This isn't going to be a review of R.E.M.'s Accelerate; well, not exactly.
A review, to me, implies past tense. It implies a verdict has been reached and a decision will be rendered. I liveblogged the record when it was released Tuesday. I knew then my opinions would evolve as my first impressions were nullified by subsequent listens. I put it in the computer and immediately published my first impression of each song, more or less in real time. I've now listened to it several times and sure enough, I've changed my mind several times about several aspects of it. My feelings about this record are still fluid and will likely change again so instead of calling this a review, I'd like to call it a "snapshot."
Maybe we should back up further than my first impressions and start out with what I'd heard about the album going into it. After three records without founding drummer Bill Berry that ranged from being pleasantly uneven (Up, Reveal) to godawful (Around The Sun), word out of R.E.M.'s camp was this would be a return to the band's classic sound. Peter Buck got paid for those three records because he presumably did something on them, but no one knows what the fuck that something was. We were told prior to Accelerate's release that was about to change. Now we all know internet rumors and band interviews have historically had casual relationships with the truth but the rumors about the return of Peter Buck proved to be true. As for a return to the band's classic sound? Well, we'll have to talk about that.
If by "classic" you mean the band's I.R.S. records (Murmur, Document, Life's Rich Pageant, Fables of the Reconstruction, etc), I disagree that Accelerate is a return to those days in terms of sound or quality. The album from the band's past Accelerate most closely resembles is Monster and that is a bit problematic.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Good review. I guess I am in the minority because I still like Monster. Certainly not typical R.E.M., but I don't hold that against it. I was going to see them in concert, but they are at the Hollywood Bowl on a weeknight and I am already going there twice that week to take the wife to see Police/E Costello and also The Cure.
2 - Glen Boyd
I still have to hear this, but this review describes pretty well what I am expecting once I do. All the second coming hype is something I figured it was doubtful this could live up to. Like you more or less say though, a return to form works just fine for now.
-Glen
3 - Josh Hathaway
Yeah, EL B, I had to trim part of the review; the part where I admit that after I fell out of love with Monster I came back around and actually like quite a bit of it. I don't think it's a great album, but it's pretty good and there are days it really fits the bill for me. That part of the story is going up on Fanboy as a companion piece.
11 got GREAT seats to the Atlanta show and he is stoked.
Thanks for the read and comment, Iguana Glen. You should definitely hear it. You'll like it more than you may think. Just have reasonable expectations and it will be good to you.
4 - Eric Whelchel
Nice review. I agree pretty much across the board. I've listened to it about a dozen times and I'm starting to get a little bored with some of the songs.
I think it might be another Monster in the making...
5 - Josh Hathaway
Thanks for the comment, Eric. I actually like Monster which is something I originally covered in this review until I had to cut it to keep the length reasonable (now covered at Fanboy. I like it but I don't love it and that's kind of how I feel about Accelerate. It's a valid work but not an essential chapter in the story. I'm hoping it's a transitional record that leads them back to playing to their full set of strengths on future records.