R.E.M. - Automatic For The People Track-by-Track | X-Posure | Radio X

[@jonrossum8647]

I hope Michael Stipe knows how much his artistry - honesty- and bravery had a lifetime effect on people - he is an amazing teacher

[@drewwho4625]

so true

[@lonestarbug]

What bravery?

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

​@@lonestarbugthe sheer courage to be oneself. 🙇‍♂️

[@lonestarbug]

@@RebekahCurielAlessi A teacher of what?

[@InParticularNobody]

@@lonestarbug humans

[@DXP322]

What an incredible album, one masterpiece after the other

[@giventofly_0]

There is an argument to be made that this may be the greatest of all American bands. Since I first heard Pearl Jam in the early 90s I have thought them to be the most important band for my generation. And I think I was wrong. Everything about REM screams class, talent, perfection in song writing and.....Integrity. After Out of Time, which sold approximately a billion records, they could so easily have Cut & Paste for the follow up record and sold 10 million without breaking a sweat. But they didn't do that. They wrote Automatic for the People. They tore REM apart and made the finest record of the 90s. Thank you Berry, Buck, Mills & Stipe

[@andreacamattari]

Also: one of the few bands who decided to call it a day at the right time, well aware of how pathetic it can get if you don't do that. Only love and respect for these majestic musicians.

[@HALFSQUASHED]

I'd put REM alongside Springsteen and Neil Young as North Americas finest

[@timmg3139]

@@andreacamattarithey should’ve stopped releasing albums after Nee Adventures. Got very stale in the 2000s

[@barbelwalkerflytying4954]

My favorite album. Every time I listen to it even now almost 30 years on I hear something new. Find a River will be played at my funeral, a song that sums up the journey of my life perfectly.

[@jonathanroselaw]

Just make sure it’s labeled Find The River....

[@lucasoheyze4597]

If you really liked it that much you would probably know the title.

[@firekind1980]

Christ! You know Cry me a river will be played.

[@chauncemce8358]

Michael Stipe and Mike Mills two musical geniuses! Automatic For The People has so much depth, and meaning. It always hits home for me and has helped me through some dark phases I’ve had in life at times. It brings you up and is an encouraging! Every song on that album is amazing!

[@jonrossum8647]

Isn’t that amazing - yes!! It’s one album I keep listening to - I’ve probably bought 5 copies over the last.. 30 years - wow -

[@michaelbritton4119]

This life that pass before my eyes... I am so grateful that I was around to grow up with R.E.M. Somehow, in some weird way, it made living with depression worthwhile. I could never quite put the intense feelings within me to words, but I had their records, and that always helped me get it out. I doubt they’ll ever see this, but I’ll say it anyways- billpetermikemichael... thanks, y’all

[@sartainja]

Anony Amos Amen.

[@jonrossum8647]

Wow - YES I feel like I understand that too - similar effect on me …❤

[@burmaunderground]

"Dark times come, and dark times go, and then they come back again." You got that right, and it's now 2024.

[@iraklismoschonas5214]

That's the thing about great music: even after 30 years, those records sound incredible.

[@carmeldoherty]

Best Band ever I was so lucky to have saw them many years ago 👏👏👏

[@NowPleaseReadThis]

Looks like they recovered from that.

[@orionfoote2890]

Wow, this is a real gem - thrilled that the algorithm threw this up for me tonight. I still listen to their records all the time and what an amazing trajectory their career took. Thanks.

[@tomislavklauski5060]

Drive is out of this world. So hounting

[@dan-hazlehurst]

Fasincating insight by two wonderfully articulate human beings. Michael Stipe is such a unique talent, as humble as he may be. Genius

[@ignacio.carral]

This guy is a great interviewer.

[@marvinnash77]

“Just fantastic”

[@sorcerer1975]

I bought Automatic for the People when it first came out ... I fell in love with R.E.M. and became a life long fan ... AFTP will always be one of my all time favorite albums ...

[@tinostabile3256]

Great interview and insight on a masterpiece of an album. Nice to see how congenial Michael Stipe and Mike Mills are and how well the interviewer let the composers describe each song on that classic album. Thank you, Radio X. Thank you REM for reissuing and revisiting an album that means so much to me.

