R.E.M. - Automatic Unearthed (Official Full Documentary) 

Not only a fantastic band but fantastic people. I was in a very bad place in 2014 and I wrote to them. I not only got a wonderful letter back but it was genuine. It was not a computer generated response signed by a company drone. It is something I treasure now as a very bright spot during a very dark time.

I dont remember why, but Automatic for the People was the first album i ever bought. I was 14 and it was the soundtrack to my school studies. Drive still catches my nerves every time i hear it and the album remains one of my all time favourites. Who else misses REM?

Having been an REM fan since ‘Driver 8' I am only now seeing this series of articles... seven years later. However, I do feel the need to share what comes to the forefront of my mind when I think about REM. As I said, I was a huge fan since ‘Fables’, and upon hearing that album I immediately backtracked and collected all their earlier work. Around the time of ‘New Adventures’, even though I bought it, my yearning started to fade. That’s not a statement on REM’s music, but more of how it goes with me. I’ll be all about a band for a while and then I either get bored, or interested in some other type of music, and my interest, which at one point was rabid, will fade. This happens with music, long running tv shows, etc. Anyway, in 1994 my father was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer. It was going to kill him. But, being a fighter he chose to have surgery. One night I went to see him at the hospital and the discussion was brief, but it was about the fact that we both knew the surgery was not successful and we both knew it was only a matter of months. He tried to comfort me but I couldn’t take it, I gave him a kiss on hiss forehead, told him I loved him, and I left. On the way home, while trying to drive and cry simultaneously, the song ‘Everybody Hurts’ came on the radio. Yes, I knew the song... hell, at that point everybody knew the song/video to the point of disdain (as some posts here have mentioned). But because of the circumstance I was, at that very moment, going through, it was like I heard the song for the very first time. The lyrics, which I’d heard a thousand times by then, soothed my tortured state. The music was hypnotic. Something washed over me that I can’t, to this day 25 years later, even begin to explain. I somehow knew that I was going to be ok. IT was going to be ok. By the end of the song I was calm. I was at peace with what had happened and what was going to happen. My father passed away three months later. It was painful. Even typing this I had to stop several times because of emotions. But, I kinda believe not AS painful had I not had that experience while driving home. I often thought that if I ever had the chance to meet Michael Stipe I would thank him. Fucking music, man. Given certain circumstances, the right song can transform the human experience. Thank you, R.E.M.

Every time I watch something about this band I feel like I just witness something beautiful and pure, its's really touching and a unique experience, how not to love R.E.M.

One of my all-time favorite albums. Been listening it for 27 years now.

“Find The River” was the song I listened to most on the cusp of turning 30 a few years ago. I listened to this album when I was young and now when I’m older and the atmosphere it creates, while kind of vulnerable and isolating, is heartachingly beautiful.

I love how they featured Find the River in such a significant way. It’s one of the more underrated songs from the album and doesn’t get the attention it deserves. My favourite REM song.

REM have been jawdroppingly magnificent and their legacy is a lifeline for me.

If I were stranded on a deserted island and I could only have one 'box set' or CD collection to listen to for the rest of my life it would be REM.

Late 1992. My life changed. I was late to the party but I discovered the greatest band ever. Sweetness Follows is the most devastatingly beautiful thing I ever heard.

A masterpiece. Should had won a Grammy for Album Of The Year.

This album helped me grow up, and handle the death of my grandfather who was my best friend. It gave me the feeling I was not alone in this journey. Thank you .

I used to fall asleep to this album. It’s also helped me through some dark times in my life. I proud to say it’s in my Spotify collection and I listen to it often. 😊

REM were the songs of my early twenties. We all loved them. I saw them play at Festival Hall Melbourne Australia. They were even better live. A huge thank you for all the brilliant music and love

This album was a grower for me, which surprises me now that I stop to think about it. Took maybe a year but it might have been where my head was at the time.... I still feel that it has the best "last three songs" of any album I've ever known. They are perfect, and the way they fit together is magical. "Find the River" is so beautiful that sometimes I can barely stand to listen, and yet it's probably the R.E.M. song I've played the most throughout my life.

I met Michael briefly after a show at Penn State, and he was as gracious, patient, and radiant as anyone would imagine.

This album has aged like wine.

The production on Automatic for the people was magical.REM was so on top of their game.This album should be on countless peoples playlist.

Every time I hear this Album , I always say this is it there’s nothing better, now at 70years it’s feel like I Heard it for the first time, it never gets old...😻

best album ever. it had a profound impact on me.

The album of my life. Happy 25th, Automatic and R.E.M.

Out of Time and AFTP are two of the most beautiful heartfelt albums, my favorite band always

Murmur changed everything… This entire album, beginning to end, is a masterpiece. From the day it was released, it was the soundtrack to my life for the next two years. This band was, and is, more relevant to me than any other. When I was a boy, it was Mike Mills who inspired me to learn to play many instruments and (attempt) to sing harmony. Big love and much respect for my favorite band.

