Consensus Top 350 Albums of All-Time: 68. Automatic for the People – R.E.M. (221 Viewers)

[Don Quixote]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Album of cover songs?

....and I'm out.




How about this - I will do it if there is no Thumper Rule involved??

To be clear, I was just joking about including an album of cover songs.

 

[krista4]

Based on how the other threads have gone, how likely is it that someone’s top few albums would make the final 300 even if nobody else picks them?

I can only speak for the book thread, but everyone that submitted a list saw their top 15+ picks make the 300.

Of course there were only 22 lists ...

More importantly, you had a different scoring system.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Based on how the other threads have gone, how likely is it that someone’s top few albums would make the final 300 even if nobody else picks them?

I can only speak for the book thread, but everyone that submitted a list saw their top 15+ picks make the 300.

Of course there were only 22 lists ...

More importantly, you had a different scoring system.

Thats the rub. A scoring system.
If everyone lists 70 albums, perfect.
When someone only does 20, another 57 and someone has 2965 albums……good luck.

All i can advise is the simpler the scoring system the better your sanity will be.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Album of cover songs?

....and I'm out.




How about this - I will do it if there is no Thumper Rule involved??

To be clear, I was just joking about including an album of cover songs.

Yes but are they really covers if he hasnt heard the originals?
Tempted to take William Hung - Inspiration. I laugh more than most comedy albums.

Track listing​

1. "Words of Gratitude" (original monologue by Hung)
2. "She Bangs" (originally by Ricky Martin)
3. "Bailamos" (originally by Enrique Iglesias)
4. "Inspirational Thoughts: Passion" (original monologue by Hung)
5. "I Believe I Can Fly" (originally by R. Kelly)
6. "Hotel California" (originally by Eagles)
7. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (originally by Elton John)
8. "Two Worlds" (originally by Phil Collins)
9. "Inspirational Thoughts: Perseverance" (original monologue by Hung)
10. "Rocket Man" (originally by Elton John)
11. "Free" (original song written by Hung and Saul Alvarez)
12. "Circle of Life" (originally by Elton John)
13. "Inspirational Thoughts: Be Yourself"
14. "Y.M.C.A." (featuring The Gonnabees) (originally by The Village People)
15. "Shake Your Bon-Bon" (originally by Ricky Martin)

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Album of cover songs?

....and I'm out.




How about this - I will do it if there is no Thumper Rule involved??

To be clear, I was just joking about including an album of cover songs.

I think he knows we were joking

 

[kupcho1]

More importantly, you had a different scoring system

That's a great point and one I completely forgot about.

 

[Yo Mama]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Based on your TV picks, I’m sure you’re up for the task.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Based on your TV picks, I’m sure you’re up for the task.

SHOTS FIRED!

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Based on your TV picks, I’m sure you’re up for the task.

I don't think anyone that lists a reality show has any right to question anyones taste.

 

[KarmaPolice]

s KP going to listen to all 300 albums that appear on this countdown? I'm guessing that he will.

this means we need to ensure that at least one bad album makes it so he has to listen to it

Album of cover songs?

....and I'm out.




How about this - I will do it if there is no Thumper Rule involved??

To be clear, I was just joking about including an album of cover songs.

If it is Nativity in Black i am ok. Anything else, and

 

[shuke]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Well, obviously.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

One thing quickly became clear: I don't really listen to albums anymore

Same here.

For both of you: why is that?

For me, I don't know if it's some weird form of late-in-life ADD setting in or what. But listening to too much of the same thing these days both bores and agitates me.

Luckily, I won't have to listen to entire albums won't be an issue for my list here as I'm going straight wheelhouse. I know these records well enough from listening to them a bazillion times.

 

[KarmaPolice]

One thing quickly became clear: I don't really listen to albums anymore

Same here.

For both of you: why is that?

For me, I don't know if it's some weird form of late-in-life ADD setting in or what. But listening to too much of the same thing these days both bores and agitates me.

Luckily, I won't have to listen to entire albums won't be an issue for my list here as I'm going straight wheelhouse. I know these records well enough from listening to them a bazillion times.

You mean you have trouble listening to the same artist for a full album now?

 

[KarmaPolice]

@Dr. Octopus - do you want us to submit the year behind the album title for tracking purposes?

 

[turnjose7]

So tomorrow is really the due date? And did we determine Allmusic is the official source for naming correctly? I imagine that will matter for things like Led Zeppelin IV, for instance?

Last question: do Instant Live albums count? If so, I'm pretty confident I can make my entire list out of albums by The Allman Brothers and their spinoff groups.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Interesting as I can’t even guess what you’d think the consensus #1 will be.

I know there’s an album that’s usually ranked #1 on lists like this but I don’t think that one takes it here.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

So tomorrow is really the due date? And did we determine Allmusic is the official source for naming correctly? I imagine that will matter for things like Led Zeppelin IV, for instance?

Last question: do Instant Live albums count? If so, I'm pretty confident I can make my entire list out of albums by The Allman Brothers and their spinoff groups.

7/1
Live albums are eligible. This was already addressed in the thread.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

@Dr. Octopus - do you want us to submit the year behind the album title for tracking purposes?

