Holy Moley the new REM album is good! - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

stonebeard View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 28057

Topic: Holy Moley the new REM album is good!
Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:14

My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

Blacksword View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130

Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:21

I think Michael Stipe said they would pack it in if this album didn't do well. I know they were pleased with it. I was quite a big REM fan in the late 80's/early 90's, but lost interest after 'Automatic for the People'

I saw them live a couple of years ago in Hyde Park in London, and they were superb. I shall check out this album.

stonebeard View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 28057

Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:29

I'm not even a big fan of the band, really. Like songs here and there, you know. "Losing My Religion" "Sweetness Follows" "What's The Frequency Kenneth?" (basically the singles except "Everybody Hurts"--so sappy). But this is really good, and it damned well needed to be with the rave reviews it was getting.

I know there's an album recently that's comparable to this. Really streamlined, packed, short songs but not really punk. Hmm...I'll think of it soon.

My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

stonebeard View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 28057

Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:34

Ah it was Pearl Jam's new-ish one! Quite similar in style.

My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

Blacksword View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130

Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:41

I look forward to hearing it! It sounds like they're a little heavier and less commercial than in recent years.

I remember Michael Stipe saying in an interview, a few years back, that he had really didn't like 'Everybody Hurts' and didn't consider it an REM song anymore. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but he said the song may as well belong to Coca Cola!

I always felt their best albums were 'Document' and 'Green'

'Out of Time' and 'Automatic..' certainly had their moments, but they were losing their 'edge' by then. hat said, 'Night Swimming' and 'Star me Kitten' are beautiful songs.

Peter

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 9669

Posted: May 17 2008 at 00:15

Hate to to say I told you so, but didn't I tell you so?

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47962

I wrote:

Georgia band REM hit the ground running on their thirteenth studio album, the brand-new and aptly-titled Accelerate.

While I like all of the Athens outfit's releases (to varying degrees), the previous two efforts, Reveal and the ironically-named UP were decidedly downbeat, and it looked like Stipe, Buck and Mills' harder-rocking days might be behind them.

Thankfully, this is decidedly not the case. After a four year wait, in which band batteries seem to have been fully re-charged, Accelerate gives fans of the band's electric guitar-driven sound the hardest hitting REM disk since the uneven Monster.

The entire album clocks in at only 35 minutes, but the eleven tracks are fully-realized, and crafted and burnished to a polished shine -- there are no dud numbers, no padding, not an ounce of fat, nor a wasted second. This veteran band knows how to write great 3 and-a-half minute, knife-edged rock songs that go straight to your brain's pleasure center, and stick stubbornly there like instant classics.

Yes, the album rocks, but there are also shades taken from the group's softer palette. Sandwiched between tracks featuring Peter Buck's crunching, charging electric axe, comes the welcome jangle of acoustic guitars coupled with piano on "Until the Day Is Done," which will take long-term fans back to the band's more country and folk-flavoured early days. A wonderful song!

Michael Stipe's voice is unchanged, and in top form, and here he has penned some of his hardest-hitting, most coherent lyrics yet (see my latest sig for a wee sample from the blistering title track).

Favourite tracks for you to check out, if you're still not convinced, are "Supernatural Superserious," with its catchy chorus and powerful lyrics dealing with issues of abuse, and overcoming one's past.

I also recommend the full-speed-ahead opener "Living Well is the Best Revenge," the nostalgically-dignified "Until the Day Is Done" (as I mentioned), and the adrenalin-drenched "Accelerate."

REM fans simply can't go wrong with this one -- pick it up, and turn it up, ASAP!

*****************************************************************************************************************

Glad you like it, Stonesy!

Edited by Peter - May 17 2008 at 00:17

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

Chris S

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 09 2004
Location: Front Range
Status: Offline
Points: 7028

Posted: May 17 2008 at 00:38

Monster for me was their best but from what I have heard on Accelerate it ain't too bad. Monster was a brilliant nasty album

<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]

E-Dub

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: February 24 2006
Location: Elkhorn, WI
Status: Offline
Points: 7910

Posted: May 18 2008 at 21:22

I may have to re-think things and pick this up. I'm hearing nothing but great things.

