| Summary: Accelerate is truly an old-fashioned R.E.M. record; short, sweet, and to the point. Not much depth or originality, but it's good old fashioned indie jangle pop/alt-rock R.E.M. for the 21st Century. |
2 of 2 thought this review was well written
The simplest things can tell you a lot about music. For example, Around the Sun was immediately going to be crap in my eyes because Electron Blue did not sound much like an R.E.M. song. Sure, this sounds pretty stereotypical, but let me guarantee you, a simplistic analysis of track names can tell you a lot about an album. When reading over the iTunes track list for R.E.M.’s fourteenth album, Accelerate, I was immediately figured, “Hey, Supernatural Superserious sounds like an R.E.M. song.” And after listening to the track, I agreed, it was a real R.E.M. song, not a messy Up or Around the Sun techno abortion. So, suddenly for the first time ever, I began to actually anticipate the next R.E.M. record.
Growing up on a steady diet of classic R.E.M. records like Murmur or Lifes Rich Pageant, I haven’t had the pleasure of actually anticipating an R.E.M. record. When I was age 8, my mother bought me a copy of the 1986 indie rock classic Lifes Rich Pageant. That album got absolutely destroyed by me. It practically lived in my mini-stereo system, and I could sing Begin the Begin by heart-even at that age. So when I read a little into this record, I was extremely excited. All of this talk of it being the throwback record, guitar-driven, but not as messy as the ugly Monster, got me quite pumped. So, when I got a chance to listen to the album, I took advantage.
But as the twelve quick tracks of this hard-rocking R.E.M. album played through my speakers, not a shred of disappointment crossed my face. It was everything I wanted-melodic, rough, devoid of Green’s over-production, a bit heavy, catchy as hell, and most importantly; it sounded like an R.E.M. record, which was something we’ve missed since 1985. Don’t harass me about not being a fan of the increasingly boring Automatic for the People, R.E.M. were just trying to pass of as the critic’s darling overly-emotional pop act. The R.E.M. I knew and love could rock, be melodic, and plain-out fun. After the album's short duration was over, the song Man-Sized Wreath was the first track by these Georgia alt-rockers that I’ve had stuck in my head since the track Losing My Religion. Despite me absolutely despising most of Out of Time, the album was one catchy album. Nothing they’ve made since that album has had any shades of good-old-fashioned catchiness, not even the overly fake cheerfulness of 2001’s lead single from Reveal, Imitation of Life could solidify the song’s worthiness of being stuck in my brain.
But don’t think this is Murmur version two, because you’ll be taken aback if you go in listening to the album. It’s pretty straight forward, but definitely no something like Radio Free Europe. It’s mainly accessible and parallels in ways to Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief in that, in short, it’s a bit of a mixture of every genre and style R.E.M. has ever incorporated into their music. And as much as I don’t enjoy Automatic for the People, the song that most closely relates to that album, Houston, just happens to be my favorite track on Accelerate. And despite it being nearly as short as a Pre-Elephant era White Stripes track, it manages to keep me enjoying every single note for the two minutes it’s active. Opening up with an acoustic guitar riff and being led by it for the majority of the song, the song is spearheaded by a strange keyboard chord and Stipe’s catchy glimpse into the situation in Houston after Hurricane Katrina,
“If the storm doesn’t kill me, the government will.”
But that’s not where it stops, the funky Man-Sized Wreath recalls all the best moments of the Green-era R.E.M. And, then, there’s the single Supernatural Superserious, which summarizes all that made R.E.M. great during their IRS years.
And even though the band may have began as a bunch of moderately-talented college rockers, it’s all changed. Michael Stipe sings with more emotion and passion than he’s belted since Fables of the Reconstruction, and doesn’t have that aged sound he was sporting with their last three releases. Peter Buck just happens to be a main focal point of much of the album, showcasing plenty of catchy riffs, lots of crunchy distortion, that cheery jangle-pop charm, and the occasional solo to top it all off. It’s been awhile since Mike Mills has gotten to shine on bass, but he’s abundant here, mostly showing his chops off on tracks like Man-Sized Wreath and the title-track. The band's creative songwriting shows off here, as many of the tracks showcase a multiple-personality often, going from a piano-led verse to a massively melodic chorus to be immortalized by the legions of R.E.M. fans, like the chorus in Hollow Man which is an immediate smash hit for radio play.
And, yes, R.E.M. have gotten back to what their best at, mindless, selfless indie rock. Short, sweet, and to the point well describes the album. Not much depth, originality, or R.E.M. even taking risks. Just good ol' music to help pass the time, with that jangle-pop alternative style that makes R.E.M. worthy of being in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. With the band massively crapping all over their legacy for the past few years, a refreshingly simplistic release that seemingly seems a bit effortless and slapped together just may capture that undeveloped charm that we’ve been missing all the way back to the days of when Michael Stipe had hair.
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STREAM:http://www.ilike.com/artist/R.E.M.
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Album Rating: 3.5
I've had it for a week, (leak), so don't give me that typical ****. Thanks in advance.
Digging: Nine Inch Nails - The Slip | | |
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When I was age 8, my mother bought me a copy of the classic 1985 indie rock classic Lifes Rich Pageant.
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a classic tribe classic quote for a classic indie rock classic.
This Message Edited On 03.26.08
Digging: Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
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Valid complaints are typical ****.
This is honestly crappy.
Digging: Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
It doesn't bring anything new, but it's just pretty damn fun.
How's it a typical tribe quote?
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You got the year that album was released wrong, and said classic twice within the space of like 5 words.
This Message Edited On 03.26.08
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How the hell did you have it for a week?
Anyway, this sure seems like a much greater album than ones before it, from Up to Around the Sun. I've only heard "Supernatural" and an acoustic version of "Living Well", both of which are great.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I know that now, I was reading something (my stuff is packed so I can't actually look at my LRP case) and it said 1985, then I went back after submitting this and was like "shit"
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Quote:
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How the hell did you have it for a week?
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it leaked like a week or two ago
Digging: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP | | |
Their best album in 15 years.
Digging: Opeth - Watershed
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Its their best record since 1996, and even then its still bad.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yeah, R.E.M. really has SUCKED it up there for a while. But the album is good, just what I expected, honestly.
This Message Edited On 03.26.08
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Though I'm not a fan of the review. Did you have to give your opinion of every R.E.M. album? I mean, hating on Automatic does not help your review at all (and, since many people, including myself, love the album, it leaves a bad taste in our mouths). I found myself more outraged at your opinions of other R.E.M. material, so much so that I did not take in anything of what you said about Accelerate.
And, you know everyone yells at you for reviewing prematurely, even if you did have it for a week, I see no reason why you couldn't wait five or six days to review it.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Very good review. This will probably be a 3 or 3.5 from me. I Love R.E.M. but prefer their earlier stuff. "Horse to Water" on here is awesome.
Digging: The Avalanches - Since I Left You | | |
BUT I respect your opinion. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying some of the stuff you put in there is unnecessary.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Hows it not necessary? I'm showing that R.E.M. has essentially sucked horribly for years, and this is a nice refresher course of what made them so freaking awesome back in the day
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Automatic for the People IS the best REM album hands down.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Lifes Rich Pageant, Murmur, and Fables>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Automatic
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the only song anyone needs to know by REM is Orange Crush anyways/
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Automatic and Life's Rich Pageant both rule, but lately REM hasn't been up to their classic indie rock classic classics lately.
Digging: The Flashbulb - Soundtrack to a Vacant Life
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Good point there iluv, Orange Crush is freaking amazing.
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