Out of Time

by R.E.M.

Overview

The supporting tour for Green exhausted R.E.M., and they spent nearly a year recuperating before reconvening for Out of Time. Where previous R.E.M. records captured a stripped-down, live sound, Out of Time was lush with sonic detail, featuring string sections, keyboards, mandolins, and cameos from everyone from rapper KRS-One to the B-52's' Kate Pierson. The scope of R.E.M.'s ambitions is impressive, and the record sounds impeccable, its sunny array of pop and folk songs as refreshing as Michael Stipe's decision to abandon explicitly political lyrics for the personal. Several R.E.M. classics -- including Mike Mills' Byrds-y "Near Wild Heaven," the haunting "Country Feedback," and the masterpiece "Losing My Religion" -- are present, but the album is more notable for its production than its songwriting. Most of the songs are slight but pleasant, or are awkward experiments like "Radio Song"'s stab at funk, and while this sounds fine as the record is playing, there's not much substantive material to make the record worth returning to. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/18/2016
Label:	Concord / Universal
UPC:	0888072004078

Tracks

1. Radio Song
2. Losing My Religion
3. Low
4. Near Wild Heaven
5. Endgame
6. Shiny Happy People
7. Belong
8. Half a World Away
9. Texarcana
10. Country Feedback
11. Me in Honey

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R.E.M.   Primary Artist
Billy Bragg   Primary Artist
Christine Collister   Primary Artist
Clive Gregson   Primary Artist
Robyn Hitchcock   Primary Artist
KRS-One   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Rap,Vocals
Paul Murphy   Guest Artist,Viola
Peter Holsapple   Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kate Pierson   Guest Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Peter Buck   Guitar (Electric),Guitar,Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic)
Mike Mills   Bass,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Strings,Keyboards,Percussion,Harpsichord,Lead Vocals,String Keyboard,Vocals (Background)
Kidd Jordan   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Michael Stipe   Bass,Vocals,Melodica,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Cecil Welch   Flugelhorn
Bill Berry   Bass,Drums,Piano,Congas,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Elizabeth Murphy   Cello
Reid Harris   Viola
Andrew Cox   Cello
David Arenz   Violin
Ellie Arenz   Violin
Ralph Jones   Double Alto,Double Bass
David Kempers   Violin
Scott Litt   Echo,Loops

Technical Credits

R.E.M.   Producer
Mike Mills   Arranger,Composer,String Arrangements
Stephen Marcussen   Mastering
Michael Stipe   Composer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Tom Garneau   Mixing Assistant
Jay Weigel   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Bill Berry   Composer
Microwave   Technical Assistance
Mike Reiter   Assistant Engineer
Ted Malia   Assistant Engineer
Bill Thomson   Drum Technician,Orchestra Contractor
Berry Buck   Composer
Dave Friedlander   Mixing Assistant
John Keane   Mixing,Engineer,Overdub Engineer
Mark Bingham   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Scott Litt   Loop,Engineer,Producer
Peter Buck   Composer