Reviews (page 8 of 14)
It is a soundtrack to my high school years. 4 stars because I like early REM slightly better, but a great album nevertheless.
This is one of the first albums I got into without the influence of my older brother. There a lot of sad songs on this album, and some of the songs bring back some not so pleasant memories. But it's an album I love and I'm glad I got into when I did.
Drive Everybody Hurts Man On The Moon
classic with so many popular hits by R.E.M. very solid album.
Nice album -- often relaxing, but also dark. This album does a great job hitting heavy themes without overly-heavy music. I think the only song I was familiar with was "Everybody Hurts," but there were lots of great tunes... I will say, though, that nothing stood out as unforgettable.
Buen album para comenzar, unas lindas armonias casi siempre con guitarra. Justo estaba con la mía asi que aproveché de sacarme algunos temas de oido. Diría que nightswimming es el tema que mas me gustó pero la mayoria de canciones son buenas tambien
4.5
This was more acoustic forward than I anticipated.
Standout tracks: Drive, Ignoreland, Man on the Moon. Pretty good, would listen to again.
Such a fun album with many great songs! A couple throwaways keep it from being a 5/5. Find the river is my fave!
So. I enjoyed seeing this cover pop up: pleasant music that I know and like well enough, enjoy my time with it, give it a 4 or 5, move on. Maybe take the opportunity to dig deeper into R.E.M.'s work. And then I started to wonder why I never quite *loved* them. And then I started to see. It's Your Friendly Neighbourhood Music. Music that rescued Little Becky's kitten. Helped clean up Mrs. Rosario's yard after the terrible storm last month. Which is all very nice and of course it is, but... I have picked up a word from other people's reviews over time and it is a good descriptor: "beige". Like that oboe(?) in Nightswimming, for instance? That's fucking beige. All of what the instruments are doing here is just, here's that word: boring. Also: safe, courteous, bland, mid. An inoffensive backdrop for Stipes' singing. But then I also understand how I'm not doing it justice by just looking at the sensations I get from this music's soundwaves pounding my eardrums and suddenly I find myself missing the days of buying CDs and flicking through booklets, reading the lyrics and then "Automatic For The People" does a full circle and makes me feel nostalgic and it becomes... a 4 after all? Yeah. Rightly so. A good 4. Done.
Great album, I’ve never really listened to REM outside of singles but this is a beautiful album
EASY 4. Lots of absolutely beautiful songs. Brings a bit of a tear to my eye because this was the third album I picked when I was doing my independent Album of the Day Club with my college friends a little over 5 years ago. I surprisingly have pretty much the same opinion of the album today as I did back then (which was pretty great), although I've certainly warmed up to the last song a lot. In my review back then, I said that Nightswimming could be a Disney or Christmas song, but in a good way. I think I still stand by that. Near-perfect song. The slow songs are the strongest on here, but Man On The Moon, Ignoreland, and Sidewinder are great uptempo ones that diversify the album well. Overall, super consistent album that has remained wonderful over the years. Quite nice to listen to it all the way through again.
This is IMO R.E.M.’s best and most consistent record. I remember the first time I listened to it start to finish and how it finally made me realize why people like REM. The final 3 song stretch of this album is 5 star worthy
The popular ones on this album are great. The deep cuts are great. Don’t remember enjoying this album this much last time I listened to it. Ran it back once i finished it
One of the better R.E.M. albums. I like how dark and brooding this one is, and the cover really matches that vibe. Interesting mix of acoustic and electric sounds.
Pretty good harmonies, could be higher energy
really enjoyable album to listen to in the background while working.
Heel beluisterbaar, beetje wat je ook in de wachtkamer bij de tandarts te horen krijgt. Everybody huuuuuuuurts!!
very nice sound
Very unique voice here. Enjoyable and it has some hits on it
Michael Stipe’s vocal ballads are the albums focal center.
Had this on CD. One of their best.
Wanted to be a hater at the start but it reeled me back in.
ja prima
So I always thought REM were depressing and dull... But this is actually decent for the most part and a fun listen
Awesome!
Had never listened to an R.E.M album all of the way through. This fucks. Love the blend of glam rock and acoustic ballads. Favorite songs Try Not to Breathe, Ignoreland, and Man on the Moon
Great album. It was perfect for putting on while getting stuff done around the house.
so good my man, Monster (1983) is better, but this is a
I was a casual fan of R.E.M. when they were at peak popularity in the early 90s. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing "Losing My Religion," "Shining Happy People," "Man on the Moon," or "Everybody Hurts." This is a solid album from beginning to end. There's a melancholy vibe that travels throughout most of the songs. Perfect for playing on an overcast and/or rainy day.
This was a great listen. It wasn't my bag growing up and that's disappointing. I missed out for sure.
It's the most direst REM album, and it has some amazing tracks, absolute all timers. Night swimming, Man on the Moon, Everybody Hurts. It's so close to a five star album, it just doesn't quite hit that height for me.
Prob their best album. Lovely sondwriting and production. Dont like Sidewinder.
klassiska isk vet nettä detta är vitriol a no situation i n have shouted the winner 1979 caoo that ruuy GREGORY!!!!! översättaren glömde att man måste prata på svenska och inte på engelska HEH....... anti-drog nonsens. två veckor och sedan kommer tentorna rygg mot rygg mot rygg mot rygg. jag m¨ste. https://1001albumsgenerator.com/ben, käykää trollaamassa idioottia. drive
Low key, good listen
Fabulous
I prefer Document. But this is a great album.
A good solid 4 for a solid 4* band. Always wanted to like REM more than what I do, and I think this album is the closest Ive come to understanding how loved they are. There’s always just a little something stopping me going all in with REM though and Im not sure what it is. Part of me thinks if they werent as polished Id probably like them more. I dunno. Either way, this is a very very good record with few lulls. Theyre clearly excellent. Ignoreland and Drive were my standouts. Probably heard enough to be back, got a feeling this might be a grower for me
Would still say I prefer Reveal, despite this being on the whole, excellent. I've heard many of the songs on the album before, love Man on the Moon, but re-listening to Nightswimming is a bit of a revelation. Maybe I'm in a melancholy mood, but, truly great stuff. One of the easiest 4 stars I've given.
