Turning away from the sweet pop of Out of Time, R.E.M. created a haunting, melancholy masterpiece with Automatic for the People. At its core, the album is a collection of folk songs about aging, death, & loss, but the music has a gr&, epic sweep provided by layers of lush strings, interweaving acoustic instruments, & shimmering keyboards. Automatic for the People captures the group at a crossroads, as they moved from cult heroes to elder statesmen, & the album is a graceful transition in