R.E.M. — Accelerate

Accelerate

Warner Bros/Warner

Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

04/01/2008 9:58pm

It's now been 25 years since R.E.M. registered on music lovers' radar with Murmur. Many people who first fell in love with the Athens, Ga. band back then have fretted that they've mellowed with age since 1998's Up, their first album without drummer Bill Berry. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills show that they still know how to rock on Accelerate, but, unfortunately, outside of album closer "I'm Gonna DJ," that regained spirit only lasts through the first half of the 11-song, 36-minute disc. Buck's guitar is more palpable than it's been since 1994's Monster, and we can be thankful for that, especially on opener "Living Well Is The Best Revenge" and "Man-Sized Wreath." Lead single "Supernatural Superserious" should get the group back on rock radio, and both "Hollow Man" and the title track are worthy successors. Stipe's lyrics aren't as political as expected, but they're not as obtuse as much of his earlier work either. While Accelerate isn't a totally successful return to form, it may be as much as we can expect at this point.

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