R.E.M.
Around The Sun

In 2004, R.E.M. released Around The Sun, their thirteenth album, following the excellent Reveal. After more than twenty years of career, for the first time, R.E.M. faced opposition from the press and critics. The band was under scrutiny because, in such cases, a slight misstep by an artist or a group is interpreted as the end of their career, a descending phase, a lack of inspiration. In this album, which heavily criticizes Bush's politics, R.E.M. tries to expand and discover new musical horizons. An attempt that was partly successful for the band from Athens.

Those expecting to hear the melodies of Automatic For The People, or the rock of New Adventures In Hi-Fi will be disappointed. The band's sound has now profoundly changed. Times have changed too, and Stipe and company know it. They are now one of the most famous bands worldwide, and success can play nasty tricks on artists.

Around The Sun depicts a band that is mature, and that, as in all the years of their career, is attempting to renew itself and search for new paths. The cover, where the three members of the group are drawn, is blurry, as if to signify that R.E.M. is in a phase where changes are occurring.

The song opening the album, "Leaving In New York", quickly became a hit. Stipe dedicates the lyrics to New York after the September 11 attacks. The melody is very fitting, and overall it is a beautiful song. It talks about how difficult it is to leave New York and the city after the attacks. "Electron Blue" is an experimental song with keyboards dominating the entire track. Stipe's voice with echo and Buck's guitar in the background are beautiful. "The Outsiders" is a song that sparked a lot of discussions due to the presence of a rapper in the track, Q-Tip, but the band has always hosted other singers in their albums, like Patti Smith and Katie Person. Nonetheless, the track is very good and is a new style, never before done by the group. "Make It All Okay" is characterized by the piano and Buck's electric guitar dialoguing with Stipe's voice. "Final Straw" is a track that openly discusses politics with a fast pace. The acoustic guitar dominates the piece. "I Wanted To Be Wrong" strongly recalls the atmospheres of Reveal. "Wanderlust", in which Stipe has a unique voice, is a very beautiful and inspired song. "Boy In The Well" has a haunting rhythm, characterized by keyboards. The choruses at the end of the track are very beautiful. Another hit from the album is "Aftermath", a wonderful song with Stipe in great form. This track is a quick masterpiece, a melodic song that reflects the band's style. "High Speed Train" is an indecipherable, uninspired track. "The Worst Joke Ever", although nice, adds nothing to their style. Special is "The Ascent Of Man" with a beautiful chorus like the rest of the song. The album closes with "Around The Sun", named after the album itself. Never before had R.E.M. named a song after the album. A truly beautiful track with a breathtaking ending where Stipe says that, in his dreams, he feels free and tells us to believe.

Not the best R.E.M. album but not a bad one either. The current R.E.M. is what they are, take it or leave it. They are a band aware of the years they've left behind and know that renewing themselves is increasingly difficult. After Bill Berry's departure, the group took a hit but then got back up with the splendid Up. Once, a journalist asked Stipe if R.E.M. would continue even without Berry. Stipe replied that R.E.M. is now like a three-legged dog, but still a dog that manages to walk. This album might not be the best in their career, but as Stipe hinted, R.E.M. is still R.E.M.!