R.E.M.’s new album is coming out April 1. Entitled Accelerate, it follows hot on the heels of Around the Sun, which, um, stunk out loud.
I’m willing to bet many R.E.M. fans are nervous as hell. Maybe it’s because, to these ears, every R.E.M. album released since the underrated New Adventures In Hi Fi has been an unholy mixture of annoying blips, bleeps, and bloops that are oddly reminiscent of actor Michael Winslow (think Spaceballs). Maybe it’s because I have a lingering fear, perhaps shared by many R.E.M. fans but vocalized by few, that the band is simply irrelevant in the current music scene, or worse, incapable of delivering a quality album. Maybe it’s because I’m hesitant to pour more money into the iTunes beast for another underwhelming album from Stipe and Co.
Maybe.
But I simply cannot shake the feeling that many fans want Accelerate to be a great album for other reasons. For many music fans, R.E.M. was our first serious music addiction. Although I got into the game late – I was barely a teenager when I bought my first R.E.M. album, Out Of Time, in 1991 – I quickly devoured the back catalog and with much glee bought the concert tickets, t-shirts, and singles (“the b-side is a 1992 live performance of “Radio Free Europe”? They never play that! I gotta have it!”). I had much to learn.
Like many other R.E.M. junkies, my favorite concert memories are also tied to the band. The 1995 Monster tour stop in St. Louis was the first concert my brother and I attended. We blasted Automatic For The People from the car speakers as we drove (as much as you could blast that album, anyway). My friend showed up late due to his high school football game, still wearing his uniform, and only managed to hear the last few songs. His twin sister was even escorted out of the amphitheatre for, putting it in PG terms, inappropriate behavior during “Bang and Blame.” Even with this jail bait hiccup to deal with later, he was thrilled just to be there. To me, such devotion made total sense.I’ve been hooked on R.E.M. for the better part of my life. But like a trout plucked from the water by an enterprising fisherman, the problem is that the hook is now securely wedged into my lip. And it’s kinda painful.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Sounds like we're pretty much the same. I got into REM about the same time, and it appears we're about the same age. I adored them up until Up which I simply couldn't get into and the same goes for all the albums since.
Honestly, I stopped really caring a couple of years ago. I couldn't muster any real excitement about another album that was surely going to suck.
Except I got an advanced copy and decided to listen anyways. I'm thrilled to say its pretty good. Not 80s REM good, but I find myself actually wanting to hear it again after the first couple of listens which I can't say the same for any of their last three albums.
It's loud too, Peter Buck finally remembered he plays guitar and cranked it up.
I won't say anything more as you said you are avoiding the reviews, but I will say you can allow yourself to get excited again. REM is back.
2 - Aaman
Here's an extensive review of Accelerate, you might appreciate this more after listening to the album, of course.
Net-net, it's interesting and aggressive.
3 - Phillip
cool. Looking forward to this album.
4 - S.Rod
I was definitely a little worried that the new album would suck but I listened to it on iLike.com and now I can't wait to get the CD.
R.E.M. is definitely back.
5 - JC Mosquito
Heard an online boot of the concert in Dublin from 2007 where they road tested a few tunes - lotsa guitars, pretty heavy..... Hmmm... I liked Monster for about a week - hopefully this will have more staying power.
6 - Mark Saleski
i listened to this several times yesterday (via ilike link provided by srod) and really, really enjoyed it. not as one-dimensional as Monster.
7 - Tracey Thomas
I've loved REM most of my life,my older brother got me into them,and i think they are amazing!!!!Ive seen them live 5 times and each time i've been to see them they just seem to get better and better. I can't wait to get their new album, i've got all of the others and they are all amazing. My favourite has to be " out of time" the songs are just great.
8 - goxybr
i just saw REM on CBS Sunday Morning and may have to check out their new albulm. i started to listen to REM in 1989 after being a metal head up until my junior year of high school. they were my favorite group until the mid 90's when their music got stale. mt cousin saw REM in early 80's at bar in Morgantown, WV called the Underground Railroad. he said there were a few people in the bar and after the finished playing they had some drinks and talked to them. little did they know they were listening to one of great bands of our time.