Accelerate
by R.E.M.
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 139 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 120 out of 139
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 139
  3. Negative: 4 out of 139

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  1. DanG.
    Jun 28, 2008
    3
    I'm clearly in the minority here but make no apologies for what I'm about to write. It seems that almost everybody has been pulled in by the hype for this album, as it is mediocre at best. The recording level has been set so high that the whole thing just becomes a blur. What happened to the tunes and the subtlety that used to be REM? Accelerate is an album not without some I'm clearly in the minority here but make no apologies for what I'm about to write. It seems that almost everybody has been pulled in by the hype for this album, as it is mediocre at best. The recording level has been set so high that the whole thing just becomes a blur. What happened to the tunes and the subtlety that used to be REM? Accelerate is an album not without some merit - there are some good moments - but is this all they can come up with after 4 years of studio inactivity? By comparison, Around The Sun, is vastly superior, and I think history will judge that to be the case in years to come.… Expand
  2. Patrick
    Apr 11, 2008
    2
    Utter crap. Stipe's prepubescent squealing takes irritating to the Nth level. R.E.M. should either go back to putting Stipe's vocals in the background (where they belong) or just disband.
  3. MarcG.
    Apr 2, 2008
    0
    After hearing this s**t I wonder how this band could have been great one day...Deccelerate is the right word.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2008
42
#42 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Hot Press
    60
    Accelerate is patchy at best, with only the blaring finale, ‘I’m Gonna DJ’, really catching the attention.
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Accelerate is by some considerable distance REM’s best and most cohesive album since Berry left, and crucially echoes a time when they made their best music, if not necessarily their biggest-selling.
    Read full review
  3. NOW Magazine
    40
    There are a few jangly throwbacks for nostalgia’s sake interspersed throughout Accelerate, but they’re overshadowed by blustery guitar blather that shouts “anachronism” at every turn.
    Read full review
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