I will list dates during countdown but don’t want them in submissions. I already laid out how I want the lists submitted.

 

[KarmaPolice]

One thing quickly became clear: I don't really listen to albums anymore

Same here.

For both of you: why is that?

1) I know longer purchase music in a physical format, so I don't feel "obligated" to listen to an entire disc
2) There's so much music coming at me on a day-to-day basis it's enough to try and keep up with the singles
3) Many of those songs coming at me are released as singles, often way in advance of the album
4) By the time the album for a song I like comes out, I've already got more music to listen to in front of it

I'll still put albums on, but it's a lot less frequent and very few stand out to me.

I didn't see this one last night, thanks. I also agree with Eephus' follow up.

I can definitely see all that. My primary motivation is that often my favorite songs from artists are the deeper cuts on albums. I gravitate to slightly longer songs that meander or have a longer solo, and usually those aren't the singles. I also love an album that flows and segues from song to song, and better yet - a good concept album. An album is also a perfect amount of time to: wake up and have a coffee, get the back lawn mowed, do my opening tasks at work, etc.. Playlists tend to be longer, and I am also a "mood" listener so ones with many artists tend to make me be a bit anxious. I listen to more albums now than I have in years, and it's really resparked my love for music.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

One thing quickly became clear: I don't really listen to albums anymore

Same here.

For both of you: why is that?

For me, I don't know if it's some weird form of late-in-life ADD setting in or what. But listening to too much of the same thing these days both bores and agitates me.

Luckily, I won't have to listen to entire albums won't be an issue for my list here as I'm going straight wheelhouse. I know these records well enough from listening to them a bazillion times.

You mean you have trouble listening to the same artist for a full album now?

In a manner of speaking, yes.

 

[In The Zone]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Yep!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Yep!!

Huh, this will be interesting. I was more in line with Pip's thinking - I expect a handful off artists to dominate at the top, but thought people's favorites could be different to make it so there isn't a clear #1 going in.

 

[In The Zone]

I usually set these out but love following along. I think I'm gonna try and get a list together. There definitely won't be only one album per artist from me. 70 albums should be pretty easy but I'm sure I'll overlook one or two.

 

[Don Quixote]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Yep!!

Huh, this will be interesting. I was more in line with Pip's thinking - I expect a handful off artists to dominate at the top, but thought people's favorites could be different to make it so there isn't a clear #1 going in.

If a number of folks are sticking to one album per artist I think that can make for a clear #1, as I could see albums splitting for many artists. But the one I’m thinking of is a pretty clear one for that artist.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I don’t know what the IMDb of music is

I haven't been there in years, but if allmusic.com is still around, it seemed pretty solid.

It is. Its site design and interface are garbage, but it's there.

It used to be a lot better but a few years ago they totally messed it up.

 

[KarmaPolice]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Yep!!

Huh, this will be interesting. I was more in line with Pip's thinking - I expect a handful off artists to dominate at the top, but thought people's favorites could be different to make it so there isn't a clear #1 going in.

If a number of folks are sticking to one album per artist I think that can make for a clear #1, as I could see albums splitting for many artists. But the one I’m thinking of is a pretty clear one for that artist.

Shoot me a PM.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Personally I have two artist with 3 albums, and a couple more artists with 2 albums. I'm trying to treat this as my favorites and I do have a few favorite bands so naturally I'd have more than one for those artists.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

And while we have to 7/1 (and may extend that) I'd love to get some lists in earlier so I can start compiling.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

I think I know also - and my guess is that it does not prove to be accurate, but it's as good a guess as any.

Maybe I'll add a few contests into this thing.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

Oh, and my guess is not the one you're implying but that would make sense also (I have that one ranked fairly high).

 

[kupcho1]

Maybe I'll add a few contests into this thing.

Scrabble related?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Maybe I'll add a few contests into this thing.

Scrabble related?

I’m no Hitler.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

Oh, and my guess is not the one you're implying but that would make sense also (I have that one ranked fairly high).

I wouldn't consider it for my list, which is why my ignorant mind didn't think of it right away.

 

[krista4]

I truly don’t know what the #1 is that you’re thinking of.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I truly don’t know what the #1 is that you’re thinking of.

PM incoming.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

It will be interesting to see if anything dominates this list like Breaking Bad/Seinfeld/Sopranos did the TV list. I'm guessing maybe not since there's probably a lot of overlap on artists but maybe not on which album(s) of theirs belong in your top 70.

I expect a clear #1 here.

Yep!!

Huh, this will be interesting. I was more in line with Pip's thinking - I expect a handful off artists to dominate at the top, but thought people's favorites could be different to make it so there isn't a clear #1 going in.

The album I think Shuke is referring to (and I could be wrong) won’t be on my list if I do one album per artist (which I haven’t decided yet).

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Personally I have two artist with 3 albums, and a couple more artists with 2 albums. I'm trying to treat this as my favorites and I do have a few favorite bands so naturally I'd have more than one for those artists.

I think I can guess one of your three-album artists.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

Oh, and my guess is not the one you're implying but that would make sense also (I have that one ranked fairly high).

