Beany

I think with a band like R.E.M. everybody has different favourite albums and opinions. They've just been around for so long. I think most of the reviewers are going back as far as Murmur and Reckoning when they're talking about how "exceptional" they were. I think most reviewers will say that anything after New Adventures(including Reveal) is poor by R.E.M.'s standards.

In my opinion though, I love Reveal. I think it's probably their most consistently good album from start to finish. Over anything they've ever done. It's not my favourite, I just think from start to finish its consistently great. People never give it a chance though.

I think Accelerate is an album they had to make. It's all noise and with the exception of Until The Day Is Done, there's not much room to stop and think with it. I think they had to make this type of album though. Just to say to everyone, ("We're still here, and we're gone back to guitars, drums and bass again!"). I hope the next album has the rock of Accelerate but a bit more heart. Like New Adventures. That's my favourite R.E.M. album. I don't think they've "lost that thing that made them a deep band" though. When you look at the last 10 years, I think Up and Reveal have the deepest songs the guys have ever made. Songs like Suspicion, Diminished, Falls to Climb, Parakeet, I've Been High, Chorus and the Ring, Beat A Drum and from Accelerate.. Until The Day Is Done. I also think even the rockier ones on Accelerate are deep. They're some of Stipe's best lyrics in a decade. There's a lot to them and there's double meanings to a lot of what he says. A classic Stipe trait down through the years.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

I don't think thats the case at all.
Reveal was very well received by both the media and by fans after the disappointment of Up.
Even I thought it was good and I only really listen to their 80s output these days.

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Beany

Read nearly any review for Accelerate and most critics just right off the last 10 years of the bands existence. Including Reveal which was made during this time. Mike Mills has said in interviews during the press for Accelerate saying how frustrated he is about this. The fact that people just bypass the last 3 albums collectively.

In terms of fans being glad with Reveal after the dissapointment of Up, I find the complete opposite. You go on any REM message board and most rank Up far higher than Reveal in their favourite REM albums. Not what I would personally have but each to their own.

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jackhammer

Document is probably their most cohesive album but Murmur is superb too. I have a huge soft spot for Green too. Their output since has been patchy with some excellent tracks dotted throughout (Ignoreland, Me In Honey, I Don't Sleep I Dream). I have'nt heard any of their last three releases and their latest has got good write ups.

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zekethefreak

I grew up listening to the early R.E.M. music. Without the blink of an eye, I prefer the earlier material. RECKONING is not only their best album, in my opinion, but one of the strongest albums of the 80's.
In all honesty, I wish they would have taken their own advice. I remember reading (or seeing) an interview with the band, back in 1990, and they said they just wanted to make it until Jan. 1, 2000. They wanted to do a New Years Eve show, and simply walk away. It would have been a good end to the career... and a good time.

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Ace

I've always enjoyed the band.
Our keyboardist is related to the bass player of R.E.M. The Mills guy.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RezZ I think I know much better than you ever will how Mettalica is. I used to play for 2 years in a Mettalica cover band.

kyleargyle

Love R.E.M....and their last album was amazing.

kida

Accelerate did not live up to a long past of awesomeness

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Janszoon

I love their older stuff. Especially Murmur and Dead Letter Office (even though it's not a "real" album). Life's Rich Pageant is pretty sweet too though I don't listen to it much any more.

Of their middle period stuff I love Automatic for the People the most. I wish it had been their swan song though because everything they did after it isn't very good and it would've the perfect sound for a final album.

jackhammer

Three great albums there. I definitely prefer their earlier stuff although 'Monster' was a great departure for them.

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