tend to blend together.

Something about this album is exactly what I needed to listen to right now

Na primeira escuta não me fez muito. Mas, por algum motivo, foi um álbum que me chamou de volta todos os dias por mais de uma semana – e a cada escuta foi ficando melhor e melhor.

Just fantastic

Heb gewoon niet zoveel met R.E.M.

R.E.M wer kennt die Band nicht. Der erste Song sagt schon aus wer diese band ist.

Very boring, very bad, very uninspired.

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

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

Not nearly my favorite REM, but still pretty good.

R.E.M. - reminds me of Athens GA; Athens GA reminds me of UGA; UGA reminded me of the Bulldogs. I hate the Bulldogs, therefore Athens and R.E.M can’t be too far down the list. Honestly though- typical 90s “I want to be deep and introspective” navel gazing BS. Hasn’t aged well, and it didn’t start all that great for that matter.

There are some seriously great songs on this album.

Packed with REM hits. Five might be a bit generous but I like the band and pretty much all the songs.

With small tears in my eyes (Nightswimming, Everybody Hurts), I give this album a perfect rating. Because it is perfect.

A few good songs. Very slow melancholy album in my opinion.

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

Very middle of the road radio rock. I guess one of the more iconic radio rock bands??

4 stars

Generally good; some classic tracks, but a bit of filler.

Some classics and enjoyed, would give 3.5 if possible.

7/1001 прикольный и ненапряжный рок где никто не орет во всю глотку или мычит, слушается целосно, без ощущения затянутости или какого-то резкого падения в качестве примечательно: 1-3, 4

долго скучно и однообразно

own

Listened to this album - at least twice - when working from home in Oberkochen around mz dad’s 75th birthday. It was a crisp and sunny autumn day, and I was mostly happy.

It was pleasant enough but nothing special

Generic rock album.

Good

I love REM. So many great recognisable songs on this. But there are a few that don't do anything for me. Stand out songs, sidewinder sleeps tonight, Man on the moon, night swimming

My favourite REM album

I have tried REM multiple times and it never really sticks. I must have been listening to the wrong albums. This one was excellent. Good lyrics and instrumental parts. Stipes voice wasn’t too annoying either.

Sidewinder, everybody Hurts, man on the moon, nightswimming... Viel besser geht's glaub ich nicht

Gemütlicher Rock. Trifft leider nicht so ganz meine Wellenlänge.

Sogar nightswimming ist langweilig … zum Glück hat mir das andere Album, das ich gestern gehört habe, richtig gut gefallen 🐻

Ein entspannter Vibe von Anfang bis zum Ende. 3,5/5

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

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

Perfect all the way through.

Probably my favorite REM record and an absolute 90s classic.

bleeh

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

B+

Great album

My wife has helped my grow my disdain for them....its warranted.

A great album, but this was my little sister's R.E.M. My R.E.M. was the earlier, less scrutable version that kept College Radio DJ's awake at night.

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

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

I’d forgotten what a great album this is, I haven’t listened to it in years

I just find them while bland

Some boring and some absolute clinkers

Solid

Great memories listening to this one on cassette in Laurel Drive back in the 90s (4.5)

Probably their biggest album, personally wouldn't say it's their best but it's brilliant. For ages I was just sold on the singles and avoided some of the album tracks but the highs are incredibly so. Nightswimming, Find The River, Sweetness Follows, Ignoreland, Drive. Unreal. An easy five.

Nostalgia will not let me give this anything less than a 5.

Is this how I discover I've been a closeted R.E.M. fan this whole time? Great album, not as good as Green but very close. Highlights: Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Nightswimming

Brilliant album

I love this album.

