Reviews (page 8 of 15)
A couple of clunkers but night swimming alone makes ammends
Lot of open chords. I can tell they built these songs without drums Worth another listen at some point Fits in the two back to back final song albums
There’s nothing like R.E.M. Angsty. Beautiful. Rooted in Folk. Mellow. Simple.
Some classic songs
Not my favorite REM album, one too many "radio songs," but still a great album and better than most other things out there. So many brilliant songs like "Nightswimming" and just a "happy place" album in so many ways.
Peter Buck says that this album was inspired by the themes of loss and mourning associated with turning 30. As someone approaching 28 and a half, I didn’t need to heat that. Let me get this out of the way, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite doesn’t belong here. I get that it’s a breather on a downer of an album, but it’s too much. Even the band believed so, but it’s still a good song though. Otherwise, this dive into darker territory is among R.E.M.’s best work. Honestly, the real emotional part of the album for me was Nightswimming. (Everybody Hurts is great, but overplayed these days) That sense of reflection over “the good old days” in a world that seems to have moved on really gets to me. I won’t call this album a tearjerker, but it’s heavy and I certainly feel the weight. Favorite track: Man on the Moon Other hits: Nightswimming, Everybody Hurts, Ignoreland, Find the River, Sweetness Follows, Try Not to Breathe
Whenever I hear REM I wonder why I don't think to listen to them more often or at least include some of their songs in my playlists. They seem to fall under the radar. This is a fine album of songs by a mature band at their peak. I have always particularly liked Man on the Moon as I was an Andy Kaufman fan. The song seems to use the experience of Andy as a metaphor for bigger questions about life. 3.6
Probably one of the strongest R.E.M. albums you're likely to come across. Right off the bat - the hit singles this album produced are absolutely legendary. The lyrically cryptic and catchy acoustic rock song 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite'. The wonderfully orchestral and unforgettable 'Everybody Hurts'. The absolute early 90's pop culture filled 'Man on the Moon'. And the beautiful, sombre, melodic piano ringing throughout the brilliant 'Nightswimming'. Are these songs the very definition of what popular music sounded like in the early-to-mid 90's? Absolutely. But it's nothing that should be held against them; as they walk a fine line between being commercial and containing artistic credibility effortlessly. Other highlights include: the haunting, mid-tempo track 'Try Not To Breathe', the uplifting 'Sweetness Follows', the ridiculously energetic 'Ignoreland', and the gorgeous ballad 'Find The River' to end the album. Lyrically, 'Automatic For The People' on paper sounds like the most depressing thing you can put yourself through - as it sees the band take on themes of mortality, loss, and sadness. However they do an amazing job of framing these themes, mostly, on looking forward. Letting the listener know that they're not alone, that there is happiness to be found among the dull ashes. Often cryptic, and often left up to the listener to interpret what it is they are saying on their own; it is worth giving this album a few listens to draw your own conclusions. But you will have no problem finding something to relate to. It's actually one of the strongest aspects of the album. I also find that R.E.M. are very underrated as musicians, particular Mike Mills; whose basslines are absolutely crucial to the band's sound. They're melodic and complex, yet never seem to outshine the other elements. And Michael Stipe is also an all time vocalist. What he lacks in range, he makes up for in translating the mood and emotion of a song so well to the listener; as if he himself is a chameleon of sorts. He can sound ecstatic when the song needs it, yet sounds absolutely devastated when the song calls for something more moody; and that's on top of his unique voice being fairly good on a technical level. 'Automatic For The People' is an all round solid record; and is an absolutely perfect representation of R.E.M. as a band. Huge hit singles, solid deep cuts, with only a handful of tracks letting it down a little bit. If there was ever an album that could summarize the sound of pop/rock in the 90's, it would be this one. Genius lyrics, top musicianship, and influential as hell. 4/5
Listened to it many times before so know it's great. Tons of hits.
