Customer Reviews
Out of time, not out of ideas - By: Mr. B. Mcmillan, 16 Jun 2008 
This was the time when the UK stood up & took notice of Athens' finest. Their bravery in issuing a mandolin led first single was regrettably offset by their foray into cheesy pop. 'Shiny Happy People' & 'Radio Song' aside, this is an excellent record that holds songs of great variety & boasts two of the best songs of that particular era in 'Losing My Religion' & a song so personal that Mr Stipe had to perform it with his back to the audience - 'Country Feedback'. They may have been thrust upon the UK market for alll the wrong reasons (see cheesy pop reference above), but in this case the end very definitely justified the means.
A MUST OWN ! - By: Mr. G. A. Sim, 30 Jan 2008 
I lost this album when I moved & had'nt heard it for a few years so I bought it again. The critics say automatic was their best album I do not belive that for one minute! this album is one of the best ever made uplifting & moving. It is timeless................
REM - By: Mr. D. J. Bennett, 11 Aug 2007 This was, in my opinion, REM's best album. For me, far more depth than its successor, Automatic for the People.
Masters of melody, simply stunning. - By: Neil Prescott, 21 Jul 2007 Although it is difficult to say which is REM's best album, in my view, Out of Time just edges it. The consistency in the quality of the songs right the way through the album is frightening. I will never forget the day I first heard Losing My Religion. I was on the bus going to the gym when it came on the radio on my walkman, I've never been as blown away by a song as I was with this on first listen & no song since has had quite the same effect. It's the perfect combination of music, lyrics & melody & still remains in my view the best song ever made.
I hurried out & bought the album on the strength of this song & wasn't disappointed although I was initiallly when I heard the first 2 songs on the album Radio Song & Low. They have grown slightly but I still think they are poor & always skip them. However the rest of the album is perfection. Near Wild Heaven is joyous, very summery & melodic as is Shiny happy People which although may be a bit silly lyric wise is still as melodic a song as you are likely to hear & great to sing along to. Belong is different but as good as anything else on the album, the harmonies are stunning. Half a World Away is my second favourite song on the album only slightly ahead of Belong. Again, a perfect mix of melody, lyrics & music. Micheal Stipe's voice is superb alll through the album but particularly on this song, beautifull. Texarkana is next, I would have prefered Stipe to have sung this but Mills still does a great job. Country Feedback took ages to grow on me & I love it now but still wouldn't include it as a stand out. Me in Honey finishes things off, another great melodic song.
If you like melody & catchy songs then look no further than this album. Pure brilliance. Marks out of 10 for the tracks are as follows.
Radio Song - 7/10
Low - 5/10
Losing My Religion 10/10
Near Wild Heaven 9/10
Endgame 8/10
Shiny Happy People 10/10
Belong 10/10
Half a World Away 10/10
Texakana 9/10
Country Feedback 8/10
Me in Honey 9/10
great lp but not for the reasons you think - By: Mr. G. J. Smith, 20 Jan 2007 We alll know shiny happy people & losing my religion but there are real gems here that aren't so well known. Like Belong, a story with a an ooh, ooh chorus.
There's also half the world away & me in honey, great songs & totallly worth the price of the LP
