Reviews (page 7 of 15)
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
Beautiful sounding album with a mix of acoustic guitar jangles, controlled chaos feedback, gentle pianos and energetic organs, distorted cellos, slide guitar melodies against lush strings, and rich super expressive vocals. It shimmers and pops and blossoms wonderfully, warm and nostalgic, mournful sombre and full of pathos. Slowed down songs, mostly ballads, allow all this room to breathe. It's pretty incredible this was a muddy post punk band less than a decade earlier, 90s major label recording budgets were a whole other world! It's way overblown but damn it works
Really enjoyed this. A lot more robust production than what I’m used to from REM and it paid off. Would love to return.
A classic from REM. Different directionally for them. Not their best record but it is their best sounding record. Wore this CD out years ago. A great one
A wholly decent album and I value REM's contribution to rock. So no arguments from me about why it's here. I like the blend of instruments; the propensity for a minor key. But I did find that it dragged a bit more than I remembered. The songs can be a bit one-level in terms of energy, and I think Out of Time is a better album. Favourite song is Man On The Moon.
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
Irländsk cosplay med gnällig röst. Vissa låtar fungerar men generellt skär det i mina öron. Kommer även ihåg när sångaren nämnde att de var det bästa banded på jorden, skön arrogans
Maybe if I was a stoned navel gazer I would like this
Love this one
Not a huge REM fan but this album is really good. 5 stars or A-.
"Nightswimming" [+++] "Find the River" [++] "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" [+]
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
Every song was good, with some all time classics. Not sure why I’ve never really explored R.E.M. catalog, but I definitely will now!
Found this quite bland and a few songs did the musical heavy lifting. None of it was unpleasant and perfectly reasonable background music for the most part. But I do like the general “sound” and it has a clear style. So a bit of a mixed review, could have been more compelling but enough in there to have not found it a bad way to spend 48 minutes.
Landmark 90s album which is in effect a pop masterclass so much as it did the job in terms of commercial and wide appeal on a giant scale for the decade. tick. I dont give points for the band sorting themselves out or it being their best mind! I just find this is a pervasive, heavy atmosphere that never lifts. Its a singular contribution of monotonous technical / clinical acoustic instrumentation. I just dont feed into the energy it provides and not sure I want to have any emotional investment in it.
There are some big tunes here and there is no denying that this is an influential album. It's just a bit dull. It's middle of the road music that my dad would listen to in the car on his way to a holiday cottage in Devon.
Pretty sure I’ve thought REO Speedwagon and R.E.M. were the same band until this moment. Don’t really fuck with this, couldn’t even make it through the whole album.
Moody folk rock. Didn't really do it for me, I didn't really feel anything, not event the apathy that the album is trying to convey I think. Might be that I need to listen through it a couple of times, but I don't think I will be bothered.
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.
Ehh
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)
1. Genialny bas, fajny break z wejściem gitary, współgra dobrze z echami w tle 2. Zalatuje szantami ale w przyjemny sposób, można zaśpiewać przy ognisku, bardzo dobry Ignoreland zalatuje aerosmithem Reszta bardzo REMowa.
Bardzo powtarzalne, trochę nudne, muzyka równie szara co okładka
Caught me listening to the words in a way rock often fails to. 4.
Depressing record with strong songwriting. If you're a Smiths fan, you might like this record
8/10
I respect REM way more than I like their music. The hits are fine, and this album has some solid material to offer, but it's never resonated with me the way it did with a lot of Gen Xers in the era before the indie boom.
Remarkably Enduring Meanderment.
Despite being a huge IRS-era REM stan, I'll admit this record has grown on me over the decades and it is one of their best. Careful, layered, autumnal, sad (with a few swerves). My kids know to play 'Nightswimming' at my funeral.
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.
I just find these songs so beautiful. The album is cohesive too—it’s all one melancholy, wistful, and a little funny vibe.
Ok. Not my favorite REM but some decent stuff on there.
Full of absolute corkers, album prodded along fine otherwise.
Radio PSR Musik
A sense of familiarity was enjoyed through listening to songs I heard as a teenager, but ultimately a depressing album populated with samey songs and a whiney vocalist. Wants to be deeper and more meaningful than it actually is.
Helt ok
Good ol REM one banger near the end
Not bad but I can't get used to the lead singers voice Fav songs Drive, the sidewinder sleeps tonight, ignoreland and man on the moon
the majority of songs doesn’t progress or evolve throughout their duration whatsoever. only the last quarter of the album have some diversity inside the songs
I like R.E.M., but this is not one of my favorites. Don't like the opening track or Everybody Hurts. Man on the Moon is the best.
4. Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon are gems.
Sublime. I hardly need to listen to this again...but I did. After Out Of Time, REM knew what the public wanted, and knew what they enjoyed doing, so this album is broadly More-Of-The-Same. And it still works. Man on the Moon and Sidewinder still bring me feelings of Joy, and there's not a duff track on the CD.
Great album that I always wanted to buy when I was younger, but never did.
Another in the long line of albums that are fine, but somewhat boring outside the singles.
Wow, a two day streak I'm not giving an album a 1 or 2. It's a miracle!! I like REM, I really like some of their stuff. And some is meh. This album has a balance of that, I'd say 3.33, so it gets rounded down to a 3. The good, I wasn't real familiar with Drive, and I liked it.
