A total classic
I own 400 Cd's. Out of those 400, i have maybe 10 Five star albums. This is one of them. REM hit a peak with this record that most bands can only dream about. The songs, which string together and bring forth the true definition of an "album", are flawless. With "Drive", lead singer Michael Stipe, while he could scream his feelings into the song, tell the youth of America: "Hey, kids, rock and roll, nobody tells you where to go" almost in a whisper. His whisper and his feelings are found throughout the album, and are very effective. From "Try Not To Breathe" to "Find The River", The underlying theme is melencoly. The songs are sad, but at the same time, uplifting. In "Try Not to Breathe", Stipe sings about needing to "fly over my grave again", while in "Everybody Hurts", he tells the whole world, and i'm sure many people that have contemplated suicide, to "hold on". The whole time the music behind him, provided by guitarist Peter Buck, bassist and keyboardist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry, flow right along with the words. I think there is more use of e-minor on this album then on any other in the history of music. However, Buck uses this chord more effectivly then anyone, making it sound as fresh and melodic as it can be. All three musicians sounds as tight as ever, building the songs from scratch and presenting them to the world with striking beauty. I feel that this ablum stands next to Radiohead's "OK Computer" as the best album of the 90's, and for any true music lover out there, this is a must.
A bittersweet classic
Automatic for the People is, quite simply, a masterpiece. It is my first (and so far, only) REM record, but it glows with such incredible emotion and depth that it should last anyone a long time. The album features a collection of magnificent alternative rock tracks - some are slow, quiet and haunting (Drive), some are sweet and poppy (Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite), some are bittersweet and moving (Everybody Hurts, Nightswimming), and some are deep and energetic (Ignoreland). But differences aside, every song adds up to make Automatic a fabulous collection of alternative rock. The overall mood of the record is melancholy but hopeful, with many songs containing heartfelt reflections, introspections, morals, and messages. And even if you're not a big of fan of REM's standard stuff, the diversity of the album's tracks should provide a breath of fresh air, and I think there's something here for everyone.
DRIVE: A slow, hautning rock track with good vocals and guitars.
TRY NOT TO BREATHE: I like the pacing and tempo of this song. The vocals are very well done, especially the chorus with interrwining lyrics.
THE SIDEWINDER SLEEPS TONITE: A peppy, upbeat pop track with catchy lyrics.
EVERYBODY HURTS: A quiet but deeply moving ballad with outstanding vocals and guitars
NEW ORLEANS INSTRUMENTAL NO. 1: A calm, peaceful instrumental track
SWEETNESS FOLLOWS: Another slow track with great background guitars and good vocals
MONTY GOT A RAW DEAL: I love this song. The drums are awesome, the guitar riff in the chorus is very well done, and the vocals are heartfelt.
IGNORELAND: A politically-charged emotional chant by Michael Stipe. I think it's a nice foil to the bevy of slow songs in the record, and the song is very energizing and meaningful.
STAR ME KITTEN: Slow and brooding, with relaxing guitars and vocals.
MAN ON THE MOON: An excellent alternative rock track with memorable lyrics and great guitar work.
NIGHTSWIMMING: I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was about 5. It's a magnificent song with a very moving, melancholy sound and fantastic strings.
FIND THE RIVER: A calming, upbeat closer with more talented vocals.
One of the best albums of all time.
I just had to buy this album after all the hype and reviews that surrounded it. R.E.M. are my favourite band of all time, and this is the second album I bought (after "Out Of Time") and I was, literally, amazed...This album, especially compared to "Out Of Time", is dark and moody, but every song is special, and every song brings it's own point across, and, more often than not, means something different to everyone that hears them.
Well, what do we have? Drive, the album starter, is a fantastic piece of music with heavy hitting guitar chords and moving lyrics... it's my favourite song on the cd, but it's so hard to pick just one!
A couple of tracks down is The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. Erm, ok I lied when I said every song brings it's point across ;) It's a fun, happy piece of fluff that anyone can love, even if they don't know what's going on. Callmewhenyoutrytowakeherup!
...Do I even need to tell you why Everybody Hurts is great? This is a powerful, moving piece that any teenager can relate to. It really is fantastic. If you weren't moved by this, than you've got a heart of stone!
Man On The Moon, again, needs no introduction. Their first song dedicated to Andy Kauffman (followed by the inferior "Great Beyond"), this is an absolute classic that is reason enough to buy the cd.
The two closers, Nightswimming and Find The River, are brilliant. I don't think they could have closed this moody, emotional album in any better way... they just work so well, with each other, and with the rest of the album.
The other songs, including the instrumental, are all great songs that are more than worthy of recognition (particularly Star Me Kitten).
This album is a must own for anyone who claims they know good music. Trust me: Buy it now!!!
REM's third masterpiece
Well, the last reviewer CLEARLY showed his lack of knowledge on REM or his good taste. So, where to start?
REM had hit their high point twice in the past. The first time was MURMUR, an indie rock classic that was influential to many bands. The second time was their commercial breakthrough, DOCUMENT, when a large amount of confused people turned "The One I Love" into a hit. Now, AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE has become a melancholy classic.
Track by track, this is REM's best album lyrically, and it benefits from the reliance on acoustic instruments. "Drive", "Man on the Moon", "Everybody Hurts", "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and "Nightswimming" are among REM's best songs. "Try Not To Breathe", "Monty Got A Raw Deal" and "Find The River" are probably REM"s best songs that nobody knows about. If you are an REM fan and you don't own this, buy it as soon as possible.
lite comforting tunes
My favorite tracks here are Drive, Man on the Moon, and Nightswimming. But there are others worth noting. All are memorable easy-listening tunes for those more soothing moments.
David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"
Continuing to specialize in the art of curve-throwing, R.E.M. followed up its 1991 smash, Out of Time, with this fragile album of soft melodies and string arrangements. The sympathetic ballad "Everybody Hurts" must have prevented countless suicide attempts, while the Andy Kaufman tribute "Man on the Moon" (with Michael Stipe affecting an Elvis Presley imitation) and the rock-into-oblivion "Drive" are among the quartet's strongest hits. (The opening line, "Hey, kids, rock and roll," isn't so much a rallying cry as an expression of anxiety.) It takes a few listens for its charms to unfold, but Automatic is the gem between bigger hits Out of Time and Monster. --Steve Knopper
