Project 1001: Automatic For The People by R.E.M.
Hey kids / Where are you? / Nobody tells you what to do
R.E.M. first came to my attention when, in late 1983, some high school friends of mine touted this new group from Georgia playing something called “alternative rock”. These friends frequently listened the college radio station, so they often talked about new artists they heard from that. And usually, I wasn’t too keen on any of it. But there was something different about R.E.M. I didn’t hate their music it immediately. I thought they sounded like a bunch of weirdos, but at the same time they were compelling and interesting-sounding and had something valuable to say. I didn’t become a fan that early. I sure as heck became a fan later though. I think R.E.M. is one of the greatest American bands ever.
Automatic for the People is a truly excellent record. While most of the songs are slower-tempo and could even be considered ballads, they hit with much impact. Automatic for the People arguably features R.E.M. at the peak of their song writing power. I can’t say anything bad about this album. I’ve listened to it often over the years and it will remain in my regular playing rotation forever.
My Rating:
Rolling Stone review: “This is the members of R.E.M. delving deeper than ever; grown sadder and wiser, the Athens subversives reveal a darker vision that shimmers with new, complex beauty.
“Despite its difficult concerns, most of Automatic is musically irresistible. Still present, if at a slower tempo, is the tunefulness that without compromising the band’s highly personal message, made these Georgia misfits platinum sellers.”1
Pitchfork reviewing 25th Anniversary reissue: “…an austere but nakedly emotional album consumed by the anxiety of aging, the inevitability of death, the loss of innocence, and the impossibility of holding on to the past.”2
In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Jake Kennedy wrote:
“In 1992, R.E.M. wrong-footed everyone. Previously the band had dealt in an upbeat, emotive, and hugely successful brand of folk pop on second major label album, Out of Time. But the guest rappers and mandolins were soon to be replaced by something altogether more subtle, human, and lasting.”3
Charts
• Peak on Billboard 200 album chart: #24
• Singles on Billboard Hot 100 chart:
> ”Drive” #28
> ”Man on the Moon” #30
> “Everybody Hurts” #295
• RIAA certification:
> 4x Platinum | February 9,
> 3x Platinum | November 16, 1993
> 2x Platinum | December 17, 1992
> Platinum | December 17, 1992
> Gold | December 17, 19926
Released on October 5, 1992. Here’s what else was happening:
Pop Culture
• Number one song: End of the Road by Boyz II Men7
• Number one album: Some Gave All by Billy Ray Cyrus8
• Number one movie: The Last of the Mohicans by Michael Mann9
• Most watched TV programs: 60 Minutes, Rosanne, Home Improvement10
• NYT bestseller, fiction: Where Is Joe Merchant? by Jimmy Buffett.11
• NYT bestseller, non-fiction: The Way Things Ought To Be by Rush Limbaugh12
Other albums released that month
• Fully Completely by The Tragically Hip
• Angel Heart by Bonnie Tyler
• Twice Upon a Time: The Singles by Siouxsie and the Banshees
• Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
• Can I Borrow a Dollar? by Common
• Can't Run from Yourself by Tanya Tucker
• Grave Dancers Union by Soul Asylum
• Home for Christmas by Amy Grant
• Our Time In Eden by 10,000 Maniacs
• Play Me Backwards by Joan Baez
• The Road Behind by GWAR
• Once in a Lifetime – The Best of Talking Heads by Talking Heads
• Bigger, Better, Faster, More! by 4 Non Blondes
• Love Symbol Album by Prince
• Piece of Cake by Mudhoney
• Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds by Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds
• Ignition by The Offspring
• Carnival of Carnage by Insane Clown Posse
• Main Offender by Keith Richards
• Breathless by Kenny G
• Erotica by Madonna
• You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 by Frank Zappa
• Live by AC/DC
• Love Deluxe by Sade
• Homebrew by Neneh Cherry
• It's About Time by SWV
• Playground Psychotics by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
• The Great Deceiver by King Crimson
• Greatest Hits by Gloria Estefan13
Sport
• Oct 1 Gil Stein officially becomes only the 5th president in the NHL's 75-year history; serves for just one year before the title changed to “commissioner”.
• Oct 4 Solheim Cup Women's Golf, Dalmahoy CC: Europe beats US, 11½-6½.
• Oct 7 Tampa Bay Lightning become 1st NHL expansion team to win franchise opener, in 7-3 win over visiting Chicago Black Hawks.
• Oct 8 Ottawa Senators 1st NHL game.
• Oct 11 Deion Sanders plays for Atlanta Falcons (NFL) & Braves (Baseball).
• Oct 12 Wash Redskin Art Monk sets NFL record with 820th reception.
• Oct 14 MLB American League Championship: Toronto Blue Jays beat Oakland Athletics, 4 games to 2.
• Oct 14 MLB National League Championship: Atlanta Braves beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 games to 3.14
Notable Births
• Oct 9 Tyler James Williams, American actor (Everybody Hates Chris, Abbott Elementary), born in Westchester County, New York.
• Oct 11 Cardi B, American rapper ("Bodak Yellow";"I Like It"; "WAP"), born in New York City.
• Oct 12 Josh Hutcherson, American actor (Hunger Games films), born in Union, Kentucky.
• Oct 16 Bryce Harper, American baseball outfielder (7 × MLB All-Star; NL MVP 2015, 21; NLCS MVP 2022; All-MLB First Team 2021; Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies), born in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Oct 18 Barry Keoghan, Irish BAFTA Award-winning actor (Saltburn, Eternals), born in Dublin, Ireland.15
Historical Events
• Oct 1 Cartoon Cable Network premieres.
• Oct 1 Ross Perot re-enters US presidential race.
• Oct 3 Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor rips up a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live".
• Oct 4 The Rome General Peace Accords ends a 16 year civil war in Mozambique.
• Oct 8 Pioneer Venus Orbiter (1st Venus orbiter-1978), crashes into Venus.
• Oct 9 Great meteorite seen from Kentucky to New York.
• Oct 11 1st three-way US presidential debate (George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot).
• Oct 12 5.8 earthquake at Cairo (at least 510 die).
• Oct 12 Arecibo radio telescope begins Microwave Observing Project search for occupied planets.16
Notable Deaths
• Oct 5 Eddie Kendricks, American singer-songwriter (The Temptations, 1960-71 - "I Can't Get Next To You"; "Just My Imagination"), dies of lung cancer at 52.
• Oct 6 Denholm Elliott, English actor (Raiders of Lost Ark), dies at 70.
• Oct 8 Willy Brandy, German statesman, leader of the SPD party (1964-1987) and Chancellor of West Germany (1969-74, Nobel 1971), dies of cancer at 78.
• Oct 16 Shirley Booth, American Tony Award-winning stage and screen actress (Come Back, Little Sheba; Hazel), dies of natural causes at 94.17
Enjoy and listen without prejudice. Cheers!
To listen with Prime: 121. Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
Because so many great songs came out around this time, I had to do a second play list! 121. v2.0 Bonus
Full video playlist: You're Welcome 121; Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
Jake Kennedy, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die; ed by Robert Dimmery, p. 690.
Ibid.
Ibid.