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
It is a special kind of alchemy that REM have where a mostly slow paced rumination on loss and death can somehow become their commercial high point This is an astonishingly good album If you wanted to split hairs you could say that Ignoreland would perhaps sit better on an album like Document but it’s a minor quibble
I love this album, so many great tracks. Sensitive and hopeful music.
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!
Ill try to make more of an effort this time. For someone who hasn't listened to every R.E.M album before this or was a die hard fan during their prime, I'm probably not going to truly grasp how influential this album was. It was 1992, I was six years old, after all, busy rocking out to the Chipmunks' version of "Ice Ice Baby." Yet, even without that nostalgia, there's a lot to appreciate about this album. For a record that's melancholic almost all the way through, it's doesn't pull you down. It's musically layered and introspctive. It also happens to be packed with hit singles. Songs I eventually grew to know and love. So yah, I guess it's an alright album.
Revolutionary! Who'd a thought to sing about pop culture? Man on the moon lyrics are so unique. Everybody hurts is sad and comforting at the same time. There's definite juicy layers to this pop music.
Not terrible but I don't like how he sings
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.
It sounded kind of exactly like I expected. Some standout songs I hadn't heard before.
Enjoyable but I only really liked the few songs I already knew.
Not for me
Very good album with very beautiful songs
EEEEEVERYY HURRRRTTTSSSSS Aguante los er i em loco, bandaza
Tiene bocha de temazos, igual no te puede gustar REM
My first reaction was: YAY R.E.M! I love R.E.M (I have only listened to the one song, but I'm already hyped) This was the absolute correct reaction, and getting this album on a Friday was even better. Not to say I didn’t love it on my first listen but getting to hear it again and again just made it better in my ears. “Try not to breathe” is an absolutely beautiful song and while not a big fan of “Night swimming” in the beginning it grew on me fast. This feels strangely nostalgic and yet fresher than ever. Beautiful album all and all
Mi è piaciuto molto e penso riascolterò quasi tutte le canzoni mi piace questa linea malinconica e queste vibes acustiche che ricordano il country
Classic. Nightswimming has always been one of my favorites
Idk why, they could never make me care for this band.
spoko tej
Songs are fine, but I'm not a fan of Stipe's voice.
hab schon ganz gut
7/10
Бля, ну это классно!!! Очень хорошо, r.e.m. крассавчики, короче! Уважаемо :)
Once of the best bands of the last 50 years and I think they are underrated. This album is packed with classics. Easy 5 stars here.
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
There's a few catchy moments. I can appreciate its historic value, but I'm not looking to replay it. Maybe that's what I need for it to grow on me better. Time will tell. 2.7/5
Not bad. But a bit boring closer to the end.
Some big hits on there. Cant imagine listening to this as a teenager like Dave Rymer from the Library
This is actually the most forgettable album of all time. Nothing was bad just nothing stood out. Alright vocals, alright guitar nothing crazy on hooks just all around mid. The only stand out is the biggest song Everybody Hurts. Nothing rly to say other then mid 5.2/10 2.6/5
good
Very 90s. Like the sidewinder song the best
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.
Solid pop/rock album that is easy to listen to. Interesting arrangements and production details. Drive, man on the moon, everybody hurts and nightswimming are sweet memorable songs. And yet, this music still seems to lack some spice that gives it another layer for my taste.
There is not a bad track on here. There is a quietness to all of the tracks, it is a low-key masterpiece. I haven't listened to it fully in years (it's Aug 2025) and it is as good as I remember, it has not dated. Even though 'Everybody Hurts' has it's own life outside the album, within it, it sounds just fine.
Good album, very 90's classic. His voice sometimes starts to irritate me.
I've now had four R.E.M. albums in 250 days, in chronological order. I've consistently rated them as solid enjoyable 4-star albums but with 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤, I feel they hit their peak. It's stuffed with great tracks that cover a wide variety of sounds, moods and tempos. The dark, building creep of Drive, the straightforward upbeat rock of Man on the Moon and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, the gorgeous, lurching wall of sound on Sweetness Follows, all the way to the wonderful Find The River. It always elevates an album when they nail the order and flow of tracks and R.E.M. got this absolutely right in my mind.
very old timey but also very pleasant to listen to. enjoyed!
Eh. Good songwriting, instrumentation, and arrangements. I found it kinda boring but I can't say that its a bad album. Also something about Michael Stipes voice rubs me the wrong way. I can see why people love it, but it didn't make me a fan
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.
Started good but progressively turned into a boring album, as expected. The inflection point was the cheesy ballad.
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.
Boring
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.
Loved it
undeniably lovely and masterful music making, but not my jam
No.
I haven't listened to this in ages and was surprised by how well I remember it. I think I got this from BMG back in the day and played it quite a bit. "Everybody Hurts" feels pretty cringe 30+ years later—and I can't hear without thinking of Dwight on The Office—and "Nightswimming" is the better song anyway. "Man on the Moon" is solid, as are a bunch of other tracks.
-I have heard some REM before, first song on album (drive) is slow but a good intro song. A little repetitive for my taste but not too shabby. -Pretty repetitive for a whole album, the hits off of it (man on the moon, everybody hurts) I’ve heard before and have liked. -Fine album musically I appreciate the different instruments and routes taken for each song, but overall for me, a meh listening experience outside of a few gems. Strong finish. I probably won’t listen to front to back again anytime soon, but I still appreciate it.
Roadtrip music by a band that thinks it's too cool to make roadtrip music.
