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R.E.M.'s 'Out of Time': Political Powerhouse or Pop Perfection?
20 Aug
Summary
- Album packaging included a petition to enable voter registration at DMVs.
- It featured a shift to mandolins and strings, away from electric guitars.
- The album included both critically acclaimed ballads and a controversial pop song.
Released in the early '90s, R.E.M.'s 'Out of Time' became a landmark album, achieving over 18 million worldwide sales and earning three Grammy Awards. Its packaging contained a Rock the Vote petition, advocating for voter registration at DMVs and through mail, a move that garnered thousands of signatures in Congress.
The album is noted for its significant musical evolution, with the band largely foregoing electric guitars for instruments like the mandolin and incorporating strings. This experimental approach yielded hits such as "Losing My Religion" and "Half a World Away."
However, 'Out of Time' also saw stylistic contrasts, featuring raw remorse in "Country Feedback" alongside the polarizing "Shiny Happy People." The album's diverse sound also included Mike Mills' lead vocal on "Texarkana" and a notable collaboration with KRS-One on "Radio Song."
