One of R.E.M.’s great albums, Automatic for the People begins fairly inauspiciously with the low-key, folky “Drive”. Indeed, the song is consciously understated, but is marred by some of Michael Stipe’s most oblique and, frankly; confusing lyrics which draw attention from what is a pretty melody and lovely guitar work from Peter Buck. The song begins with the perplexing “Smack, crack, bushwhacked/Tie another one to the racks, baby” and develops to “Hey kids rock and roll/Nobody tells you where to go, baby”. The lyric may well be nonsense, but Stipe sings it with such earnestness that he may be striving for something more profound. Nevertheless, the song contains a lovely, lilting melody, and typically beautiful arrangement. “Drive”, however, is a confusing start to the record. Thomas Ward