REM and I have never really “clicked”. I’ve listened to nearly their full catalogue and I would put this one mid-way through with the earlier releases ranking higher.
Excellent. Top 100.
Nightswimming ++
It was an album that felt like a folktale, telling a story however to me most of tge songs weren’t something I would listen to again, a lil slow however the beats and vocals were nice espcially on everybody hurts
Everybody hurts and night swimming are good but the rest is boring
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. I spent many hours listening to this in my 20s. Mainly alone, on vinyl, all through most times. Few 'rock' albums have such depth, it's an album that takes its time, an album to wallow in. Starts so slow and strong, ebbs and flows, has moments of genuine beauty musically and emotionally, sadness and hope, then ends with three of the finest songs in succession to close any album. 'Find The River' is achingly beautiful. It dips a little in the middle but not enough to mark it down. Wonderful.
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.
Fairly boring until the last 3 songs which are really good. A bit samey and uninspiring on the whole.
First listen standouts: Everybody Hurts, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Man on The Moon, Ignoreland, Find the River Second listen standouts: Drive, Try Not to Breathe, Sweetness Follows This album is legitimately something perfect, and I don't have to sift through a million reviews to know it. I've settled on "Try Not to Breathe" as the current favorite, but that will change as I play this record into the ground.
If you believe this album deserves a 5 star, then nothings cool. This album certainly isnt entirely perfect. Not every song is amazing. But it does not need that to shine. It shines with its soothing energy and as a whole it just sticks to its theme, stays full of character. There are some amazing titles in this that just need to be heard. It fills my heart with warmth. My favorite for sure is Find the river.
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.
no me convenció, solo me gustaron un par de temas
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...
While Automatic for the People was major in its reach and hugely influential during the genre’s heyday - especially in my own mid-90s “alt phase” - R.E.M. always felt like the adult in the room. There was this one older guy in high school who wore more billowing garments - often leaving his button up unbuttoned - and always danced in the in the rain without wearing shoes. He loved R.E.M. I, however, connected more with the energy of grunge / angst / punk acts at the time. Not that I dismissed it, but rather I’d never really ‘listened’ from start to finish, and after doing so, I did catch a few melodies looping in my head days later - a sign of its staying power. At times, the monotone melodic lean made me drift, but tracks like Sweetness Follows and the sly vocal delivery of Star Me Kitten are really beautiful. Everybody Hurts … who doesn’t get moved by that? And Man on the Moon may have been overplayed, but it’s still a classic.
R.E.M has kinda always been there, occupying the margins of my awareness by virtue of some hit alternative radio singles or iconic music videos in the late 80s and most of the 90s. Although they had origins in popular 80s college rock, by the 90s they began to sound like a distinctly American band; an Americana band even. There's a rootsy folkiness to their arrangements, themes, and instrumentation that somehow had them occupying a more alternative category despite the constant gold certifications. They have always been a little too dark and artful for straight pop music charting, although their alt-pop crossover appeal was clear based on their broader commercial success and accolades. I think I owned Out of Time on CD at one point a few years prior to this release, (because of a girl, without a doubt), but by the time this album came out I had moved on. This record seems to represent a maturation of their sound they began with Out Of Time. (I always think any time a rock band brings in orchestral strings to an arrangement, this is the point when they are getting way more serious about shit). Michael Stipe's vocals have often felt just a little too nasally falsetto—and Mike Mills' backups a little too wholesomely Beach Boys sweet—for my taste. But when R.E.M. does it right they really tap into something. I tend to connect more with their songs that are shot through with a measure of angst or melancholy. "Sweetness Follows," in all its cinematic wideness is a perfect example of this. "Drive" as well, invites us into an experience that is gonna probably be a little fraught. As sincere and sweet as "Everybody Hurts" may have come across at the time, the years have not been kind. It sounds treacly now; almost parodistically so. Right up there with Wilson-Phillips' "Hold On." What desperate shit was going on in the 90s, y'all? We were about to hit the millennium, ffs. "Man on The Moon" earns all the radio play it got. I remember hearing "Nightswimming"—maybe a live version—incessantly on the in-store play at Tower Records when I worked there and finding it irritating as hell, probably due to the constant repetition and inability to skip it. I had completely forgotten that "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight", with its catchy earworm chorus refrain, even existed until this listen. I haven't voluntarily listened to R.E.M. in decades. Overall, I can listen to them pretty easily if they're on somewhere, as long as it's not "Shiny Happy People." Probably deserving of 3.5 stars, but since there's no 1/2 star option, I'm rounding down. As soon as "Ignoreland" came on, though, it triggered some sort of memory. My super goth friend in high school had a punk chick visiting her, who was into all the most edgy dark punk AF stuff. She had an out-of-towner cool factor that kinda captivated us in the suburbs as exotic and somehow more, I dunno "real". One of her favorite bands was R.E.M., however, despite being covered in spiked leather and patches coding her as this outsider underground firebrand. I remember being puzzled at the contrast between the aesthetic she presented, and this particular favorite band of hers, (although I think some part of me recognized it too, as I had kinda the same thing going on in different ways). In those teenage days it wasn't cool to like popular stuff. Sigh. Anyway, one of my other memories of that chick is she was the first girl to ever have just ripped a full-port fart in front me with zero shame. She just laughed. She may have also been on drugs. I think this record was playing when that happened.
