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| | Automatic for the People | | | Music Artist : | | R.E.M. | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Warner Bros / Wea | | Release Date : | | 1992-10-06 | | Store Price : | | $13.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $12.99 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Drive
2. Try Not to Breathe
3. Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
4. Everybody Hurts
5. New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 [Instrumental]
6. Sweetness Follows
7. Monty Got a Raw Deal
8. Ignoreland
9. Star Me Kitten
10. Man on the Moon
11. Nightswimming
12. Find the River
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 Thus began adolescence...
Submitted on: 2010-02-05 |
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| I was at a 9th grade birthday party, for a girl named Brooke. I hardly knew her. Her brother put in a CD, which was still pretty novel in Alaska then. I had watched a few R.E.M. videos on MTV, but I hadn't really understood until I heard this album in its entirety. I fell in love. From the melodies to the album art, I was hooked. I have loved R.E.M. since that day. This particular album is R.E.M. at its best. |
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 Music That Interrupted My Attempts At Suicide
Submitted on: 2010-01-22 |
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| This album came out during a time in my life when I had lost a job that I loved, for reasons that were about nothing but sexual discrimination. After losing my job; I was evicted from an apartment I'd been living in for eight years. For the first time in my life I was homeless, very angry, extremely afraid, and depressed in the most dark and painful way ever. I became very self-destructive, hopeless, purposeless, and dead. I was staying at a friends apartment for a while, and when I discovered that that friend was not a true and caring friend; I dived though a glass window from a 30 feet balcony. I severely fractured my skull, put myself in a coma, lost my ability to walk and talk for 13 months. While I was in the hospital for rehabilitation, a friend brought me some music he thought might be uplifting; and "Automatic For The People" was one I listened to everyday. There were three songs that effected me deeply. EVERYBODY HURTS made me cry, and at the same time made me angry. Sure everybody does hurt; but not everybody is capable of dealing with hurt. I wanted the tell Michael Stipe to shut his damn mouth; but I still listened to the song everyday. The second song that I like to hate was TRY NOT TO BREATHE. Again I found myself spilling out the foulest of words at Michael Stipe; because I thought he was telling me that no matter how many times I might try to kill myself, that it will never work for a reason. I cursed at Michael Stipe big time about this song. But I guess I really liked it more than I was willing to admit at the time. The third song the pissed me off had a title that elevated my blood pressure. SWEETNESS FOLLOWS I thought was trying to tell me that a sweetness in life is waiting for me, and that was why all of my attempts at suicide had not been successful. I hated this song, and I liked it at the same time. I am still healing from an acute head trauma, and I still listen to this album a lot. |
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R.E.M.'s Best Album
Submitted on: 2010-01-13 |
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When this album first came out in the Fall of 1992, it was a clear masterpiece from front to back. It flowed throughout and impressed with each additional listen. It fit the mood of the early 90's and was a great soundtrack driving in the car, as background at a house party, or listening alone at home.
Looking back now, it doesn't have the same resonance that it once had for me, but after 6 more R.E.M. albums, it still stands as their best work. Strangely or not though, when compiling personal best of REM CDs, songs like "Hairshirt" from Green, "Welcome to the Occupation" from Document, and "Country Feedback" from Out of Time rise well above everything here except for "Find the River", which is easily the best song on the album. "Nightswimming" is a close second. As a complete album though, it is R.E.M.'s best, and is worth whatever the cost. |
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Slightly flawed masterpiece
Submitted on: 2009-10-24 |
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In a way, it's ironic that 'Automatic For The People' became REM's most popular and well-known album, because it's not really representative of their typical sound. Rather than the slightly ragged jangle pop of their early years, or the political rock of the late 80's, 'Automatic..' a collection of subdued, introspective folk-rock songs. It's still recognisable as REM, but it is a departure of sorts, particularly after the bright pop of 'Out Of Time'. The risk certainly paid off, with the album becoming a critical and commercial success, and spawning some of REM's most loved songs.
The album begins on a slightly underwhelming note, with 'Drive' being an odd choice for the opener. However, this is immediately followed by the emotional and intelligent euthanasia reflection 'Try Not To Breathe'. The more upbeat 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite' is more reflective of their sound on 'Out Of Time', while 'Everybody Hurts' became a massive hit, and is one of REM's best-known songs.
'Automatic...' ends with three of its best songs; the Andy Kaufman tribute 'Man On The Moon' is another slightly up-tempo song that's reminiscent of 'Out Of Time'. 'Nightswimming' is a beautiful ballad, one of REM's most under-rated songs, with Stipe accompanied only by a piano. And 'Find The River' provides a positive but bittersweet closer, and is a perfect summation of the themes of the album.
However, while the beginning and end of the album are some of REM's best work, the middle sags slightly. In particular, I've always found the political 'Ignoreland' a bit jarring and out-of-place among the deeply personal themes on display here. 'Sweetness Follows' and the sly 'Star Me Kitten' are good, but a couple of the others aren't quite to the same standard. While it's impossible to expect every song will be a classic, the outstanding quality of the beginning and end of the album does highlight the slight drop off in quality through the middle stretch.
So 'Automatic...' is not quite the perfect masterpiece some fans claim, but it is definitely a strong album, and one of REM's best. Despite its weighty themes, the album never becomes bogged down in sentimentality and sappiness, and (apart from 'Ignoreland') doesn't resort to lecturing or posturing. In many ways, it's surprising REM didn't continue down this route, since it was a perfect direction for the band to follow as they matured. Their less-than-consistent output since this album means that 'Automatic..' can be considered the peak of their success, commercially and creatively. Unfortunately, it looks like a peak they will not be able to match again.
[4.5 stars]
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One of REM's best works, a true milestone
Submitted on: 2009-10-20 |
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This is one of those rock albums that has about 1/4 of it primed for commercial success right off the presses. "Automatically liked" by the people. And that's what happened--a number of songs hit the upper end of the charts after this album debuted in 1992. As for the other songs, they didn't get as much airtime but they are certainly well worth a listen. This isn't to say that you're going to like every single song on this album, but it's hard not to feel like at least 3/4 of the album is worth listening to again and again, becoming a staple of your regular music collection.
I wish R.E.M. had kept themselves more in touch with what they achieved in this album. From here, they went on to produce Monster, which was a radical departure from their previous music. Experimentation is to be encouraged in the art of music, because if you don't take chances you don't grow. BUT, there's the matter of balance. Successful rock bands mix the music in their albums, incorporating their future directions little by little. It's extremely risky to make a 180 degree turn in one fell swoop.
I listen to this album and I can't help but feel like this is REM's last great work in terms of the pop/folk/rock music genre. I expect that the diversion they've been on since will tire them out, as pressure from the record labels mounts due to lack of sales, and that they'll have a "grass roots" revisit to the sound that once made them so well known. There's plenty of material to use; life is saturated with change and conflict, considering that is going on today. There are plenty more stories to tell.
So, if "Automatic For The People" has somehow been left out of your collection, reconsider it. If you don't want to buy it new, then pick up a lightly used one from an auction website. But don't bother downloading individual songs via MP3... you'll end up paying much more than you would for the whole the album as you get to know the work more. |
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