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Out of Time [25th Anniversary Edition] Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 22 Ratings

  • Summary: The reissued and expanded release of the seventh album for the alternative rock band features a disc of unreleased demos. The deluxe edition includes an additional disco of a live recording from a concert for West Virginia’s Mountain Stage radio show that featured Robyn Hitchcock and Billy Bragg.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Nov 17, 2016
    90
    Scott Litt's crisp, clean production always had a plangent directness that suited Out of Time perfectly, and any remastering tweaks are pretty imperceptible. Disc two here is entirely comprised of demos, many of them instrumental, and certainly not something to repeatedly listen to in a single sitting.
  2. Dec 2, 2016
    84
    If anything, the album now sounds more like the masterpiece it felt just short of at the time, a work nearly on par with its more universally regarded, nocturnal sequel Automatic for the People.
  3. Uncut
    Nov 17, 2016
    80
    Out Of Times sounds slight, so pop-driven that it feels weightless; in '91, it sounded like a triumph, but really it was a herald of triumphs to come. There is, however, something extremely reassuring about the volatility of this album, its out-of-time-ness, which suggests that the music isn't simply confined to the past but thrives in the present. [Dec 2016, p.46]
  4. 80
    An extra disc of 19 newly remixed demos is more than window dressing. Stripped from the production flourishes, these early raw versions of every OOT track show the songs taking shape with hummed sections where words hadn’t been written, different lyrics and sometimes no lyrics at all. Not just for fans, these bring us closer to the creation of the tunes, generating a terrific alternative version of one of R.E.M.’s finest collections.
  5. Q Magazine
    Nov 17, 2016
    80
    It was the album that cleared the way for them to become one of the '90s biggest bands. Country Feedback is still one of their best songs, a plaintive, alt-country ballad that allowed Michael Stipe's voice to shine. [Dec 2016, p.117]
  6. Dec 2, 2016
    80
    Listening now, it’s easier to understand. Buffed to perfection by Scott Litt and John Keane, Out Of Time is a proudly pop album that demands new audiences. ... For hardcore fans, the extra material is a full but mixed bag.
  7. Magnet
    Nov 17, 2016
    60
    As 1991 albums go, Out Of time in its own way is an era-defining as Nevermind, Loveless or Spiderland. [No. 137, p.58]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Dec 30, 2017
    10
    Shiny happy people and losing my religion had a huge impact on my 8 year old ears in the early nineties. As an adult I find every trackShiny happy people and losing my religion had a huge impact on my 8 year old ears in the early nineties. As an adult I find every track sonically pleasing, and I now really appreciate tracks like Low, Endgame and country feedback.
    Katie Pearson's harmonies add something special and the overall acoustic feel has its charm. I enjoy finding the various moments of this album where R.E.M dip its toes in a few different genres to craft their unique 'post 80s WB records' stamp.
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  2. Aug 7, 2017
    9
    For some, "Out of Time" is the pinnacle of R.E.M's career. For others, it signalled the beginning of the end. I'm a fan of pretty much all ofFor some, "Out of Time" is the pinnacle of R.E.M's career. For others, it signalled the beginning of the end. I'm a fan of pretty much all of the bands back catalogue, up to and including their final offering "Collapse Into Now", but this album, along with it's follow up, "Automatic For the People" are true classics. They have incredibly wide appeal without the band compromising on their sound. Some people (perhaps even members of the band) use "Shiny Happy People" to argue against this point but I'm quite fond of that track myself. While the leap to stadium juggernaut could be seen coming before this, "Out of Time" truly marks where R.E.M moved away from their indie kingdom in search of something bigger. Any record that contains "Losing My Religion" and "Half A World Away" is going to get close to full marks. The rest of the album is pretty close to perfect with only the odd moment feeling dated and giving away the age of the record. Expand
  3. Feb 19, 2019
    9
    Wonderful album. Every one of these tracks are timeless and could be singles if they wanted to. My picks from this are "Near Wild Heaven" and "Low".
  4. Feb 3, 2020
    8
    This is a fun and poppy album with very catchy tunes and incredible vocals from all involved. Losing my Religion is of course a classic. ThisThis is a fun and poppy album with very catchy tunes and incredible vocals from all involved. Losing my Religion is of course a classic. This is classic R.E.M. Expand
  5. Feb 23, 2022
    8
    Обожаю отсюда «Near Wild Heaven». Вообще, каждый раз когда слышу Майка Миллса, буквально восхищаюсь. Какой же у него приятный вокал.Обожаю отсюда «Near Wild Heaven». Вообще, каждый раз когда слышу Майка Миллса, буквально восхищаюсь. Какой же у него приятный вокал.