The daddies of alt rock/indie? They were truly great in their IRS days, had some stunning stadium pleasers on subsequent albums and were never afraid to try a new approach.I'm so glad they're back to pre-major label form with 'Accelerate'.

theyre really good

growers i think

Great band. Some very emotional and beautiful songs from them.

For a long time they were my favourite band.

I listened to very little else from about 85-92 (the IRS years mainly), but I fell out of love with them when Bill left. I think he was a vital cog in the machine, not only as a great drummer, but as co writer of some of their finest songs - Perfect Circle and Everybody Hurts to name but two.

Never really given their recent stuff a listen, maybe I should.

The new album is good. And I still like the one before it. I guess I'm in the minority.

Ive been listening to them much more recently, and, i think that theyre amazing, really good.

automatic for the people is a fabtastic album

I've liked Automatic for the People for years, but Losing My Religion is my favourite of theirs, which I know off the best of. It's seriously bad that i don't have these albums yet...

I really like REM and I was quite glad, Elbow were Opening act for them in Germany. So I did not have to pay an expensive ticket for just the opening act
Just pity that they did not play "Low", that track is really cool

I've seen them 5 times now and I'm STILL looking forward to the next album and tour. If you get the chance, grab a ticket. I prefer the smaller venues but they can rock anywhere!
Got some amazing pics from the gig last August in Cardiff.
Lesley

Love them! Great live every tiime I've seen them (also 5 times!) and while the albums aren't what they used to be, their earlier stuff (pretty much everything up until Bill Berry left, just like hesh said above) was pure quality.

My favourite albums are Document, Automatic For The People and New Adventures In Hi Fi. Since then, they have been a bit patchy but I must be in a minoriity, as I do think their last two albums have seen them come back to their old form.

I've just seen this thread, and coincidentally yesterday I was just having a nostalgic listen to Fables of the Reconstruction and Life's Rich Pageant (I can't stop listening to Swan Swan H at the moment) - wonderful! I love their early/mid period stuff, though must admit I haven't heard anything since Reveal. Sounds like I should.

"Around the Sun" is a slow burner and it took me a few listens to really appreciate it. It does have some classics such as the amazing "Leaving New York" and instant favourites of mine were "Aftermath" and "I wanted to be Wrong". The whole album sits together very well.
"Accelerate" is a lot rockier and has a feel of "Monster" BUT with a softer edge. Two of the songs ("Hollow Man" and "Until the day is Done"), wouldn't have felt out of place on "Automatic". Altogether, a class album and definitely worth a try.

Just got "Live at The Olympia" (released a couple of days ago) and it is really, really good. Some fantastic performances of "Accelerate" tracks (plus a couple that didn't make the cut) mixed in with a whole load of IRS era tracks - including about half of Reckoning and almost all of Chronic Town. The band, despite their claims of being petrified of playing the new stuff, are actually in fine, good natured form. It is so great to hear some old hands like REM sounding so vital and alive.

If you love REM buy this album, you will not be dissapointed. 39 trascks of quality.