Accelerate
R.E.M.
Welcome to REM's 'new direction', folks. It's the old one, thank goodness! Eleven years after Bill Berry's departure from the drum stool it's finally ok for the band to admit that things haven't been too rosy on the communications front. The decision to soldier on was, they say, brave but maybe misguided, especially when it led to the stylistic dilettantism of albums like Up or the frankly moribund Around The Sun. But those who thought that the hiring of Jacknife Lee as producer (Bloc Party, Editors) might lead to another radical re-think will be disappointed. For what REM have done (in a mere nine days) is return to their indie roots and made a fast 'n' dirty album that thrills by its very speed. An apt title, indeed…
The opening chords of opener, Living Well Is The Best Revenge lets you know. Back are the wailing backing vocals of Mike Mills, the chiming D chords and drones of Peter Buck and some of the most impassioned singing that Stipe has laid down in eons. In interviews the band revealed that they'd slashed anything that wasn't instantly appealing. The results are a spartan 35-minute romp through the things that made us love them way back in the mid-80s. Viz: the punk thrash of hilarious closer, I'm Gonna DJ, which comes on like a cousin to End Of The World As We Know It. In fact the only downside of Accelerate is the album's tendency to recall too many of the band's best earlier moments. The folk waltz of Houston could come from their classic Out Of Time mid-period. Man-Sized Wreath could be from Green, such is the infectiousness of its chorus. The title track is just classic REM in any era. Yet when you get to the middle of Sing For the Submarine you realise that 20 years ago they couldn't have taken a song and lifted it so monumentally by sheer force of dynamics. So there's still progress of sorts.
Stipe's lyrics are as politically sharp as ever, with the aforementioned Houston's lyrics dealing with Hurricane Katrina (''if the storm doesn't kill me the government will'') but so often the whoops and hollers mean far more than the more jaded worldview. For, this late in the day, REM have begun to act like a band again. We should be thankful, and not a little amazed...
Reviewed by Chris Jones
Accelerate should have been the final R.E.M. album, not Collapse Into Now.
A nice rebound from the career low point of Around of the Sun that surprisingly doesn't get the recognition one would expect.
Very interesting that it was released a week after Counting Crow's Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings: they both share a similar vibe, two old time groups getting their groove back. Doesn't strike me as deeply as their earlier music (Murmur through Automatic, really), but this is still very good stuff.
This should've been R.E.M.'s last album. It's tied with Document, Green, and Out of Time as my favorite.
Having to deal with "Collapse Into Now", this one's really groing on me ^^
This album got me into R.E.M. I own all of their albums now, except for Green and Out of Time.
Until the Day Is Done reminds Lennon's working calss hero
Three years later and I still really love this album.
Eheheh... What a laugh.!
Well. Now we know about Gaffes...
Maybe Accelerate is the worst R.E.M. album.
People who don't like this album have sex with their mothers.
Excellent album! I think the first seven songs are much stronger than the last four though.
i really enjoyed listening to this album. This album really got me into this style of music.
It's not good, it's great.
Stop going on about Monster, it isn't that good.
Overcompressed crap
Хороший альбом получился. Только, по всей видимости, этого никто не заметил. [2]
great frakkin' album
their best since Monster [2]
Terrific band, terrific album...just as simple as that :)
cool about time R.E.M. did a track-by-track rerecording of Document!
Great album. It's different, but each R.E.M.'s album is totally different and should be taken individually, not try to compare it with this or that. [2] ...I agree!
Great album, theyr really delivered after the disappointment of Around the Sun. It reminds me of Monster, but better.
Хороший альбом получился. Только, по всей видимости, этого никто не заметил.
Their best since Monster.
Great album. It's different, but each R.E.M.'s album is totally different and should be taken individually, not try to compare it with this or that. I don't see how can someone compare this with Up.
Last.FM needs this album!
I listened to this album but discarded it sometime earlier this year. Dunno why but it didn't strike me very well made.
Let it be known... R.E.M. is one of the best bands ever!
I think its a cross between New Adventures and Monster. Maybe a touch of Lifes Rich Pagent too.
I didn't think the album as a whole worked very well for some reason, but taken individually, many of the tracks are absolutely amazing. Perfect for shuffle listening.
I love R.E.M., but I don´t like this album at all.
An excellent album, but so was Up and Reveal and those albums are unfairly treated like bastard stepchildren, while Accelerate is hailed as a "return to form." I personally feel this album is more spiritually related to Monster versus New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
For some time I thought REM couldn't make good music no more, but this album made me a fan again.
I was really happy about this album. A delicious cocktail of New Adventures and Up.
It is fantastic to find one of your perennial favorites continuing on so strong. R.E.M. and the Beastie Boys remain as bands I've enjoyed in new ways over and over again my entire life long, still surprising you with their direction every time.
really was hesitant to buy this, because i was afraid of being disappointed by one of my favorite bands ever - wow was i proven wrong
The song Until the day is done is pure genius
anakinvw, you're not alone... It's probably my least favorite REM album. It lacks subtlety and originality. Even Monster sounds far superior to my ears.
one of the best rem's album!
I'm really surprised just how awesome this album turned out, top stuff!
Although I really do like R.E.M. I find this album a bit boring. Reading the reactions on the site, I must be the only one on the entire planet.
It's too bad this album is mastered so poorly. I haven't gone back to it much as a result. (They should have kept the mastering style similar to Monster, it would be appropriate for the material and wouldn't sound like shit.)
Shame it's so short... Staring Down the Barrel of the Middle Distance and On the Fly coulda been included, they were great tracks. But still, it's a great album. Not a second is wasted...and the lyrics are mostly up there with the best =)
Just noticed this album got added..well done last.fm...personally I really like this album but nothing they record now will ever top Murmur..end of..
I like this. A lot of REM sounds grating but this is more true to Monster, which one of their best IMO.
It's a very good album in my opinion.
Finally,we've got more guitar album :)
Initially I was just happy that it was an REM album that actually rocked. However, the more I listen to it, the more I realize this is just a great album overall.