R.E.M. - The R.E.M. Collection (Box Set) (Triple Pack) (DVD)

R.E.M. "Accelerate" (2008).

Advantages: R.E.M.'s best album since "New Adventures in Hi-Fi".
Disadvantages: ...R.E.M. haven't had a good album since "New Adventures in Hi-Fi".

R.E.M. "Accelerate" (Warner Bros., 2008) - More disappointing, disturbingly self-referential, placeholding. One of the ironies of R.E.M.'s long career has been their fairly impressive inability to structure their own albums into both coherent and interesting masses, the irony rooted in three remarkable exceptions: the jangling and often menacing I.R.S.-period "Life's Rich Pageant", the nigh-perfect expression of the American plains in "Automatic for the People", and the fuzzy, brave, quasi future-rock "Monster". As an R.E.M. fan you accept that for every hit, there are the near-hits, and the awful experiments, as the band reel somewhat pretentiously from what their last album really cost in spirit, rebuilding their own character through our generous donations to the cause of their emotional stock, so far removed from their ...

jjdoody 19.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Accelerate - R.E.M.

The Descent Of R.E.M.

Advantages: Pretty melodies in places
Disadvantages: Relentlessly slow paced

Before telling you about the songs on this album, let's get this straight. This is not the scathing attack on Dubya that it seemed to be heralded as, at least not on the surface. Lyrical directness has never been Michael Stipe's style, and although these songs are doubtless loaded with metaphorical messages about the leader of the free world, only a handful of songs, most obviously Final Straw, tackle him head on. Perhaps the blueprint was something along the lines of Springsteen's meditation on 9/11, The Rising, but Stipe is simply not in Bruce's league in terms of lyrics. Unfortunately, that's not the only department in which this album is a let down. By R.E.M.'s high standards of yore, this is average fare. That's still decent compared to most bands it must be said. However I say as a word of warning, casual fans of R.E.M. may wish ...

ThierryHenryisGOD 20.11.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Around The Sun - R.E.M.

Essential R.E.M

Advantages: Eeverything except.......
Disadvantages: New Orleans Instrumental No. 1

For anyone who knows me at all, one of the first things they will have learnt is that I have a love for all music R.E.M. This may make me biased but I haven't enjoyed every one of their albums with blind faith (Take 'New Adventures in Hi-Fi' for example). Automatic For The People was the first R.E.M album I purchased and is solely responsible for the extended interest I have taken in their music; old or new. Along with 'Out Of Time' it was part of what I consider to be R.E.M's golden era. 'Automatic' is a classic album in every way. What I look for in a good album is nice ambience, a variety of tempo and a good balance to the general nature of it's song list. Through the assured, slightly cocky lyrics of 'Drive', the infamous empathy of 'Everybody Hurts' and the warmth of 'Nightswimming' this album has got it right. 'Drive' as ...

Garret 21.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Automatic For The People - R.E.M.