Favorite Track: Man On The Moon
I know this a classic in REM land, but I don't love it the same way I do their 80s output. Still solid though. 4/5
It was good. A few classics, a few hidden gems. I'll listen again. Drive was my favourite that I hadn't heard before.
I liked this album, really solid alternative rock, I thought it started out a little weak with the first two songs, they felt kind of bland. But from then on there some genuinely touching pieces and a couple of straight bops too. Favorite song(s): Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon. Both will definitely go into my regular listening cycle. An enjoyable first album to get. 4/5~7.5/10
Forgotten how good this album is
Good
I REALLY want to like R.E.M. because they were cool before I ever knew what cool meant. and some of their songs are so great, but most of them I don't think I'll ever really get, and at this point in my life I don't care anymore. I'm giving them a 4 for nostalgia sake.
His voice is just depressing, but the music is pretty good. I don't love it but I enjoy it.
Yup. Good one
This smacked fr fr Would like to have this on vinyl.
This is another album inspired by turning thirty, although with REM their songs tend to the wistful and abstruse rather than gloominess. The opening track Drive sets the tone for the album with sparse acoustic guitars blossoming into a stunning string arrangement from John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. The remastered atmos mix also shines here, sounding intimate and epic at the same time. The highlight is still Stipe’s Elvis impression on Man in the Moon.
Pretty dope! They know how to throw an album together
Four whole stars. Definitely an element of nostalgia in that rating but I’ll not be apologising for it.
Me gusto
I came back to this one after a few months, because I thought it needed another listen, and I like it a lot more the second time round. It was fine the first time, but I'm appreciating it musically more the second time around.
Amazing alternative rock origins
Everybody hurts is way more powerful than I originally thought
Everybody Hurts - a devastatingly beautiful song. A great album.
Might regret this later the music gets old really quick. Edit: I regretted it later and edited it to a 4
Great album! Can't believe I haven't listened to it before. Finishing with Man On The Moon/Nightswimming/Find The River was crazy. The first half of the album sorta falls short for me, but the second half is incredible. I haven't listened to much REM outside of the really popular songs, so it was nice to hear a bit more of them. Overall I really liked it and will probably listen to it again. I wouldn't say its a new favourite by any means though, most of the songs I've already completely forgotten.
Come on, it’s a classic. And one of the best 80’s alt rock albums out there. Can’t go wrong.
Man, R.E.M. is a special band for me. It reminds me a lot of my parents and growing up. This album came out the year I was born and we listened to a lot of R.E.M. as I grew up. This album is quality and the production still holds up so well.
This is a really awesome and fun album. I love that its kind of a wide variety of emotions. Some songs are moody, others are more upbeat and energetic, and some are kind of both? Its like sad songs that are fun. REM's style is super unique too. They kind of "play" with genres in a way that reminds me of Dire Straits. They never fully commit. Which then makes this kind of unique sound. Its like they were punk rock kids from the south that can't stop get away from rockabilly and southern rock but they want to be punk rockers but they never lived in NY or LA. So the music really resonates with your average listener. It kind of sounds like suburbia. A few notable songs: - Drive. What a fun song. Its dark, but its upbeat. Its bluesy, but not really. I really like how this sets the vibe for the whole record. - Everybody Hurts. Chills, man. What a song. - Sweetness Follows. Haunting but also kind of inspiring sound to it? Its gives me all the feels. - Monty Got Real. I love the blues influence on this one. - Man on the Moon. So good. I love this tribute to Andy Kaufman. -Night Swimming. All the feels.
Great stuff. Love the mood of the album. Sidewinder has been a favourite of mine since it came out.
On first listen, it didn't really vibe with me. However, the more I thought about it throughout the day, the more I enjoyed the cohesiveness of the entire album and how the songs flowed into each other.
It's my time to finally admit that I really, really enjoy R.E.M.'s music.
Great album. Enjoyed this.
A classic and rightly so! They never bettered this if you ask me, it’s a corker with great tune after great tune!
he wants the kitten to do WHAT?