[@jean-baptiste6479]

I remember my brother purchased that album together with a best of album of Police. It was Christmas approaching in Paris, we also purchased the Christmas tree. We listened to in on an old cassette player.

[@therecordholder]

i love this album so much, I dig how Michael doesn't like the lyrics to sidewinder sleeps tonight, I love the apartment with the payphone downstairs, it just feels so realized and yet Michael says that he wishes it was more realized, I don't know why but I just hang onto that feeling of isolation, of being hard to reach, and that the whole album could be experienced in that apartment, alone, it feels like it grounds the whole album to me.

[@EPerez-kg8ch]

My first R.E.M album, still my favourite.

[@jorgealan997]

Same.

[@mokuho]

I know R.E.M. With drive and everybody hurts in american music award in 1991 and become my favorite group band for all the times...i ♥️ R.E.M

[@beakaHD]

I didn’t have MTV so I stayed up at a friends house till about 4am and walked a hour to get home and get ready for to work just to watch them at that awards. I think they both on a find the river cd single.

[@timjonesvideos]

Still a wonderful, warm, calming album. 'Find the River', 'Try not to Breathe' & 'Sweetness Follows' are my faves.

[@jonrossum8647]

I love it that u pick those songs out I’ll listen to those with another added perspective.. wow

[@golden_eldorado]

I've been listening to this record frequently since 1992, so to realize that I've been doing it for more than 25 years is shocking because "Automatic..." has never been my past, I never forgot the record, it's not one of those records you listen for a while at some point in your life and then move on. I've been listening to this record (among others) in my teenage years, my 20's, 30's and 40's. It's amazing and also scary.

[@carmeldoherty]

Excellent Interview my Son always played REM after college in the afternoon I instantly was hooked on the amazing music and songs Michael Stipe is incredible such a lovely calm voice he has my favourite song is I've Been High I play that song every day 🎶🎶🎶

[@ChrisR-ne4kn]

They were my band back in high school and college and every new album was an event. Automatic was their peak, completely out of left field and absolutely stunning. So many memories listening to this album. This is a great interview delving into detail about each track on their masterpiece.

[@curly_wyn]

It’s their second peak for me. Their best work is definitely Murmur!

[@mimoochodom2684]

Michael Stipe has such a beautiful, calm speaking voice. No wonder he was a chameleon front man.

[@delboy20091]

Best American Band Ever. Automatic re issue is ace.

[@benashworth7653]

better than The Beach Boys, huh

[@vaultgamer6875]

More like the Smiths of America.

[@susankeller164]

Well yeah. The best

[@buckleygeneration]

sc00bydoo10 ... Pearl Jam ain’t shit.

[@footballgeorgiebest]

The Doors R.E.M. The Grateful Dead

[@DXP322]

Wow, the knowledge of this interviewer is pretty impressive, talking about coming to work well prepared!

[@jonrossum8647]

No kidding- I wish every favorite album of mine had this much insight and depth to share with fans of amazing music that had such an impact on my life - wow

[@al1976-v7m]

So cool and true what they say about the album as an art form.

[@MaquiladoraIII]

Drive, Sweetness Follows & Nightswimming are an absolutely wonderful triumvirate.

[@curtislv426]

17:28 Michael is watching you

[@matthewt8214]

There are at least two songs on this perfect album that have brought me to tears

[@bleep77]

Automatic For The People is one of my all-time favorite rock albums! It's one of those albums where every track is amazing. My top favorite songs are Drive, Try Not To Breathe, Sweetness Follows, Nightswimming, and Find The River. Also, this is a great interview with lots of insight!

[@ryandooner1440]

Bleep77 AFTP is also one of my favorites and the tracks you listed are my favorites as well 😀

[@sstaners1234]

My favorites: Drive, Sweetness Follows, Man on the Moon, and Nightswimming.

[@iwaitforher]

i love sweetness follows

[@curly_wyn]

Try Not to Breathe, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts, Sweetness Follows, Star Me Kitten and Find the River most of all are my favorites!

[@panaboy01]

best album in the history of music

[@rmoalxa]

No

[@curly_wyn]

One of them, definitely!