I've not listened to much R.E.M. so this album kind of blew me away. It has beautiful lyrics and equally lovely music to accompany it. I'm definitely going to listen to it again and I think it could grow on me. Highlights: Drive The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Everybody Hurts Man On The Moon
It's better than I remember. I never loved it as a kid, but I enjoyed it for what it was. In my older age now, I appreciate the complexity, risks, and ideas even more. I wouldn't be surprised if I listen to this again in 10 years and give it five stars instead of four.
Favourite Song: Man On The Moon Not an album I was very familiar with, but I ended up absolutely loving it.
I appreciate why people like it but as an introduction to Deep Purple it’s a lot. Honestly just too long. I can’t sit through a 20 minute jam. Michael Stipe’s voice is *chef’s kiss*
Ok
bueno 4/5
Loved it!
Brilliant follow up to Out of Time. This was REM at their 90s peak. Drive is always haunting and sounds amazing in the new Dolby Atmos mix, but I’ll always have a spot for Nightswimming. Such a lovely nostalgic song.
Pretty good songs
You know what? I liked this.
Always liked their radio hits. Turns out everything else is just as good.
My Second REM album in the short time I've been doping this. Trying to tell me something? This is a very good album. Everybody Hurts is obv. popular, but also one of my favorites
This CD, among others, spent as much time in the changer as it did in its case.
I liked this way more than I thought I would
oh wow this was excellent, i really enjoyed it. will def listen again
Nostalgic some bangers
When we were teenagers, my brother was obsessed with REM. He’d hole himself in his room and sing along to their albums for hours. Mind, my brother has the worst singing voice, so you’d just hear a kind of guttural humming, all off-tune. Now I can’t listen to REM without also hearing my brother’s attempt to sing along. At the time it annoyed me, but now I think it’s charming. I had this album too and also listened to it over and over, without the attempt at singing. But it’s been years since I’ve listened to it, so while the songs are all familiar, I’m also getting a fresh take. Star Me Kitten and Find the River strike me more now than they would have when I was a kid, and more than Everybody Hurts or Man on the Moon do now.
This is a mood. Nightswimming is just perfection wrapped up in 4 minutes. Its meaning has changed to me over the years. Also, I had no idea Man on the Moon wasn’t made for the movie.
Une performance remarquée de la part de R.E.M. qui avait laissé nos oreilles jusque-là indifférentes.
J'ai jamais pris la peine de chercher si le chanteur de R.E.M. avait la voix de Phil Collins parce qu'il chantait pareil ou parce que le chanteur de R.E.M. est en fait Phil Collins, je lance donc ici une bouteille à la mer est-ce que queulqu'un peut me répondre ?
Lots of classics, I really enjoyed it.
Drags a little in the middle but great start and finish.
This is a very good album. The songs are strong. For me, it's a duology, together with Out of Time. This is the older brother of the two, and the slightly more serious sibling. I'm not a huge fan of Stipe's very abstact lyrics. They don't make enough sense to be effective. Nonetheless, it's a strong album and well worth a listen.
Good album from this band. Will buy it. It’s the only one I haven’t got from their early 90s.
Vibes. It's not my favorite REM stuff (I prefer the earlier Murmur era) but there's a bunch of great songs here that establish a nice vibe
Nice sound. Almost "folksy".
I still love this album but I think I overplayed it because it didn’t feel fresh when I relistened.
Sitting inside working instead of going skiing. I finally understand REM.
Having never been much of a fan of these guys, I was pleasantly surprised by this. Great sounds. First time I ever made it all the way through one of their albums.
A great album filled with known songs, absolute classics some of them and the rest were some hidden gems too.
This album was very popular when I was in college. It's not my favorite REM album, but Nightswimming and Everybody Hurts are classics.
Many good songs. Wish I could sing all the words in “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” but he goes so fast.
Best r.e.m. album by far
REM this album down my throat, dawg.
Epic, genre-defining album by R.E.M. that's packed with some of the band's greatest songs. Somehow not even in my personal top 3 of their albums though. That's how good they are
I enjoyed it, have expected REM to be a downer based on the songs I've heard before. Well structured and some good songs on here I hadn't heard before.
I liked a couple of tracks - drive, sweetness follows, monty got a raw deal, etc. It’s actually like 3.5 - but I do want to listen again so will give 4
Love R.E.M. and have listened to some of their albums (Out of time, Document, Life's Rich Pageant) and this one stacks up to the best of them, though wasn't life changing and didn't blow me away
Some classics on this album, Everybody Hurts, Man in the Moon
Mellow and melancholic. Probably R.E.M.'s best.
It's good but not really my speed. It feels too melodic for the grunge guy in me but too sludge-y for the pop guy in me. Last three tracks close out so so strong though. Good listen
Colleen Chad Wakerman? The first four tracks are quite ho hum in my books. I like the turn it takes with the instrumental track and Sweetness Follows. Quite good, but also quite simple. I liked the album more after reading through the full Sidewinder lyrics - respect for getting such legs out of a topic as banal as a payphone. Good work generating lyrical discourse. Fave Tracks: Sweetness Follows, Man on the Moon 3.6/5
Document will forever reign supreme for me, but Automatic is always in contention for my second favorite R.E.M. album. A high 4 stars, as it has been for me for quite some time. 4/5
Good stuff.
I've read that this era for R.E.M. (early 90s) found them putting touring to the side and focused on their studio work, kind of like what the Beatles got up to in their later years. This focus is really apparent in the sharpness of the lyrics, the themes reflective of the trauma that America had experienced under the Reagan administration for the past decade. While the production can feel a little slick at times, the band is in top form and the pacing of the tracklisting is perfect. Fav tracks: Man on the Moon, Find the River, Nightswimming, Star Me Kitten, the Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight
Good
Very acoustic not so jangly drive tight
Not favorite REM album
Strong record, great for rainy days like yesterday was for me
Beautiful album.
Michael Stipe: Morrissey but american, and also talented and not a piece of shit.
John Paul Jones did the orchestra arrangements on this record. That's pretty neat 3.5 stars
man on the moon <3
It's vibey so far I kinda like it. I know I'll never listen to it again but it's still nice.