Sometime it is a bit of a shock how old an album is, this is one of those times. I do not think I have listened to a full R.E.M album just singles. I have always like Michael Stipe has a great voice and lyrics. Stand out tracks: - Drive - Try not to breath - The sidewinder sleeps tonite - Everybody hurts - Sweetness follows - Man on the moon - Nightswimming
Listened Before? Y A staple of my late teens and early 20s, this album is a classic to me. I'm incapable of an unbiased review, but I'll say that I prefer a lot of REM's earlier stuff more. This is still a great record, but it has a different vibe. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Nightswimming
Not sure why but despite Document including three of the R.E.M. songs I like most, I prefer this album. Both were between a 3 and 4 so I’m rounding up this time.
Iconic
I enjoyed this very much. Could have been a fiver on another day. Simpsons: Yes
You enter the club, feeling yourself, looking the best you’ve ever have. You look a cross the room and there she is, the one you’ve been waiting your entire life for. You both lock eyes, this album blasts in the background as you maneuver your way through the crowd to her. Just as you both make it to each other the beat drops and you both dance the night away. That’s what this album sounds like to me lmfao
Pretty good
fágað og gott amerískt gítarpopp. 4.
This album is full of soft enjoyable music. I enjoyed the entire album.
I like it
I remember getting this album when it came out and I didn't enjoy it very much. I'm glad that I got relisten to it. I like it quite a bit this time through.
After two, earlier in their discography albums, this one feels a bit more cinematic & produced - while still being solidly twangy and alternative as you’d expect REM to be. But for Everybody Hurts, which I heard a bit too much when it first came out, this was an excellent listen with only a few lulls.
This is the best REM album we've had by a long shot. There's so much less filler (the instrumental and Sweetness Follows are the only tracks on here that I'd chop if I could), almost all of it offers something, and it changes mood really smoothly. The middle section is the weakest, but Drive/Try Not to Breathe/Sidewinder/Every Body Hurts is a great start, and Man On The Moon/Nightswimming/Find The River is a brilliant way to end. 4/5, that little dip in the middle stops it from hitting 5 territory.
Great album! Personal favourites are Man On The Moon and Everybody Hurts 4/5
Ah yes some good ol REM. Pretty sure laura had this album when I was growing up. Good stuff. It was good, It's been a long time since I've heard it. I'll give it 4 stars.
A bit uneven but some incredible highs (Nightswimming).
Uneven
I liked this record quite a bit, but that said, I've never been a super huge R.E.M. fan and it's probably because everything is just way too straight. I like weirder music, and while they definitely are not mainstream pop, they are closer to that then they are progressive rock or new wave or Zappa. My feelings about R.E.M. are probably colored by my belief that they were one of the last "record label" pushed bands -- they were allegedly alternative but that said they weren't as adventurous as other bands of the same era, and their singles and videos were always on heavy rotation... the hype around each new release just built and built for years and years.
I guess
That was nice! I enjoyed it a lot. Would listen again.
I didn’t realise how many REM songs I knew, and also just how many are found on this particular album. If I have the radio on, I could probably safely bet money on hearing at least one song from this album every day. I’m curious of if that’s simply a UK thing or if REM are this played everywhere. The familiarity definitely enhanced the listening experience, although I do want to note that the tracks I didn’t already know were also good fun. I quite liked this. More, in fact, than I expected to.
I know that R.E.M. isn’t a goofy band, but I always associate them as such a bit. This album is definitely a departure from that persona.
This is the iconic album for Michael Stipe and R.E.M. Drive is a classic, no questions about that. The album is well put together from a flow perspective, all songs go together. Just misses my 5 rating as I look for those same elements but more hits to carry you all the way through. I loved it and still love R.E.M. as they were a bad that fully influenced an era and their music stands the test of time!
4 out of 5, classic R.E.M. It's been a while, but Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite and Everybody Hurts are great songs. Overall good album, probably my third favorite of theirs.
