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Automatic for the People [25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]
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Automatic for the People [25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] Image
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 63 Ratings

  • Summary: The 25th Anniversary release of alternative rock band's eighth full-length studio album features a remastered mix in Dolby Atmos by Scott Litt and engineer Clif Norrellin as well as the full live recording from a set at Athens, Georgia's 40 Watt Club in 1992. The deluxe edition also includesThe 25th Anniversary release of alternative rock band's eighth full-length studio album features a remastered mix in Dolby Atmos by Scott Litt and engineer Clif Norrellin as well as the full live recording from a set at Athens, Georgia's 40 Watt Club in 1992. The deluxe edition also includes a disc of 20 previously unreleased demos, a Blu-ray disc of music videos and a 60-page book.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Magnet
    Dec 22, 2017
    100
    While the album justifies the lavish bonuses, if you get caught up in the myth, you might miss what a weird, wild work it is. Beyond all the beautiful sadness, there's joyful nonsense, a noisy screed against the GOP and the most unabashedly erotic song R.E.M. had released up to that point. [No. 149, p.60]
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  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Nov 10, 2017
    100
    The 25th anniversary reissue offers a disc of live tracks, and a full set of demos and early versions--interesting historical documents for the completest. But the real joy of the reissue is how it prompts those of us who have moulded ourselves around it, or had it play for years almost subconsciously in the distance, to reconsider its place in our lives: to hold it up to the light and see that it is miraculous.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Nov 8, 2017
    100
    It is a stupendous work of art. R.E.M. are essentially a band that work on an emotional level, and this is their most emotionally articulate record: sad and painful, but also funny, raging, exultant, yearning. That it was an enormous hit is a slight distraction, 25 years on. But the music wins out.
  4. Mojo
    Nov 13, 2017
    100
    The live disc's souped-up version of Drive notwithstanding, what comes across is that AFTP is at heart a sublime collection of folks songs. ... A winning package. [Dec 2017, p.103]
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  5. Paste Magazine
    Nov 14, 2017
    94
    Moments of levity (“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” and “Man On The Moon”) and righteous anger (“Ignoreland”) cleared the sinuses but otherwise, the tone of Automatic is marked by doughy pressure and woozy beauty. The remastered version of the LP brings that to the fore as well as emphasizing the skin-tingling intimacy of Michael Stipe’s vocals throughout. ... This expanded edition of the album (three CDs and a blu-ray disc featuring all the promotional videos and the album mixed in Dolby ATMOS) offers a more fully-rounded understanding of Automatic.
  6. Uncut
    Nov 13, 2017
    90
    The self-lacerating starkness of "Drive" still freezes the blood, while at the other end of the emotional scale, "Nightswimming" finds solace in snapshots of a lost summer. [Dec 2017, p.42]
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  7. Austin Chronicle
    Dec 7, 2017
    40
    Unfortunately, the 4-CD deluxe reissue doesn't offer much that accentuates beyond the original.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. brockcheese
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    Wow. A sensitive album about death and moving on and accepting the beauty of life. R.E.M. at their purest. Tackles death without the sappyWow. A sensitive album about death and moving on and accepting the beauty of life. R.E.M. at their purest. Tackles death without the sappy sentiment most other artists would treat it.… Expand
  2. Batters
    Feb 23, 2022
    10
    Почти идеально. Все песни запоминаются, а некоторые пробирают до души. Курт Кобейн хотел бы чтобы четвертый альбом Нирваны звучал именно так –Почти идеально. Все песни запоминаются, а некоторые пробирают до души. Курт Кобейн хотел бы чтобы четвертый альбом Нирваны звучал именно так – я бы хотел это послушать.… Expand
  4. rextree
    Feb 19, 2019
    10
    A beautiful album with layers of emotion and raw feeling. The band knew what they were doing when they crafted this. My favorites are "MontyA beautiful album with layers of emotion and raw feeling. The band knew what they were doing when they crafted this. My favorites are "Monty Got a Raw Deal" and the sad "Everybody Hurts".… Expand
  5. bareacc
    Nov 22, 2017
    9
    The overall feeling I get from this fantastic album is that REM just knew this was a classic before it was even finished.

    Superb from start    The overall feeling I get from this fantastic album is that REM just knew this was a classic before it was even finished.

    Superb from start to finish and it all hangs together in the way albums just don't these days.    … Expand
  6. MusicalButter
    Nov 11, 2017
    9
    R.E.M. have made a very intricate and emotional album, and this Deluxe edition proves it's worth as AFTP is one of American Alt. Rock's finestR.E.M. have made a very intricate and emotional album, and this Deluxe edition proves it's worth as AFTP is one of American Alt. Rock's finest works to this day.

    Standouts: New Orleans Instrumental No. 1, Drive, Monty Got A Raw Deal.

    Fav's: Try Not to Breathe, Sweetness Follows, Ignoreland, Man On The Moon.

    Eh: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite, Everybody Hurts    … Expand
  7. JLuis_001
    Jan 11, 2018
    8
    Another classic with great extras. The vaults of R.E.M. are enormous, they've released more material since they broke up.
  8. KingDonald
    Nov 14, 2017
    8
    This is probably REM's best album. Having said that, what really is the point of a 25th Anniversary version of this, or any album? So its aThis is probably REM's best album. Having said that, what really is the point of a 25th Anniversary version of this, or any album? So its a great album but loses a couple of points solely for being nothing more than a cash grab. Nightswimming and Sweetness Follows are as lovely as anything the band ever did. And good on REM for knowing when it was time to go, they never started pumping out sub-standard nostalgia pieces like a certain band from Ireland… Collapse

See all 8 User Reviews

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