9/10 I actually really like R.E.M. :) sure, they might be a little overrated, but I had fun
2e album écouté 06.08.2025 Que de hits sur cet album ! Pris bcp de plaisirs à son écoute
REM!
It's nice to be reminded that not all music from the "alternative music" era of the early 90s sucked. 3/5.
I'm still trying to figure out if I'm an R.E.M. fan. They're so hot, or miss. I do enjoy the ambience of this album, and many of these tracks can be used at funerals, but nothing truly stuck out to me. It was more of a vibe than an album. Favorite Track: "Nightswimming".
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
Expected this to be lousy but it was ok
Not too much to say here. Its good but nothing too spectacular for my tastes. Man on the moon is great. Same with everybody hurts but I think everyone likes those songs. Also very fond of the instrumental after everybody hurts, new Orleans instrumental 1. Very good. Probably my favorite. Just solid new wavy pop rock with an i think Irish tinge. Whatever they are the accent its neat. All around enjoyable without being mind blowing
Ok
One of the best albums ever. Gloriously melancholic. Great, great songs, great singing, great production. An example of greatness.
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
The album that got me into R.E.M. And now I own their entire discography! Automatic For The People is packed with great songs! From the lead song Drive to Everybody Hurts to Man on the Moon! The band released a total of 6 singles with three of them hitting the Top 30 on the Billboard chart.
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
80/1001. Definitely my favourite R.E.M. album. I'm sure I haven't heard them all but enough to make this stand out from the others. I love the instrumentals, the slowly swirling low guitars which fit / complement Michael Stipe's voice perfectly, the minimalism, the droning synth and guitars. Excellent tunes all over, and even radio hits. Another one of those timeless albums for me which I can (and have done countless of times over about 30 years) put on and cjill.
Never really been sure how I feel about these guys. I've always found that, on the musical side at least, they lacked distinct personality, despite their undeniable influence. I do ike Michael Stipe's vocals and lyrics here; they're melodic, diverse, and quite impressive on songs like 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite'. While lyrically enigmatic at times, a song like 'Ignoreland' has a deep, cutting message. The only song on this album that I'd been previously familiar with was 'Everybody Hurts', and, sorry, it's all too simplistic, one-note, and overplayed for me to like here. Though again, Stipe's the undeniable highlight of the song. 'Man on the Moon', on the other hand, is an absolute banger, the best song on here in almost every way. The following 'Nightswimming' was also nice, feeling like a chill boat ride under a full moon with this quaint, and sort of hypnotic, piano driving the whole thing. So yeah, I was pretty lukewarm on this whole thing. The songs I find just way too long, and the production too clean and samey. But I'm sure there's something I missed, so I'll put a pin in this one for now.
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.
A very solid album and an essential part of the early 1990s. Unfortunately, it’s REM’s ‘Joshua Tree’ - where commercial considerations appear to (at times) be more of a concern than remaining true to themselves. But this is a niggle - filled with solid material (‘Nightswimming’ is my personal favourite), this album should be owned and listened to. And then you should go and listen to ‘Life’s Rich Pageant,’ ‘Fables of the Reconstruction,’ ‘Reckoning,’ and ‘Murmur.’
i'm gonna crash out
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.
Solid album with lots of hits, just iconic and generation-defining. Sometimes it drags a little bit but that's just Michael Stipe being Michael Stipe.
My favourite R.E.M.
Commercial R.E.M. appears to be my preferred mode of the Mekon-headed collective, evocative, Stipe finding just the right level of obscurity to complement the polished clamour.
Another one I bought (on the day of release?), 30+ years ago! Never my favorite REM album, although "cheese" like Sidewinder and Everybody Hurts has aged just fine and was loved at the time, despite being viewed as a bit "commercial/embarrassing" retrospectively in certain quarters. This is all really excellent throughout. Didn't know how good we had it. [EDIT: OK, a couple of duff tracks. 4.5]
i had to skip everybody hurts halfway through it was so repetitive i really liked new orleans instrumental pt 1
4/5
Kos og finfin papparock. Var jo et par av hitsa her også!
Boring but ok. Couple acceptable tracks
wallpaper music but like 3 decent ones
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.
I don’t think it’s their best album, but it has the hits, lots of interesting construction choices, and the sing-along factor. Maybe they could have cut one or two songs here, but that is forgivable. 4.5
I generally find REM tedious. But for whatever reason, this listen wasn't bad. Right mood for it, maybe? 3.5*
1.5 Most (“alt”) rock music from the 90s continues to exist in a nether-realm, upon which the light of my interest will never shine.
This is the best REM album by a mile, still holds up
YES! I love R.E.M. These songs are, for the most part, melancholy and bittersweet, and I've loved this album for 20+ years. It was a treat to revisit it.
Decent.
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
A pleasant enough listen. A pretty understated album. Good opener, pretty weak closer. Bit bad. 3/5
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
Leider ziemlich langweilig. Kannte REM nur von den Hits und habe mir mehr versprochen. Stattdessen bekomme ich 50 Minuten recht generische Rock musik ohne große Abwechslung. Habe mehr erwartet ist aber immernoch ganz ok 3/5
Another classic.
Another All timer. 5*
"Nightswimming" and "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" are some of the most beautiful songs of the 90s. I will die on that hill. This album had one to two duds, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the rest of the 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.
Gets everything right, individual songs, overall sounds, REM at their best
Love the music, love the lyrics. Maybe their best album. Even ‘Everybody Hurts’ works here.
