Michael Stipe Wrestles with Writer’s Block to Complete ‘Man on the Moon’
The song was ready. Everything was there: Bass, drums, guitars. There was only one slight problem. It didn’t have a title, or lyrics, or vocals.
Automatic for the People
R.E.M. Get Kind of Blue on ‘New Orleans Instrumental No. 1’
Taking inspiration from the Big Easy, and some wine, R.E.M. created a late-night atmosphere on 'Automatic''s lone instrumental track.
R.E.M. Find a Hollow Center in ‘Sweetness Follows’
A meditation on loss, the quiet, pulsing "Sweetness Follows" might be the centerpiece of 'Automatic for the People.'
R.E.M. Show Some Soul on ‘Everybody Hurts’: The Story Behind Every ‘Automatic for the People’ Song
R.E.M.'s R&B-influenced ballad took an uncharacteristically direct approach to the subject of suicide.
25 Years Ago: R.E.M. Create a Melancholy Masterpiece With ‘Automatic for the People’
Initially planning to make a big rock record, R.E.M. decided to focus on acoustic sounds and dark themes on their eighth and, perhaps, most celebrated album.