R.E.M. - Out Of Time (1991)

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Artist: R.E.M.
Album: Out Of Time
Genre: Alternative Rock (or Alternative & Punk)

R.E.M._-_Out_of_Time.jpg

This album was originally released in 1991, to my knowledge and according to Wikipedia this album was released on Vinyl, CD & Cassette, though I only have the CD edition of this album which interesting enough was transferred using the AAD process, however I haven't been able to hear any sound issues relating to Analogue to Digital Transfers on this album (unless I'm going deaf :oyea:)

When this album came out it seemed R.E.M. had built up quite a production crew and the complexity of some of these songs suggests they were in the big league with Guest performers making this album happen, at least the accompanied booklet which comes with the CD if full of Names some pictures and some Cartoon Illustrations.

Band Lineup seems to consist of Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe

The Album Consists of:

1. Radio Song
2. Losing My Religion
3. Low
4. Near Wild Heaven
5. Endgame
6. Shiny Happy People
7. Belong
8. Half a World Away
9. Texarkana
10. Country Feedback
11. Me in Honey

The Interesting thing I've heard about this album is people seem to have mixed emotions about it, and some of the songs I really like from it other people will criticise, which is perhaps relevant for any album (show me an album that everyone loves for instance :oyea:), though the songs in question which people seem to brand is "Near Wild Heaven" & "Shiny Happy People", which are perfectly fine and have appeal to me, perhaps the song I think less of is "Radio Song", though I can still happily listen to it even if there's a Rapper in there, I guess that's the beauty of this album which appeals to me in that R.E.M. are producing material which is quite complex and are taking a risk in making music which may not work.
Each of the songs I feel from this album seems to have it's own set of characteristics with regard to the instrumentation an example of this is "Losing My Religion" & "Shiny Happy People", I was somewhat surprised they were on the same album, however their both on it and are interesting songs, I suppose the intent here that R.E.M. were trying to create was some kind of 90s "Pet Sounds" like album, which is perhaps why the album has some appeal to me.

Overall the album I find is pretty good, like I said earlier some people may have a lower opinion of this album than me, though the range, diversity and complexity of the music on this album means I've listened to it quite a bit, at first I wasn't sure if I liked "Automatic For The People" more over this album, though I seem to come back to this album more than "Automatic...." even though they are both good albums, I'd have to give this album 4.5 Out of 5 as a result. :D
 

Soot and Stars

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Like your signature man! I actually did see it only after reading this review but it reflects what your review was saying as well. Anyway, I actually have never listened to this full album but even though I'm not a Shiny happy People fan it doesn't betray R.E.M.s sound in any way. I mean Stand is just as cheesy if not cheesier than that. Nothing wrong with overly cheery tracks here and there from a rock band. Having a great song like Losing My Religion which is a downer with that track makes for a dynamic album which brings different emotions out of you. As far as R.E.M. albums though Automatic For The People would be a hard one to beat for me! :grinthumb
 

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I've heard a few different thoughts regarding R.E.M. and their later albums, like this one, I guess the general feeling I get from people is these later albums are a mish-mash of songs people like/dislike, though there's also a feeling that these albums are too commercial, though the funny thing I was reading about this is the group and more control over their material when they signed to Warners and when their 'Green' album came out, sadly it's the one album I haven't heard anything from as their "Best Of" covers everything from A Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars) from an early EP to their "Document" album in '87. Though I must confess that while I started listening to "Out of Time" & "Automatic...", a lot of their earlier songs from that Best Of album has grown on me. :D
 

Layla

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It's my favorite album by thema , although Automatic is a bit better overall. But This one hast the flow I like.
 

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