Album Review: R.E.M. - Accelerate

R.E.M. comes out bold and blazing from the opening seconds of Accelerate, immediately wiping their slate clean that has been dirtied over years from a series of lackluster releases. For over a decade, the band considered as one of the pioneering forces for the entire alternative rock movement has struggled to come anywhere close to the past heights they achieved in the 80s and early 90s. What’s immediately obvious about their newest release is the band’s decision to essentially strip its sound down to the bare essentials, shedding overly-produced songs in favor of more direct and trajectory rock.

The band hails back to its glory days with the return of many elements that made them so universally lauded by the music community years ago. Their raw songwriting here harks back to their Do-It-Yourself persona established at the beginning of their career 25+ years ago. In addition, Michael Stipe’s vocals are just as poignant and effective as they ever were. Thankfully, Peter Buck’s guitars are back in full force as well, transitioning from driving riffs to the more wailing, distorted attacks in songs like “Man Sized Wreath” and “Mr. Richards”.

There are only a couple of missteps that hold this effort back from joining the ranks of their past classics (notably 1983’s Murmur and 1992’s Automatic for the People). “Accelerate”, the track that shares the album’s title, chugs along to an uninteresting melody, ultimately nothing more than filler in an album whose lean nature only works if all of the fat is shaved off. The closing track of the album “I’m Gonna DJ” also disappoints. What should be a chance to make a lasting, final statement for an album that says so much is instead replaced by a frivolous track that whizzes by the listener and never offers to pick them up along the way.

So in the spirit of the album, I’ll wrap things up quickly. Accelerate is certainly an accomplishment for a band that was as near extinction as any band can be. They have smartly returned to the winning formula that worked so well for them in their prime; mixing lyrics that are simultaneously cryptic and relatable, sound that is both modern and traditional, and a spirit that is equally fiery and tender. In the end, Accelerate is a bit too fleeting and underdeveloped, as if R.E.M. is serving us only a small sample of their recipe rather than the full, three-course meal that we want. But hey, a taste is better than nothing at all, right?

Key Tracks:
Living Well Is The Best Revenge
Supernatural Superserious
Until The Day Is Done

Final Verdict: 8.3

R.E.M. - Living Well Is The Best Revenge