[@al1976-v7m]

Fantastic album that i enjoyed in the 90s and had to get on Vinyl a few years ago. Sidewinder and Man on the Moon were the radio singles, but i ended up liking all the other songs a lot more. "Monty has a raw deal" was a real slowburner for me, i love that song.

[@ethanellis2896]

The look of glee on mr.stipe's eyes when talking about the love for patti and fred Smith ❤😊

[@21innocentbystander]

This is just intoxicating to watch.

[@telegraph2581]

Find the river is the song that has grown so deeply on me over the years

[@SpontaneousWeasel]

What a great interview! Fantastic album... was really moved as a child by everybody hurts, the music video in particular made a big impact on me.

[@mimoochodom2684]

What articulate, intelligent and humble people. You can only but succeed. Oh yeah, the songs came in pretty handy too.

[@theamazingbrokenman]

"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is one of the best tracks in the album. It fits perfectly. This one and "Man on the Moon" add other moods to an otherwise very somber record.

[@paulargryopoulos1779]

Find The River is truly amazing! Some of the best songwriting. It transports me back to when I was a kid.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Yes, I've always loved Sidewinder as well. I can't understand what the band has against it...

[@BookClubDisaster]

It was then they finally figured out how to write a good happy, slightly corny song. Shiny Happy People, Stand....................not nearly as good.

[@dominicaaaaa5547]

i like sidewinder too :0 not one of my favourite REM songs but i'm glad it's on the album

[@TechNoir-wz5ic]

Yeah 100% agree remember hearing The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite way back in 1993 and it just caught my attention immediately its one of those songs once you hear it you never ever forget it its a timeless song..

[@09nob]

These are great but I'm greedy I want more REM albums covered mooorrrrreee, love it.

[@annb1]

Excellent piece. Interviewer right on point.

[@talkingdonkey1817]

Mike Mills inspired me to learn how to play guitar, bass, piano, etc. Big love and respect from New England. Cheers!

[@jonrossum8647]

This is just so awesome

[@deadletteroffice-atributet3261]

Wonderful album. Especially on vinyl!

[@BryanCooperOfficial]

(4:13) Michael Stipe - "There was a big challenge for me, which was to write a song with more 'yeah's in it that any Nirvana song." John Kennedy (without a hint of irony) - "Yeah".

[@synthhero1347]

This is just amazing ❤

[@SpaceCattttt]

Wow, what an excellent interview! I of course knew that the R.E.M. boys always have something interesting to say, but I didn't expect such good questions and understanding from someone who was barely even born when Automatic came out.

[@pgus-zv3cd]

I wanna see this with every rem album

[@robdepolo122]

I enjoy artists talking about their work especially musicians (and writers) .

[@charlesdjones1]

Paused right here.. John Paul Jones, it all makes sense now. My favorite band all time, my favorite bassist, some of Zeppelins best work in the background all belong to him, Automatic has his fingerprints.

[@h20kie]

If you get a chance, search for John Paul Jones, Gillian Welch, Bonnaroo for a real trip into his talent!

[@greensombrero3641]

bravo REM all of you and your albums

[@michaelkimsal788]

Some good memories of this album - friend introduced me around Document time period, and liked it all, but ... Murmur really resonated more than any other, and probably still does. Not sure why, but none of their other stuff has ever hit me as fully as that entire album. It's probably still in my top 10 faves (certainly top 20).

[@matthewgrey6747]

The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Is a very catchy song

[@badgermaniac1]

Thank you @m_millsey for your comments about bands (and citizens in general) and politics around the 25:00 mark.

[@richardluevano8996]

This album is a masterpiece.

[@kristincappiello2598]

Love REM, and this album is one of the very best for sure ✴

[@oktavarizanuarlis8308]

I love them....one of legend....

[@alisonharte76]

I like each album of theirs for different reasons. Realistically a band can't have longevity of they churn out same stuff! ☺

[@krisscanlon4051]

AFTP is the antidote to Grunge Rock and flaccid indie rock! Loved the lp and ideas...

