R.E.M. - Opinions (cds, songs)

Beany · 07-11-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hart214

Hey,

I'm sure quite a few of you guys have REM's new album Accelerate.

I recentley read in a review from "The Week" that apparentley...

Accelerate is a great album, constantley reminding you of what a great band REM is, but also of what an exeptional band they used to be

I have quite of few of their albums and it struck me that maybe this comment had a bit of truth in it. For example in my opinion the albulms "Document" and "Reveal" are better than Accelerate in so many ways !!!!

Don't get me wrong I like Accelerate, but have REM lost that certain something that made them such a deep and moving band to listen to.

Your Opinions Please

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.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 07-11-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beany

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 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.

Beany · 07-11-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

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.

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.