Classic Albums I have never heard

Trollheart · 09-24-2014, 11:08 AM

Title: Automatic for the people
Artiste: REM
Year: 1992
Chronological position: Eighth album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Nothing bar the few singles, most of which are from this album!
Why is this considered a classic? It seems to hold a place as one of the best albums of the 1990s, plus there were six singles from it, four of which were big hits and it sold over 18 million copies. Probably opened up REM to new fans too who may not have heard their previous work.
My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great
One track in --- Great
Halfway through --- Great
Finished --- Great

Comments: Despite apparently wanting to write a kickass rock album, REM have admitted that AftP is held together by the slow songs, and no wonder: there are eight of them. Which suits good ol' ballad-loving Troll! Interesting how many tracks I know on this and didn't realise it. Other than the two smash singles of course. I like the acoustic feel of “Drive” and the slightly waltzy “Try not to breathe”. The organ is nice too. There's a bit of a kick needed though and it comes in the shape of “The sidewinder sleeps tonight”, then “Everybody hurts” is my favourite REM song ever, of the admittedly few I've heard. Just love that song.

“Sweetness follows” has a nice sort of folky feel with what sounds like a jew's harp but probably isn't, as the album slides back into low gear after “Sidewinder”, then back up a little for “Ignoreland” but back to snail pace for the lovely, almost proggy “Star me kitten” and of course I know “Man on the moon”, leaving me with “Nightswimming” and “Find me the river”, both of which I like.

Favourite track(s): Pretty much everything; of the ones I didn't know Nightswimming and Star me kitten stand out for me
Least favourite track(s): None

Final impression --- Could this be what they call a shoegaze album these days? Well no, but it definitely has a lot of slow tracks; I can't say I really dislike any of it. Can't compare it to other REM albums as I haven't heard any, but for an entry point it's pretty cool. Quite liked this. Doesn't push me to listen to more REM, but I wouldn't be averse. Stipe's voice does start to grind on my nerves a little by the end of the album though.

Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?
G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits

Added in a new category, as I don't think I could choose any of the others, so this is the first ever G rating.

Isbjørn · 09-24-2014, 01:01 PM

I'd like to see your opinion on Murmur. That's also R.E.M.

**Janszoon** · 09-24-2014, 02:34 PM

AFTP is such a great album. They should have stopped there, it would have been the perfect swansong to an amazing career.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 09-24-2014, 03:53 PM

I just noticed there's an album & band I thought would be on your list that isn't.....

Trollheart · 09-24-2014, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

I'd like to see your opinion on Murmur. That's also R.E.M.

Well I did say I'm trying to keep to just one album per artiste, so that the list doesn't get too unmanageable...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

I just noticed there's an album & band I thought would be on your list that isn't.....

Ooh yeah! I've heard a few Hawkwind albums. They can be great, weird, baffling but always interesting. I'll be adding this one. Thanks.

sidewinder · 09-25-2014, 12:53 PM

I like this journal. Maybe something like this would push me to spend time listening to my wishlist items. As I've gone through my yearly top 10s, I've also made note of classics from each year that I've never heard - at least those that seem interesting to me. There's probably an average of 10-15 for each year.

**Goofle** · 09-25-2014, 01:36 PM

The Auteurs - New Wave (1993)

???

Urban Hat€monger ? · 09-25-2014, 02:57 PM

^^
In my capacity as official Luke Haines fanboy I feel it's my duty to second this

Josef K · 09-25-2014, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

“Everybody hurts” is my favourite REM song ever

Get out.

No, but seriously, Murmur, Reckoning, and Lifes Rich Pageant are all albums I would call classic. This may be the snobby elitist in me talking, but I definitely would not say the same thing about AFTP.

**Janszoon** · 09-25-2014, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josef K

Get out.

No, but seriously, Murmur, Reckoning, and Lifes Rich Pageant are all albums I would call classic. This may be the snobby elitist in me talking, but I definitely would not say the same thing about AFTP.

Murmur and Lifes Rich Pageant, yes. But I always thought Reckoning was by far their worst album for IRS.

09-24-2014, 11:08 AM	#251 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Automatic for the people Artiste: REM Year: 1992 Chronological position: Eighth album Previous experience of this artiste?: Nothing bar the few singles, most of which are from this album! Why is this considered a classic? It seems to hold a place as one of the best albums of the 1990s, plus there were six singles from it, four of which were big hits and it sold over 18 million copies. Probably opened up REM to new fans too who may not have heard their previous work. My thoughts One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great One track in --- Great Halfway through --- Great Finished --- Great Comments: Despite apparently wanting to write a kickass rock album, REM have admitted that AftP is held together by the slow songs, and no wonder: there are eight of them. Which suits good ol' ballad-loving Troll! Interesting how many tracks I know on this and didn't realise it. Other than the two smash singles of course. I like the acoustic feel of “Drive” and the slightly waltzy “Try not to breathe”. The organ is nice too. There's a bit of a kick needed though and it comes in the shape of “The sidewinder sleeps tonight”, then “Everybody hurts” is my favourite REM song ever, of the admittedly few I've heard. Just love that song. “Sweetness follows” has a nice sort of folky feel with what sounds like a jew's harp but probably isn't, as the album slides back into low gear after “Sidewinder”, then back up a little for “Ignoreland” but back to snail pace for the lovely, almost proggy “Star me kitten” and of course I know “Man on the moon”, leaving me with “Nightswimming” and “Find me the river”, both of which I like. Favourite track(s): Pretty much everything; of the ones I didn't know Nightswimming and Star me kitten stand out for me Least favourite track(s): None Final impression --- Could this be what they call a shoegaze album these days? Well no, but it definitely has a lot of slow tracks; I can't say I really dislike any of it. Can't compare it to other REM albums as I haven't heard any, but for an entry point it's pretty cool. Quite liked this. Doesn't push me to listen to more REM, but I wouldn't be averse. Stipe's voice does start to grind on my nerves a little by the end of the album though. Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner B) I'm sorry I bothered C) I might end up liking this D) Have to wait and see E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic? F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic? G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits Added in a new category, as I don't think I could choose any of the others, so this is the first ever G rating. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

09-24-2014, 01:01 PM	#252 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	I'd like to see your opinion on Murmur. That's also R.E.M. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

09-24-2014, 02:34 PM	#253 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	AFTP is such a great album. They should have stopped there, it would have been the perfect swansong to an amazing career. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

09-24-2014, 03:53 PM	#254 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	I just noticed there's an album & band I thought would be on your list that isn't..... __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

09-25-2014, 12:53 PM	#256 (permalink)
sidewinder Engorged Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,536	I like this journal. Maybe something like this would push me to spend time listening to my wishlist items. As I've gone through my yearly top 10s, I've also made note of classics from each year that I've never heard - at least those that seem interesting to me. There's probably an average of 10-15 for each year. __________________ last.fm \| my collection on RYM \| vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

09-25-2014, 02:57 PM	#258 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	^^ In my capacity as official Luke Haines fanboy I feel it's my duty to second this __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.