[@doxakosmos5955]

El mejor album que escuche en toda mi vuda!los amo💗💗💗💗😘🇦🇷

[@vivianesilveirapaiva5800]

I LOVE MICHAEL STIPE I LOVE R.E.M

[@iewtcher6604]

REM was my favorite all time group, but I do like the old stuff the best, Chronic town, murmur etc.

[@hbhooooihbbgvv]

Their early stuff is pretty cool alright, love murmur, catapult is an awesome track, and moral kiosk, but damn I can't understand what Michael is singing, and love playing them for other people, they get so confused, cause most people think REM started with "out of time"

[@teodelfuego]

Roger Edgerton Chill out, man.

[@joplet1]

WAS?

[@davidmoseley4509]

@@joplet1 they broke up 10 years ago, I think that’s all he means

[@KowankoMusic]

I love this! And I love AFTP.

[@noooooooammmmmm]

Love those guys.

[@jorgealan997]

My favorite album in life. I want a video of someone explaining why is this such a great album

[@matthew4694]

Let us know when you post it!

[@AK-wc9rl]

Who else thinks UP is the most underrated album ever? I even prefer it to Automatic, it's that good.

[@SpaceCattttt]

It's underrated, but not even close to being the most underrated. Personally, my favourite is Monster, which seems to be their most hated album. And that's probably worse than being underrated. Or perhaps not? I mean, if something is hated, at least people are aware of it...

[@hbhooooihbbgvv]

AK ,I agree "UP" is one of my favourite albums, "walk unafraid " and "falls to climb are some of my favourite tracks. I guess it's what each person gets from each album, or where you are in life when you listen to it, we attach to different aspects of them I guess. I've recently started listening to reveal again, and I think I stayed away from it because of what was happening in my life when it came out, it brought back some bad memories but great songs on it, listening to them from a different perspective now.

[@hbhooooihbbgvv]

teppolundgren Whaaaa? Can't believe it's their most hated album, why? Let me in? Strange currencies? Tongue? It's the first REM album I ever heard , listening outside my brothers door, I was immediately a fan!

[@BookClubDisaster]

Up is very underrated. Also their last great album. I remember it was kind of the beginning of the end of their mass commercial appeal. It was just too weird for many people to latch on to. I also think it might deserve credit (or blame) for the Kid A and beyond Radiohead. Thom Yorke was a huge REM fan it seems more than coincidental that REM came out with a more electronic album in 1998 and Radiohead came out with a more electronic album in 2000.

[@michaelbritton4119]

UP is fucking brilliant. Play monster, new adventures and Up back to back. Listen to it as a single album. It’s quite a journey

[@deathkampdrone]

The studio walls look like Red Medicine by Fugazi ;)

[@Uncannyguitar]

Deathkampdrone looks like a pasta strainer as well haha

[@marcusshane8503]

Deathkampdrone 😂😂😂😂😂

[@SlinkiestTortoise23]

Deathkampdrone Fugazi are the best band. Simple as that.

[@sartainja]

Too much f-ing green for me. Gives me a headache. Too commercial.

[@chrisfrantz2158]

I thought the exact same thing

[@mtetrick]

Please correct this error in the description: It says - "the band knew they would need to tour whatever they ended up with" It should say - "the band knew they would NOT need to tour whatever they ended up with"

[@mattmcgovern6591]

21:51, just found that hilarious, like" Michael, WTF?!!!! hahahah

[@thatsentertainment5602]

A masterpiece of an album in terms of great songs, band performance, musical production and arrangements, audio engineering. Reveal and Around the Sun have that same sombre tone to Automatic for the People.

[@TheChadls]

My 1st cd

[@briandowdall6495]

Slane castle Ireland. They came on as the headliners after Oasis. Best outdoor concert ever. Stipe is a genius. Rem can write lyrics, add great hooks, bring every song to a crescendo and make you think. Listen and take what you need from each song and use it as you see fit. One of the greatest bands of all time for sure. Please tour again guys and make one more statement for the world to listen to. Please

[@ThiagodMoraes]

R.E.M are an amazing band,it breaks my heart but i do understand why they did break up.They worldwide recognized as a true rock n roll band despite being called pop bulshit for few!!!

