As a fan of REM, I am always amazed by the success this album brought them. I know they broke through big time a few years before this with the success of Out of Time and the single Losing my religion, but this was the album that sent them through the stratosphere.

Now don't get me wrong, Automatic is not a bad album, it's just very boring at times. I find myself having trouble getting through the whole album. It's strange, but I find New Adventures in Hi-Fi, released several years later to less acclaim, a stronger album and their best Warner Brothers release.

The album does have many strength's, including the opening song Drive, a song that would have fit nicely on New Adventures in Hi-Fi due to it's tone and flow. Man on The Moon is one of their best, and a fantastic tribute to the late comediene Andy Kaufman and his brushes in the wrestling world and his Elvis impersanations. The album's hightlight is Everybody's Hurts, one of REM's best ballads and most emotional songs. Everybody Hurt's is definetely the heart of this record.

All the other songs on this album are good, and there really isn't much filler, but the tone stays a little of the put me to bed now side.

If you aren't that familiar with REM, your best to start off with their earlier and best works, especially their full length debut Murmur, which they have never really duplicated. For their 90's albums, New Adventures in Hi-Fi is the one with the most creativity and depth.

Grade: B-