New REM album on the way

by Kev Kharas [Edit this content] ▾ 8 comments 15:45 January 2nd, 2008

Artists:
R.E.M. »

Because of Radiohead's greed for news, the first right-column story of 2008 is the tale of REM and their decision to release a new record in the spring.

Accelerate is the act’s fourteenth studio album and was produced by Jacknife Lee. It comes in the US on April 1st, and Drowned in Sound sees absolutely no reason why it shouldn't be out around that time in the UK.

Talking to Q, singer Michael Stipe spoke on the development of the longplayer, which was recorded in nine weeks after being put together during a residency in Dublin last year:

"We spent less time making this record than we have in 20 years…I feel like there's a confidence in the material and a communication between the three of us which hasn't been there for some time.

"When we started working with Jacknife Lee, the first thing I asked him was 'what do you want to hear from REM? What do you want this record to be?' and he said 'I want it to be thrilling.'"

Some of the tracks said to feature on Accelerator include ‘Mr Richards’, ‘I’m Gonna DJ’, ‘Until The Day Is Done’ and ‘Staring Down The Barrel Of Middle Distance’.

Got news? Email us at newsdesk@drownedinsound.com for back slaps and a credit...

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Comments (8)

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we all want it to be thrilling, michael.

GREAT news.

bother | 2 Jan '08, 15:49 | Reply | X

Bit disappointed they're putting

I'm Gonna DJ on it as this has been around for a few years now and is fairly gash.

Reckoning | 2 Jan '08, 15:53 | Reply | X

I can't tell if that's sarcastic or not but anyway,

I'm worried about this. I just hope they approach this in the right way, so that it doesn't look like a desperate attempt to recapture their youth (see The Manic Street Preachers). Could turn out to be the best thing since New Adventures In Hi-Fi (Their last amazingly good album), or it could for once and for all send them down the path to permanent mediocrity. Here's hoping for the former as there one of (if not my favourite) my favourite bands.

LeifErikson @bother | 2 Jan '08, 17:24 | Reply | X

^^^ aye

but the stuff they played in Dublin, even if it's recognisably REM was still very good, at least as good as Green.

amyblue @Reckoning | 2 Jan '08, 17:40 | Reply | X

truesay

that kinda sucks. Having said which, I can't really imagine how a studio version of it would sound, so who knows, maybe they've played around with it a bit (not to an Around The Sun/Reveal extent, obviously, but...) and it could come out quite interesting I guess.

cyan_scarab @Reckoning | 2 Jan '08, 22:25 | Reply | X

I pretty much second all of this.

They are, I think, my favourite band so I really want this album to be just as good as New Adventures. I don't think Reveal was all that bad. I think I quite liked "I'm Gonna DJ" but it was about 3 years ago when I heard it, I am a little concerned that they're putting something on the record that has been around for that long.

matinee @LeifErikson | 3 Jan '08, 11:06 | Reply | X

I hear they've got a title "Steel Wheels"

God I'm fucking grouchy this morning...

robertstjames @cyan_scarab | 3 Jan '08, 11:29 | Reply | X

Jacknife Lee is not a good sign

he seems to make bands lees interesting and that's the last thing they need after 'Around the Sun'. Here's hoping for another 'New Adventures' or 'Up' (with better production) but not holding my breath. Lets have a tour this year as well. Yes, they are probably my favourite band as well.

black_rooster | 3 Jan '08, 12:38 | Reply | X