-I wasn’t a huge fan at first but I got more into it during the second half of the album, his voice is good -Favorites are Drive, Monty Got A Raw Deal, and Star Me Kitten
Another banging classic. Needs no more review than that
This is my most-scrobbled R.E.M. album according to my Last.FM stats, with 3 full plays in the past 9 years plus numerous selections of individual tracks. I have a fair familiarity with it. If it was the first time I'd heard this album I wouldn't be a fan. Drive isn't a particularly ear-catching opener, but purely out of familiarity, I felt somewhat connected to it. It's interesting how you react to music differently after you've already been exposed to it. I'm giving it a 4 because I enjoyed re-hearing this collection, but I'm adamant I would have given it a 3 or lower on first spin.
REM is the DROAT (dad rockiest of all time). Quite a few big time tracks on this one, outside of those everything blends into same-ness for me. I think if lyrics were higher in my criteria it would be higher, 3.5/5
these guys are always a good listen
R.E.M. býr til þessa líka prýðilegu plötu sem ég mun reyna eftir fremsta megni að muna eftir að setja á af og til. Ég fíla þá og hálfpartinn skammast mín fyrir hversu sjaldan ég spila plötur með þeim. Þessi fengi 3.5 stjörnur en ég í skömmustu minni toga hana upp í 4
Without doubt my favourite REM album. I saw them play at Slane festival with 110,000 other people and they were awesome I love this album and I especially love 'losing my religion', 'Drive', 'Man on the moon' and 'Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' I really love 'Drive' Wish this was a weekend album!
I've never been a massive REM fan and I find Michael Stipe's vocal style a little irritating, BUT theres a lot of nostalgia here! REM absolutely ruled the airwaves when I was growing up and despite having never owned any of their albums I can still sing a bunch of their tracks word for word. I really enjoyed this listen through, particularly the songs that haven’t been overplayed to death on the radio.
Great album, really enjoyed this one.
I've always enjoyed REM when I've heard them but until recently hadn't listened to any of their albums back to front. So far I've heard this one and Green. I prefer this one without question. Definitely gonna save this one to revisit later.
Great album, has some of the big hits and typical R.E.M moodiness
What can I say, this album is just fun and beautiful.
I have so many fond memories of all these early R.E.M. albums. I was in a high school band around the time Out Of Time was released and I remember our bass player being obsessed with R.E.M. to the point to where he’s the first person I think of every time I listen to them. I particularly remember a time when I walked out to our drummer's garage/rehearsal space and there was our bass player playing R.E.M. songs that he’d been learning. In that moment it struck me how memorable those bass lines are. They have so many songs that you can hear the bass line and immediately know what song it is. Obviously this is true for really all four musicians in this band. Since then I’ve really come to admire Michael Stipe for his take on being an artist and his political activism. Recently I was listening to his interview on the Smartless podcast and was really struck by how much this band was just trying to figure things out for those first 3 albums. I mean the first song on their first album was a radio hit immediately and they kinda had no idea what they were doing. Obviously by the time this album came out they had things figured out and it shows here. This is a collection of perfectly crafted pop rock songs that on their own could stand the test of time, but it’s Michael’s heartfelt vocal delivery that send these songs over the top. The Sidewinder Sleeps At Night, Man On The Moon and Nightswimming are my favorites from this one.
