28 years ago, four young intelligent/awkward fellows would come together to form a little band called R.E.M. With similar admiration of artists like Patti Smith and the Velvet Underground, they would use these inspirations as the basis of their foundation in forming a contemporary rock band. Fast forward to today, and little has seemed to change. With the release of Accelerate, R.E.M. has managed to create an oddity. Simply due to the fact that they have achieved what very few others have, that is in formulating one of their best albums to date at a time that is beyond their musical peak.
Many have said that R.E.M. have lost their internal flame once Bill Berry had departed in ‘95 (I myself am not 1), but I will concur with others in stating that their last full length release Around the Sun was an upsettingly unmotivated “setback” and did bring about an inner fear that maybe the day of R.E.M. has passed. Accelerate manages to put those fears to rest, and may even be a pleasant glimpse into the future. Opening with “Living Well Is The Best Revenge”, the listener instantly is succumbed to the most straightforward, guitar driven introduction since Document. Gone are the excessive methods of production, in return the listener receives a vintage almost pre-major label sounding R.E.M. Michael Stipe had stated that they spent the least amount of time recording Accelerate then any other album in their past. Maybe that is their key to success (Since Around the Sun was the most endurant recording process of all, while also being their worst album to date.)
To sum up the most achievable method for R.E.M. to reach success would be to say that 3 weeks recording an R.E.M. album = Good. Over 8 months recording an R.E.M. album = bad. Time is a very present factor with Accelerate, not only with recording length, but also with each track’s length. Most songs barely exceed 3 minutes, which once again reiterates the bands strive to bring their music back to its early punkier days. ”Supernatural Superserious” is a very well construed song, and the more that you listen to it, the more it constantly plays back in your head to the point where you begin to sing it EVERYWHERE that you go (exaggeration not of usage .) It is clear why R.E.M. chose this to be their first single.
Accelerate also has it’s moment of intamicy with “Hollow Man” telling a tale that many face in losing themselves and their identity, while striving for something that will make them feel whole and worth something once again. The only song on the whole entire album where the message seems to be ineffective is “I’m Gonna DJ.” Clearly trying to take the sarcastic apathetic approach to the world ending (similar to “It’s the End Of The World As We Know It), Michael Stipe opens with singing ” If death is pretty final, I’m collecting vinyl, I’m gonna DJ at the end of the world!” Although witty, the song does not manage to shed an insurmountable level of cheesyness.
Not many bands can claim to have done what R.E.M. has, and while U2 remains as being the most successful rock band of our generation, R.E.M. seems to be the most reliable. R.E.M. have always kept that alternative edge, and seem like the type of band that would be perfectly content if they never had signed with Warner records. Accelerate may not be remembered as their absolute best effort, and may not have a memorable song on the album such as “Losing My Religion” or “Everybody Hurts”/”The One I love”, yet it still has proven to be a solid, unforgettable effort as a whole, and an almighty accomplishment for one of the best bands to ever have lived.
4 out of 5 **** / *****
(Archived from 3/31/08)
Posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Tags: Accelerate, R.E.M., Reviews
Posted in Reviews |