Probably the most completely perfect album of all time. In every way this just hit every emotion, every worry and every care I had at 14.. this is the backbone of my youth and still so super important to this day…I’d love to tell the guys just how much this shaped my life!

I've had sidewinder stuck in my head for the last few weeks since getting the new version of the album!!!!!

The absolute best album EVER. It changed my life, when I needed it.

That was beyond beautiful the everybody hurts part. It was perfectly chosen just to have the music play and not the vocals. I’m tearing up and experiencing goosebumps.

A real masterpiece. Thank you R.E.M. & all involved.

One of my all-time favourite records. From the first second you feel that there is something special about it that goes beyond pop music. So well-arranged, touching and it newer grows old.

Great documentary. I specially loved John Paul Jones' input. His string work in AFTP is beautiful.

Every time I stumble upon a nice sounding gran piano I need to play Nightswimming on it , it does bring peace and comfort to my heart.

1990, I was standing knee deep in "crap" unloading a truck. I had a tiny radio with ear buds and the DJ announced the release of this album. I was at the absolute lowest point in my life and hearing this album in an empty parking garage, alone, filthy, dirty, hopeless, empty. Somewhere out in the world was life and music. The album helped me find my way back to the living world.

Wonderful documentary! I listen to Automatic at least once a week. It’s still in my soul after all these years. It honestly gets better every time.

My first R.E.M record I was 14, then became the band of my life.

absolutely 100% my favorite band all-time, i was there at the beginning, and still love them

It’s my favorite REM record! Nightswimming is one of my favorite songs ever!

It's great to watch how an unbelieveable beautifull song as "Find the River"is being conceived and how this song comes together. Best song of all times....timeless and melancholy!

This has been my favorite album, and I have listened to them all and own most of them. There isn't a skippable song on it.

Thanks for sharing this. R.E.M means the world to me, it is my favourite rock band since 1991!

Excellent documentary, Automatic for the People and Out of Time came to me at the perfect time in my life when I needed it the most along with many other songs across all the other albums. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much R.E.M. for all of your great music, it's been beyond therapeutic for me.

Buying this record the day it came out, listening to it for 25 years off and on...and then hearing it again gives you that feeling you had when it was a huge part of your life in the 90s. Nightswimming gives me that feeling every time I hear it.

god, I remember sneaking into my brother's bedroom after skipping school, putting this album on and playing video games all day...such bliss..

Such a great interview by the greatest band ever. R.E M. FOREVER XX

Thanks for the trip down memory lane guys, you took me back to high school. Listened to this album through a lot of dark times, hearing these again I'm very grateful to be here.

Just beautiful. Really nice piece. This record is the reason I became a musician, great to hear more about its making. Might have to go and stick it on the record player now!

Wonderful documentary (I do wish Bill had been there to comment too.)

Sheer brilliance. Best move was bringing in John Paul Jones for "Everybody Hurts". Understated but best musician in Led Zeppelin.

Grew up hearing this album. Beautiful doc.

I remember being not even in my teen years when Everybody Hurts came out and seeing their video a little later for the first time on MTV all hypnotized. Ever since that their songs have fitted in specific moments in my life. Too sad they're not around in music anymore.

Man on the moon and this album was the introduction for me to this band. Thanks for the wonderful music REM. A big fan from India.

It was the first disk I bought to myself... ! Hi from Belgium

This is the first REM album I listened to. My dad had it and when I was getting into playing music I listened to it. Didn’t really appreciate it first but now 15 years later this is definitely the epitome of REM and one of the greatest albums of all time for me.

I love you, REM. You changed my life with your music. I will love you forever.

Sad to not see Bill :( but very happy to finally see this!

Great documentary for an awesome album! But, as some others have pointed out, it would've been great to see some Bill! :(

I'm glad I still have 2 cassette versions of this album. That was a nice shot at the beginning and at the end :)

I find myself returning to this a lot, often late at night. There is a nocturnal quality to this album and this documentary somehow makes nights less lonely.

Wow....opening the Tape, and putting it in the player....pressing play....great memories. Thank you REM boys.

I still have this cassette & the technics🦋 the world was suffering The band helped us get through the epidemic of the reality of Aids

Not only an incredible collection of songs but wonderfully produced and performed. Automatic is the most perfect album.

Automatic for the People is easily a classic of the 90s and even for all time.

I was one of those Reagan-Republicans mentioned in the vid. Served in the Corps from '82-'86. And REM changed my life. Not politically...but in a sense that the band presented me with beauty and gave me hope. Plus John Paul Jones is just too fuckin' cool! Cheers!

To make an album like this a lot of things have to come together at the right time. I, for one, am very glad that they did.