In 1991, R.E.M. released “Out of Time”, which feels to me like the culmination of their journey up to that point. The band who began as a homespun indie rock unit reached maximum jangle and polish in singles like “Near Wild Heaven” and “Losing My Religion”, finally reaching number 1 in the US and UK and winning three Grammys. For better or worse, Michael Stipe and friends had become “Shiny Happy People”. The story was over… right? Nope… the following year, they came out swinging all over again with this miraculous album. From the start, “Automatic for the People” is caught between the dark and the light in a much more complex way than its predecessor: opening track “Drive” begins with a solo acoustic guitar strumming a D minor chord, Stipe’s ghostly echoed vocal addressing a lost and lonely generation. It builds subtly, majestically into a miniature symphonic rock track: even if it doesn’t quite break me down, the intent is clearly there. Following it, “Try Not To Breathe” is a singalong folk ballad about a quietly contented dying man, and then things reach an apex in the empath’s bible “Everybody Hurts”… undisputed classic, no notes for that one. They’re all great tracks - dark yet beautiful - and in the middle of them comes the only light relief: the cheery sledgehammer of “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite.” It might be criticised by some (including the band) as too glib and out of place, but for me it’s absolutely indispensable: “Automatic” would not be the same without it. The giddy, near-indecipherable chorus (supposedly “call me when you try to wake her up”), reference to “The Lion Sleeps Tonite”, the sweeping strings, and even Stipe corpsing halfway through… a perfect package. My quibble with this otherwise stellar album comes in the middle, from “Monty Got a Raw Deal” to “Star Me Kitten”. We’re lumbered with three tracks I don’t particularly care for: droning and samey, a little tired, holding the album back from being absolutely flawless. But it’s the closing three tracks which really send out “Automatic” on a high note and secure it as perhaps the band’s finest hour. “Man on the Moon” is an obvious but brilliant grab for chart success, becoming one of the band’s defining hits while managing to be about Charlie Kaufman. “Nightswimming” is a gorgeous track, holding a very special place in my heart. Driven by a beautiful piano line backed with string arrangements from Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, it’s unlike anything else on the album (or most R.E.M. tracks I’ve heard, for that matter) but it’s easily my favourite song by them. And “Find the River” just about manages to follow it with a soothing, lilting melodica refrain and the final hope-tinged phrase of “all of this is coming your way”. So, while it isn’t pound-for-pound genius, “Automatic for the People” is a wonderful album, and will always be the one I associate most closely and fondly with R.E.M.
Strong album. Of the songs I already knew, the irresistibly peppy The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight may be me favourite. Conversely, the darker tones of Drive and Monty Got A Raw Deal stood out among the tracks I didn’t know. The instrumental was very nice, too. 4 / 4.5
👍
Lovely melodies and nice vibe. Nice instrumentals, and excellent subdued passion across the album.
Still very fine
A couple bleh songs. Mostly good. Johnny Cash Everybody Hurts is better.
I like REM. They are solid. Especially for this list.
Not a huge REM fan, but there are some good, and classic, tracks on here.
Man alive. Scarcely believable number of radio hits for a single album. Impressive, even if it is a bit more MoR then some of their other efforts
Powerful, hypnotic, soul searching.
Another really great REM album here. Much, much more introspective look than their previous ones, but their talent shines through all the same. Favorite track: Man on the Moon
Great stuff. Another nostalgia trip.
- The sidewinder sleeps tonite = Banger -Ignore Land = Banger
3.5 stars. Pretty decent alt rock. More listenable than intriguing or compelling. Standouts are "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and "Man On The Moon".
Enjoyable soft 90s alt/art rock
50 minutes of Michael Stipes dancing around the room unable to keep still to seemingly “jaunty” tunes of hopelessness, despair and nostalgia
Classic album. I remember buying this for a girl I liked in high school 😂. It came in those huge, like two foot long plastic anti theft things. Probably some of Michael Stipe's best/mainstream vocals on this one.
I remember the video premiere of Everybody Hurts. My teenage hormones loving the permission to be sad. I have an unsavory story about Michael Stipe from my time in Athens. You kind of have to love REM if you went to Georgia. This is an amazing album either way.
I always felt like Michael Stipe is a really serious person who doesn’t let loose often. But he really says some shit in his songs.
Alt rock, super melodic and chill… think of a concert where people wave their phones with flashlights on slowly, that’s this album
We've had R.E.M´s 'Document' album here before which was beneath mediocre, but this definitely stepped up the game a notch or two! After hearing two albums I'm semi-convinced that the base sound of R.E.M. is not really for me - it's more an exception that they managed to create a few really really good songs. This one falls apart a bit at the seams between those strong songs, preventing it from reaching a 5 for me. Favourite songs from the album are 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite', 'Everybody Hurts', 'Man On The Moon', the latter two of which are absolute smash hits that everyone has probably heard at least once. Miscellaneous strong points unrelated to this album specifically are that I really like Michael Stipe's singing, very good voice and energy. Also badass band name!
After listening to "Document" a few weeks back I was prepared to write R.E.M off as overrated or just not for me. This album however proved that notion wrong as this album was way better. Just the right amount of ambient and moody ("Sweetness Follows") along with quite a few well known hits ("Everybody Hurts", "Man on the Moon", "Nightswimming"). There was a surprising depth in this album. Just a super melancholic album in a good way, will definitely listen to this more times. A strong 4.
Drive- I liked the orchestral instruments and the vibe Try Not to breath- I liked! Sweetness Follows- that Bari is awesome
3.5/5
It boggles my mind that this album didn’t reach number one in America. This album was everywhere! And justifiable so since it is very good! Garth Brooks had the number one album that week, by the way. I like REM, they are good, but I don’t consider myself a fan, if that makes sense.
I’ve always liked REM, but they’ve never been one of my favorites. I’ll throw on an album of theirs every once in a blue moon. This is always an enjoyable listen.
Had a pretty tough day regarding a tragedy in my family, so I feel like this album came at just the right time.
cool
The last three songs are beautiful. Album has a nice nostalgia to it, feels very much like it fits in the era it comes from.
