Reviews (page 6 of 14)
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.
honestly a good start, listened to it twice
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.
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
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.
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.
“Monty got a raw deal”
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”.
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.
Everybody hurts is here! Better than I expected
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.
very good
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
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
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.
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?????
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.
some nostalgia via the man on the moon movie
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’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
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.
I’m moving in a few weeks and this was a great album to pack to. Very melodic, soothing.
Great album. Everybody Hurts still hits!!
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!!
Refreshing and new for the time. Holds up wekk
Their singer might not be as technically gifted as others, but boy does he know how to deliver a song.
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.
Didn’t Mind the record I liked Ignoreland I can see how this resonates with lots of people in that era
Great easy listening with good post-punk guitars TOP 3: Man On The Moon, Nightswimming, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
Yes.
Favorite Track: Man On The Moon
Beautiful songs. Beautiful 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.
Uno de los mejores discos denla banda. Grandes clásicos como “Everybody hurts” y “Man on the moon”
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.
Banger after banger
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
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.
Classic.
Good memories. Not my favorite album of theirs but still one of the good ones. 3.8
evrybdy Hz
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.
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.
Classic REM
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.
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
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
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
better than I remember 4/5
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
80
Really cool, great stuff. 4 stars
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
Very good, but it feels like there are a bit to many effects, like they were just starting to throw things at the wall.
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
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!
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
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?
It was omnipresent growing up. All thriller, no filler.
REM at their peak.
Very enjoyable album!
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.
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.
Nice
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
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 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
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 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.
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.
Excellent
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.
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….
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Ein entspannter Vibe von Anfang bis zum Ende. 3,5/5
B+
Great album
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.
Solid
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
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.
8/10
I enjoyed this a lot.
Prettty good
Classic one, have one of the most iconic songs from movies
Good
deep, dark; teenage time
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.
A lot of memories, I like this album. Weird but well put together.
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
Easy listening and quite nice but nothing really captivating.
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. ★★★★
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.
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
Great 90s Alternative album
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
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
8/10
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.
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
There’s enough beauty here to warrant a 4 star. ‘Sweetness Follows’, ‘Ignoreland’, ‘Nightswimming’ and ‘Find the River’ just superb.
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.
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
I’ve loved this album since it came out, but haven’t listened in ages. A few duds, Sidewinder and Star Me Kitten, meh. NO Instrumental and Monty are filler-ish. But every other track is not just good, they are great great songs. 8 great songs on a record, if it were vinyl that would be the whole record. The CD era hurt a lot of classic albums by making artists think they had to fill every minute of available space
Really enjoyed this. A lot more robust production than what I’m used to from REM and it paid off. Would love to return.
I actually liked this album so much more than I thought. I wish I had the original response here cause I was high and honestly floating listening to this but man this actually might make it into the rotation every once in a while. They know how to tell a story through an album and boy it was just beautiful to listen to. Those last three songs fucking hit
Love this one
Pretty solid. 8/10 overall. Favorites being Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts obviously but also enjoyed Try not to Breathe and Night Swimming
Un album d’une mélancolie sombre et terre à terre, sans atténuation, palpable dans les mélodies et arrangements sans que la voix ait besoin de l’appuyer
This was a good album. I hadn’t heard the song “Drive” in a long time and I was reminded of how much I like it. I found this album entertaining most of the way through. A couple boring songs, but maybe only because this was the first time I’d heard them. “Everybody Hurts” is a winner. So is the Sidewinder song and “Man on the Moon.” I can still listen to it even though I’ve heard it 100 times. “Find the River” was one I hadn’t heard before and really enjoyed. I was happy to get this album and I enjoyed listening to it.
This is a good album. There are 4 songs that I really like, and there are 2 versions of one of my all-time favorite songs, Everybody Hurts (studio version and live version)
Depressing record with strong songwriting. If you're a Smiths fan, you might like this record
Classic. Such an important item during my adolescent years. Sadly, I probably overanalyzed every lyric, which is dangerous road, especially with REM. I would give it a 4.5 if could, but rounding down to hold onto my 5 stars.
4. Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon are gems.
Great album that I always wanted to buy when I was younger, but never did.
