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Rating: They are finished. They have nothing left to say. They've lost their edge. Stipe aged poorly. Someone help them.
Craig McLean of the Telegraph, March 8, 2008: "R.E.M. reborn". Hypocrites, all of them. I wonder where these people will hide now. It’s one thing to say that "Around The Sun" was a debatable album; that's understandable, everyone has their own opinions. But to massacre them at those levels and declare a band that has given so much to rock over twenty years a lost cause, no, that's not fair.
Now "Accelerate" has arrived. And it takes just a little to understand. Perhaps only the first minute/minute and a half of "Living Well's The Best Revenge". An arpeggio, then a decisive guitar riff and Stipe's finally angry voice. But "Accelerate" is not an album "in memory of times gone by". R.E.M. truly want to reconnect with the distortion, and Buck returns as the absolute protagonist. The opening riff of "Supernatural Superserious" (a title suggested to Stipe by Chris Martin instead of "Disguised") is one of the catchiest things the band has ever crafted, and the track is already an instant classic. "Man-Sized Wreath", as well as "Mr. Richards" (moving, beautiful), skillfully blends early rock with the pop approach of their latest work and anticipates a "Hollow Man" that has all it takes to elevate it to classic status within the band, despite its short two minutes and forty seconds duration. "Houston" is a gritty and muted ballad, the piece closest to the previous "Around The Sun," and even "Sing Of The Submarine" (the bridge is incredible, it doesn't even seem to come from an R.E.M. track) maintains a more whispered tone compared to the rest; it’s surely the piece where Jacknife Lee (the new producer, someone should build a monument for him) really emphasizes the soundscape. The title track flaunts yet another great riff from a stellar Peter Buck, while "Until The Day Is Done" is a splendid ballad already known to fans, having been used for the CNN documentary "Planet In Peril" aired in October 2007. Then comes "Horse To Water", two minutes and eighteen seconds of sound fury that would blow away any NME-affiliated guitar band. "I'm Gonna DJ", already presented live in 2005 and included in "R.E.M. Live", ends gloriously; it could become their own "Song 2".
It's enough to leave your ears buzzing for days. Incredible. For once, the fifth star is generously awarded; not so much for artistic quality, although four out of five would be more fair. But for the courage of the band to put themselves out there again, without touching even for a second the pathetic or the ridiculous. And great songs are not lacking, let’s be clear.
"If we make another misstep, it's over". Relax, Peter, danger averted. R.E.M. are back.
To stay.
Key tracks: "Living Well's The Best Revenge", "Hollow Man", "Mr. Richards", "Sing For The Submarine"
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Other reviews
By aaron711
This is Rock'N'Roll!
Michael Stipe’s singing is expressive, lively, energetic, and the lyrics reflect on the current and future American and global situation.
By rikiii
'Accelerate' perfectly captures the soul of that animal called R.E.M.
R.E.M. take a step back to take two forward, recovering the spirit typical of their youthful years.
By Blackdog
The fourteenth R.E.M. seal is by far the most guitar-driven of the last ten years.
This 'Accelerate' has a sharp sound that the three R.E.M. orphans...had forgotten.
By pepozzo
REM deserves applause because they are one of the few bands that... still manage to produce works as good as this one.
The production is very good, and the sound always remains quite clean and clear.
By POLO
Thankfully, there’s Accelerate, their least inconclusive and ultimately the most beautiful album: finally the guitars roar, no longer like the plastic of the 80s, but finally in a thunderous and sparkling way, like never before.
Get two good headphones, start Supernatural Superserious and feel the sound come in from both sides, echo in your chest, and mess up your soul.
