Devil Rides Backwards

On the eve of the 25th anniversary release of Automatic For The People I decided to upload my instrumental cover of, what is probably, my favourite unreleased R.E.M. song.

It's a song that was no doubt left off the album either because it was "too R.E.M." or, in the same way Fascinating was left off Reveal because the album didn't need another slow song, because Automatic For The People was already too sombre without another slow, minor key song. But presumably that, and the fact Stipe struggled to complete a lyric, was the only reason this gem remained a secret until recent weeks.

In terms of its composition it's R.E.M. by numbers, an acoustic driven song with a lively bass and organs brought in to add that extra element of impending doom and Stipe's crooning, half-finished vocals showing off a singer at the height of his vocal magnetism.

It is with love and adoration for their music that I present this cover which closely follows the demo version. Happy AFTP25!..