Ditto. I was thinking of a different album from the one that is implied, which will be on my list.

 

[zamboni]

One thing quickly became clear: I don't really listen to albums anymore

Same here.

For both of you: why is that?

For me, I don't know if it's some weird form of late-in-life ADD setting in or what. But listening to too much of the same thing these days both bores and agitates me.

Luckily, I won't have to listen to entire albums won't be an issue for my list here as I'm going straight wheelhouse. I know these records well enough from listening to them a bazillion times.

You mean you have trouble listening to the same artist for a full album now?

In a manner of speaking, yes.

I will still listen to albums, but really only if they're on vinyl as opposed to, say, iTunes.

 

[Mister CIA]

No idea on consensus. Over/under on me guessing the top 25 is 10. ... seems high

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I landed on a compromise for myself. Only 1 album per artists is too limiting but I think a max of 3 works. So that will force to make some hard choices on some of my favorite prolific artists and make sure there’s room for some variety. Plus will be an interesting think to track which bands reach 3 album status.

 

[Ilov80s]

I assume live albums are fair game?

Ok clearly are based on first post. Hmmm what to do about those.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think I landed on a compromise for myself. Only 1 album per artists is too limiting but I think a max of 3 works. So that will force to make some hard choices on some of my favorite prolific artists and make sure there’s room for some variety. Plus will be an interesting think to track which bands reach 3 album status.

I might chicken out in the end and have more than 2 from a couple artists, but what I was thinking since he bumped it up to 70 albums to help me narrow down my list faster:

• My top 10-20 artists get 2 albums, the rest only 1 each. I am hoping for at least 50 different artists to have a variety.
• They must be 10/10 albums, 0 songs I don't like or sometimes skip. This eliminated some huge albums that I love and expect to show up high but if I have only 70 albums on an island, I don't have room for crappy songs
• This is 100% in 2025 terms and will be the albums I still listen to. No sentimental old favorites I haven't listened to in decades. This will probably make my list lean a little more recent than some others.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh, never mind, I think I know what you might be speaking of.

Oh, and my guess is not the one you're implying but that would make sense also (I have that one ranked fairly high).

Ditto. I was thinking of a different album from the one that is implied, which will be on my list.

Ah, going acoustic? I hadn't thought of that one, either. Proving even further a slam dunk #1 might be hard to predict with this crew.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I landed on a compromise for myself. Only 1 album per artists is too limiting but I think a max of 3 works. So that will force to make some hard choices on some of my favorite prolific artists and make sure there’s room for some variety. Plus will be an interesting think to track which bands reach 3 album status.

I might chicken out in the end and have more than 2 from a couple artists, but what I was thinking since he bumped it up to 70 albums to help me narrow down my list faster:

• My top 10-20 artists get 2 albums, the rest only 1 each. I am hoping for at least 50 different artists to have a variety.
• They must be 10/10 albums, 0 songs I don't like or sometimes skip. This eliminated some huge albums that I love and expect to show up high but if I have only 70 albums on an island, I don't have room for crappy songs
• This is 100% in 2025 terms and will be the albums I still listen to. No sentimental old favorites I haven't listened to in decades. This will probably make my list lean a little more recent than some others.

I think I’m still giving credit to albums I loved when I was younger but don’t return to much anymore. If I think it was genuinely great but I’ve overplayed it then it still deserves credit for me.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Fun exercise, and one that will make us think and ponder.

I would add as well that the key is that everyone must submit the same number of albums to make this work. If someone submits a list with only 10 or 15 albums, it is unbalanced from the rest and skews the results. Not a big deal obviously since this is just for fun anyway, but it's still a good idea to keep it orderly, IMO of course.

 

[Ilov80s]

I’ve got 89 albums right not after just about 45 mins of thinking, looking at lists and going through my Spotify. This is going to be crazy hard.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think I landed on a compromise for myself. Only 1 album per artists is too limiting but I think a max of 3 works. So that will force to make some hard choices on some of my favorite prolific artists and make sure there’s room for some variety. Plus will be an interesting think to track which bands reach 3 album status.

I might chicken out in the end and have more than 2 from a couple artists, but what I was thinking since he bumped it up to 70 albums to help me narrow down my list faster:

• My top 10-20 artists get 2 albums, the rest only 1 each. I am hoping for at least 50 different artists to have a variety.
• They must be 10/10 albums, 0 songs I don't like or sometimes skip. This eliminated some huge albums that I love and expect to show up high but if I have only 70 albums on an island, I don't have room for crappy songs
• This is 100% in 2025 terms and will be the albums I still listen to. No sentimental old favorites I haven't listened to in decades. This will probably make my list lean a little more recent than some others.

I think I’m still giving credit to albums I loved when I was younger but don’t return to much anymore. If I think it was genuinely great but I’ve overplayed it then it still deserves credit for me.

No wrong way to do this, and there are still a bunch from the 80s/90s I still listen to. I will use an example of one that popped in my head - Operation: Mindcrime. Monumental album for me and steering me towards what I listen to, but it is also one that I don't listen to much anymore. Some like those are pushed down the list for ones I still rock. 70 albums isn't that many when I think about the 1000s I have listened to.