Overall: 8/10 This is a pretty chill album. It opens with Drive, which has to be one of the more calming R.E.M. songs. There's definitely peppier moments sprinkled throughout but this is more acoustic based than anything they had released prior. The slower stuff works really well for them. Fav Song: Man on the Moon
I enjoyed this album. I recognized a few songs from radio. It was an easy listen to have on in the background. 4/5 stars
Awesome!
Really enjoyed this! Very smooth rock. As some of the other reviewers have mentioned, there’s so many layers to the sound. Lots of different instruments featured on the record too!
Have heard quite a bit of this album before but never listened to it front to back. REM is fine but not my ultimate thing in general.
Amazing album from back in the day. Still sounds great. 30 years later. I listened to this all the time when I was a kid. Great now great then!
It's a really good album. I don't find it as transcendent as many, but it did line up with me being somewhat directionless post-college. Drive was just a little too haunting for me, I guess.
Very good album with very beautiful songs
EEEEEVERYY HURRRRTTTSSSSS Aguante los er i em loco, bandaza
Mi è piaciuto molto e penso riascolterò quasi tutte le canzoni mi piace questa linea malinconica e queste vibes acustiche che ricordano il country
hab schon ganz gut
7/10
Бля, ну это классно!!! Очень хорошо, r.e.m. крассавчики, короче! Уважаемо :)
Esperei que fosse só médio, mas acabei surpreendida. Tem músicas iconicas e lindas! Não achei, ainda sim, nenhum rasgo de génio. Adoro muito o Everybody Hurts desde que me lembro de a ouvir pela primeira vez
The punk band with a soft rock sound. Wolf in sheep’s clothing, in a good way. Good commentary on the events of that time. Man on the moon is my favorite.
Good album, very 90's classic. His voice sometimes starts to irritate me.
very old timey but also very pleasant to listen to. enjoyed!
Ah, shit. This is a challenge...jangle pop. I've always wanted to like R.E.M. and I like some of their songs, the popular ones that you and I've heard for years on the radio....even What's The Frequency, Kenneth? I don't care that I like that song, but I do. I've just never really liked listening to their whole albums, the few times I've tried. It's been awhile since I've given one of them a shot but here we go. It starts off with Drive which is absolutely awesome. I love this song. Try Not To Breathe just doesn't really hit for me, it's got this almost celtic/mountain vibe feel that I just don't like. Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite makes my ears bleed. I like Stipe's voice enough but I feel like he's trying to do too much. I don't want to say he's off key but when he tries to reach for these really high notes, it sounds awful...when he's singing TeeeeEEEEEeeeeLLLL her she can kiss my ass...ugh, just bad. And is it me or does he try to do this fake Irish accent thing when he sings the chorus "call me when youtrytowakeherup." But kudos to the band for leaving the part in where Stipe starts chuckling to himself...endearing that they don't take themselves too seriously. Everybody Hurts...know it, love it. Love the video. Just a great song. Really liked New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, though I'm not sure how it really fits in with the rest of the album so far. Very cool, very chill. Sweetness Follows, dig it. Probably the best deep cut I've heard off this album so far. Monty Got A Raw Deal, really liking this one, too. Ignoreland is starting off strong...am I liking an REM album? Holy shit, this song slaps! Star Me Kitten, not bad! Man on the Moon is fantastic. Nightswimming, pretty good! Find the River, even better! I'm giving this a 4...I enjoyed it more than I thought I would but also not rushing out to listen to it again or buy it on vinyl. But I could also put this on during a road trip and skip Try Not To Breathe and Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite.
8/14/25. Very good album. Will need more listens, but every song carries on this and you know right away it’s R.E.M. Man on the Moon is a long time favorite.
This R.E.M. album brings me back to a very specific time in life. Michael Stipe’s voice is like a phone call from my younger self that I’m dying to answer just so I can be back in that space one more time when things were simpler and life felt endlessly possible. As I swim through nostalgia re-listening to this album, I find it still holds up.
One of those bands that are totally carried by the raw emotion and power in the lead vocals. The instrumentals are fine, albeit not groundbreaking, but that voice is instantly recognisable and synonymous with “R.E.M.”. I’ve heard many of these songs before, but not ever had a focused listen of the album. Strong start with Drive, and Everybody Hurts is forever a classic. Sad, but comforting. The middle of this album felt like it dragged on a little, but maybe the big extractor fan in Mum and Dad’s kitchen didn’t do it any favours. Luckily fan was off to allow me to listen to the end in its full glory. Man On The Moon through Find The River is a great closer. Can see why this was one of their defining moments, although it is not without faults.
