User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 112 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 74 out of 112
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Mixed: 24 out of 112
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Negative: 14 out of 112
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Apr 5, 2012
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Aug 30, 2012Around The Sun is NOT Sh*t. OK, that's the worst album R.E.M. have ever made, but it's not so horrible as people says. The problem is the limp sound, but the songs are ok. Leaving New York and Aftermath are very good, and there other songs that don't sound bad (Electron Blue, Final Straw, ecc.)
Always better than that garbage we must listen now. -
Dec 24, 2017
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LucaGOct 10, 2004yeah!yeah!yeah!yeah!yeah!
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EQOct 23, 2004
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[Anonymous]Oct 3, 2004Excellent Excellent Excellent
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eliadsOct 3, 2004great album
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stefanoOct 6, 2004Dull and uninspired.
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thomasmOct 6, 2004quiet and peacefull, something for the background, no peaks, no lows
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BagheeraOct 6, 2004
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jimdOct 7, 2004Let it grow on you and it will reveal it's beauty for you. A masterpiece from the Athens boys.
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bobbyGOct 8, 2004I think the critics seem to have it in for REM. This is a fine album that reveals more on each listen. Why it's had a poor critical response is beyond me.
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wilfaOct 9, 2004this is a definite grower just gets better more u listen to it
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DaveROct 9, 2004
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MarkpFeb 2, 2006I expected more after the superb lead-off single ("Leaving New York" is in my top 3 REM songs) but the album is drab and lacklustre. You feel the fire has gone out of their bellies and the expected lp-every-two-years routine has killed their creativity. They need to take a couple of years and stockpile some better material. And up the tempo a little. Away with the middle-age malaise
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pascoOct 11, 2004
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NeilHOct 11, 2004It definitely benefits from being listened to several times. Some of the songs then come across very strongly, for example 'I wanted to be wrong' and 'Wanderlust'. On the whole, it doesnt challenge the ears like some of the earlier REM albums.
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MaikKOct 3, 2004
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davetOct 3, 2004Leaving new york, Final straw, I wanted to be wrong, Aftermath, Around the sun and Wanderlust are all on this album and some have called it dull? whatever, y'all. This is great stuff. It takes a listen or two to take it all in, maybe. And no, it won't make you jump up and dance all the way through. But that just isn't the point. There are many gooseflesh inspiring musical moments.
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SimonOOct 4, 2004Don't believe the half-assed critics who gave it a listen with their remote in their hand. This is a marvellous album, full of passion, melody, awesome lyrics and innovative music. Not a filler on the album, although there are many high points. If you buy this album you won't be dissapointed. It deserves a few listens and it gets under your skin, amazing. Right back on form
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HeathSOct 4, 2004Fantastic
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BrandonSOct 5, 2004Incredible. I find myself baffled by the professional critics' reluctance to embrace this album. Is it as good as "Automatic For the People?" No, it's not as good as their masterpiece. Is this an extraordinary record? Without a doubt.
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BrettOct 5, 2004this album flat out sucks.
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AdrianECOct 5, 2004Attention "critics, "It takes more than one spin of a CD to review it. I know you have such a hard life, writing your opinions on the FREE cd's you recieve but take your time and throughly review the CD's or just resign I'd love to have yr job.
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JohnHOct 6, 2004
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juniormOct 7, 2004
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JontiDOct 7, 2005
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michaelsFeb 21, 2005Don't hate the band; hate the album.
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ScottYJul 9, 2005
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JaceNJan 31, 2006
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Kg.Jan 3, 2006This album is not for everybody
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IbanLOct 5, 2006
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CollingsjMar 8, 2006a master piece
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JonasH.Apr 2, 2008I'm a general fan of a lot of REM's music, and I must admit I disagree this is one of their worst albums. Although they have let down their old-school rock style, it's still great.
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MarkMOct 10, 2004After 1 listen-through, I felt totally disappointed. After 2 listen-throughs, I felt like selling it. After the 3rd listen-through in my car, I had a catharsis from this album. I mean a shiver went down my spine on certain moments in the album. Not one song overshadows another. A true album. Genius.
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BenJOct 12, 2004Either a compact disc or a sedative - sometimes it's hard to tell. This is marginally better than "Reveal", but that's really not saying much. This is really the sound of a once relevant band slipping in to dreary instrumentation and scrabbling around for a decent hook.
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TonyONov 21, 2004Not as glorious a pop record as Reveal - but not far off either. I do not get the critical backlash about this one at all - what I hear is a humble, comfortable REM, crafting soulful music that reflects both their own growth, and the travails of the modern world. Don't listen to the critics - REM has left them behind..
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tdrmNov 2, 2004aaaa ..listen... , not bad
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JorisVNov 28, 2004
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RandehOct 14, 2004Not as bad as the metascore suggests but nonetheless definitely not REM at their finest. Maybe its that its just too slow for me, but you get the feeling that Stipe really has become lost. Who knows, if you're tolerant enough to give this album a few listens maybe it really will become as good as they say, but thats a big if.
