Around The Sun

People seem compelled to make comparisons "It`s not as good as Automatic for the People!" or even "It`s their best since Automatic for the People!". If I want to hear Automatic for the People, I go put it on. People complain that REM have lost the punky, college-radio, folksy, alt.rock edge of the IRS years. If I want to hear that - I go put on Lifes Rich Pageant or Document.

REM down the years have provided us with an embarrassment of riches, and the widest variety of sounds of any major band I can think of. The point that a lot of people seem to miss is that REM have been on a journey since day one, since Chronic Town, since that gig in that church in Athens. Each new album is a further step along their way - but each album follows on logically from the one before.

They have never tried to forcibly change themselves (Apart from maybe with Monster), yet they have never allowed themselves to stand still. If you listen to the albums consecutively - each album actually sounds a lot like the one before (Again, apart from Monster. Monster was a deliberate attempt to sound different to Automatic.. That album was a reaction to what had gone before rather than an evolution.), and yet despite each other album being sonically similar to the one before - they have somehow got from the startled lo-fi of Murmur to to the celestial glimmer of Around the Sun. It`s been a true journey of evolution.

Each album has been a unique and distinct snapshot of where the band were at the time. Around The Sun is a great album, and an essential addition to the REM canon. Michael Stipe`s voice - one of the most haunting and beautiful sounds we`re lucky enough to have in popular music today - has never sounded richer or more assured, the musicianship is consummate - as we would expect. The song-writing is some of the most personal and emotional they have ever released.

REM have done precisely as they always have - they`ve provided us with the REM album we need today. Not the albums we needed ten or fifteen years ago - they already made them.

The most striking thing I recall about every REM album I`ve ever heard is that they are definitively "growers". The tunes, lyrics and moods of the songs cunningly sneak into your subconscious and then, after a while - and quite out of the blue - you realize you`re utterly smitten.

I really like this album today, in a year I`m gonna love it.

The 13th studio album, Around The Sun is such an album. Upon first buying it back in October 2004, I found it difficult to listen to the first time I played it. Then the second time. Then the third time, and so on. I consider this to be a good thing, as the listener is ultimately rewarded with repeated listens and the songs become more cohesive when given the patience and time they deserve.

I think it's only fair that R.E.M. are accurately represented here, because if you believe some circles, Around The Sun is a disappointing album. These 'untruths' are usually associated with record sales in America. If Around The Sun would've shifted 3 million copies in the United States, they'd be the media darlings of the press and certain British music magazines would be fawning over them again, like they did when it was 'cool' to like R.E.M. As it is, Around The Sun sold approximately 75 copies in the U.S. and because of the lukewarm reception, some of the U.K. music press gave the album a kicking, offering up meagre ratings, or average reviews at best.

Where are all the R.E.M. sycophants now? Having leeched the band for every available inch of column space during 1991-1992, they've long since switched their fawnings to the 'next big things'. Good riddance to them. It'll be interesting to read this review again in 10 years, when Coldplay's star has long since faded and the music press are giving Chris Martin a kicking for being an over the hill angst ridden thirty-something who hasn't released a decent album since 2002.

It's fair to say R.E.M. can't win. After two 'difficult' albums in media terms, Michael Stipe writes an honest set of lyrics that becomes Around The Sun, with the classic R.E.M. sound evident in every song. Ironic then the press dismiss the album as sounding 'jaded', when several of the tracks wouldn't have looked out of place on Automatic For The People.

Forget the music press! Since when were a bunch of freeloaders who receive free cds from record companies ever credible?!
I would recommend Around The Sun as a fine album, based solely on the 13 songs presented, not by how credible they may be in 2005.

For anyone who has seen R.E.M. in concert during the current world tour, several of the tracks from Around The Sun come to the fore and sound great live, particularly The Outsiders, I Wanted To Be Wrong and Leaving New York.

As of July 2005, this album is only seven quid on Amazon.co.uk! Chump change for such a great album. Patient listening rewards even the most casual R.E.M. fan with an enjoyable experience.

I give this album four stars - that's four stars for competence, not for 'attitude', which is seemingly how the music press grade things.

Around The Sun has Michael's voice mixed high up, and while the synthesisers of Up and Reveal remain, many traditional instruments are used as well. Mike's piano features a great deal, especially on the brilliant Boy In The Well.

The record is lush and emotional, full of the band's political outrage after the recent American elections, and the lyrics reflect the band's political stance; Final Straw and I Wanted To Be Wrong are their most overtly political songs to date.

The band also explore some new musical territory, with The Outsiders' trip-hop drum beat heralding the first rap on an R.E.M. album since Out Of Time in 1991, as Q Tip guests.

Many of the songs are growers, and I must admit that I was slightly disappointed with the album after the first listen. Just give it a chance, it gets more beautiful every time it passed through you. Buy this album, you won't regret it.

Long love R.E.M.