REM's best record in a decade? Ever? Achieving critical mass (adulation) ever again seemed to have been beyond REM's reach long before their last album (the feeble Around the Sun), but while you can't teach them new tricks, you should never write off an old dog.
Accelerate reawakens the sleeping McGuinn in the strings of Peter Buck's Rickenbacker as songs like Living Well Is The Best Revenge and Mr Richards chime out of the jingle jangle morning. Recent single, Supernatural Superserious is beefier than they've been in years as well; while the rootsy Until the Day Is Done finds Michael Stipe taking the Bush regime to task.
Some are billing this as REM's finest work since Document 20 years ago. That might be stretching a point, but it is mighty fine.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article