After the success of "Losing My Religion" from the previous album, the world of music changed, and grunge and 'alternative rock' marched in with its own sounds and ideals that the radio and MTV ate wholeheartedly. Many groups jumped on the bandwagon and rode the wave. How did R.E.M. respond? They didn't. They just kept doing what they do really well, and the world returned to them, grunge still in tow. Automatic For The People was not solely responsible for the openness and acceptingness of the times that allowed grunge and non-grunge to coexist peacefully together (radio played piano art of Tori Amos, industrial Nine Inch Nails, bubblegum Cardigans, prog-metal Tool, squealing noise-rap of House of Pain, sugar pop of Sugar Ray, etc. all in the same hour), but I do believe it helped to make room for more than just one sound or style to be appreciated. My general complaint about R.E.M. is that most of their 'songs' are the same 4 chords repeated consistently. From a chord standpoint, there is no intro, verse, chorus, bridge, or coda. The band plays a chord arrangement, and Michael lays down some evocative musings and if he repeats a phrase, "Hey! There's a chorus!!" For the most part, the song still turns out well. But when the songwriting ventures to add a chord change or two, we get an elevated version of themselves, and we see that version explored a bit more during the Warner Bros years, including here on Automatic For The People. "Nightswimming" is one of R.E.M.'s best songs in their entire catalog, and hits like "Drive" and "Everybody Hurts" validates a place for honest sensitivity in pop music. Michael Stipe has one of those emotive voices that make everything he says sound deep and meaningful. The softer songs on this album shine through the most for me on this album. Congrats on their recent induction into the songwriter's hall of fame.
Nice album, with some line-less pieces
This was hard because it's probably one of my top listened to albums as it goes. That said, Everybody Hurts is the worst REM song and it kills the momentum on the album in a way that it never fully recovers from. My tape was slightly warped from always skipping that song. I decided to be fair and include it in the listen this time. Still sucks.
dig the instrumental!
Enjoyed most of it, the last few songs are a bit too gloomy for me
Really liked this band
Coincidentally I'm in Atlanta, GA and R.E.M is from Athens, GA. Was listening to Man on the moon and ran into Lewis
I like R.E.M's style and have listened to another of their albums before. I enjoyed this one and loved the famous Everybody Hurts.
Nightswimming might be the best REM song, and the rest of this album is killer, albeit equally depressing. Not a bad thing, but you have to be in the mood for it for sure.
A couple familiar songs. Pretty mellow feeling throughout the record. 3.5/5
Top ten album of the 1990’s. REM was great alternative music for me growing up.
Tres ó cuatro canciones memorables. REM alcanzan su plenitud.
nightswimming!!
sorry for ruining the perfect score. i rly only like a few from here, and the rest im meh on.
Damn, okay. Number three from REM, still no sign of "Losing My Religion." But this has to be my favorite that we've had so far. A few big hits, like "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon," plus some others that I hadn't heard before but loved, especially "Nightswimming." I really love Michael Stipe's voice, and this album is just really excellent. I'm not holding my breath at this point for the "Losing My Religion" album, but if they all sound this good, I'm chilling. Favorite tracks: Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, Drive, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, New Orleans Instrumental. Album art: Not entirely sure what I'm looking at, some sort of spiky block or something, over a mostly blank, grey backdrop with a bit of texture. Not too elaborate or memorable, but the bold font helps a lot. 4.5/5
I should probably listen to more REM
Have loved this album for a long time! It set the tone for the nineties. IT was on heavy rotation on the CD player in my car!! The band was groundbreaking in the eighties and then got the recognition they deserved in the 90's. Sounds as fresh today as it did then!
epic
I think R.E.M grew in an interesting way. It makes sense. But I prefer the earlier, more rocking stuff better. That said, this has some incredible songs and even if it's not my favorite it's still really really good.
everybody hurts
It's an overall really nice album, with some great hits in there. It's strange, but when you're actively listening to an album you notice so much more. I wasn't too aware before just how much organ was on some of these songs. I also like the jangly guitars and the violins. There's some standout songs in here. Everybody Hurts has to take it though, it's such a beautiful song, my god. My favourite songs are generally the ones I already knew, but 'Find the River' is a lovely end to the album. Great stuff.
If you Try Not To Breathe when you listen to this album while Nightswimming, Sweetness Follows.
love wonderful
revelation nation
Good mid-period R.E.M.
I've always liked REM.
A nostalgia blast.
It’s kind of crazy that this album just just pushed “out of time” to the side. This is some of the best music R.E.M. has made. It’s just not the R.E.M-iest.
This album and Out of Time are the two albums that defined REM for me. They were both recorded around the time of high school graduation.
