Accelerate
by R.E.M.

From RoundTheBend TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/17/2017 21:27 | #190967 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It's sad to see such a great artist pigeon holed. As a life long R.E.M. fan, seeing their stuff on MTV growing up, etc. This is better than Monster in my opinion. I feel it is the right level of pop, edge, and punk rock. I feel it is every bit their sound as any other album. This is why this band is great - they can do quality soundscapes in lots of different directions. I think it is a waste to say, well this isn't AFTP or whatever... of course it isn't. It is Accelerate and I think it's great. I think it has the political side of R.E.M. I like. It has the philosophical side. And yes the darker emotional side is less than in the past, and that's actually what I love about it, it's emotion is a happy energy, kind of like when they first debuted on TV with David Letterman and Radio Free Europe. idk... that's my take - sad to see good work like this considered low par. (Edited)

REM go back to their rock roots with a short, fiery punk album. It's quite enjoyable, but it's still obvious listening to the record, that it's a bunch of middle-aged millionaires trying to recapture their youth, and maybe some credibility. It starts of well with, living well is the best revenge. After the sonics of their last three albums, it's good to hear the band rocking again. Man sized wreath, is ok, and, supernatural superserious, is fine, but it's not classic REM. The best song on here is, Mr. Richards, with, horse to water, also good. Until the day is done, is a good track, but again it's just not how it used to be. It ends with the silly fun of, I'm gonna DJ, which is enjoyable enough. And that's it, just after the half hour mark, the record ends. It's definitely one of the better later REM albums, but it's nowhere near their best, but at least it has an energy about it.

I am afraid I am not a REM purist - Bill Berry leaving the band was not the end of REM's greatness for me....... And this album shows why

It is one of the most up beat and energetic rem offerings since .... Well, ever

There isn't really a standout track or tracks on it , and that's because all of them are fantastic rock songs

Understated to say the least

After Around the Sun pressure was put on the band to put something out that was back in the spirit of R.E.M. - what they gave us was Accelerate, a fast paced, agressive album with some catchy tunes.
The distorted guitar rings throughout, and some great catchy choruses are here, but you can't help but feel something's missing.
Many of the songs lack a sense of emotional depth, making the album more of a fun ride than an experience. Track for track, this album could certainly be considered better Reveal, and the songs certainly feel more down-to-earth then ever before since Bill Berry left, but the lack of changing dynamics, and it's short length make it hard to take seriously.

A rocking and exciting album. Interesting how they managed to still rock out at that point into their career. Living Well, Supernatural, Until the Day is Done, Mr. Richards, and Man-Sized Wreath are my favorites (Edited)