I’ve listened to R.E.M. before but never this album. This was one of their better ones. Favorites included Drive, Ignoreland, and Man on the Moon.
I LOVE MAN ON THE MOON. Super nostalgic. It was great to hear the album it came from, Everybody Hurts was a great new discovery from it. All round solid 90s alt rock.
Timeless and iconic album that perfectly catpures REM's emotional depth and songwriting at its best. Incredible to see how "Ignoreland" still holds up to this day. How do the 90s feel like 10 years ago and 50 years ago at the same time...
2e album écouté 06.08.2025 Que de hits sur cet album ! Pris bcp de plaisirs à son écoute
REM!
Standouts Drive Try Not to Breath Everybody Hurts New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 Monty Got a Raw Deal Man on the Moon Find the River
I had the joy of hearing this for the first time in Spatial Audio. Wow, what a great album and I loved the mix. I knew several of the songs already, but had never heard the album. I'll definitely be listening again.
Quite a moving album
Alright, this is a big one. Been a long time since I've listened to it all the way through. Lets go! Track 1 is a classic. Slow burn to start off the record. This would be a lot of bands best songs on an album and its about fourth best for me on this album. Outstanding. Track 2 is a pretty song. I like it following up track 1. Track 3 has a bit more tempo to it. I like it. Track 4 is a stone cold classic. Probably REMs second most famous song after Losing My Religion, but maybe not. It's been it countless movies and television shows. Simply iconic. Track 5 is an instrumental, such a bold choice to follow up the biggest song on the album. Perhaps everybody needed a second after the weight of Everybody Hurts. Track 6 is a somber song about loss. I like it and it fit nice after the instrumental Track 7,8 and 9 are just okay. Kind of a lull in the album. Track 10 is another classic REM song. An ode to Andy Kauffman in a way, as we question what is real and what isn't. Very relevant today. Track 11 is my favorite from the album. The feeling of pining and yearning is incredible. Track 12 is a pretty closer to a fantastic album. Four A+ songs plus a bunch of very good ones puts this one near the top of any 90s album ever made and an album that should definitely be experienced. 4.3/5
Cute but anthemic rock album which improves on Out Of Time. 8/10
I liked this a lot more than Green, the songs were a lot more interesting and had more variety between them, this also felt more serious and depressing to be honest than the carefree poppy sound of green which is a good thing. There was also more prevalence of acoustic guitar led sea shanty type music which was interesting but I really like it, this is most notable in try not to breathe and find the river. This album also has the well known songs man on the moon which I quite like and everybody hurts, which I actually don’t like so much which might be crazy but I think it’s way too long and actually quite boring but that’s just me. Also, the instrumental was great. Favourites: drive, try not to breathe, the sidewinder sleeps tonite, New Orleans instrumental 1, Monty got a raw deal, ignoreland, man on the moon and find the river. (Would have been quicker to name the ones I didn’t consider favourites. Overall, 7.5/10.
Det er lidt svært at forholde sig til REM. Som en gammel kendt slidt dyne. Rar men alligevel fin at skifte ud. Genkendelsens glæde giver 4 stjerner. musikgenren mindre.
i had to skip everybody hurts halfway through it was so repetitive i really liked new orleans instrumental pt 1
4/5
I owned this back in the day, although I haven’t really given it much thought in a long time. The arrangements are beautiful and the melancholy stops just short of whining, for the most part.
There are some absolute classic songs on this album. Overall, a great listen although I'm not totally in love with all the tracks.
As I said in my previous R.E.M review, shout out to Mr Arden in years 7 and 8. I was super into R.E.M when I was 11 and hearing the vocals is fiercely nostalgic. "Drive" was OK. It's a little slow and boring. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is one of my favorite REM songs. I love the vocals on this track. Michael Stipe has such a unique voice and he crushes it on this one. The chorus hits real good. "Everybody Hurts" is another banger. Two great songs back to back. I was very self indulgently sad for a long time, and this song absolutely featured in that. I'd listen to this an "Bad Day" by Daniel Power, which is really funny in retrospect. "Man on the Moon" rocks. This was a recurring play on the old iPod shuffle as well. The subject matter is interesting. I didn't know who Andy Kaufman was, but apparently many people believe he faked his death. "Nightswimming" again was a constant play. This album has some really great songs on it. It's got some chaff in there too, but it has some great highs. I only ever listened to select singles by R.E.M but I see that they were mostly on this record. I guess that makes this my favorite R.E.M record? There's a lot of nostalgia here, and that's playing into it for sure. 8/10
Very good album with one obvious mega hit. 4/5
Lovely. Never listened to an REM album fully before and I'm glad I did. American Smiths.
