Agreed about Shiny Happy People
But I had a bit off a soft spot for REM from Green through to New Adventures in Hi Fi I enjoyed them.

I saw them in Trafalgar Square in early 2001 for the 'Free South Africa' celebration and it was fucking great.

Although I just googled them to confirm that data and am surprised how many albums they released after 'Hi-Fi' that just passed me by.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 22 Sep 2011, 10:18, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

I thought Automatic for the People
was spectacularly overrated, and more than a little bit dull.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Sep 2011, 10:20, Reply)

Given that from this distance I can't remember a single track that was on it
I'm not really in a position to argue the point.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 22 Sep 2011, 10:41, Reply)

Everybody Hurts, Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, Nightswimming...
it's the album where practically every track on it was released as a single in the most cynical record company marketing scam ever committed.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Sep 2011, 10:44, Reply)

Oh!
I liked Sidewinder...
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 22 Sep 2011, 10:55, Reply)

Taken individually
I like a number of tracks on the album. As an album in itself, however, I don't think it hangs together very well, if that makes sense. With the exception of Sidewinder all the tracks are quite slow and therefore it makes the album very samey, which I don't like.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Sep 2011, 11:02, Reply)