[@andersoncosta4770]

I think that this Automatic For The People - track by track interview is better than the Monster - track by track they did, the interviewer seems more assertive here, he did his homework, Mike and Michael seem to be enjoying too.

[@michae13james10]

It’s been such a treat to hear this track by track Fascinating and so brilliant for fans who adore the album I hope there can be a ‘New adventures in hi-fi “ interview happening / happened? In fact I’d love to hear a “ green “ and “ out of time “ track by track interview too

[@markrodeo420]

stipe is a bald community superhero.

[@Cheri.Marie_]

Great interview, but I do wish the giant microphones weren’t obscuring their faces so much. I like to see someone’s whole face when they speak.

[@Ryuhza]

I prefer to look at just the ears. You can infer a lot by a pair of ears.

[@al1976-v7m]

@@Ryuhza but even those are covered by earphones

[@vlmaguire81]

Good interview xxx

[@dougwirtanen200]

I really relate to him talking about loops/a drone in a song.

[@natalieps2387]

R.e.m. was such a great and interesting band. Over the entire 80s they never quite hit superstardom but always had such a loyal fan base very popular with college kids it was like a right of passage u entered a certain age and u got into r.e.m. green they got pretty popular but how many bands after 7 albums and 11 years together then hit super stardom ? So funny bc they toured every album then they dont tour for out of time and release a very unconventional hit single losing my religion. That song was very special it hit so big they were the it band on 1991 . Won 6 MTV awards when videos were actually played mostly 3 Grammys and sold 18 million albums worldwide. They were superstars and it was interesting I thought they were a newer band. Like nirvana hit big their second album pearl jam their first. It was a phenomenon and it is the 90s. I was 11 and I remember starting my little bit of coming of age with having friends I hung out with not just being home with family and thinking of boys etc and r.e.m. and 90210 at the same time hit it big I'll never forget that iconic scene where brenda and Dylan ( the late Luke perry) were breaking up on the beach with losing my religion playing. That scene and music captured the 90s perfectly. Then r.e.m. bridged the alternative scene into teen spirit which hit right as losing my religion kinda was at the end of its over and over run on radio as it had been out since Feb I heard teen spirit the first time in late November. It was such a great time for music. Interesting fact courtney love was obsessed with Michael stipe I watched some documentary about kurt and courtney and her ex boyfriend a singer who was locally popular but didnt really hit showed the guy filming her notes in the mid 80s and one was " meet Michael stipe " and the guy says and " courtney goes and does it u gotta love courtney... no you dont " lol. She got kurt into him and wierd that courtney had them move next door to Peter buck. Just wondering her obsession with Michael stipe she was always looking to snag a rock singer she dated Billy corgan right before kurt I bet she had the hots for stipe but sad for her he is gay which he hid very well. I had no clue and its nice without social media u could hide ur sexuality. I dont think he tried to hide it just felt it wasnt relevant to his music. I did start to get annoyed with their politics not to say I agree or disagree but I just dont care for famous people shoving their politics in my face and thank God r.e.m. didnt until the inauguration of bubba Clinton and they bash Reagan a lot but I miss the days I never knew their politics and could listen to the music . I guess I was too young too understand their political message I guess bush wacked is about George sr. I just want to love the music and hear about the music not politics. My opinion only.

[@ivorbigonee]

anyone else keep going to tap that x in the top right corner?

[@al1976-v7m]

Haha exactly

[@randomizedred]

I’ve listened to quite a few records in my life so far ..... I can say without hesitation that automatic for the people is my favourite. It may be surpassed at some point but honestly I doubt it.

[@bfarmer1647]

Stunning album, great interviewer, great interview. HOWEVER many times Michael mentions 'having worked with these guys', being lucky to be 'associated with these guys" instead of 'or band'. I found that very interesting as a study of the individual within the group. He mentions the darkness of growing up so I wonder whether this solidarity is basically part of his DNA ? This is my favourite album closely followed by The Joshua Tree and when they came to Melbourne, I was fortunate to see them although I am glad Michael dropped the blue eye paint.

[@ProfessorRiffs]

Michael staring the camera down at 17:28.