Really liked this one
Strong album, but not my favorite.
I may have listened to this before and, besides the hits, I remember it leaving little to impact on me. Upon this re listen, I feel like I’ve listened to a much more finished and complete album by a more mature band. Of course, nothing has changed about the album. Just me. Makes me appreciate the importance of re listening. Didn’t work for me a while ago and I still don’t see this being anywhere near my favorites, but I have an appreciation for it now, that I always lacked for R.E.M. These songs are well written with unique vocals, and instrumentation that feels original. The production does more than just get the job done, though it isn’t mind blowing. I like this a lot. 4/5
Great album
7/10 This album sort of encapsulates everything I feel about R.E.M. When they get it right, it is so, so good. But it only takes them to miss the mark a tiny bit and the songs can become a bit boring and samey. For this album in particular, I feel like the first third and final third are both really good, and in places excellent, but the middle third is just a little dull. I really enjoy the rhythmic cadences that Michael Stipe often uses in his vocals. They’re very uniquely him and really give an identity to the sound. His tone is great and the combination of power in his delivery and the edge of frailty is perfect for the band. When they peak, the instrumental arrangements are excellent, with each player dancing around each other to pull the focus around but always reenforcing the bed behind the vocal. There are some really excellent moments of backing vocal too. Some of the string arrangements (written by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin) are absolutely beautiful. When this album peaks, it’s genuinely goosebump inducing stuff. Tracks like Man On The Moon, Nightswimming and Everybody Hurts are real works of art. But it’s just not consistently interesting enough to rank higher for me. Drive - The build and release in this song is really nice. It gives you little bursts of song that develop and change each time they come around, but keep referring back to a more delicate and stripped back section. Each of the sections stand up well, but just the way they slide into and out of them is really great. Try Not To Breathe - This is another lovely song. The interplay between the different vocal lines and their separation by using different production techniques on them is really nice. The tempo and drive of the track is fairly consistent, but they manage to keep injecting fresh energy with little drum fills and such. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite - This is a great tune. The variation between the verses and chorus are good. The strings in the chorus are really nice. The little meandering organ part in the verses is great. It’s perhaps a little bit too repetitive, but it’s a moment of levity in what is otherwise a tonally sombre album. Everybody Hurts - This is obviously a classic. It’s a bit on the nose, but to be honest it says something that sometimes people need to hear in a straightforward way. The orchestration is beautiful and Michael Stipe’s delivery is just goosebump inducing. New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 - It’s a bit of an odd, plodding interstitial. Not much to comment on really. Sweetness Follows - This one’s perhaps a little dull. It’s got this pulsing tone that beats away underneath it that imbues it with a sense of ever present dread, and some of the distorted washes of guitar are nice, but it’s not a particularly interesting song otherwise. Monty Got A Raw Deal - This is quite folky. Again, it’s nice enough, but not the most interesting of tunes. Ignoreland - Out of the gate, this is immediately more interesting. Some of the guitar tones are great. The instruments all have their little moments to shine and it’s got a really full sound. It’s got a bit of a bluesy edge, but it isn’t the most varied of tracks. Star Me Kitten - This one has got a nice ambience to it. Again, it’s just not that interesting, unfortunately. Man On The Moon - Right, we’re back on track. There’s a lot going on among all the parts here and they all bring something to the table. Nice harmonies too. It’s just a really well written song. The verses are subtle, but sonically rich, while it build to a chorus that’s just sing-along excellence that get better with added interest as the song goes on. The vocal interplay on the final versions of the chorus are just wonderful. Nightswimming - Another great track. It’s subtle, but it ebbs and flows nicely and the quality of the composition is good enough to carry it without it getting dull. It just feels exposed and vulnerable in a very pretty way. Find The River - This is another pretty song. There’s such a bittersweet tone to it and the piano part is really nice in particular. Another one where there is enough quality in the melodic and harmonic elements to give it a really satisfying feel overall, and it’s a great way to end the album.