Wasn’t huge into REM back when, but seems like my brothers and cousins were so have heard this album many times. It’s one I could listen to again.
Own this one. Definitely up there on the list. Was good to hear it again. It’s been a while.
Overall solid album.
Pretty good, probably three and a half stars. I wasn't fully in the mood for it but it was a nice chill listen. It didn't wow me but I really have nothing to complain about. I'm already familiar with REM, and I'm pretty sure I've heard this album before. Man on the moon and Night swimming are favorites here, both songs already have personal meaning to me.
Great for when you’re sad, this album captures melancholy very well. If you’re in a good mood, it doesn’t work as well.
A good old album
Everybody hurts and man on the moon were the only songs I recognized, but loved the closer, ignoreland and even the instrumental overall a 8-9/10 album
I don’t know why I expected to dislike this (as I’m not really familiar with R.E.M.) but it was surprisingly good. Nice and melancholy, though I must admit, also a little boring at times. Favorite tracks: Try Not To Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Sweetness Follows 3.5 rounded up
Excellent. 4,5
So far on this site I've had several R.E.M. albums, about 3% of the albums to date! Anyway, R.E.M. is one of those bands I never really cared for back then. Didn't particularly hate them either. After having R.E.M. pushed at my via this list, I think I like them a bit better, but not enough to rush out an buy a copy. It's a pretty consistent album, Sidewinder and Everybody Hurts stand out for me.
I guess I just like R.E.M. Two albums in three days. They’re truly lovely. Stipe’s voice is so weirdly average and simultaneously iconic.
REM Everybody hurts is so simple and great. Sweetness follows is also great . Find the River is good. Least favorite was Drive. String arrangements by John Paul Jones 3.5
This is really good but REM has never really done it for me. Don’t love the singing. So much better than most of the stuff we’ve been getting lol. 3.5
This sounds like liquid gold compared to the other stuff we’ve been forced to listen to. My favorite was Ignoreland
really easy listening, some of the songs are a little too boring or slow. lyrics and songwriting are excellent, especially the last few songs
Not bad music, just not a fan of the singing.
The last album Kurt Cobain listened to before he died... I really like R.E.M and love Michael Stipe's voice, which reminds me so much of Gord Downie's. "Man on the Moon" is a great hit on this album but I also really liked "Ignoreland" and "Nightswimming."
points for being the first(?) album on the list to reference classic board games
A very pensive and mature album, probably my favorite I’ve heard by REM. Lots of radio hits on here, which is kinda funny since it’s pretty quiet and slow. Definitely one worth replaying. Best song: Nightswimming
I get what u guys r saying ab the good album streak! I liked this, just an easy good listen 8/10
This is the kind of good album I was talking about when I asked why nobody could make one. Nice lead vocals, good song structure, balanced mix, enough melodic/rhythmic variation between and within songs to keep it interesting. That said, it’s just a good album, not a great album… checks all the boxes and doesn’t do that much more for me. 7/10
7/10 - Everybody hurts is such a meme song but there were some absolute bangers in this album Ignoreland was the only one I had not heard that I liked quite a lot. But The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite is good and so is Man on the Moon and Nightswimming
I really liked this. The back half especially was super solid, and the last few songs were bangers. I just don’t think I can give this a 5 because the first half of the album wasn’t my favorite 8/10
Despite being their most acclaimed and popular album, I actually don't care for it as much as their earlier releases. I can admit their sound is much more sophisticated, with clear vocals, slower tempos, and mature lyrics while still emphasizing Stripe's distinguished whiney vocal style and jangly folk pop melodies, this time accompanied by orchestral strings. Songs like "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" do evoke a sense of their earlier hits but much more confident and complete. The strengths of this album lie in the front and back. "Drive" is a fantastic memorable song unlike anything else they've done. "Try Not to Breathe" is an awesome ballad with his most emotional vocals and a fun jangly melody. "Sidewinner Sleeps Tonight" is a bright fun song that evokes their earlier hits but much more confident and complete. Loud and energetic. "Everybody Hits" is their simple slow folk ballad that somehow became tied for their most famous song. It's a good ballad with some Bealesesque strings near the end, just a bit cliche and overdramatic while dragging on longer than it had to. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" is a strange but lovely jazz instrumental. A bit repetitive and unlike anything else from their catalog, but it's a nice interlude. "Sweetness Follows" is an ambient track with forgettable vocals but atmospheric between the strings, jangly guitar, and distortion. I really liked the ending. "Monty Got a Raw Deal" is a bit generic but the guitars have a tint of western and what sounds like a Japanese koto near the end. "Ignoreland" is a noise rock outlier on here, with a loud distorted hard rock sound. I find it conflicts by his boring vocals here, with not much going on. I did really like the last minute. "Star Me Kitten" is a beautiful lullaby ballad. I did find it boring and forgettable. The album picks up into a monumental finish with "Man on the Moon." It's loud, lush, and catchy. My only complaint is that it did sound a bit repetitive. They could have cut the middle verse and chorus, instead of dragging on to over 5 minutes. "Nightswimming" is a beautiful bright ballad that evokes a sense of hope and nostalgia. The strings and pianos work really well to compliment his voice. It took me a few listens, but I really love that last minute. Seems to be a theme with this album, where the beginning of a song entices it, it loses me in the middle, then wows me at the end. "Find the River" is our melancholic closer. I like the contrast with the high-pitched strings, the angelic back vocals, and his provocative poetic songwriting. Some consider this to be their best song. Looking back on this record, I can why it's so beloved by both fans and the mainstream. It's consistent with plenty of innovative ideas, mature songwriting, and clean production. It's just not my style. I prefer REM at their most lo-fi, jangly, and punk.
I knew the hits. Only one other song really spoke to me. They definitely have a sound, but I like it and it holds up.
Solid 4.0 for Michael Stipe
Classic 90s album. It was on heavy rotation in the car CD player. I reminds me of feeling sick.
Really liked this one, def one I’d go back to
It's hard to place where REM fits in the history of rock. Their quality is superb but it's slightly difficult to find their influence in modern rock given the scale of their best albums. This isn't their best work in my opinion, but the highs are as good as any of their albums. The ending of this album just floors me with emotion, doing what they do best
this is a great album. songs of recollection and existence... it's beautiful, emotional and melancholic from start to finish. it's done in such a way like no other. this mellowed out rock is just sublime, really makes you think. not sure if i'm feeling a perfect five but a four will suffice.
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album overall. A lot of catchy melodies, jangly riffs, and beautiful orchestral elements. The singles were a highlight in particular but the whole album is great, although sometimes slightly boring. Favorite songs: Drive, Try Not To Breathe, Everybody Hurts, New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Monty Got A Raw Deal, Man On The Moon, Nightswimming. Worst song: Star Me Kitten.
It's alright, its got some good songs in it
Classic. But -1 for Everybody Hurts starting the slow part of the album. Heinous stuff.
Really enjoyed this album. Something about the singers voice is very nostalgic to me.
It starts with Drive which is a great track. I’ve heard this before and always liked it. Try Not to Breathe was new to me. Really great sounding track. Everybody Hurts is a classic, and beautifully melancholy but hopeful. Monty Got a Raw Deal and Sweetness had a nice, mellow sound. Man on the Moon remains one of my favorites. Star Me Kitten was my least favorite track on the album. It’s just didn’t vibe with me. The rest of the tracks were ok - didn’t love them, didn’t hate them. Overall I give it a 4 - nice, mellow sound with several standout tracks
Many catchy melodies that surround somber themes. It lacks some punch but delivers depth and authenticity.
Drive 4 Try not to breathe 3 The sidewinder sleeps tonight 3 Everybody hurts 5 New Orleans instrumental No.1 2 Sweetness follows 3 Monty got a raw deal 2 Ignoreland 3 Star me kitten 2 Man on the moon 4 Nightswimming 4 Find the river 4
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.