REM don’t stray from the formula on their 14th album. You get jangly, mid-tempo rock and a fair share of rousing choruses. You have to admire REM for being able to stay on the scene for so long without slavishly copying the same song or falling into the trap of making a half-hearted attempt at trying a new direction. This band simply trucks on adding small bits here and there, shedding the odd influence in return.
’Accelerate’ takes off where ‘Around The Sun’, their previous album, ended in 2004 and moves on a couple of miles down he same road. If anything, it’s a bit more ‘back to basics’ than its predecessor, bringing the guitar back to the front. I guess it’s like going to your favourite restaurant and ordering your favourite dish: Every day is going to be slightly different, every REM album is a slight departure from the last.
REM have come a long way since the band formed in 1981, playing their take on 1960s folk rock. The music on ‘Accelerate’ owes more to the stadium than folk rockers like The Byrds, but there’s still a bit of that freewheeling spirit ticking away buried deep in the mix.
Catch the band at a summer festival near you and enjoy.
Listen to REM’s new album’Accelerate’ and download it from iTunes.
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