I got R.E.M.'s Green early on, and I believe my review was "Don't really have anything to say, it's just good". Kinda feeling the same about this one too. R.E.M. kinda defies reviews for me, along with a lot of 90's alt rock. It's just good. You know it when you hear it. If I have to say anything, its I'm starting to notice how much alt-country seeps into their music. They can get a little cowpokey at times, such as on Man on the Moon.
Definitely a highlight from 90s era R.E.M. A very moody and dark album overall. No Shiny Happy People to be found here. 4/5 #128
Cool! I was worried Automatic For The People would be a tonally bleak version of R.E.M.'s earlier records, but it definitely holds its own. And sure, most of the songs here are focused more on slow emotional build-up than instant-gratification pop rock (with The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite and Man On The Moon being exceptions). But everything here feels intentional, intellectual, carefully considered. Even if it isn't always the right decision in the end. Monty Got A Raw Deal and Star Me Kitten are two slightly peculiar tracks that lack any memorable moments, hooks, riffs, and so on. In fact, only a couple of songs here really shine in that regard: Everybody Hurts with its lyrics and chorus, Man On The Moon for its thick vocal harmonies, and Drive that catches you completely off-guard if you were expecting a punchy/upbeat album opener. Apparently Led Zeppelin's ex-bassist John Paul Jones was heavily involved in the string arrangements on this album. And no wonder – the strings sound great! Stipe's voice is definitely iconic and immediately recognisable, though I agree with the reviewer who wrote: "I really like it, though sometimes I find he becomes a bit of an American Morrissey, just warbling and rambling out of time on certain tracks." As for the album as a whole, I don't know exactly what's missing, but something is. The "wow" factor, the element that turns it from a classic record into an artistic experience. As it stands now, it's every bit as good as Document, which I also gave 4 stars. 4/5 Key tracks: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts
Strong. Well produced but another album, I feel, where the 1st half is way better than the 2nd. An album that made some impact on it's release. We'll worth a listen.
Very nice album. Love the acoustic electric which is all over this record.
Dark Jingle jangle melancholy at its 90s finest.
A great record
Dear LORD this album ends strong. The last three tracks are all fantastic. It’s not often that music emotionally affects me, but this succeeds in making me feel sad. I just don’t like it as much as Murmur or, especially, Document. I like how in Man On The Moon he says “baby” the same way Elvis does right after an entire verse that is just listing board games. Favorites were The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Ignoreland, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming, and Find The River.
A few great songs. Overall, very enjoyable.
ANDY DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS ONE 🗣️
A classic REM album with some classic songs.
Great stuff.
Over three albums I have learnt that REM have enough good songs for ONE 5-star album, which is their greatest hits. Arguably a perfect album. But their regular albums... disappointing. This one gets 4 because it has the most tracks from the Best Of that I recognise.
Enjoyed this the most out of all the REM albums
Très agréable album il manque au monde du rock
Deserves a quiet night.
very sweet
There are some of the best alternative/indie hits from the 90's on this record. However, there are a couple songs that aren't up to scratch. 8/10
A few total classics, and pleasant overall (liked the acoustic song). Not enough to put in my regular rotation but something worth having in an extended library.
Nothing personally stands out to me too much, but overall a solid listen
Very good, really enjoyed
Somehow this album was exactly what I had expected from REM, but not what I expected at the same time. It was fantastic from front to back. I'm not sure if I expected it to deviate from their sound, but it didn't and it was not disappointing.
4.1 Best of R.E.M is driving to Bala to take the boat out.
A classic but a little cheesier than I remembered
Absolutely fantastic albums. Strong all the way through
I quite like REM’s style and sound, so most songs on the album were 3 stars for me. I had no idea that “Everybody Hurts” was by REM, and it really stuck out as a departure from their usual sound, highlighting that the singer is more versatile than I thought. That, together with “Man on the Moon” as one of the catchiest fucking songs on the planet, bump the album up to 4 stars for me.
My cousin had Everybody Hurts as the first dance at his wedding. They divorced a few years later.