2nd REM album in 10 days. It got almost perfect ratings, probably because everyone thought the lead singer was dying of AIDS at the time and critics started connecting dots that didn't exist. Of course, Michael Stipe is still alive today and doesn't have AIDS. Overall it's a good album and IMO better than Document. I can't help but think the overall rating is inflated due to the rumors that he was dying. Obviously, it's an emotional album, and a great album, but let's not get carried away. Their singles are still simply iconic, there's no debate about that. Everybody Hurts is an incredibly emotional and relatable song and probably still resonates with new listeners. Favorite songs are New Orleans Instrumental No 1 and Sweetness Follows.

Many memorable songs on this album. Truly a great album.

8/10

R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People is a moody, introspective record that trades the band’s earlier jangly energy for slow tempos and somber reflection. Songs like “Everybody Hurts” and “Nightswimming” aim for emotional resonance but often feel overly sentimental and sluggish. While the production is polished and Michael Stipe’s vocals are distinct, the album lacks the drive and immediacy that made their earlier work engaging. Overall, Automatic for the People feels more like a sleepy meditation than a compelling listen.

I enjoyed this a lot.

I don’t think I really “get” R.E.M. An extra star for “Ignoreland”.

I listened to this with my wife on the way to our honeymoon and now we are getting a divorce. 2 stars for Stipe’s voice

later

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

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

In February 2025, I thought about throwing it all away. I got the help I needed and I stand relatively better than what I was at that time. I think a big reason for why I held on was because of Everybody Hurts. I found out something heartbreaking and the way I let out my emotions was by locking myself in a recording studio and singing that song at the top of my lungs. For some reason, those words rang true that day and something was felt. I didn’t throw it away that day. Months later, I had the idea of finally the code with R.E.M. I had tried getting into them years earlier but my younger self couldn’t quite understand what was so special about this band. But sometimes taste changes with age. Some things that sounded dull to me years earlier will make sense, and if there’s an example of this, it’s with this record. Automatic For The People, if not for All Things Must Pas, would be my favorite record that I’ve gotten into this year. It’s not a perfect record to me; Star Me Kitten is the only song I don’t return to often. However, it is a phenomenally meaningful record to me. These songs are what I needed at this time. These songs are my voice for when I fear to speak. They’re my grief and anxiety tackled into one hug that I haven’t felt in ages. In other words, I have been healed but also damaged by this record. Such intense emotions have been felt from songs such as Nightswimming, Try Not To Breathe, Sweetness Follows and the aforementioned Everybody Hurts. It’s honest, a fantastic listen, and to me, R.E.M.’s best. We’ve got a boogie, boogie move on this one (9/10, 5/5 on this scale) Additional Statement:
 If you are struggling, please call your loved ones or the crisis hotline at 988. Please further contact a professional for help. “You are not alone” This song saved my life.

Midling and no greater

Prettty good

30 plus years ago I wore this CD out. Almost a perfect record.

Classic one, have one of the most iconic songs from movies

Nie będę przepraszać za to, że kocham te płytę. Może dla innych jest kiczowata, ale dla mnie jest zbiorem hitów, a ostatni kawałek miałam kiedyś na zapętleniu przez dobre kilka tygodni. Jasne, maniera śpiewania może wkurzać, ale dla mnie jest po prostu rozpoznawalna i dziwna w dobry sposób. 8.5/10 równane w górę.

childhood music <3

Good

My favorite album, by my favorite band of all time. What a masterpiece!

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

R.E.M. at their peak! Everybody Hurts is hands down the best R.E.M. song, and both Man on the Moon and Nightswimming are incredible.

deep, dark; teenage time

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

Pretty good

Damn I didn’t think I’d love this like that. What an unexpected 5 that makes me really appreciate this whole project

Absolutely fantastic album. A bit surreal listening to Man on the Moon while watching a waxing gibbous moon disappear behind the Klamath Mountains about 2,640 miles away from where I normally listen to my daily album. Maybe it was the extra shot of espresso in my coffee but this record hit me just exactly perfect. R.E.M. are one of the great American rock bands.

Fav Song: Drive

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

This is such a great album – wish I could rate it 4.75 stars. Read the notes in iTunes about the re-released Dolby Atmos 2017 version - cool "insider" stuff.