5 stars for Nightswimming (and also for the other songs).
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
91/100. A beautifully crafted and emotionally rich album. Its mellow, reflective tone makes it a comforting and immersive listen. The instrumentation is thoughtful and layered, enhancing the lyrics. It’s one of R.E.M.’s finest works.
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.
181/1089 - After listening to a few of their albums, I think R.E.M. is an above average band. Nothing stood out to me very much but I'm willing to relisten at some point in the future.
I don’t even know how to rate this album. It came out a few months after starting a new life with my wife of over 30 years, and it was a near constant soundtrack to those early years. I’ve tried to write more about twenty times now. If I was forced to choose 10 albums to take to a desert island this would be among them.
This one is very special for me. It is rooted in a time and place for me and, every time I hear it, I am right back there. And the album's themes--time, memory, and loss--reflect that sense of longing for a time and place. This period in the band's history was one of unbridled creativity and every album they released was a event. So, not biased at all here! But, with these songs, the orchestral arrangements from John Paul Jones, and the mood and atmosphere of all of it, they knocked it out of the park. Songs like "Drive," "Sweetness Follows," "Find the River, " and the incomparably gorgeous "Nightswimmimg" are some of their best. And that's not even mentioning the somewhat overplayed "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon." It's one of my top 5 desert island discs.
Automatic for the people is a gloomy, brooding, cohesive masterpiece. This opens strong and closes stronger, theres not a weak track here. Love Stipe's disbelief regarding the state of the nation on Ignoreland, Man on the Moon is a pure classic, and Nightswimming might be one of the most beautiful songs ever made. The production is really incredible too, sound is phenomenal
Dark Jingle jangle melancholy at its 90s finest.
Listened to this my whole life
This album is so bland it’s offensive.
Great blend of music and lyrics with a fantastic production and some killer songs
Beautiful introspectiv and with great topics!
Alt Rock with a unique and refreshing voice
A great record
One of the biggest surprises of this list for me has been my new appreciation of R.E.M., who I think I dismissed to my dislike of (or perhaps my childhood ubiquity of) 1991's Out of Time. I've loved their 80s stuff, Murmur was a phenomenal debut, and Document was great with only a single misstep IMO, but I faced this 1990s peak-of-their-popularity massive hit album with some trepidation and...was wrong again. This is a beautifully melancholic, sombre and mature album that I don't think I would have appreciated in my younger years, but the songwriting, lyrics, production, are all on point, and surely Michael Stipe's best vocal performance. A very easy 5 for me. A final note...If you have a good home theatre set up you owe it to yourself to check out the Dolby Atmos mix. There are a lot of bad Dolby Atmos remixes out there, to the point where I have it disabled entirely in Apple Music on my iPhone, but this definitely isn't one of them. A phenomenal and truly transformative improvement over the standard stereo mix.
REM is an underrated band I think.
Well yes!
10
nightswimming alone
An alright album, not my favorite but a fine listen throughout. 5.25/10 (2.625/5)
Hold on
I am on my knees worshipping at the alter........ God Album "Drive" this song is for everyone who has ever had a dark thought about themselves. Rem were one of those bands who could churn out songs that other bands could only dream over on a regular basis. Songs like this separate the poor from the good from the great Try not to breathe- Tears on the bus You know an album is great when it sounds like a best of Marriage of the bands Rem+Rush
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.
as some anonymous dude on the internet said, "Someday I’ll find the right words to express what this one is to me".
Classic
lolz
A few great songs. Overall, very enjoyable.
ANDY DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS ONE 🗣️
Classic Rock but aged very well. Everybody hurts is just a banger of a rock ballad
A classic REM album with some classic songs.
they jangly
Hot take: Scott Litt ruined REM. He's responsible for the musical abortion that was Out of Time and as another reviewer said, "Shiny Happy People being possibly the worst song ever written," my expectations were very low for Automatic For The People. Scott Litt exceeded my expectations. This album isn't annoying as Out of Time but it's 10x more boring. I cut my teeth on Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of The Reconstruction. I was in college when Life's Rich Pageant and Document and Green came out. I saw them live for the Green show. That's when I saw the cracks, but Green wasn't so bad. Document was the last really good REM album. Normally I try to listen to hit albums with the attitude that there must be something about the album that made it so popular, but this is as middle of the road as you can get. So disappointing.
Great stuff.
This album really encapsulates how I feel about R.E.M. - some good or even great singles, mostly forgettable album tracks. They released this like 2 seconds after the huge success of their previous album Out of Time, which featured Losing My Religion. They were just that kinda band - constantly recording and releasing material, which must have been great if you were a superfan. Off the bat, Drive is considered one of their masterpieces, but I don’t like it. It’s dreary, repetitive, and it sounds like What It’s Like by Everlast. Yes I know that song came after. (The best thing about Drive is Adam Scott’s very detailed story about it on R U Listening to R.E.M. RE: ME. He appeared as an extra in the music video before he was famous, but could never find himself in it until he talked about it on the podcast and a listener found him.) The second track, Try Not to Breathe, is a rare R.E.M. album track I really like. It has a nice melody that belies its dark/sad lyrical theme. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite is not for me, but then they pull out a classic, Everybody Hurts. I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite R.E.M. song, but it’s undeniably a good song. Also, the lyrics are simple in a good way, which is a welcome change from Michael Stipe’s often oblique wordsmithing. It’s gospel-tinged in a way that could have gone cheesy, but they landed on universal and life-affirming. Then this album goes into a lull of quite a few songs until we get to another classic. A quick note about one of the songs in the lull, Monty Got a Raw Deal - I don’t like the song, but I do appreciate that it’s a tribute to Montgomery Clift. I had a whole Monty phase and have watched a lot of his movies. But The Clash wrote a better song about him - The Right Profile. Anyway, just when I’m about to fall asleep they drop another classic, Man on the Moon. I keep thinking I like this song more than I do, because the chorus is really good. But the verses are kind of throwaway. Nightswimming is ok and Find the River is a good closer but by this point I’m exhausted by this slow, sombre album. If I were to choose a word to describe R.E.M., it would be “dense.” They have endless material and their songs are heavy with meaning but also kinda drag you down (especially on this album). But just when you’re about to get sucked under they pull you back up with a sparkling pop single. There’s a lot, I don’t like it all, but usually they have something to keep me interested.
