R.E.M. - Accelerate

The legends that are Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills are finally back with a new studio album, Accelerate scheduled to be released on April Fools'. REM are one my favourite bands without a doubt, but I must admit i was worried about this one. Although I've always been fascinated with the evolution of their music, their 2004 offering Around The Sun was poor by their standards, sluggish and indirect in a bad way. So when their latest album was being talked about as much rockier and direct, I was afraid they were simply 'reacting' to the negative press about Around The Sun. And being reactionary doesn't traditionally result in great albums, plus the fact that they spent the least time recording this one than any of their other albums.

My fears were allayed , though only partly when I first took a listen. The songs were short, sharp, definitely to the point, yet none made a particularly big impression on the first listen. Guitars were front and center, the pace was furious and tantalising at times, Stipe sounding as urgent and intense as ever. Yeah its a breath of fresh air from them but I kept having the niggling feeling that this isn't the REM i know and love. Where was the requisite E-bow or Reno?

Then after a few listens, I started appreciating what Accelerate really was, at least to me. I realised REM weren't trying to create a 'classic' album with Accelerate so to speak, or something to replicate their previous classics at least. I realised Accelerate had to be enjoyed in isolation and not be compared to REM's catalogue (and what a catalogue). It in itself is a giant burst of pop energy and a return to REM sounding like they are whole as a band again. Tracks like lead single Supernatural Superserious, Man-Sized Wreath and Horse to Water are actually great and they, and a few others on this cd, could in fact stand up to their other gems. One big plus going for Accelerate is how Stipe returns to form. He hasn't sounded this engaged in a long time, his lyrics are as political as ever, poetically defiant.

No, it isn't a breakthrough evolution in music a la Automatic For The People, or as critically acclaimed as New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but the thing with Accelerate is that if you compare it to these amazing records it will probably fall flat, but if you take it on its own, its actually this short, loud, fast, hit and run that isn't worrying about comparisons because its too busy rocking. Sure, it isn't the best record they've ever made, but it more than stands out on its own.

REM - Supernatural Superserious /