Enjoyed the use of strings to thicken up the sound and add an interesting flourish. Instrumentation kept me interested throughout. A pretty amazing range of rock styles, band sounds dialled at this point. I’m sorry that I hadn’t dug into REM sooner
So good
sad and somber this album is a wave of nostalgia for em. i love how the vocals are soft in comparison to the rest of the instruments. the album screams someone trying to get themselves out of a rut and it's not working too well.
Good hits and the rest doesn't fall behind too much. Pretty solid
Consistent and very well balanced, mature work. The „wildness“ earlier recordings is traded for some more instrumental variety, depth und sound and more than a pinch of pathos. Very straightforward and an album to look forward to listen to. 3.5
You can draw a straight line from this album to The Decemberists and I think that's neat. I stole this CD from my Dad when I was 11 and have loved it ever since.
Really very good! Enjoyed every minute and was sad when it ended
Nice acoustic melodies reminiscent of the 90s. Loved it.
Je hoeft er niet veel aandacht aan te besteden, best wel makkelijk te luisteren. Positief verrast.
Automatic For The People is one of the best produced albums you’ll ever hear, there is so much space in the record. Do yourself a favour and listen on headphones. The album starts incredibly strong with Drive, Try Not to Breathe, Everybody Hurts. And closes strong as well. For me, the medium holds the album back a bit, it’s not very dynamic but still has nice songs. Automatic For The People is very good, likely R.E.M. best but I’ve been grading very hard on my project so it falls just short of 5 stars. 8.7/10
Great album, not a bad track in here. It's an interesting listen when you notice how stripped back the songs are, only including what is best for the song. There are a fair amount of arrangements here, as was so prevalent in the 90's, but I think they are all fitting and tastefully done. Best Song(s): The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Everybody Hurts, Sweetness Follows, Nightswimming Listen Again: Already Owned
Not my genre of music
My favorite of their albums. So many great songs.
Songs I already knew: Sidewinder Everybody Hurts Man on the Moon Nightswimming Good album. Enjoyed listening to it. Would now seek out more R.E.M. material
If I could give a 4.5 stars I would. Insanely good, really puts you in the zone, but a couple of mediocre songs before Man on the Moon break the immersion. Stand-outs: Drive, Find the River
12 years between the last album on our list, Back in Black, and both have songs that talk about the importance of rock and roll. Yet they are very different flavors of rock and roll, and REM is one of the bands at the top of the family tree of music that I listen to these days. In a lot of these songs I can hear influences in alternative music today, or at least generations of influences modulated into parts of today's indie/alt music. Everybody Hurts was a song I listened to a bunch in high school as an anxiety-ridden teen, like one does, so it still has a special place in my heart even if it might be overdone. Nightswimming should have been the closing song of the album.
I love Drive, one of my favorite songs from when I was a teen. Try Not to Breathe is much more unplugged than Im used to hearing REM. Sidewinder feels like they wrote about half the lyrics and had to adlib the rest. That instrumental was not a song, just random noodling. Monty Got a Raw Deal had great guitar picking. This might go on my music playlist. Definitely the most varied album we've had so far, a lot of songs that sounded nothing like any of the others. My favorite album so far.
The second half of the album was definitely better than the first half. If you started the album at Track 8 ("Ignoreland") and replaced "Star Me Kitten" with "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite", it would be perfect. I really loved "Ignoreland", "Man on the Moon", and "Nightswimming," and I think that this style of music is more in line with the music I typically enjoy listening to. Some of the early tracks were a little bit boring though.
In this follow up to 1991's Out of Time, I gave this a full relisten as I heard it but didn't gravitate towards in the same way as the prior album (arguably my favorite in their collection). Whereas Out of Time had a more "upbeat" quality to it (all things relative), AFTP sounds much darker and introspective. It is also their most polished and lush production (thanks to the fantastic string arrangements by John Paul Jones). With out of time practically in my DNA I can overlook some of the weaker points, but I found AFTP a more uneven album. Ignoreland I think was a wasted opportunity where it's a good rocking song but it just seemed to Michael's singing gets lost in a live-stadium-like mix. Try Not to Breathe and Nightswimming are among my faves that are not hits, but Drive, Everybody Hurts, and Man on the Moon alone are enough to give this album 4 stars.
4.5
This album reminds me of my first boyfriend and my uncles funeral because they just played this whole album so it kinda just made me sad .
Couple of boring songs in the middle there but the rest elevates it. Ditto on the funeral sads front though
Along with Life’s Rich Pageant, the best REM album imo. This is them at their poppy best, a near perfect blend of anthems with traces of their earlier sound. The production is rich. About as deep as a 90s pop rock album can get.
Heard before: No Favourites: Drive, Man on the moon, Nightswimming Know a few R.E.M songs and have especially liked Nightswimming for a while. First time listening to an album by them, I enjoyed it.
I think I wanted to hate this as I have a weird dislike of everybody hurts. But once you passed that it's actually pretty solid. I'm not sure if I would listen to again but I think it's a 4
Discazo. Buen hit de nostalgia.
4.5/5 Incredible album Fall vibes, very nostalgic, feels like home Nightswimming fav track - reminds me of mom Everybody Hurts - reminds of Oliver Man on the Moon and Try Not to Breathe also great
4. Es muy bueno l. Hacía muchos años que no lo escuchaba. Algunos temas low dan ganas de pegarse un corchaso
Takes me back to HS - My bro had this album on cassette. Dubbed this one. Wasn’t my favorite album of all time by rem, but definitely has some gems.
wow I know more REM than I thought! Good listen
One of the first albums I ever truly, truly loved. Many old friends here. Overall, the album is more poignant than I remember - not every song, but many. Sad if you’re happy. Comforting if you’re sad. Take comfort in your friends.
Remembered this album as being a bit overproduced and sentimental compared to their best stuff. Great to listen with fresh ears again. Excellent album, but still don't love it as much as Murmur.
Bangers. Album flowed very well
Regretfully a great album full of bangers
Another strong album, discovered nice hits!
Enjoyed that one quite a bit. Maybe it helped that I listened to this staring in the dark through a train window.
I thought I knew this album very well, turns out there is a middle part I'd completely missed until today. It's exactly that middle part which degrades it to 4 stars for me. Still a great album!