This was definitely an improvement on Document, but I still feel underwhelmed by this band. R.E.M. are supposed to be this iconic alternative rock band... but outside of the hits, it just sounds like hipster soft rock. It's almost like this band is for people who are too afraid to listen to punk or anything remotely abrasive, but also don't want to be seen as a mainstream and basic. That's not them, they're alternative and intellectual... and that's where R.E.M. swoops in to save the day and give them exactly what they need to feel cultured and respectable, alternative lefty pop rock and with a hug. I guess... good for them? But it's just not for me. Side note: It's strange. There really is no edge here that i can find. Not much musically interesting for me to hold onto. Perhaps it's in the lyrics (i'm guessing leftist politics)? But that would take more listens and reading that i'm just not willing to do for this band. Positives: The production does a lot to soften Michael Stipe's voice, which was a big sticking point for me on Document. I hated his voice on that album. I actually like his voice on this record. It works. I love Man on the Moon. Might be my all time favourite R.E.M. song. It's catchy, specific... a very interesting pop song. And it inspired that solid Andy Kaufman Jim Carrey movie. The one where Jim lost his mind going method. Kinda seemed like he was just being a dick though, but still a good movie. Everybody Hurts is okay. A little cheesy, but in the right mood it hits. I enjoyed New Orleans Instrumental No.1... probably the most interesting song musically on the whole album. I wish there was more stuff like this. I really enjoyed Nightswimming. Outside of Man on the moon, it's probably my favourite song on this album. I kind of wish it was the closer. Find the River is a solid track (actually kind of felt like a Neil Young track), but I'd swap the 2 in the track list to end on Nightswimming. When i put this album on in the background while working, it was very pleasant. A good vibe. Negatives: When I played it in headphones and it was my soul focused, I found myself bored outside of the songs listed above. I found a majority of the songs pretty bland. There aren't any bad songs, just a lot of middle of the road alternative pop rock. So i guess this album is better the less you pay attention to it? Eeeek. Ultimately, I want to give this a 2.5, but i'll round up to 3 because it deserves more than documents and Man on the moon is a banger.
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
While not the best R.E.M. album imo, it is still an incredible release and certainly a high point within their career.
I expected to like it more
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
Rem me caso
Thank you for calling my attention to this album!
Kinda slow, back to middle school. Enjoyable memories
i wish i liked it more sorry
It's 1993. I'm in AP English. And Heather Duncan is talking about how amazing Michael Stipe is. Again. He's not. There are a few catchy songs, but mostly it's a mopey coffee house response to The Cure or Morrissey.
Grew on me as I listened. A little anemic in general, but “night swimming” and “find the river” were nice surprises
Was going to give three stars but listening to this album was a bit of a non-event for me. Plus some of the songs on it just give me the ick. Whilst the production isn’t terrible and some of the guitar tones are pleasant, there is nothing that grabs me about the songwriting really.
Ehhh I don’t like this album. None of the songs are offensively bad but they’re boring and forgettable. Any instrumental highlight is often ruined by the singing (which I know is a hot take to dislike). I find its alright at the best of times and grading at the worst. The instrumentals are bland and don’t hit hard, idk they’re just kinda lifeless. I'm sure this album would of hit hard in the day but it's completely lost it's edge as time has gone on, everything lacks a real punch. It just doesn’t resonate with me. This album is a bore for the most part with a few interesting moments sprinkled throughout. Fav tracks - Man on the moon - Ignoreland Worst tracks - Drive - Night Swimming
Decent
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.
Loved it. So many memorable songs and the vibe is just very coherent.
Nothing personally stands out to me too much, but overall a solid listen
It was a fun time, but it could have been more memorable. Probably gonna grow on me later though
More like automatic for the threeple
Even worse than the last one
Fantastic, have always loved this album. Haven’t listened to it all the way through in a while and very much enjoyed revisiting it in full. I did not know that the overall themes of loss and mourning that are present throughout this album were inspired by some of the band members approaching/turning 30. I turn 30 in about three weeks! I am also about to start my residency in otolaryngology next week and recently found out I will be a father soon. Both of which are incredibly exciting for me. Regarding my age, I can’t say I feel the same sense of loss and mourning that permeates this album, but I do feel the inner turmoil that can come from feeling both the trepidation and the nearly irrepressible excitement that seems to accompany one when reaching some of the traditional “major turning points” in life. Thus this album certainly strikes a chord in me. I remember waiting for the vinyl re-release of this album for its 25th anniversary. Right after a college organic chemistry lecture I went to one of my favorite records stores in Bloomington to buy it. That was nearly eight years ago (now listening again in late June 2025). That moment feels simultaneously like yesterday and a lifetime ago. Time is strange like that.