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craigtOct 21, 2004
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MattHOct 21, 2004As for some of the other reviewers - I was dissapointed with the album - probably until day 5 of listening n my car to/from work did it hit. I seriously rate this is REM's best - and find it a truly uplifting album. I think Michael Stipe has found peace in some sublime way........love it
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KatieBDec 2, 2004Each time I listen to this album I like it more and more. It's absolutely beautiful and definitely deserves a second chance if you're not too sure about it the first time.
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V.Z.Oct 27, 2004My girlfriend and I started to listen to the CD. It was boring. We decided to have sex. That was pretty cool.
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julesDec 9, 2004
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MMOct 4, 2004A serious disappointment - the first REM record with nothing to recommend it. A dud.
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CorperJOct 5, 2004Amazing, and ridiculous, how poorly reviewed this album has been. Another brilliant record.
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michaelpOct 5, 2004this cd has some of the finest r.e.m. songs ever. highlights include leaving new york, electron blue, the outsiders, the ascent of man, and around the sun.
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LucaPOct 6, 2004The 3 boys still rock, see ya in italy on january!!!!
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EdwindOct 6, 2004This album sounded really boring at first, but it grows on you after a while and only then its beauty is revealed. That's why the critics don't like it. I love it
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gopalrOct 6, 2004A great REM album.
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MichaelWOct 8, 2004A beautiful, subdued, and uplifting album. Michael Stipe has never been more honest or straightforward. You can actually UNDERSTAND every word he is saying. With every album REM creates a different work of art. And of course, as with every REM album, it gets better and better the more you listen to it.
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ZacharyFOct 8, 2004
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DuncanAFeb 2, 2005Can't believe the bad reviews this album has received. The album is a document of the last four years. Perhaps hard to get into at first. but well worth the effort.
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bobcMay 22, 2005alot of mediocre material - they set the bar high and this one falls very short. great song - leaving ny. can't remember being this dissapointed with a new rem disc
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DaxrFeb 13, 2006
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RossH.Mar 1, 2007Not as good as other albums but electron blue is like a footballer who plays well but doesnt bask himself in glory
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carmelvNov 11, 2004I just love all songs... one by one... a great album... Don't know & don't care for bad critics. R.E.M - Missed you... Its Good to be BACK!!!
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JSaintNov 16, 2004Their most tuneful (by far) since automatic for the people
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fatwamNov 16, 2004
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SkuliHOct 12, 2004This is the most consistent and interesting album R.E.M. have released in over a decade. The subtle political overtones are a welcome relief from the in-your-face mud that fills up my living room these days. No, it's not my family! My advice to all the negative critics is- give this album more time.
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JohnNov 24, 2004Anyone who gives this a low rating reviewed this on first impression. This is a complex and at times moody set of somgs, but they have real depth that grows and grows. If you've given this a low rating, listen again, and again......
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SteveROct 13, 2004Are Buck and Mills even on this album? It sounds like computer-generated R.E.M. with Stipe over the top. For an album full of love-hate songs and political statements it's suprisingly flat. It's hard to the buy the raw emotion of the lyrics when the songs sound this painstakingly over-produced. Too much studio tinkering always kills the passion. Unless you're Eno and Lanois.
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EricFOct 17, 2004
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flamerNov 8, 2004i really liked this album especially electron blue
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JanPKNov 8, 2004
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JimRDec 19, 2004Never a big REM fan here, but at least there music was not coma inducing before, like this crapola is.
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LéoRMar 16, 2005Good album... REM is not affraid to invent and to mix new sounds. The Band don´t sell itself. It believe in something. Creative songs and brilliant keysboards. Listen with heart and brain...
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JonHJun 23, 2005
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Nov 25, 2010
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Jul 22, 2011R.E.M.'s worst to date, despite quality material like "Leaving New York" sprinkling up occasionally. Most of these are just poorly written piano ballads that make me long for the days when an R.E.M. ballad meant "Perfect Circle," "Camera," "Wendell Gee" or most of Automatic for the People, not "I Wanted to Be Wrong" or "Boy in the Well."
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May 29, 2017
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Feb 23, 2022Самая слабая работа группы. К сожалению, я здесь даже практически не слышу любимого Миллса, а песни не запоминаются от слова совсем. Да, есть несколько удачных, но не более того.
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Oct 26, 2014
Awards & Rankings
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New Musical Express (NME)The first REM album to really disappoint. [2 Oct 2004, p.60]
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Its sporadic pockets of accessibility aside, it's difficult to listen to Around the Sun without hearing it as a holding pattern, or worse, a piece of product released simply to keep the R.E.M. brand out among the public.
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R.E.M. still have the remarkable distinction of never once producing a bad album, but this is perhaps the biggest example yet of the group merely treading water, whereas once they majestically swam.