Good stuff. Some great tunes.
Amazing sounds and guitar play!
An amazing album that leaves you feeling like a load of stress has been lifted off your shoulders. The build in Drive is so awesome and mysterious that you curiously follow the white rabbit further down the hole. You won’t be disappointed.
Classic indie rock album! It’s not 100% in my wheelhouse, but good to hear from time to time, and I’m never upset if any of these songs come on the radio.
Drive; 7/10 Try Not To Breathe; 7/10 The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite; 8/10 Everybody Hurts; 9/10 New Orleans Instrumental No. 1; 6/10 (Instrumental) Sweetness Follows; 8/10 Monty Got A Raw Deal; 7/10 Ignoreland; 7/10 Star Me Kitten; 6/10 Man On The Moon; 9/10 Nightswimming; 8/10 Find The River; 8/10
Reminded me of simpler times when Losing My Religion was playing on the radio every other day. Quite mellow and nice lyrics
Good album with classic songs. Still REM though. Not a huge fan. But a decent album to listen to
MEL: Andy Kaufman song! Lotsa radio friendly singles from this one. Learned that Ignoreland is about Ronald Reagan
Top songs from his album Drive, Losing my Religion, Everybody Hurts, Man on the moon
This is probably the first R.E.M. album I’ve really liked, pleasantly suprised! I guess sometimes a band gets better when they go pop
slayed. i see them.
Great alternative album, thought I would think its boring but has great melodies and is a good listen.
Very good album
Superb album
Very sad, but well produced. Great introduction to REM
Bn tranquilo, bnos riffs e interesante, me sorprendió
good album
Has a lot of great songs like Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon, but not enough to carry the album to a 5.
I've never warmed to this album to allow it to be ranked with their earlier albums. Maybe the timing wasn't right for me as I was an R.E.M fan from the outset...Murmer is still my favorite album. Maybe I resented it in some weird way because it was their commercial breakthrough and I'm thinking "Ha where have you all been for the last 10 years" Or maybe it's just a more difficult listen than their earlier works one that requires more time and effort to reveal its charms Well for whatever reason listening this time around after leaving it for a while allowed me to appreciate it more than I ever have previously. There's a melancholy intesity that I never quite appreciated previously. Sweetness Follows has just that feel and it's quite beautiful. Same for Monty got a Raw Deal - I never took the time to appreciate the deeper album cuts on this album, maybe because there are none that really rock out and the strong structures are not typical verse chorus verse. Anyway I'm thinking this album finally will get my attention, something it probably deserved long ago. 4 stars with a bullet
Did not realize they did Everybody Hurts
Not my go to type of rock and I usually only listen to a few R.E.M. songs here and there. This was pretty great to be honest.
Pretty solid. Slower than what I’m used to for REM, but still good.
So. It's good, I'm even on with the sidewinder sleeps tonight these days. Was going to default to a 3 tho but then realised I was maybe going to do that with Dinosaur Junior and those 2 albums definitely not in the same league... It is also a lot better than the other REM albums I've had on here, so I guess 4.
Sonzao nask, tem o clássico everybody hurts
This is a really good album, has hints of country rock and classic rock which i love. Have been meaning to listen to more R.E.M so this is a good starting point.
The album as a whole says that live is not white or black. It can be both at the same time, as well as it can be colorful. It's a great listen.
Smart lyrics and good music. Really good stuff.
4.75
One of REMs best. If not the best. Melancholy but enjoyable.
Sometimes everything is wrong.
Lekker album, erg van genoten. Geeft goede 90s vibes.
This is a beautiful album of melancholic musings that are not indicative of defeat but rather reminders that love exists and life can be good. Is this album them selling out and going more mainstream? Who the fuck cares! This is a masterpiece of pop rock. I don’t give a shit about the band’s career arc and whatnot. I like their old stuff, and I like their stuff ten years on, as the band members matured and had different things to say. “Nightswimming” says everything you need to hear sometimes. The stars aligned in the making of this album.
I'm not necessarily a huge R.E.M. fan but they made some really great songs during their career, several of which appear here. Everybody Hurts is just a moving song. I've been there and it's hard not to feel the emotions stir when this plays. I can't give it a 5, but there are several 5 star songs.
Nightswimming var overraskende
I really enjoyed this more than I expected. It’s a dark, introspective album.
Oh, we bought this album when it first came out I think. Pretty much Peak REM at that point. I don't think I've listened to the CD this century though and I was slightly wary of what it would be like. And actually it holds up pretty well. It's the bit of REM where there aren't as many jangly guitars and it's all a bit more downbeat, but the underlying style is still there. Enjoyable to listen to after all these years and I'll clearly have to go back and dig the old CDs up. Or download a few more of their albums. And Everybody Hurts happened to be mentioned on a TV programme we were watching the other night. Or maybe Night Fishing. Either would have worked. Half decent this.
It's easy to say this album isn't as good as some of the older REM albums but it is still a classic and has some cracking tracks on it. I bought it on the day it came out and it is still in heavy rotation
This was one of the first five or 10 CDs I ever owned. So I have a very soft spot of nostalgia for this album.
Great band, great album, lyrics nonsensical but feel right music is on point. Just brilliant psuedo cerebral American 90s guitar music.
Sound is surprisingly good. Has some classics. Not usually my jam but liked this one
Gigantic.
Just a very good and solid rock album. Drive is an amazing introduction to the album. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite is honestly a banger. Everybody hurts is a beautiful ballad with a beautiful message for the people who feel they have nothing to live for. Tracks I enjoyed the most: every single track except Try Not To Breathe, didn’t really like that one
I enjoy R.E.M. songs, but to some extent they do all sound the same to me. This is largely due to the vocalist being so distinct I think. It's a little fun and peppy for most of the album. 4.5
4/5
Wel aangename muziek. Niet mijn meest favoriete album of band
Great album
Classic album, some great memories came flooding back
Liked it.
Super good album. Much better than i expected
Solid soft rock from start to finish, pleasant, poetic snapshots of the human experience
Bello, ma triste. Poi migliora: 4 stelle, quasi 5.
