For the record, I hated Around the Sun. I thought Reveal had its moments, and I thought Up was underrated. And I think New Adeventures is all over the place. Still, I remember listening to Up for the first time and thinking, "This is good...but it certainly seems, well, adult."
Anyway, REM's been trying to play up their new album Accelerate saying it will be rockish and better than Around the Sun blah blah blah pretty much what every band says after a string of bad albums (see Oasis). Then their first single came out. (Superduper Superserious or something dumb like that.) I listened with great hope. Unfortunately, it's wretched MOR drivel. Terrible. So terrible. So, in my head, I had written off the new album.
But then today, after taking a wrong turn while heading to the skeet range, I head another REM track on Indie 97.9. It was spectacular. It didn't sound like they were trying to imitate their punchy sound from 1985-1987, it sounded like they had recaptured it. I don't know what to think. I'm in a muddle. But I'm really interested for April 1st to roll around.
BTW, I think the problem is that the two Mikes are freaks, and when Berry left the band. the artsy freaky weird side overcame everything else. I also think that Buck loathes Mills and Stipe, but I have nothing to back that up.
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So? Did you listen to the album yet? If so, what do you think?
Let's face it... even R.E.M.'s worst moments are light years better than 90% of the pop crap pour over the airwaves. R.E.M. has always been spectacular — it's merely a matter of perspective.
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