release date: Mar. 8, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: Jacknife Lee and R.E.M.
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: USA
Tracklist: 1. "Discoverer" - 2. "All the Best" - 3. "Überlin" (3,5 / 5) - 4. "Oh My Heart" (4 / 5) - 5. "It Happened Today" (2,5 / 5) - 6. "Every Day Is Yours to Win" (2,5 / 5) - 7. "Mine Smell Like Honey" (3,5 / 5) - 8. "Walk It Back" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter" - 10. "That Someone Is You" - 11. "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I" - 12. "Blue"
15th and final studio album by R.E.M. released on Warner Bros. and produced by Jacknife Lee and R.E.M. like the predecessor Accelerate (2008). Before going to the studio to record the album the band had already made the decision to end after one final album. They had all been very disappointed about Around the Sun (2004) and more or less felt it couldn't end with that. Accelerate was an angry statement to document their musical capabilities. This one sort of sums up much of their career, both lyrically and musically. They were conscious about picking both (romantic) ballads, songs of political matter, and strong 'rock' compositions to embrace all their styles and different positions throughout the 30 years they played together. It's not one of their best and neither one of the worst almost equalling the 2008 album. I think, they succeed rather well considering the difficult idea to spread as much as they intend. The album lacks the memorable highs but is made without many evident mediocre tracks. With this the band ends its long and creative era in a positive way. The album wasn't followed by a live tour, instead they made music videos for each and every song on the album, and in Sep., six months after the release, R.E.M. officially announced its disbandment.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, The Guardian, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
