Album - Automatic For The People
Band - R.E.M.
Band Members - Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe
Year - 1992
Ratings - 7.5/10
Some of you may wonder ’’What is Esgallindeion, the huge metal fan doing writing reviews on R.E.M.?’’
The answer to that is, before Blind Guardian, before Iron Maiden and before Led Zeppelin, I used to hear a band called R.E.M. The letters by the way stand for Random Eye Movement if you want to go by what most fans believe. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Michael Stipe saying that they just liked the dots and filled up three letters randomly.
Even though my favourite R.E.M. song is not of this album, I’ll rate this as my favourite R.E.M. album due to the consistency of the songs. There isn’t a single song which I would rather skip than hear.
I like the way Michael Stipe succeeds to maintain his control over the songs. Although guitar isn’t R.E.M.’s strong point in my honest opinion, this album has some pretty good riffs. The songs are quite different from each other. Take for eg Everybody Hurts, one of the most melancholy songs I have heard and then compare it with The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight.
Anyway, bear into account that I haven’t heard these songs (with the exception of the best 2-3) for more than a year. Even then, I guess I have given a pretty clear picture about them...
The songs -
1. Drive
A decent opener with a nice deep acoustic intro with decent electric guitar riffs in the middle. Very soft songs like most of the songs in the album. The song is quite solemn and rightly described as a ’’death march’’.
2. Try Not To Breathe
Its a bit more Rock than the opener, but I prefer Drive. I don’t like the way the guitarist plays single notes with the verse. The lyrics, in my opinion, indicate personal pain and torment. A decent song, anyway.
3. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
One of the better songs of the album. The music is quite nice but maybe the lyrics leave a lot to desire. But its amazing the way Michael sings ’’Call me when you try to wake her up’’ completing it only 6-7 syllables. Stipe’s a really good singer as is evident in this song but I can’t truthfully say I understood exactly everything he meant. It begins with a girl trying to use a pay phone without paying and Stipe then frames the words to provide a collosal brain teaser.
4. Everybody Hurts
Arguably the best song of the album. Its really a sad and touching song and it was also played after 9/11 as a tribute.
It shows Stipe at his best and although the guitar isn’t amazing, its just perfect for the type of song this is intended to be.
The message is extremely clear as the song goes on with Stipe continually saying stuff like ’’Hold on’’ ’’No, no, no, You’re not alone.’’
Its the perfect song to listen when you are feeling quite down.
5. New Orleans Instrumental
I read somewhere that this is this piece has been perfectly placed so as to allow the listener to pause and think about the previous song and its excellence. I agree. Nothing more to add. Its just an average instrumental.
6. Sweetness Follows
The best thing about this album is that even though it hasn’t got anything amzingly spectacular, it manages to maintain its consistency. This song is the perfect example of what I just said. It talks about death of brothers and parents. But ’’What did you care, if you lost another?’’ is the general theme.
7. Monty Got A Raw Deal
Its a very nice acoustic song. The lyrics are great and the riffs are also pretty typical of Peter Buck, especially the way he goes in this album.
8. Ignoreland
I think this is the song which sounds most like the R.E.M. of old.
9. Star Me Kitten
Its a decent song, but my least favourite of the album. I don’t know why, many R.E.M. fans I know of, like this song, but I never did.
10. Man On The Moon
This was the song which introduced me to the band. I heard it on T.V. long ago and what really struck me was the simple but superb melody of the song and the way Stipe sings the words. He also sings about Andy Kauffman, the comedian (I guess).
11. Nightswimming
Another superb song of the album. Probably one of the best. The song is full of memories of the singer. ’’Turn around and let the windshield show...’’
The melody of the song is the best of the album (and probably comes in my top 10 list) and the lyrics are as good (if not better) than Everybody Hurts. Its the best song to listen to whether you want to fall into a peaceful sleep, have a nice romantic dinner, simply play some game or while studying. I love the way Stipe uses metaphors like ’’Recklessness of water’’. Also phrases like ’’Pining for the moon’’ ’’What if there were two’’ ’’Side by side in orbit around the Ferris sun’’ in a blemishless melody and an equally flawless voice.
12. Find The River
This is also a very good song but I think it is overshadowed by the likes of Nightswimming. After listening to Nightswimming, I didn’t want to hear any other song. I just wanted the album to end or that song to continue endlessly.
If I were asked to arrange the songs in the order in which I like them...
Nightswimming - 10/10
Man on the Moon - 9.8/10
Everybody Hurts - 9/10
Sidewinder - 8.5/10
Drive - 8.5/10
Monty Got a Raw Deal - 8.7/10 but still its below the other two!! go figure!!
Sweetness Follows - 8.5/10
Find The River - 8/10
Instrumental - 7.9/10
Try Not to Breathe - 7.5/10
Ignorealand - 7.5/10
Star Me Kitten - 5/10