It’s good
Heard this one many many times in my record store days. Always liked it. Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but up there. Faves: "Ignoreland", "Try Not To Breathe", "Everybody Hurts" Least fave: "Star Me Kitten". Never been a huge fan of "Man On the Moon" either.
I’m not the biggest REM guy, but this album is very good. Everybody Hurts rules (both in genuine and sarcastic use cases throughout life), and the final three songs close so strong.
man on the moonbeam ice cream
America's Tragically Hip?
I’ve never been able to get into REM for some reason. They’ve always seemed like a band I should like, but they’ve just never clicked for me. I do like their hits and Man on the Moon is a great song. Overall, this album is enjoyable and I’ll probably give it another listen in the future the next time I try to get into REM again.
Great album. Not really my favorite genre or anything, but it’s still a great album.
Love R.E.M! Great album with some all time classics on it. Really nice instrumentation and lots of different textures.
I liked it. Recognize a couple of the more popular songs.
Отличная группа, отличный альбом
I had not listened to this in over 10 years, and yet I still remember it's ubiquity at the time. I enjoyed this trip down memory lane a lot.
Pretty good album! “Everybody Hurts” is the standout but the whole first half of the album is solid. But man… Everybody Hurts is so damn good. I’ve never really given it a real listen and was pleasantly surprised at the places it goes musically
R.E.M.'s most stripped-back and plaintive album. Make no mistake, there's still some fun tracks here, but the lyrical content seems more introspective. "Nightswimming" is an incredibly arresting ballad, "Man on the Moon" sounds like it could've come from the Green sessions. Lots to like here!
Has some great songs that I already owned. Everybody Hurts is one of my all time favorite songs. Pleasant listen. Might add Nightswimming to my collection of music.
Great lyrics and music
The folk influences shine through pretty clearly on this album and it took a second listen to really click. Drive, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming and Try Not to Breathe are all great tracks. Overall it's a bit too melancholy for me to want to listen to all the time, but it's the best of the R.E.M. albums I've heard so far.
Compré el Green en vinilo en su momento y luego compré el Out of time antes de que fuera un bombazo. Este Automatic for the people no está tan bien, y aunque tiene buenas canciones es tan tranquilo que no emociona al mismo nivel. Me quedo con un puñado de canciones imprescindibles: "Drive", "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", "Everybody Hurts", "Man on the Moon" y "Nightswimming".
A wonderful album - emotional, poppy, silly/serious.
Most of this album is semi-predictable Michael Stipe, innocuous shit. While most of the album got plenty of airplay, the best song got none. The most underutilized and under-appreciated track on this album is Ignoreland. Some things never change. Listen to this song. turn it up... LOUD "These bastards stole their power from the victims of the Us v Them years, wrecking all things virtuous and true. The undermining social democratic downhill slide into abysmal. Lost lamb off the precipice into the trickle down runoff pool... ...marched into the capital brooding duplicitous wicked and able, media-ready heartless, and labeled Super US citizen, super achiever. Mega ultra power dosing, relax (Defense, defense, defense, defense ... )" Does this sound familiar... ? There's more. "I know that this is vitriol, no solution, spleen-venting But I feel better having screamed, don't you...?" Listen to this song. turn it up... LOUD and think about what's changed in 30 years. Now consider what needs to change...
This album has Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon and Drive, which are great songs. The remaining songs are good too, and the entire album has a cohesive sound that is undeniably R.E.M. which I appreciate. I would listen again.
Emotional
Enjoyable album, lots of radio hits on this one, but Find the River is a favorite
I started in the high 3s because I’d heard these tracks to death, but had to upgrade into the 4s. Really strong album. Creative and musically juicy. 4.2
night swimming is one of the best songs ever made so jot that down
I never particularly liked REM, like never disliked them but never liked them because most of their hits are A) not that amazing and b) have been played to hell and back at least six times. But I was pleasantly surprised here. Almost every song here that wasn’t a hit was better than 90% of their hits. The hits here were also quite good in a big fan of “Man On The Moon” and “Everybody Hurts” but the non singles here were also very good.
Nice.
This was great.
This is not an album you just put on while washing dishes. It asks something of the listener.It’s an album that wraps you in its melancholy rather than alienating you with it. It's not just a bunch of songs, it feels like a short film or a novel. The two hits were familiar to me (Everybody Hurts & Man on the Moon) while Star me kitten and night swimming really hit the mark. On my list.
