3. AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE (1992) To many this is R.E.M.’s crowning achievement. It’s also the band’s most eye-rollingly melodramatic one. Seriously, the world NEVER needs to see another sad (or ironically sad) cinematic montage to “Everybody Hurts.” And “Man on the Moon”? Props for the Freddie Blassie nod from a bunch of pencil-necked geeks, but we don’t need to hear it anymore. “Monty Got a Raw Deal” is the album’s best song. And like Rodney Dangerfield, it gets no respect.