A nice change of pace
Muy lindos temas Sidewinder sleeps tonite, everybody hurts, man on the moon, los demas temas acompañan muy bien, en ningún momento se hace pesado
Calm
Have listened to this before. It's pretty good.
Good, accessible and radio friendly. Five hugely popular and quality songs - notably Night Swimming and Everybody Hurts. Crossover between indie, rock, Americana and chart pop. Very accomplished.
Only heard Murmur by them before this, which I love. Good stuff, vulnerable. Faves: Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Monty Got a Raw Deal, Ignoreland, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming, Find The River; 4.5/5
Fave songs I hadn’t heard: “Nightswimming” and “Find the River“
Great album, used to love it but had not listened for a very long time.
Still one of my favorite REM records
great album, better than I remembered. Well regarded with reason.
Incredible album. Michael Stipe has such an iconic voice. Only flaw that I had was that Nightswimming should have been the final track, because that and drive are perfect closing/opening tracks respectively. Real rating 4.5/5
CD
I think I preferred Green to this, but there’s still a lot to like here. Excellent lyrics and the melodies are engaging.
Genres: Alternative Rock Formed: Athens, Georgia, in 1980 Run time: 12 songs, 48 min 36 sec Some great songs with impressive Spotify statistics: the least played song on this album has nearly 5 million plays, whilst the most popular has well over 300 million plays. I loved a third of the album and enjoyed most of the other songs. My favourite is “Man on the Moon” about the American entertainer (comedian), Andy Kaufman. The instrumental “New Orleans Instrumental No.1” is two minutes of pure relaxation. The album is great if you just want some pleasant background noise, and though provoking if you wany to listen to the lyrics.
I'm not super familiar with R.E.M.'s discography, but if this isn't their best album it's certainly close. "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon" are certainly familiar to anyone alive during the '90s (when R.E.M. was downright inescapable), but "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" and "Drive" are "Best of..." material as well. This album's also got "Nightswimming," half of what I always think of as R.E.M.'s unofficial "Night & Day" combo (the other being "Daysleeper" from their album "Up"). I wasn't previously familiar with "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1," but it's a mellow bit of fun, too. Add all this to the fact that the rest of the album is no worse than "sure, I don't mind listening to this," I'd say this is a solid 4. Good stuff.
Solid album. Man on the Moon is one of my all-time favorites (love the ode to Andy Kaufman), and Everybody Hurts was a big hit at the time. The video was shot in my hometown & my high school friend is in the video. He recently told me the whole story & it's pretty fantastic. 4 stars.
Es el disco de R.E.M. que mas me gusta
Listened to this one before, but it has been several years. The three songs to ignite and close the album are equally strong, including "Drive" as a stellar, ominous opener. Of course, "Everybody Hurts" is an important one for compilations of unfortunate instances and for meme circles, as well as being a neat ballad outright. I will say that there is a drop in quality in the middle section of this album spanning from "Sweetness Follows" to "Star Kitten" even though the songs are passable. Perhaps you could argue that the aforementioned drop starts as early as "Everybody Hurts" depending on your stance, though I enjoy it myself. The highlights are shining stars. Totally understand of how this could be viewed as R.E.M.'s best.
I feel like throughout my childhood, my favourite musical artist has been many things: GnR. Weird Al Yankovic. Queen. Tears for Fears. And R.E.M, circa 2008 or something (though it wasn't for any song on this album! Think "Stand", "Losing my Religion", "It's the End..."). FM radio almost burned me out of "Everybody Hurts" & "Man on the Moon", but as far as 90's hit albums go, this still ranks pretty high in my own preferences. Brooding can be beautiful HL: "Everybody Hurts", "The Sidewinder...", "Nightswimming", "Monty Got a Raw Deal", "Man on the Moon" January 26, 2023 (late)
Very good. Not my style but excellent.
A dang good 90's alternative album. "Drive" remains one of my favorite R.E.M. tracks, and is a great, dark way to enter this album. Exiting on the one-two punch of "Nightswimming" and "Find the River" is a beautiful, classy goodbye. Sure, some of the hits like "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon" have been played to hell over the past 30 years, but the rest of the album overshadows them. I always enjoy a listen of this one.
Not necessarily my style, I've never found REM to be particularly compelling, but a beautiful and super strong album. Helps me see the hype a bit more
I love this album. Always reminds me of my dad driving us to school as kids, especially “Man on the Moon.” Blast that from the ‘96 Civic all dayyy
Just all around a good album from start to finish. Love the lyrics and delivery by Michael Stipe.
Mielestäni albumi on erittäin hieno, kitara säestää kivasti vaikkakin yksinkertaisesti ja kokonaisuudessaan albumi on kaunis ja musiikillisesti miellyttävä. <3 Kappaleissa on kiinnostavia bassolinjoja ja laulaja hoitaa hommansa hienosti. Albumilta löytyy myös muutama hieman pitkäveteisempi kappale, mutta se ei oikeastaan haittaa. Albumi oli oikein positiivinen yllätys! Vaikka ensimmäiset kappaleet ovat hieman energisempiä ja rennompia, ei albumi kuitenkaan ole täynnä vain iloa ja rentoutta. Muutaman ensimmäisen kappaleen jälkeen tuleekin melko alakuloinen kappale (Everybody Hurts), joka kääntää koko albumin melankolisempaan suuntaan. Vaikka kappale onkin jokseenkin tunteellinen, se tuo kokonaisuuteen mukavaa vaihtelua. Everybody Hurts on selkeästi tarkkaan mietitty ja huoliteltu, ja se toimii eräänlaisena käännekohtana kokonaisuudessa. Surumielisyydellä ja kaipuulla jatkavat kappaleet New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 sekä Sweetness Follows. Suosikkikappaleeni albumilta ovat varmaankin Drive, Sweetness Follows, Man On The Moon ja Nightswimming. Ehkä tähän albumiin voisi vielä myöhemmin palata hyvän musiikin vuoksi tai jos etsii esimerkiksi jotain soitettavaa kitaralle!
Not bad
These are really fun songs! The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight is not my favorite single by them but its fine. EVERYBODY HURTS!!!! The back half of the album is a little wishy washy for me. Man On The Moon and Night Swimming are both killer songs.
Great album by REM. A definite favourite.