Very good, really enjoyed
#625. REM sucked yesterday. REM will suck tomorrow. And for 48 minutes this morning, REM sucked today. 2/5: shit
A lot of meh.
Lyttede til det sammen med Frede. Første gang hvor R.E.M viste de også kunne lave noget mere ochestral og cinematic samt akustisk. Fra top til bund bare et mega godt album.
In a conversation separate to any awareness that I was listening to this album, my coworkers today mentioned how much they loved this album. My problem is, a lot of people have felt or do feel about Coldplay (derogatory) the way I do about R.E.M. Every R.E.M. album has nearly been a nonstarter for me, especially given the peaks of popularity they reached. But the opening song “Drive” gave me some sense of hope that there’d be some acute substance to this record. The song had a memorable melody and unique sound for once. I was shot back down to doldrums and disappointment soon after. What in the world is going on with “Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight”? People just tolerated him singing like that on the intro, with nothing of significance to follow for the rest of the song? Man. I don’t think I’d remember “Everybody Hurts” if it wasn’t beaten over my head by radio stations as a kid - the song doesn’t have any stickiness to it. If I had to pick a song I liked, maybe the aforementioned intro song, or maybe “Nightswimming”. I enjoyed the string arrangement, which upon looking, isn’t even the work of the band - it’s arranged by John Paul Jones. Unsurprising. Iterative improvements but I cannot get over the hump with this band and how popular they became off the back of records like this. 2/5
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.
This is REM's most mature album. The music and lyrics are emotional, complex, and beautifully performed.
encore un nouveau album pour moi
Never ever gets old. Love this. A masterpiece. Clever (even weird - cryptic) lyrics, good mix of jolly and downbeat. Drive - a good opener. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite - top notch. Everybody Hurts - melancholic and beautiful. ... It goes on... Nightswimming. SUCH a talented band. Great use of strings in some songs.
4.1 Best of R.E.M is driving to Bala to take the boat out.
If you belieeeeeve
Ok 2-3
Outside of the hits, not very good.
A classic but a little cheesier than I remembered
Not bad. Can see why it’s on the list. Best songs: drive, man on the moon.
fantastic albums. Strong all the way through
Kind of low key melodies
Oh, brother. First we had Nirvana and now we have R.E.M. I can finally close the sordid chapter of my early music listening years. When I first started out listening to music it took an inordinate amount of time for me to come across bands I liked. Because of this I, rather hastily, pinned myself as a fan of Nirvana and R.E.M. to use as a point of discussion. The problem being that the total number of songs I listened to between both artists was a solid ~3. There were so many bad conversations I had throughout that period to the point where I never wanted to revisit either band when I finally found music I enjoyed. With Nirvana's main discography under my belt, I guess it's time to give R.E.M. a listen. The sound of this album is quite pleasing when it's good. The acoustic guitars are nice and make for a dreamy atmosphere when paired with the reverberating backing instruments of the album. This is the strongest aspect of the album. It's precisely because of this strength that the first stretch doesn't hook me. Tracks like Try Not to Breathe and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite are much too lively for me, though after Everybody Hurts the album mellows out in a nice way. Speaking of which, Everybody Hurts is good. I hate being jumpscared by songs I recognise and this was one of those situations - the intro of the song doesn't sound anything like it's iconic chorus. Everybody Hurts' lyrics are surprisingly quite minimal and sparse for such a mature instrumental, though I admit it's part of the charm. Instrumentally, the song has a lot of good musical flourishes, especially the deep, free-flowing strings that hang over the piece. The organ isn't half-bad, either. I say this as someone who feels an extreme antipathy towards the instrument. After this, the album branches out into the stuff that I enjoy more. Sweetness Follows is a very melancholic piece, though it easily has the best lyrics on the album and is paired with a very nice instrumental. Again, the organ is a nice inclusion and in this case is thematically appropriate. So is the spacy atmosphere and warm acoustic guitar. Monty Got a Raw Deal is good - some very solid songwriting. I also enjoy the accordion or whatever instrument is in the background. It works well with the more conventional instruments of the album. Man on the Moon is another good cut and one I'm certain I've heard before. The backing vocals are effective and I enjoy how the subdued verses contrast with the more lively chorus. It's placement in the album is also good, working well as a late-album track. Overall the album is a mix between tracks I care and don't care for, though the good stuff wins me over enough to where this album is deserving of three stars. May as well enrich my musical know-how by reading the book. A change in style and tone for the band. That's the long and short of it, really, Granted, I can't fault this inclusion. It's massively acclaimed and massively successful. A solid inductee into the list.
Very nice. I loved it. He doesn’t have the strongest or the most showy vocal techniques but it works perfectly for his own music. He sounds like Neil Young’s spiritual cousin. So nice. Everybody hurts just reminds me of the video I saw recently. People who like sad music are not chasing griefs. They are drawn to the subtle relief that comes from hearing sadness articulated more beautifully than they have even been able to say themselves.