Sweetness follows! The infinite Song in my Heart !❤️ Tanks R.E.M

Loved this! Best band in the world! I love you R.E.M.!

This is fantastic. This album helped me become a real human being. A real gem right here. Thanks a lot for this.

So many days after school I'd listen to this record as I did homework and wait for dinner. Looking back, I see not many other records with staying power. I felt like the singles were out of context on the radio. The whole album is better together.

these have to be four of the sharpest, articulate and sincere individuals in a musical collective. they blazed a path from indie darlings to a genre unto themselves with wide acceptance and adoration. they took me on a journey with each successive album taking me in directions antithetical to the previous. so fortunate they set a thirty year path that i can go back depending on a mood and immerse myself. thanks guys for everything!

I really appreciate these new documentaries you guys are putting out.

Well, as others have already said, the album is a masterpiece. Historic, like that estimation or not. Thank you for this (thank my friend for sending me the link to this as well) and thank REM and all company to make this work. It turns out to be this band in its best expression in some way I think. After many great records. I know them all. Kind of a distillation maybe. Not sure I can say that but this is a true masterpiece.

A great album from a great band. REM are one of those few bands who I’ve made a point of getting every single one of their albums. When this one came out, I immediately learned how to play “Man on the Moon”and “Drive”

I was not a REM fan any more than another person who listened to a few of their hits in the 90s, I thought then that they were different and fresh, and then that happy people song with Kate from the B52s made me look them up here and this documentary pretty much stumbled while looking and boy am I happy that I found it. What a talented group of artists and musicians, I never knew that Michael wrote the lyrics after the music was done, doesn't that happen the other way around? And everyone trusted that whatever he wrote would work. In any case, they seem to be these beautiful human beings inside and out and I truly enjoyed watching this documentary... and a big plus having JPJ in it! One more thing, back in the 90s I liked the fact that their videos (still MTV era) they introduced older people, as in the angel in Losing my Religion and doing daring things you would never think an older person would do... That was different, too!

Such amazing band. Such an amazing heartfelt album. What an amazing documentory. Loved everything about it.

'Life's Rich Pageant' is still my favorite REM album (Document is #2), but I fondly recall this one -- ah, sophomore year of college.

I love these guys more every year. An Amazing Band that wrote countless songs that touch my heart.

I loved this documentary and I really love that album. Thanks for putting it up on here :)

The video to Find The River always gets to me. Seeing the dog looking out at the sea at the end is so heartbreaking.

They did a fantastic job. Amazing album. One of my favorites ever….

great video... really glad you guys are posting so much stuff

Just a brilliant freaking album. WOW Still blown away.

One of the best albums of 90's. Up there with SuperUnknown, In Utero, Fully Completely, Purple, and Dirt as an all time rock classic in my eyes.

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

One of my absolute favorite albums growing up.

A genuine, beautiful, whispered masterpiece.

One of my favourite albums of all time...and yes I am an overthinker.

When my wife and I were dating, this was our soundtrack. I played it nonstop in my car. Incredible record. Everything about it was special.

Great to hear the story behind one of my favorite albums of all time.

Wonderful doc on a great album

This will always remain my favourite R.E.M. album and it's one of my top ten albums of all time. Even tracks that weren't singles were great like Ignoreland and Try Not to Breathe. There really isn't a bad track on the album. To that extent it reminds me of Magic by Bruce Springsteen, where the so called filler tracks are awesome and your favourite can change with each listen.

such an astonishing album.it helped me through a lot of strange times.

I was this late to REM I just paid no attention and then suddenly I got them, and now I have their whole catalogue to love like they have just arrived, you have to be a little envious of me.

I wish our band had been songwriting sessions. I always see that part of a band as my favorite part. The composition process and the different ideas. The closest I got was bringing my songs to my guitar lesson and presenting them to my instructor/friend/band mate for the half hour and then he would make suggestions and I would take those home and work on them. I'm glad these guys have fond memories of that. I have fond memories of listening to this music and it's interesting to see how it was made.

Had it on tape Matter of fact I still have it Fantastic album by a fantastic band 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

My favorite album from REM It does’nt like anything else. Not even REM…… Thats What I love about it. The mix of textures and instruments, great meloidoes, lyrics. Such a Profound piece of work. About life and having lifed life. Amazing. Everyone should sit in a Dark room and listen to it. 👍

Attending grad school at UGA during this era. Was soooo lucky to be in that world a little. Got to see them perform at the 40 Watt. Great time.

Much appreciated. Thanks for a peek behind the curtain

Thanx for this inspiration from a band I hadn't though about in too long..

Got it on release back then. A classic!

I used to listen that album before sleeping, it was amazing!! And once i saw the movie Vanilla sky and listen to sweetness follow, amazing!!

Saw REM, with support from Crowded House and Grant Lee Buffalo, Western Springs, Auckland NZ in about 1994. So good