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R.E.M. is sounding like a band again, instead of Whiny Michael and the Stipes.

I bought R.E.M.’s new album last week, and I’ve been listening to it on and off since then, and I’m starting to develop some thoughts. For better or for worse, I tend to examine each new R.E.M. album in the light of how does this album build on / relate to what has gone before, and how does it explore new territory? I’m happy to say that for me, Accelerate does both with vigor.

Living Well Is the Best Revenge (3:12)

Out of the door loud, fast. Sets the tone for the album. Companion tune to New Test Leper from New Adventures In HiFi, barking back at a media that, in the end, doesn’t really matter. Bonus points for the return of Mike Mills to background vocals (or at elast to appropriate volumes), and for Mike and Peter for a return to Document-quality rock-n-roll. R.E.M. is sounding like a band again, instead of Whiny Michael and the Stipes. - 4 Stars

Man-Sized Wreath (2:32)

I can’t quite get a grip on Man-Sized Wreath. Not sure if it’s the lyrics or the tune, but while I can already sing along to most of the lyrics (it’s catchy!) I can’t tell you why. Yet. 2 Stars

Supernatural Superserious (3:24)

First single, very hooky. Really fun to listen to. Companion tune to Nightswimming from Automatic For The People. Michael sings to the lamenting youth from Nightswimming, assuring that it doesn’t last. - 4 Stars

Hollow Man (2:39)

I love Hollow Man. Following tender mostly-acoustic verses, the chorus winds up and rings out like a 70’s sitcom theme (in a good way) then comes to a satisfyingly noisy spinout at the end. Some excellent Murmurs-era guitar work from Peter Buck (still looking for the specific song I’m thinking of). - 4 Stars

Houston (2:05)

Lovely, dirty organ that sounds like it was resurrected from a swamp, or from a flooded church (a true New Orleans Instrumental?). Also, includes an echo of the acoustic riff from Try Not To Breathe. - 3 Stars

Accelerate (3:34)

Michael’s invoking cartoons (”where’s the cartoon escape hatch for me”), which had me thinking of the Dr. Seuss references in The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, but it comes amid a fast, full-of-fuzz song that conveys the fear, urgency, and tension in the lyric. - 3 Stars

Until the Day Is Done (4:09)

This is another one that’s growing on me. Followup to Ignoreland from Automatic For The People and would fit nicely on that album right after it. Another politically-flavored song, but is lamenting after the angry protest of Ignoreland. - 3 Stars

Mr. Richards (3:46)

Mr. Richards is a slow, loping, admonishment (beat-down? ) of the title character (who at one point I thought was referring to Michael Richards, of Sienfeld fame, but now I’m not so sure). - 3 Stars

Sing for the Submarine (4:51)

A weird song that is really growing on me, and (IMO) references several 3 R.E.M. songs from the past:

• Electron Blue, from Around The Sun by name
• In a stretch, a reference to the Machine from Green’s World Leader Pretend
• Fables of the Reconstruction’s Feeling Gravity’s Pull
• High Speed Train from Around The Sun
  • 3 Stars

Horse to Water (2:18)

You’re only as big as your battles

• 2 Stars

I’m Gonna DJ (2:08)

Somehow reminds me of 1995’s Revolution but without the cool “La La La”s. I suspect it might take the place of The End Of The World As We Know It as a show-closer, but I hope not. - 3 Stars

Thus is the pattern for the night established. A couple of new songs, a couple of oldies and shiny happy old me putting in a prize winning performance in the dancing while sitting down world championships. … Everything else we don’t know, though, is pretty much flawless, a raucous, breathtaking hybrid of the best bits from Reckoning and Monster.

I have no idea when this awesome material will show up on the new album, but I already know it’s going to be my favorite R.E.M. album since 1995. W00!

[via murmurs.com]

P.S. Bootleg recordings of all 5 nights are available as torrents at http://murmurs.com/torrents/ (free account required).

1. World Leader Pretend
2. Finest Worksong (Mutual Drum Horn Mix)
3. Country Feedback (6 minute Green tour version - from L.A. I think)
4. Turn You Inside-Out
5. Begin The Begin

1. Document (3) - Finest Worksong, It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine), The One I Love
2. Green (3) - World Leader Pretend, Orange Crush, Turn You Inside-Out
3. Out Of Time (2) - Belong, Country Feedback
4. Automatic For The People (1) - Man On The Moon
5. Eponymous (1) - Finest Worksong (Mutual Drum-Horn Mix)

(Ties listed alphabetically)

What’s your favorite band? What are your top 5 albums by that band, ranked by how many 5-star rated songs each album contains?

it’s the end of the world as we know it

I find it comforting and appropriate that there is an R.E.M. quote in the Frontier source code.

UPDATE: in other R.E.M.-as-software news:

everybody hurts sometimes

this one goes out to the one i love

shiny happy people

Random R.E.M. moment:

I realized today in the car that with the right singer and a blazing fiddle, R.E.M.’s Me In Honey (from Out Of Time) would make a mean Irish jig.

I had some fun with GarageBand, iMovie, and a favorite R.E.M. song. The video was inspired by the intro, which comes from the bootleg “Low”, as Michael Stipe introduces “Belong”.

Beware - yours truly sings.