Posted on 04/10/2008
The 14th (!) album from R.E.M. is almost more notable for what it isn't than what it actually is. After the directionless approach that made their last effort, 2004's Around the Sun, a disappointment to critics and fans alike, the forefathers of post-punk alternative rock have clearly taken some time to assess where they stand in their career, and where their strengths lie as a band.

 

And that very realization plays a very significant role in the sound of Accelerate; R.E.M. sounds like a band again. By embracing the punchy, rocking sound of their earlier IRS albums, the band sounds more alive and potent than their previous efforts. From the first jangling guitar arpeggio on the upbeat opener "Living Well Is The Best Revenge," it's clear that this is an album that was crafted with the live performance in mind.

 

Though the sound does deviate from the classic sound from time to time, it's safe to say that this record's intent is to rock, and all of the band's tried-and-true tricks are put to effective use on Accelerate. Peter Buck's aforementioned distinctive guitar style is at the forefront, while bassist Mike Mills' backing vocals are once again an integral component of the 11 songs here. Meanwhile, Michael Stipe's largely political lyrics are mixed just low enough in the mix to invoke the DIY-aesthetic that this band founded, and the caustic tone in his delivery brings an even greater sense of urgency to the social musings found on tracks like "Man-Sized Wreath" and "Mr. Richards."

 

Still, the heaps of praise this album is garnering seems to be more in favor of the direction that R.E.M. has turned away from than for the actual merits of the content here. While the two-minute "Horse to Water" is more jarringly bombastic than anything the band has probably ever done, and the quirky end-of-the-world slant of closing song "I'm Gonna DJ" is a notable anomaly, there's some songs here that find R.E.M. entering a comfortable sense of autopilot. Lead single "Supernatural Superserious" and "Hollow Man" are the types of songs that they could probably knock out in their sleep. But if entering actual R.E.M. is what Stipe and the boys needed to do to take a step in the right direction, then most fans will find little reason to disturb their slumber.

 

- Sean Kantrowitz