R.E.M.'s album Monster reached number one on the Billboard 200 in 1994. It debuted at the top after its release on September 27, 1994, giving the band another major chart achievement during its commercial peak.
Monster marked a deliberate change from the more reflective and orchestral sound of Automatic for the People. R.E.M. pursued a louder, rougher rock production, with distorted guitars and a more forceful vocal approach from Michael Stipe. Producer Scott Litt and the band helped shape the album's deliberately raw, live-feeling character.
The album's lead single, “What's the Frequency, Kenneth?”, arrived before the album and became one of its best-known songs. Other singles included “Bang and Blame,” “Crush with Eyeliner,” “Strange Currencies,” and “Tongue.”
A common confusion is mixing up the year-end chart with the weekly chart. Monster was number one on the weekly Billboard 200 upon debut in 1994; its year-end position was much lower because that ranking measures performance across the entire calendar year.