E

Padraic

Special Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: February 16 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
Points: 31165

Posted: May 18 2008 at 21:27

This will be in my next CD order.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
stonebeard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 27 2005 Location: NE Indiana Status: Offline Points: 28057	Topic: Holy Moley the new REM album is good! Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:14

	My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

Blacksword Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 22 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 16130	Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:21
	I think Michael Stipe said they would pack it in if this album didn't do well. I know they were pleased with it. I was quite a big REM fan in the late 80's/early 90's, but lost interest after 'Automatic for the People' I saw them live a couple of years ago in Hyde Park in London, and they were superb. I shall check out this album.

stonebeard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 27 2005 Location: NE Indiana Status: Offline Points: 28057	Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:29
	I'm not even a big fan of the band, really. Like songs here and there, you know. "Losing My Religion" "Sweetness Follows" "What's The Frequency Kenneth?" (basically the singles except "Everybody Hurts"--so sappy). But this is really good, and it damned well needed to be with the rave reviews it was getting. I know there's an album recently that's comparable to this. Really streamlined, packed, short songs but not really punk. Hmm...I'll think of it soon.
	My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

stonebeard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 27 2005 Location: NE Indiana Status: Offline Points: 28057	Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:34
	Ah it was Pearl Jam's new-ish one! Quite similar in style.
	My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want!

Blacksword Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 22 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 16130	Posted: May 13 2008 at 11:41
	I look forward to hearing it! It sounds like they're a little heavier and less commercial than in recent years. I remember Michael Stipe saying in an interview, a few years back, that he had really didn't like 'Everybody Hurts' and didn't consider it an REM song anymore. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but he said the song may as well belong to Coca Cola! I always felt their best albums were 'Document' and 'Green' 'Out of Time' and 'Automatic..' certainly had their moments, but they were losing their 'edge' by then. hat said, 'Night Swimming' and 'Star me Kitten' are beautiful songs.

Peter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669	Posted: May 17 2008 at 00:15
	Hate to to say I told you so, but didn't I tell you so? http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47962 I wrote: Georgia band REM hit the ground running on their thirteenth studio album, the brand-new and aptly-titled Accelerate. While I like all of the Athens outfit's releases (to varying degrees), the previous two efforts, Reveal and the ironically-named UP were decidedly downbeat, and it looked like Stipe, Buck and Mills' harder-rocking days might be behind them. Thankfully, this is decidedly not the case. After a four year wait, in which band batteries seem to have been fully re-charged, Accelerate gives fans of the band's electric guitar-driven sound the hardest hitting REM disk since the uneven Monster. The entire album clocks in at only 35 minutes, but the eleven tracks are fully-realized, and crafted and burnished to a polished shine -- there are no dud numbers, no padding, not an ounce of fat, nor a wasted second. This veteran band knows how to write great 3 and-a-half minute, knife-edged rock songs that go straight to your brain's pleasure center, and stick stubbornly there like instant classics. Yes, the album rocks, but there are also shades taken from the group's softer palette. Sandwiched between tracks featuring Peter Buck's crunching, charging electric axe, comes the welcome jangle of acoustic guitars coupled with piano on "Until the Day Is Done," which will take long-term fans back to the band's more country and folk-flavoured early days. A wonderful song! Michael Stipe's voice is unchanged, and in top form, and here he has penned some of his hardest-hitting, most coherent lyrics yet (see my latest sig for a wee sample from the blistering title track). Favourite tracks for you to check out, if you're still not convinced, are "Supernatural Superserious," with its catchy chorus and powerful lyrics dealing with issues of abuse, and overcoming one's past. I also recommend the full-speed-ahead opener "Living Well is the Best Revenge," the nostalgically-dignified "Until the Day Is Done" (as I mentioned), and the adrenalin-drenched "Accelerate." REM fans simply can't go wrong with this one -- pick it up, and turn it up, ASAP! *************************************************************************************************************** Glad you like it, Stonesy!** Edited by Peter - May 17 2008 at 00:17
	"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.

Chris S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 09 2004 Location: Front Range Status: Offline Points: 7028	Posted: May 17 2008 at 00:38
	Monster for me was their best but from what I have heard on Accelerate it ain't too bad. Monster was a brilliant nasty album
	<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]

E-Dub Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 24 2006 Location: Elkhorn, WI Status: Offline Points: 7910	Posted: May 18 2008 at 21:22
	I may have to re-think things and pick this up. I'm hearing nothing but great things. E


Padraic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 16 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 31165	Posted: May 18 2008 at 21:27
	This will be in my next CD order.