[troutman]

New R.E.M. a return to form?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Gsa...eature=related

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/articl...pecial-edition

Geared up to Accelerate and readying themselves to pal around North America with the youngsters in Modest Mouse and the National, R.E.M. have announced their big plans for the summer. The band will head to Europe in July, August, and early September, with more festival appearances and a full UK trek to be announced shortly.

But before any of that, the band will play a one-off show in London on March 24 at the legendary Royal Albert Hall. It's a benefit for the ICA.

Accelerate drops March 31 in the UK and April 1 in the U.S. from Warner Brothers.

An early track-by-track review:

http://stereogum.com/archives/premat...&utm_medium=ff

The cumulative effect of Accelerate is a bit like a roller coaster ride -- you wait forever to get on it (it's been four years since Around The Sun!), it's a total rush in the moment, and when it's over, it leaves you wanting to go back and do it again.

They sound positively hungry on this record. It's almost impossible not to hear Accelerate as an attempt to win back old fans and regain the critical respect they've lost in the past ten years. That said, the music doesn't sound desperate, forced, or designed for maximum commercial impact, as with U2's last two records. If anything, they sound pissed-off and eager to brawl.