REM's Finest - Day 9

Album – Automatic For The People (1992)

Highlight – Find The River

Reason – Just 3 months after the release of ‘Time, REM were back writing songs for the next album.  Having decided not to tour in support of ‘Time, the band were free to start recording for ‘Automatic across the USA.  If ‘Time could be described as the Love album, then Automatic would definitely be the Death album.  The end of a long life in Try Not To Breathe, the thoughts of prematurely ending a young one in Everybody Hurts. The spectre of AIDS hanging over Nightswimming.  But it was the timeless beauty of closing track Find The River, edging out Drive & Man On The Moon that made it to the top.  The wistful reflection of an uncertain future (the original demo made it to the album) could be played every day for 50 years and never get tired.

Stipe Gayness Factor - 7.  Stipe lost friends to the AIDS virus and it’s clear this was playing on his mind through the lyrics of the songs.  He’s almost there…