R.E.M.’s ninth album, Monster, was released at a time when the band were coming off the peak of their mainstream success, following Out of Time (1991) and Automatic For The People (1992). Coming from a long break in touring (the band famously didn’t tour with the two previous records), Monster represented an intentional shift in R.E.M.’s sound, a “return to rock” with guitar laden, simple arrangements. It was released to strong reviews and significant global success – reaching #1 on Billboard and in at least 7 other countries. The album includes the singles; What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?, Crush with Eyeliner, Bang and Blame, and Strange Currencies. In 1995 the band promoted the album with their first concert tour since 1989 (even though several band members were suffering from health problems).