A bit more melancholic than the last REM album. Pleasant and chill throughout, though I did miss the upbeat energy I usually associate with them. For a band I really don’t know much by, they have a very unique sound. Which is weird because they feel very middle of the road in terms of their era and genres, but something about them is just distinct. Maybe if it was raining out when j listened this would be a 4.
the thing about R.E.M. is that their good songs are really good, and then everything else is just... kinda on the album. Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts, and Monty Got A Raw Deal really boost this album. but otherwise... its fine
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.
Sounds exactly what you would expect an R.E.M. album to sound like, except just a little more depressed. Was a decent listen with a couple well-known songs but those are probably the only ones I would seek out again.
R.E.M. is so hard for me to like. My dad liked R.E.M. growing up. Not listening to them, but playing and singing their songs. Every big event we hosted he would eventually pull out the guitar and everyone would gather around to hear him play Jimmy Buffet, John Denver, and R.E.M.. I grew up listening to a lot of the songs on this album, but my dad's version of them. I loved them and they always remind me of him. That being said, I really don't like the original R.E.M. version of them. They just sound wrong because I'm so used to my dad's version. I've tried to break through this barrier, but I just can't get over it. I don't think I'll ever enjoy listening to R.E.M.
My cousin had Everybody Hurts as the first dance at his wedding. They divorced a few years later.
It’s good
Honestly, one of the most powerful and lyrically introspective albums ever. A left turn when the world was grunging that is better than their previous huge hit album. Probably the last great 1st to last song album they recorded.
2.5
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 know R.E.M. only from the overplayed music videos of the late 80s and early 90s, as well as the constant radio play back in the day. I have never listened to a full album by them, are they worthy of an album I need to hear before I die, we'll see. Drive is not the best opener to the album, Try Not to Breathe is pretty forgettable, by track three I am finally interested with The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Everybody Hurts is painful to listen to, as it was so overplayed and, I am ok never hearing it again, maybe I'm not a fan of Michael Stipe, because I enjoyed the Instrumental, Sweetness Follows I am losing interest, and already checking how many tracks are left, Monty Got A Raw Deal is better, but at this point I would feel I was getting a raw deal if I bought this album, Ignoreland is not bad, Star Me Kitten ... um how many tracks are left, Man on the Moon, my thumb is currently hanging over the skip button, so overplayed, very dated, yeah yeah, Nightswimming I think I would rather be experiening my own Rapid Eye Movement, one more track to go, I think the last two tracks were just filler with Find the River. I was definitely listening to other things in 1992, again I remember the hits, I would like to forget the hits. I could see them making the list of 1,001 songs, but albums, I don't think they have enough rocket sauce for that. It was OK, but mostly boring. I have heard their early records are really good, so who knows, I may explore that, but will never listen to this album again.
A classic.
Fun, summery, a bit too much of the same, but cohesive in that same way
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.
Just ok. This album didn't resonate with me. A couple of good songs "Drive" being one of them but overall just ok.
buddy was writing songs for his discord kitten in 1992
man on the moonbeam ice cream
Peak R.E.M., bringing lots of Nostalgia. The last 3 songs are such an amazing end to a fantastic album.
Ok
REM always a vibe, going into it only knowing man on the moon I figured I would enjoy it and the album delivered 6.8/10
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.
R.E.M. has never held my attention on the whole - They had several songs that I find endearing, but the majority of their work just does not entertain.
This is the 139th album I’m rating. I have no idea what this shit is but apparently it's really popular. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Drive, Try not to Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Sweetness Follows, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Ignoreland, Star me Kitten, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, and Find the River. Everybody Hurts - I didn't know they made this song. One of the worst most overplayed songs. Absolute trash. All in all I liked 0/12 songs. This shit is not interesting at all. Extremely boring. Why do people listen to this?
Love R.E.M! Great album with some all time classics on it. Really nice instrumentation and lots of different textures.
Platonic ideal of a 90s soft rock album
This was a pretty good album, not one that I. Normally think of when I think of R.E.M. but it was good
I liked it. Recognize a couple of the more popular songs.
Fantastic album start to finish.
Отличная группа, отличный альбом
Solid album. Not my usual sort of listen but very good. I liked ‘Man on the Moon.’
okay, not bad
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.
What a letdown. Before I listened to this album I only knew maybe three songs by R.E.M. (and all three are incredible). I am actually disappointed by Michael Stipe. He has no range whatsoever, and it sounds like he sings the same 5 note melody in every song and it leads into surrounding music being kinda boring. Anytime he goes for a higher note or something different his voice is strained and sounds bad. There are great moments on this album, but all in all I didn't enjoy it. I really hoped it would be awesome. 2/5
I really liked Sweetness Follows. The album is good, very chill 90s alt rock. I don't really know what genre R.E.M. is, to be honest. But they're iconic of the era. I can see why, but I can't exactly say why. They have this approachability, catchiness without crossing into pop. Melancholy, but not sad sound.
I remember seeing the jewel case for this album always just laying around my house as I grew up, but never hearing it play. Man on the Moon and Everybody Hurts and Nightswimming are undoubtedly the my favorite parts of the album, and really the songwriting is a strong suit through the whole album. However, outside the hits, the rest of a album was a bit of a chore to get through, but damn do they play the keys well.
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
I liked this way more than I thought I would. Was great
Great album, well produced.
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.
Pretty decent, I really liked the songs I recognized but the others were mediocre.
One their best albums and contains my favorite song of their's, Nightswimming!
I loved REM’s 1986 album that’s on this list and this one is even better. More poppy but almost every song on this is really great. Consider me a REM now.
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.