Up  by R.E.M.

The album Up of 1998 marked a significant change for the band R.E.M. It was the first album they recorded as a trio rather than a quartet, as drummer Bill Berry decided to leave the previous year for personal reasons after a seventeen-year journey together. Joey Waronker and Barrett Martin took his place as session drummers, and there was also the use of a drum machine.

Aside from the change in the band's composition, there was also a change in the album's sound. While the fundamental style of the album still lay within the alternative sound, there was experimentation with many elements of electronic and lounge music. This second change is obviously related to the third change. R.E.M. inaugurated their collaboration with producer Patrick McCarthy.

The reviews it received were mixed. On the other hand, Up reached No.3 on the Billboard, No.2 in the United Kingdom, and secured a spot in the Top-10 of many other countries. The total worldwide sales of Up have exceeded 2,500,000 copies.