17 - Out of Time: R.E.M. Redefines the Mainstream

In this episode, we revisit Out of Time, the album that transformed R.E.M. from cult college rock heroes into global superstars. Released in 1991, it’s a record that blends jangly guitars, mandolins, and poetic introspection to create one of the defining sounds of the early ’90s. From the soaring melancholy of Losing My Religion to the bright optimism of Shiny Happy People, put an asterisk by that! Out of Time captures a band expanding its emotional and musical reach.

We’ll explore how R.E.M. balanced intimacy and accessibility, the creative risks that shaped the album’s sound, and how Out of Time paved the way for alternative music’s rise into the mainstream.