REM has such a distinctive sound but still manages to have a variety among their songs. Great songwriting and melancholy vibe. I definitely appreciate them more than I did when my mom and dad would listen to them when I was a kid.
I just thoroughly enjoy REMs sound. They’re simple in melody but their lyrics are strong. I always forget what a heavy hitter Everybody Hurts is!
Great start and finish to the album. Most songs were really good and easy to listen to.
Highlight: Everybody Hurts
Very solid 90s rock. Well paired vocals and string work
4.5
i heard this a lot growing up, so i expected to love it more than i did, but it's still pretty decent. good energy, weird lyrics that are fun to think about, and Nightswimming is just an alltimer ballad. 7/10
8/10. But close to a 9. I think this was my favorite REM album so far
Just like listening to XRT
4/5. Not all songs are perfect but there are some bonafide classics like everything hurts, nightswimming, and man on the moon. Less songs would make this a perfect album.
An absolutely solid album. I love almost every song on here and did so when it came out but when people say Everybody Hurts is overplayed then I have to agree. I have to skip it because it has ridiculously strange connotations for me. Hospital DJs insist on playing it thinking it’s appropriate/poignant to play to people lying in the hospital beds I disagree it makes me hate hospital DJs and that song. The rest is blinding.
4.5 Love it
Pretty awesome, I didn't know everybody hurts was from this album.
Didn’t get much time with this classic album, but liked it and want to come back for more.
This is a really great record, and one of the great examples of an alternative band (from when alternative bands were really part of an alternative music industry) breaking huge into the mainstream. R.E.M. had been underground darlings for most fo the 80s, and signed to a major and gone big with their Green album, which I personally find a bit patchy. And then this; an ambitious masterpiece which was true to what they had always been, but with a major label size and sheen. Which is a bit weird, given how dark this album is. It is truly wonderfully recorded by Scott Litt, with clear and spaciously recorded basic tracks brought into a cinematic scale by the strong arrangement of John Paul Jones. I am hard pressed to think of a rock record with better arrangements than this record; they are so sympathetic to the song, they know when to hold back, and when to add to the song. The strings really are amazing, notably on Drive. Michael Stipe’s vocals are mixed further to the front than on their earlier records, and you can hear the lyrics. Is that a good or a bad thing? I’m pretty sure it was Dave Lewis who said he thought Michael Stipe was a great lyricist until he could actually understand what he was saying. The lyrics are enigmatic and opaque. I suspect that this actually broadens the appeal of this record; the lyrics are clearly highly emotional, often sad, but the blurred meaning and ambiguity means that the listener can project onto them their own sensibility. The lack of specific and clear meaning makes them more universal. An exception to that rule: Everybody Hurts, which is almost clumsily blunt. I blame this song for “Party of Five” acting. This was an acting style prevalent in the 1990s (but you still see today), where an actor, usually young, would stare silently, often though a rain-streaked window at night, while Everybody Hurts plays, in order to indicate a profound melancholia. I checked, and this indeed was used in the pilot episode of Party of Five (starting at 25.40, for those playing at home), although without the rainy window. It was a cheap way of conveying deep sadness if your actor wasn’t actually up to it. It became a cliché. There are some great tunes on this album, and it is clearly widely loved. REM never made an album half as good afterwards. I find the record a touch enigmatic, which means it doesn’t have quite the emotional traction for me to give it 5 stars, but I certainly think it is worth 4.
Doesn't sound like the cover. Pretty good though. 80s rem>>>
Anything after Green I associate with my Mom. I know people want to talk about Dad rock, but I'm here to lobby for Mom rock. I find this record as well as Out of Time to be among the best examples of this genre that she's founded through her casual and not too critical listening habits. Thanks Mom.
Probably my least favorite of the 3 REM albums, but that’s more of a testament to how good the other ones are. “Man on the Moon” always bangs but I can’t listen to “Everybody Hurts” without laughing.
REM is another band that I've never really been into and I just knew the hits. I dunno why I've never gotten into them, but they have this sound that represents a certain era of time that I can't always grok. Also all my knowledge comes of this band comes from R U Talkin' REM RE: ME.
Man on the moon is a tune
Every wanted R.E.M. to be the next U2 but instead they gave us this. Diverse challenging, not as good as Green but still a solid album. Maybe a bit too much mandolin
Underappreciated gem of a record. Not the greatest REM album but solid -- every song is a great vibe. Late eighties/early nineties was overflowing with creativity.
I liked it then and I like it now. R.E.M. is one of those bands that I always hear people say, "I like early R.E.M." and I'm always like "what are you talking about?!" Let's focus on Automatic for a moment...I just love that this album opens with Drive. It's a somber sound with phrases that make me feel nostalgic but I don't quite understand that nostalgia until The Sidewinder hits in and Michael references Dr Seuss. Side note: I just love the sub sub substantial stutter. Listening now with the perspective of time I find that R.E.M. does a really good job at encapsulating a 90s sound but with some nostalgic jingly jangly reminiscent of the 60s. I'm sure if you lived through the 90s that Everybody Hurts likely bugs you. It was overplayed and it's melodramatic. And for me...that's a winner! I found myself driving and listening to that song and all the past and present pain started flowing and then dissipated. I was always fond of Monty Got a Raw Deal and Nightswimming. Ending with Find the River feels like a shoutout to John Denver. Does anyone else hear that? After listening to this album, I went back to Murmur, Fables of the Reconstruction (maybe my favorite), Life's Rich Pageant, Green for a few songs. C'mon...R.E.M. has an R.E.M. sound and I think late and early albums are all equally good. In fact, in some ways I prefer later albums because I can understand what Michael is actually singing. As an album to listen to before you die...I'm just doing it > 4!
udmærket
Great REM album
Very complete album. Start to finish the whole thing felt very concise. The album did not drag even with lyrics that aren't entirely upbeat. The album has a slow pace but it works well with the composition. The lyrics are very good, the vocals are good but sound very similar track to track. The guitar work is very good, the drums are well done as well. There are some very incredible compositions on this record that made me genuinely read the lyrics and a couple songs I had to listen to multiple times. Favorite Track: Man on the Moon, Find the River Least Favorite Track: New Orleans Instrumental No.1
Really enjoyed this album a nice variety of songs and one I will return too in the future
Solid album, heard a lot before, had prog rock elements I didn’t realize before
Sounds just like The Tragically Hip. Favorite track was The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight. Definitely appreciated it more on the second listen, and will definitely revisit again when the mood strikes.
