Comments on: A Few Thoughts on R.E.M.’s Accelerate http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/ Kulturblog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:52:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: BTD Greg http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-88233 BTD Greg Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:29:17 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-88233 Eric, I agree to a point. The music sounds more hard-driving and urban than jangling and pastoral. To that extent, it's more of a modern R.E.M. album than anything the band did in its early years. But if half of these songs actually had been on <em>Reveal</em>, then <em>Reveal</em> would have been a much better album. I'm still not sold on DJ. Call me a curmudgeon, but I think the whole problem started when R.E.M. started to consciously make their sound different with each album. If it ain't broke, don't screw with it, I say. Eric,

I agree to a point. The music sounds more hard-driving and urban than jangling and pastoral. To that extent, it’s more of a modern R.E.M. album than anything the band did in its early years.

But if half of these songs actually had been on Reveal, then Reveal would have been a much better album.

I’m still not sold on DJ. Call me a curmudgeon, but I think the whole problem started when R.E.M. started to consciously make their sound different with each album. If it ain’t broke, don’t screw with it, I say.

]]> By: Supergenius http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-88232 Supergenius Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:23:43 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-88232 Eric, I agree -- but DJ is a fantastic song. Eric, I agree — but DJ is a fantastic song.

]]> By: Eric Russell http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-88231 Eric Russell Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:20:47 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-88231 Actually, Greg, I understand the comparison to <em>Life’s Rich Pageant</em> upon initial contact, but I don’t see the album as a return to the IRS years except perhaps in the general sense of its spunkiness. Musically, it’s very much a modern R.E.M. album. With the exception of a more upbeat tempo and louder guitars, about half of the tracks could have been on <em>Reveal</em> and a handful of the others sound like they could have been on <em>New Adventures in Hi-Fi</em>. I think “I’m Gonna DJ” is really the only original track on the album. Actually, Greg, I understand the comparison to Life’s Rich Pageant upon initial contact, but I don’t see the album as a return to the IRS years except perhaps in the general sense of its spunkiness. Musically, it’s very much a modern R.E.M. album.

With the exception of a more upbeat tempo and louder guitars, about half of the tracks could have been on Reveal and a handful of the others sound like they could have been on New Adventures in Hi-Fi. I think “I’m Gonna DJ” is really the only original track on the album.

]]> By: Eric Russell http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-88166 Eric Russell Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:20:02 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-88166 The music will provide the light you cannot resist You cannot resist You cannot resist Yeah The music will provide the light you cannot resist
You cannot resist
You cannot resist
Yeah

]]> By: RoastedTomatoes http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87969 RoastedTomatoes Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:11:25 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87969 My new baby loves, <em>loves</em> this album. She can be mid-scream or mid-meal, and if she hears it, she instantly shuts up and concentrates until the music ends. My new baby loves, loves this album. She can be mid-scream or mid-meal, and if she hears it, she instantly shuts up and concentrates until the music ends.

]]> By: Norbert http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87940 Norbert Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:47:55 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87940 Greg, I feel the same about REM generally and the album specifically. FWIW, Peter Buck said something similar about the last few albums and this one in a <em>Mojo</em> interview. Greg, I feel the same about REM generally and the album specifically. FWIW, Peter Buck said something similar about the last few albums and this one in a Mojo interview.

]]> By: MCQ http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87937 MCQ Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:58:42 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87937 Greg, you speak for me almost word for word. I discovered REM with <em>Life's Rich Pageant </em>and was obsessively into <em>Fables of the Reconstruction</em>, <em>Green</em> (one of my favorite albums of all time by any band--I still listen to it all the time), <em>Out of Time </em>and <em>Automatic</em>. Then they lost me. <em>Accelerate</em> is a great reunion with a truly great band. The first four songs are parctically perfect, and although the album goes downhill from there, it will still stand as one of the best in a long time. Welcome back REM. Greg, you speak for me almost word for word. I discovered REM with Life’s Rich Pageant and was obsessively into Fables of the Reconstruction, Green (one of my favorite albums of all time by any band–I still listen to it all the time), Out of Time and Automatic. Then they lost me. Accelerate is a great reunion with a truly great band. The first four songs are parctically perfect, and although the album goes downhill from there, it will still stand as one of the best in a long time. Welcome back REM.

]]> By: FHL http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87935 FHL Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:21:54 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87935 I enjoyed <em>Horse to Water</em>, and the album has a good overall feel - like you said, hearkens back to their earlier stuff. More like this, please! =) I enjoyed Horse to Water, and the album has a good overall feel – like you said, hearkens back to their earlier stuff.

More like this, please! =)

]]> By: William Morris http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87934 William Morris Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:00:33 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87934 Bob Mould fans should check out his recent appearance on <a href="http://www.soundopinions.org/archive/2008/march.html#guestbobmould" rel="nofollow">Sound Opinions</a>. Some great live performances, but also a real interesting interview. Bob Mould fans should check out his recent appearance on Sound Opinions. Some great live performances, but also a real interesting interview.

]]> By: Allison http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/comment-page-1/#comment-87932 Allison Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:46:39 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/04/a-few-thoughts-on-rems-accelerate/#comment-87932 Sounds intriguing. Could someone post a song or two to radio blog? Sounds intriguing. Could someone post a song or two to radio blog?

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