3.7 - Here's another "agree to disagree" R.E.M record for me. I've listened to it 7 or 8 times, letting it marinate and trying to catch the buzz ("10" on Pitchfork?!). Instrumentally it's exceptional. I love the lean but effective rhythms and the panoply of colorful guitar sounds. My one big gripe is that Michael Stipe isn't bringing enough lyrically or vocally for me. His moaning and mumbling convey emotion but the lyrics are seemingly gobbledygook (e.g. "Put your hair back, we get to leave/Eleven gallows on your sleeve..."). I'm reminded of the Italian song "Prisencolinensinainciusol" that's all gibberish lyrics meant to sound like an American rock song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VsmF9m_Nt8