Buenos temas
You definitely have to be in a specific kind of mood for this album I feel, as a lot of it is very chilled. I really like the vocals, his tone is very satisfying. I do think that depending on the day I could either rate this album higher or lower, as I said have to be in the mood for it but I do think it has the potential to grow on me. So on first listen this is my rating but I definitely will revisit some of the songs if not all and it could change!. I listened to the majority of this while studying and it wasn’t distracting which is good, but it meant I didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics, just the overall vibe, so as I said my opinion could likely change drastically after a while with this one. 66/100
Another album I bought first time around due to the reviews that I did not love as much as I thought I should. Listening again 20 years later and after the first song - Drive - I thought yes this is a 5 and I am finally old enough to appreciate REM. But then REM atrophy kicks in and it starts to loose its sparkle and Stipes vocals start to grate and the songs start sounding all a bit samey and just does not emotionally connect with me (with one big exception). At the time Everybody Hurts was played to death - but hearing it fresh again its a cracking song. The one song that does really connect (and I have listened to on heavy rotation since day 1) is Nightswimming which I absolutely fucking love.
Better album than I remember, I thought it just had the two hits, Everybody hurts and Msn in the Moon, I didn’t realize Drive was on this album and it’s one of my favorites, the rest of it is a vibe
Fav: Find The River Least Fav: New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 At worst, R.E.M are consistently good, and it feels nice to have an artist that I can rely on to not make something terrible
This was great. Better than the last rem album on here. I feel their singles are a lot stronger than their album tracks, but this felt like it had a lot of singles on it. Everybody hurts should really be a trial to listen to but Michael Stipes voice is exceptional and it sounds brilliant. Also there are some great backing vocals on these tracks too, man in the moon being a favourite.
love rem but this one honestly aint their best
Still hits and resonates.
I was obsessed with "nightswimming"
4.1 2x classic and the first full REM album i listened to borrowing Andy Robinson's CD on a trip with them
Stipe's voice is so melancholic that it can't help but let you drift away on his forlorn vocals. The music complements that voice well. A soothing album to listen to, even if the lyrics can be a bit... difficult to parse.
A nice listen for a melancholic day. The voice really meshes well with the instruments and the lyrics are cryptic. But even if you don't understand all of it, it evokes nostalgic emotions and introspection. Drive, man on the moon and night swimming are the highlights but don't skip the rest.
Like a universe unto itself. Never gets in its own way of being such a well crafted and unified sounding album. Love how the strings mingle with their sound. I feel that typically when a band gets deeper into its discography either reinvent their sound or stick to there guns and become a bit stale. Here they don't abodnon their core sound while still making this album new and unique.
Not my favorite REM album, but still a really good one. It is a lot slower/calmer than some of their other ones. High 4.
Really enjoyed this trip down memory lane. It's probably just the nostalgia, but this had me bopping and singing along at my desk. The two classics, Everybody Hurts and Man On The Moon, as well as The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, are the highlights.
Had this album when I was younger. Great music. Don't need to listen again
R.E.M. never fails to bring sweet melodies and mellow vocals that come together just to make wonderful music. You really just can’t not like these guys. This album featured two of their most memorable songs “Everybody Hurts” (which ironically is not my favorite) and “Man on the Moon.” Their other songs were great to listen to as well and there were definitely some stand outs for me that were strong on guitar.
Really liked this. The singles are huge but I enjoyed the rest of the album so much I listened twice. Very indicative of rock music at the time at the birth of grunge. Still great song writing and sounds modern to today’s standards but a vintage feel to recording and production
Considered their best album and earns the title - three or four of their biggest hits interspersed with some gems. The instrumental was a bit odds and didn’t add much
Always thought REM were a bit dour for dours sake but very enjoyable
Wonderful
- First album to come up from a band I already know I enjoy. - Never owned this one, but it does have a lot of songs that I like. - Strong start with Drive! - I would definitely listen to this album from front to back again in the future.
I had never put together that R.E.M. was one of the main bridges between post-punk and Alt Rock, but relistening to this album makes it apparent. The bands precision and stylistic choices make the music feel enveloping in a good way. It's a very understanding and welcoming piece of work while still being a joy to listen to
Good songs. Some much better than the rest.