Accelerate - R.E.M.

"Back on form", they say. "Miles better than 'Around the Sun'." "R.E.M. are rocking harder than they have since 'Monster'." There's no doubt that R.E.M.'s latest has been hailed by pretty much every reputable music review source as a real improvement on their last few albums, but can we really believe the hype? Q gave "Reveal" five stars upon release yet seven years on it's generally considered among the band's weakest efforts. But trust me, there is no such confusion over "Accelerate". The reviews are right, the band are back on form, and the music world can breathe a collective sigh of relief that those elder ...  Read the complete review

I am a huge fan of REM, have loads of their albums, and just enjoy listening to them. However in recent years their music seems to have been a bit soft! Lacking its earlier potency and bite. So have been quite disapointed. But whilst I was browsing in HMV this album was being played. Is this REM I thought, I don't recognise it. And I liked what I heard. So I checked with the staff and they told me 'yep, tis their new album'. Sweet! So a promptly purchased myself a copy. Now if you have read my review of 'New adventures in Hi-Fi' you will know that is my favorite REM album by a distance. Much more rockier and some really raw sounds. Since then I ...  Read the complete review

Accelerate is the fourteenth (yes, fourteenth!) album from U.S Rockers R.E.M. Hyped as 'R.E.M going back to their roots' with a more punky and raw sound, the album is fairly short at just over half an hour in length. R.E.M's previous album, 'Around the Sun' was not well received, and Accelerate may be the answer to the critics, proving there's still life in the old band - But is there? The album opens with, 'Living well is the best revenge', which is a pacey number featuring multiple, and distorted guitars. It's not an opening track that's instantly impressive, but becomes quite catchy on or around the third listen. It does, however, set the tone ...  Read the complete review

REM are back with a new studio album and anyone who thought that the release of a Greatest Hits album signalled an end to the creative genius that has made the band so popular and given then such great longevity have been proven wrong by the release of this excellent album. This is REM back on form, this is REM back with something to say about the goings on in the world today, admittedly eight years of Republican rule is likely to give any leftward thinking eco friendly band something to sink their teeth into and the environment and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan provide fertile ground for Stipe lyrics. On some of the louder more angry albums ...  Read the complete review