R.E.M., Accelerate (Warner Bros.)
Georgia trio R.E.M.'s decade-plus since the departure of percussionist Bill Berry has been hard miles. While seemingly as popular as ever in Europe, delivering chart-topping albums and singles, the group's floundered in its home country. R.E.M.'s 2005 offering, Around the Sun, moved fewer than 300,000 units in the U.S., and none of the record's singles cracked Billboard's Top 100.
Sun gave up its rewards slowly and quietly, but it did have them — "Final Straw" is a pacifist ethos for the post-9/11 era, and "Leaving New York" sparkled with pop sheen. However, in America, the sad commentary on the post-Berry era is that its pinnacle remains "The Great Beyond," which tapped the same Andy Kauffman pool for creative inspiration that "Man on the Moon" did. "Great Beyond" typifies the arty, spacial R.E.M. that followed its percussionist's departure.
That explains why Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol, Green Day) was brought in as producer. If lead single "Supernatural Superserious" is an indication, Accelerate will tread the paths of an older, rockier R.E.M. (Hear a minute-long edit of the song on the band's MySpace.) Though the band may face declining sales and poor critical reviews in America, R.E.M. is arguably the greatest rock 'n' roll band this nation has spawned. That's a mantle deserving of some respect, and at least a listen.
If I Were Really Rich ...
— The Black Keys, Attack & Release (Nonesuch) — Danger Mouse seems an unexpected choice behind the boards for this Ohio garage rock duo.
— Van Morrison, Keep it Simple (Lost Highway) — Irish legend's second album for the Nashville, Tenn., label is first record of all-original material in nearly 10 years.
— The Rolling Stones, Shine a Light (Interscope) — Available in single- and double-disc formats, Shine, the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese film set to release this week, collects every song from a two-night stand in 2006 at New York's Beacon Theatre.
— Victor Wooten, Palmystery (Heads Up) — Flecktones' uber-talented bassist works with Keb' Mo' and Karl Denson on fifth studio record.
Others
Anti-Flag, The Bright Lights of America (RCA)
AZ, Undeniable (Koch)
Blue Man Group, How to Be a Megastar Live! [CD/DVD] (Rhino)
Dream Theater, Greatest Hit ( ... and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (Rhino)
Fall Out Boy, ****: Live in Phoenix (Island)
Glasses Malone, The Beach Cruiser (Blu Divisio/Hoo-Bangin'/Cash Money/Universal)
In Flames, A Sense of Purpose (Koch)
Kathy Mattea, Coal (R.E.D. Distribution)
Ministry, Cover Up (13th Planet)
Moby, Last Night (Mute)
Muse, H.A.A.R.P. [CD/DVD] (WEA/Warner)
Willie Nelson, One Hell of a Ride [4CD box set] (Sony)
No Use For A Name, The Feel Good Record of the Year (Fat Wreck)
Joe Satriani, Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock (Sony/BMG)
Sevendust, Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow (7 Bros/Asylum)
George Straight, Troubadour (MCA Nashville)
Sun Kil Moon, April (Caldo Verde)
Theory of a Deadman, Scars & Souvenirs (604/Roadrunner)
Trina, Still da Baddest (Slip-N-Slide Records/EMI/DP Entertainment)