Drive was a good opener to the album, I really enjoyed it, despite knowing hardly R.E.M. I’m already enjoying them, so may listen to more. Try Not To Breathe was good, I personally preferred Drive a bit better but was still really good. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite was again good, the chorus vocals have a really weird rhythm but it’s not bad. Everybody Hurts I think everybody knows so I’m not going to say anything, because it’s a good song. New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 was a short instrumental to break up the album about half way through and it wasn’t bad. Sweetness Follows was again quite calm, the album is a lot more acoustic rock than I expected, which I won’t complain about, it’s a great album so far. Monty Got A Real Deal was a decent song, you can definitely hear a more southern sound on this track. Ignoreland was one of the most fun songs of the album by this point, would gladly listen to again. Star Me Kitten is probably the most mediocre song in the album so far, if I was to skip any track it would probably be this one. Man On The Moon was an improvement on Star Me Kitten, so pulled my attention back, was a good song. Nightswimming was a really nice song, was quite calm and was a big fan. Find The River was a very calming song that made a really good album closer. Honestly, this is the first album that I didn’t want to end, it was really enjoyable. 4.5/5
Ik dårligt. Burde høre mere R.E.M Thom Yorke har måske ret…
Liked this more than I expected to. Lots of catchy songs on here. 3.5/5
Catchy indie rock with some genuinely great vocals performances, like The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. Enjoyed this more than I expected, since I haven't really "got" R.E.M. before except the odd song here and there.
I never liked this one as much as other people do. It’s a little too soft for me, and I have a particular allergic reaction to “Everybody Hurts”. But the good stuff is very good- “Nightswimming”, in particular, is life changing. Not my first choice to introduce someone to R.E.M.’s gift for melody, but it’s still a good time. B
Decent again
Classic
Kinda good
Pretty solid album
7/10 - 4/5
Not a fan, but a nice album as a whole to listen "on the side".
Unexpected folksy alt sound. It also shows some grit and pain but not at all in an angry way, but in a more accepting, melancholic way. Lots of echos, it's beautiful. Favorites are: Drive, Sweetness Follows, Star Me Kitten, and Nightswimming.
It’s a very good but not great album.
Excellent album but not as good as appetite for Destruction.
R.E.M. is another band I’ve always liked but don’t listen to often. In college, when I was reviewing albums for the radio station to play, R.E.M. released a new album that they announced would be their last. I was tasked with writing the blurb that all the DJs would read and rating the best tracks to play. Having never really listened to R.E.M. at the time, I was a little intimidated. I knew that a bunch of music snobs who potentially love R.E.M. would be reading what I wrote and I worried I would seem like I didn’t know what I was talking about. So I gave myself a crash course in their catalog. I listened to a few early albums and a few that have big hits on them (including this one) — while simultaneously listening to the new album. It was fun and the new album ended up being really good! I got on an R.E.M. kick them that semester (and I don’t think anyone ever suspected that I’d never listened to them before writing my review). Anyways, this album isn’t exactly my favorite, but man, it’s beautifully produced and has a ton of classic songs. “Everybody Hurts” is incredible, and “Man on the Moon” and “Nightswimming” are favorites of mine. I appreciate the literate, wordy lyrics. I didn’t pay close attention to what all the songs were about but I love when surprising words, phrases and lines jump out at me. Michael Stipe is a great performer too. I love that moment when he laughs around 2:30 in “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” (another great song).
Good album, no bad songs and some amazing too.
Like rem more each time I listen, including this album
3.7 - It’s REM - hard to get more alternative than this. Has its ups and downs, and definitely more of the former.
Fit my Monday mood well
A good album with great songs by a great band. Far from their best or worst album but the last one with any significant hits.
Favourites: Everybody Hurts Man on the Moon Find The River
Drive is a good album opener. It does have some "The Thunder Rolls" vibes. Just saying. Everybody Hurts... truth man. truth. Monty Got a Raw Deal is a really good song. First time ever hearing it. Ignoreland... not digging this one. Nor Star Me Kitten. Nor Find the River Man on the Moon. Love it and the movie was pretty good too. Nightswimming is my favorite song on this album.
Such a great album, Very underappreciated in my early years, and REM's Out of Time is what catapulted me into music. Early on I really like what was on the radio, when I heard the album for the first time I would skip to the songs I liked. Glad I get to listen to it with new ears.
Good.
Another band with a prominent frontman that I think we're culturally tired of, (I said the same of U2 with Bono). Michael Stipe's persona still grates me. That said, re-listening to this album, I'd say it is a classic. Many great songs, very much part of the 90s zeitgeist.
REM had a real winning streak in the late 80s/early 90s. This isn't as good as the album before it, but it's still an easy 4/5.
one for introspectively noodling around a dancefloor in a cardigan
I really enjoyed this album. This is my second time attempting to go through the 1001 albums and I had previously had this album as well. Not sure what I rated it then, but today I was really feeling it. The last two tracks, Nightswimming and Find the River were two that I liked the most.
I was alone in my year at school as a casual REM fan. This one surprised me in the re-listen, it fit like a glove. I like it.
REM manage to Pipette a hot ace roomful of tracks, particularly preferred the 2nd half more- some favourites- Man on the Moon and Night swimming.
don't love the middle of the album (new orleans instrumental no.1, monty got a raw deal, ignoreland, star me kitten) favourite songs - nightswimming, man on the moon, the sidewinder sleeps tonite, find the river, drive
Listened to 'Document' before this one and was really impressed! This album, however, blew me away completely. 'Everybody Hurts,' which I knew of but hadn't really listened to in full before, is a haunting, painful, beautiful song that just completely enraptures you. Add onto that 'Nightswimming,' and you have two really standout ballads that elevate this album to something special. A solid 4/5 that is almost a perfect score. I just felt as though some of the songs didn't click this listen, though that might change as I listen to the album again in the future.