“Accelerate” – R.E.M.

Rating: 7 / 10

After almost 30 years, 14 albums and an induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, R.E.M.’s first album in four years revisits the alternative roots that immortalized the band’s work.

Under the production of Jacknife Lee, who has worked with U2, Snow Patrol and The Hives, R.E.M.’s “Accelerate” is a refreshing step forward after the critical and commercial failure of 2004’s “Around The Sun.”

The trio of Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe explodes on the opening track, “Living Well Is The Best Revenge.” The fast-paced intensity of the song, accompanied with Stipe’s against-the-grain vocals make it seem like it’s 1989 all over again.

The album continues to thrive as “Man-Sized Wreath” and “Supernatural Superserious” evoke much-needed adrenaline to get those middle-aged rockers actually rocking. Eat your heart out, Velvet Revolver.

Midway through the album there is a small patch of slower, weaker songs that are unequivocally like watching paint dry, but the band quickly redeems itself with the roaring, politically charged “Until The Day Is Done,” and the title track “Accelerate,” which sounds like R.E.M. ripping off R.E.M., but in the best way possible.

On “Mr. Richards,” the band sings about a certain man named Mr. Richards who is corrupt and immoral. But who is this Mr. Richards? Michael Richards, Keith Richards? The world may never know who Mr. Richards is, why he’s in prison or why he’s being constantly told to “pay attention, pay attention,” but it makes for a pretty unique track.

“I’m Gonna DJ,” the album’s closing track, is perhaps a sign of things to come in the already illustrious career of the aging alternative rockers. On each verse Stipe sounds like he’s been listening to a little too much of Run-D.M.C. as the bald-headed brilliance of Stipe claims that, “death is pretty final,” so he’s “collecting vinyl.” Why? “Because if heaven does exist / With a kickin’playlist / I don’t wanna miss it at the end of the world.”

R.E.M. is a band that is either collectively loved or hated, but by album 14, you’ve probably made up your mind. “Accelerate” is a solid addition to R.E.M.’s résumé. Although it’s not anywhere near their best work, it will no doubt make all of those shiny, happy people who have evolved with R.E.M. rock out in their mini-vans.