Accelerate

I had just about given up hope that REM had one more good CD in them. Then I heard this. If you enjoyed early REM run out and get this tomorrow. I realize this didn't get much radio airplay, but then again what good music does these days???

I absolutely love the entire REM catalogue. For me, even Around The Sun had it's moments. I'm sad to say that REM finally sold out. How could such a creative band have enlisted the same person behind U2's How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb to work on this effort? Don't believe the critical acclaim...It's all hype!

This is a pretty good album. It has tracks that I enjoy while they're playing but none good enough to make me want to load them up in the first place. As a point of reference, I tend to like their mellower stuff, even Up & Reveal. (Reveal in particular is sadly underrated). Favorite song is probably Good Advices, off FOTR.

Their great back catalog means the new stuff is forced to fight the gravitational pull of their past work. After all, why listen to Supernatural Superserious when These Days is but a click away?

Thank God REM is back! I have been listening to them forever, and longed for them to return to the sound that makes them great. They had a hard time when Bill Berry left, and I think they were struggling to keep their identity. I also have to mention, with out a doubt, they ate the best live band ever, hands down! I have seen them three times, and just saw them in Philadelphia last week. I even took my kids (ages 13, 10, and 7). They had a great time. I can not say enough about my love for this band.

Reminiscent of earlier their albums, including Murmur, Green, with a dash of New Adventures thrown in. A very raw, unrehearsed sound, the loyal R.E.M. fan will appreciate the fact that they can still drop an album.