Here it is 17 years later, and I'm still listening to this CD. Every song on here is awesome. A timeless classic.
July 3, 2008am I with tirades against this CD! Okay, it's not nearly as good as Automatic for the People or their first three, but it's not unremittingly awful either. Sure, the standout by far is Losing My Religion, but the unheralded other classic here is "Country Feedback," a brillaint, disjointed precursor to the genius of "Drive" and E-bow the Letter." "Texarkana" and "Low" are quite good as well. And I'll defend "Near Wild Heaven," a sweet Beach Boys confection and, really going out on a limb, "Shiny Happy People." Okay, it comes off as hoplessly naive optimism and it's as silly as "Stand," but there are moments in life like that. I love intense REM too, but it's not a crime to be a kid for three minutes again. And lay off poor Kate Pierson, she's just right here (and isn't she on Country Feedback too, in a more serious tone?). All in all, Out of Time is at least better than Green, which has even more misfires.
June 29, 2008The two previous albums by REM brought the band to the notice of radio, making them headliners in large venues throughout the country. The momentum would continue with "Out Of Time" the album that would push them over the top into superstar status. The singles "Loosing My Religion" and "Shiny Happy People" were all over MTV getting played dozens of times nationally every single day. Although vastly overplayed "Loosing My Religion" is still a great pop tune and one of the best singles the band ever released. Overall though I feel this album is a step down for REM. The album starts out with a rap from KRS one in "Radio Song" which sounds pretty dated today. Actually my favorite song on the album is one of the two that bassist Mike Mills sings in "Texarkana". It is great little tune. Kate Pierson from the B-52's appears all over the album on backup and occasional lead vocals. Her voice works well with Michael Stipe, but a lot of this material is much more pop oriented than REM fans might have been used to. One positive note found the band using a lot wider instrumentation on this album. Mandolin, strings, and other non-traditional instruments began to appear on this disc, and would be used much more effectively on their next one. Overall this is an album that a lot of people love, and I still like it ok, but I think several other REM albums are better.
February 12, 2008Man, it's a good thing I gave this a listen. Automatic For The People bites, and if I would have walked away from R.E.M, I bever would have liked them. This is refreshing to hear, and to be honest, I don't think Michael Stipe dosen't mumble and moan like he did on the next album. Out Of Time is very great for the first eight songs, with the the album really taking a dip after Texarkana.
Personally, the songs Country Feedback and Me In Honey are the low points. Country Feedback has a nice emotion coming out of it. I just wished I wasn't so bored listening to it (and his vocals are total _______). And Me In Honey is absolutely annoying. The song hangs in the air and dosen't go away. And while Texarkana has a nice, hopeful, epic sound to it, it's not a real strong standout. It's a decent song, and nothing else.
The great thing is, that's it for the weak tracks. The rest of the album will last a long time, and for good reasons too. There's a _____load of instruments used here, and with REM's knack for making great melodies, it's pushed to the _______ max, with a lot more to work with. COnsidering they could make catchy music like the songs on Murmur with the three piece set up, they got Mandolins, strings, organs, horns, and more! They use em' well, and make some great pop songs that some people hate, but that's people for you.
My personal favorites would be Radio Song, Shiny Happy People, Near Wild Heaven, Low, and Half A World Away. Despite what other people think, I like Shiny Happy People, which is listen in a list of the one of the "100 wussiest songs ever". If you don't like relentlessy poppy music, than you won't like it.
It's a bit short, (when you take out the last two, which I don't listen to because the songs suck), yes, but it won't matter. You may just repeat it when it's over. By the way, the cover and music actually can match a bit. I don't know, but some of these songs hover like it's looking over the horizon, just like the cover. I thought that was pretty cool.
7.5/10
September 29, 2007This is REM at their earliest emergence of sheer brilliance. Losing My Religion is simply one of the best songs ever made in the history of music - it alone is worth the price of the cd. The other songs are quite good too, such as Radio Song and Shiny Happy People. While this cd is overshadowed by it's successor, Automatic For The People, it really delivers. It has a folksy feel to it and defines REM as probably their most significant cd ever released. They really reached prominence with this cd. Losing My Religion is the main story behind this cd - sheer brilliance and genius.
September 17, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(164 reviews)