This is a much more somber and dark affair from R.E.M. that hits pretty well. I guess in the state of the world today, the somber music kind of feels validating. It's very well made too, and the brighter moments aren't absent. Man on The Moon is on this album, after all. Probably my favorite songs are Everybody Hurts, Drive, Man on the Moon, and Nightswimming.

It's great music, but it's also incredibly melancholy music, and it requires a matching melancholy mood for maximum appreciation. This is NOT an album for my regular rotation.

A lot of memories, I like this album. Weird but well put together.

One of the best of all time

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

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

Ooit mocht ik meerijden naar Frankrijk met truckchauffeur René uit Bergambacht. Onderweg kocht hij bij een tankstation in Luxemburg een cd van REM. Hij zette hem op, luisterde een stukje van de eerste track en sprak de onsterfelijke woorden: 'Hm, ken ik niet.' En hij zapte door naar track 2, en weer bromde hij: 'Ken ik niet.' Pas bij 'Everybody hurts' bleef hij hangen en was hij tevreden. Waarmee ik maar wil zeggen je niet iedereen meteen gelukkig kunt maken... Hoe dan ook, er is natuurlijk geen enkele reden om nummers door te zappen, de muziek is van begin tot eind prachtig. Wat een wondermooi samengaan van spel en zang, de fans vragen zich volgens mij al jaren af waar het eigenlijk over gaat, maar die vraag moet je je helemaal niet stellen. Drijf mee met 'Everybody hurts', 'Man on the moon', 'Night swimming' en al die andere sfeervolle nummers. Jeugdsentiment, klassieker, plaat met eeuwigheidswaarde waarbij elke track een schot in de roos is.

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

We hebben het halve oeuvre al mogen luisteren van R.E.M., dus ik hoef hier niet extra uit te wijden waarom ik dit het meest iconische album van ze vindt. Want dat heb ik al bij eerdere albums van ze gedaan. Everybody Hurts en Man on the Moon zijn het bekendste (en vind ik dus het minst interessant, want te grijs gedraaid). Sowieso heeft REM daar natuurlijk wel een handje van, dat het op een gegeven moment wel oorwurmen worden. Dus ik snap wel dat sommige zure broeders dit geen 5 geven. Maar het album sluit af met Nightswimming en Find the River, beide vind ik wonderschone nummers en het is heerlijk als een album daarmee eindigt.

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

Rockin. Love this shit.

College classic album. Listened to many times back in the day.

It aged for me, I don't like to play it anymore. But I remember it very well and have fond memories with it.

Great album. Poetic and dark and languid. Not precisely as feel-good as some of their music but still a really solid listen through the whole album. Nightswimming is quite nice and beautiful in its imperfection. It's small and human.

Just discovered I like REM! Very cool

There are a large number of albums on this list that were released in the late 60s or early 70s. Yes this was an important period of innovation, but equally important is that these are the iconic albums from the youth of boomers. GenX has a similar thing and this album in pretty damn iconic. It is also a gorgeous work of art. There is not a bad song on this entire record. Great music from start to finish. Reading through some of the reviews here, I'm starting to think that asking people about this album may be a great way to avoid assholes. It is okay to not like the style, but anyone who is not moved in the slightest by the lyrics is not someone I want in my life.

Thought it was better, a bit boring tbh.

Easy listening and quite nice but nothing really captivating.

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

R.E.M. had a magnificent 5-album run starting with Green and ending with the highly underrated New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but Automatic For the People is the absolute peak of that wave -- a masterpiece in their oeuvre. Not much to add that's already been said a million times before, but listening to this album for the umpteenth time I hear really outstanding production front to back. I hadn't listened to this one in a while, so I was pleased to see it pop up as my daily assignment.

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

Absolutely masterpiece. Just love the final song so much

slow. chill. meh. couple catchy. sad.

There's very little to not like about this album. It's full of great songs and hits and thoroughly deserves a 5 star rating.

