“Like many people at the time, I was a little taken aback by Monster after the folky introspective soft rock of Automatic for the People. I didn’t dislike the album when released in 1994 but it took me a little longer to love it. . But pushing people out of the perfectly created comfort zone of Automatic was exactly what REM were aiming for and I admire any artist who isn’t merely trying to regurgitate another hit record that sounds just like the last one. . This is a bold ‘fuck you’ of an album: high energy rock made for pogoing sweaty gigs rather than lighters aloft stadium audiences. Great fun to play too I imagine. It kicks off with What’s the Frequency Kenneth? and carries on kicking for the next 4 tracks. Crush With Eyeliner being the most interesting of this first half. . However, for me the album only really finds itself about half-way through when the slower songs start. I much prefer these: Strange Currencies, Tongue, Bang and Blame, I Took Your Name and Let Me In, not because I don’t like rowdy guitar-heavy rock, but because I find the slower songs more interesting musically...” . FOR FULL REVIEW & PLAYLIST CLICK LINK IN PROFILE: https://randomrecordreview.wordpress.com/2019/09/23/1125-r-e-m-monster/ . #rem @rem #monster #scottlitt #whatsthefrequencykenneth #crushwitheyeliner #strangecurrencies #bangandblame #indiemusic #rockmusic #cdreview #recordcollection #nowplaying #nowlistening #randomrecordreview https://www.instagram.com/p/B2vqixFJqMT/?igshid=434f7oh3pmg9