[@Landofthefree937]

I love how Everybody Hurts channels Bowie’s Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide

[@hinkel1980]

glad that i grew op with R.E.M. and not with a Britney Spears, Back street boys,Puff Daddy,Lady Gaga,Justin Bieber,Miley Cyrus and all that bollocks!! thanks R.E.M. for my good youth!!!

[@leob4403]

Britney and BSB are fucking Mozart compared to Miley Cyrus, are you kidding me. They had great pop songs. It's the 2010's when popular music really started taking a turn down the shitter

[@sartainja]

Amen, Hink.

[@emptylikebox]

@@leob4403 agree

[@alisonharte76]

Love and miss a rem . Lucky to see them three times. But respect their decision. The music is there forever tho!

[@Zontar82]

they have been the only band from the 80's to call it quit before becoming a parody of themselves, churning out albums just to make money, devoid of any sentiment, unlike their brethren U2, depeche mode etc instead keep on doing. mad props for their guts

[@annford6640]

"Square peg in a round hole," is just fine with us, Michael. Anything but "cookie cutter" -- #longlivetheunique {a}

[@lucasoheyze4597]

Nobody holds Michael Stipe in higher regard than Michael Stipe does.

[@Picnicl]

Something perhaps little said about Automatic for the People is that it was, in a weird way, a pointer towards Monster. Automatic was originally envisioned to be a more 'rocking' album than the perhaps more funk meets country pop of Out of Time. Yet generally I think Automatic's regarded as a part sombre, part sentimental, album. In fact, it's much 'sexier', much more thinking outside the box than that. Look at the video for The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. With its dark yet colourful alternative disco vibe, it's like a precursor to the What's the frequency Kenneth video. Star me Kitten says hi to the gloriously seedy Star 69. But a defining difference of Automatic is how deliberately postmodernist it is. Whilst Document referenced Senator McCarthy, Automatic is more largely than before about famous American 'stuff'. Dr Seuss, Andy Kauffman, Elvis Montgomery Clift, even the title of the album is consumer 'stuff' - it's a slogan from a diner. The title also has that democratic, yet autocratic, kind of 'Achtung Baby' sound about it. In an election year (like Green was) several song titles could, fittingly, be slogans/commands - Drive! Try not to breathe! Find the river! Automatic is a refined album that nevertheless shows a cheeky glimpse of something saucy (Nightswimming too), something 1950s yet something of every decade since too. Bono called it "the greatest country album never made" i.e. that it's kind of very country but it's also kind of very deliberately not - there's a Nighthawks Edward Hopper urban feel about the back cover art. Electric guitars appear in songs. It's testament to REM's greatness that you could also call Out of Time or New Adventures in Hi-Fi "the greatest country album never made".

[@Zontar82]

Maybe i am a "lesser" REM fan,but i still think to this day that Monster is one of their best album

[@Picnicl]

Why do you think you're a lesser REM fan? Monster is an amazing album and its subtexts are beyond most popular radio.

[@williamashford2057]

REM'S automatic For the People I's a calssic Album From Srtart To Finally.

[@Fabi_W]

33:06 Nightswimming

[@damagedbug8848]

17:25 Michael?......Miichaelll?...nope hes gone again...

[@gregoryrogalsky6937]

Maybe you could have gotten a bigger mikes that would have covered their whole face. ? I love this album..

[@adrianz5872]

Fantastic businessmen.

[@paulsinob]

Masterpiece is an overused word these days but truly applies to Automatic for the People.

[@horheygrey]

I've seen concert footage of Peter wearing a shirt that looks exactly like the shirt Mike is wearing. Was there a big sale of Brown Microdot shirts in Athens one day?

[@krisscanlon4051]

Great comment...Bob Dylan favored them in 1965

[@martinblumrich8296]

Holy Over Compressed Audio Batman! They all sound like talking robots!

[@jessestrobel2]

Error in the bio - they said they (didn't) need to tour the album, and were happy about that. Also, Stipe fumbles here: 2:16. Says "Reagan Sr." when he meant "Bush Sr."

[@marcmorgado]

I remember watching the premiere of "Dive" video on MTV and thinking "wow... this is so NOT like Shiny Happy People... :) "