Great front to back.

Great album all the way through. This is definitely their best one. JPJ helping out with the strings brings a great element. This just has more substance than any of their other stuff.

Delightful blast from the past. ★★★★

One of the easiest albums to rate. This remains a masterpiece, with Find The River being one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written.

It sounds like R.E.M.

Знаю, що гурт дуже поважний і цей альбом зокрема, але це максимально не моє. Напів акустичний поп-рок з оркестровками раніше взагалі викликав стійке відторгнення. Зараз сприйняття трохи краще. Проте все одно за темпераментом та аранжуваннями максимально не моє. Дуже крутий головний хіт та дійсно чудова пісня Man on the Moon в якій вистачає динаміки для мене. Хороші тексти на альбомі, цього не можна не визнавати.

Це вже третій альбом R.E.M. в цьому списку (і я впевнений що буде ще). Як я вже писав в рецензії на мурмур, це "мій" гурт, в кожній декаді вони примудрялись видати класний матеріал, хоча й грішили філерами. Automatic for the people вважається чи не найкращим їхнім релізом, принаймні для середньостатистичного слухача, бо тут є їхній головний хіт після реліджн - everybody hurts. Але навіть якщо не брати цю пісню, то альбом кайфовий, Майкл Стайп як завжди пише цікаві метафоричні тексти, а man on the moon, присвячена Енді Кауфману, завжди була однією з моїх улюблених пісень R.E.M. До речі й кіно, де ця пісня була саундтреком, теж дуже щемке, завжди його любив.

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

Fantastic record. Need to go back and listen to Murmur again as I didn't like it at first. The overall sound of the record isn't reeeally my thing but I can't deny these are some great tunes. Reminded me a bit of the Tragically Hip, especially the vocals, and a google search suggested the Hip have been referred to as the Canadian REM. A lot of the songs have kind of an east coast thing going which is strange for a band from Athens, Georgia. A strong 4

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

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

Best REM album

Idk man, that voice just irks me

Another REM album.....What. The. Fuck. That's five in about 300. I'm legit scared I'm going to haven't to listen to the rest of their catalogue before I'm done with this horror show. Typical mid college rock offerings. A couple of catchy tracks and 80 filler as per every other REM album. Bleh.

2.5 , was fine but nothing special

Great 90s Alternative album

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

I survived another R.E.M. album. I don't understand how this is my fourth R.E.M. album! I mean, fine, when Michael Stipe wasn't singing or droning or being boring, it was kind of OK. The instrumental part of "Nightswimming" was quite beautiful. But that's all I've got for R.E.M.

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

I already know this is one of my favorite albums ever, I listened to it recently at the end of August as it has the line "Septembers coming soon" in Nightswimming which is just about a perfect song on an album of perfect songs. I could honestly have this be the last album I hear and die happy. REM is just important to me in my music life overall. My first real rock concert was seeing REM on June 3rd 1995 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. I was 2 weeks away from turning 13 which is a pivotal point in anyones life. That concert is actually immortalized on REM's 1994 "Monster" album's 25 anniversary deluxe edition. Every summer we'd drive to New York from Chicago and REM albums dubbed onto cassette tapes were a staple, in particular the "Eponymous" record. Once a CD player became standard equipment this was one of the first to be played. The album closer "Find the River" is also just perfect in a way I just can't understand. Anyways, I'll gladly listen to this one again, maybe even the giant 25th Anniversary extended edition. On the list of finalists for favorite album of this entire project!

The album with Everybody Hurts on it. The whole album is definitely very same-y sounding, but it's a good sound. Songs you'd play in a boutique to sell knicks and knacks to middle aged white women

ahh. I remember when it came out and how different it was from all the REM that preceded it, my faves try not to breathe and everybody hurts. the whole album is wonderful. feeling generous today, a big fat 5 for the boys from Athens

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

This REM album is fantastic. So many great songs. Quintessentially them.

This albums acts as a book end of sorts to Murmur. That album certainly rocks but what set it apart from many contemporaries were the moments that pull back. The layers that created atmosphere amidst the jangle. Ten years of on - it is not just overdubbed guitars and reverb that creates the atmosphere but sweeping strings. Big sweeping strings. They perfectly augment the mostly acoustic based record. A beautiful record that feels like the passage of time. Songs that immerse you but are uncluttered enough to allow you to think, ponder, lament and transcend. Sweetness Follows has long been a favorite of mine and it was great to revisit like am old friend assuring me it will be ok. In spite of its ubiquity - Man on the Moon still has the ability to transport you somewhere else. And Nightswimming - I can imagine a version of this song that could have appeared on Murmur - written by 4 young men with nothing but future - full of indomitable youthful energy and perhaps a little sexual energy. This version instead looks back. You feel the passage of time. It's a reminder that - as days past stack up - youthful memories become more resonant. It's not that you want to go back to those simpler times but you have learned to treasure their existence. Not bad for a little band from Athens, GA. 4.5

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

Can’t deal.

One of my favourite albums. Michael Stipe is unstoppable

8/10

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

Sentimental for this album? Sure. Is it worth a 5? Absolutely. A time, and a place.

Some great songs and wonderful sounding album. Misses some of their biggest songs but has some classics. On the good songs I love Michael Stipe's voice. Peter Buck on guitar and Mike Mills on bass are amazing.

Depressing whiny

Again, another foundational text. I come and go with REM and really only love this album. Epnoymous and some of the earlier songs like Radio Free Europe absolutely rock and I think this has elements of that early stuff, matched with a maturing band, creating a musical peak. But the songs are so rich even when they go into political stuff or high emotionality the storytelling, harmonies, and interesting musical turns keep it moving. Lots of harmonica and mandolin. Also, one of the best closing songs of all time.

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

It's ok

Some cringe lines but some good tunes even if some of it can feel a little middle of the road it’s overall pretty and makes for a good listen.

This has been on my to-listen list for a while. Of course I knew the most popular songs on this album beforehand, and I like how the rest of it has a very distinctly R.E.M. sound too. After a number of let down entries recently, this was a solid pull. Almost every song was a like and I'd probably even add some of them to my actual playlists. Easily at least a 4

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

There’s enough beauty here to warrant a 4 star. ‘Sweetness Follows’, ‘Ignoreland’, ‘Nightswimming’ and ‘Find the River’ just superb.

R.E.M. at the height of their fame. The only criticism is they sound like they were taking themselves a bit too seriously by this time in their career. Its chock full of bangers. I adore the first and last songs, and everything in between is top notch too.

Fucking awesome!

I only knew one song off this album going in, and had in my head that R.E.M. were generally a bit depressing, maybe with the exception of "shiny happy people" - I only really knew a few of their hits. Imagine my surprise when the dreary, depressing R.E.M. sound I was familiar with came to life with all sorts of colours and tones, and frankly beautiful lyrical imagery throughout! This album is a masterclass in writing variety while maintaining a signature sound.

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

Just brilliant

Absolutely amazing

Awesome album. A classic.

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

One of my favourites, contains my wedding song Nightswimming.

awesome alt folk rock. harmonies and guitar blend well. great album.

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

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

I never really believed all the hype behind this band but as time went I really got like and understand what all the fuss was about. I think this album More any other really opened my eyes. Not a perfect album. Couple of songs just seem like filler but the strong songs are great.

5/5 no notes

I would say it’s stronger on the second half than the first. Initially I thought it was a little bland but most of the songs toward the end picked it up for me. 7/10

Easily my favorite record of ‘92. An album I get stuck listening for weeks on end. Possibly the LP I have spent the most time with but that would be difficult to prove. “Sweetness Follows” followed by the first 3 tracks of side B don’t hold up to the many singles released but I would never skip one of them so the album gets a 5. I never knew the title comes from a fast food place in Athena, GA. Great reappropriating.