Summer’s Finest Album

There has always been one sure thing in college music and that is Athens’ R.E.M. Returning in the summer of 2001 with their follow-up to 1998′s Up, R.E.M.’s Reveal takes a jab at recreating the classic beauty of 1992′s Automatic for the People. Released in the wake of U2′s All That You Can’t Leave Behind, R.E.M. has produced an album that flows freely without feeling forced and caged like its predecessor.

Reveal is never anything less than beautiful. It sounds so much like summer that a lingering presence of Brian Wilson is undeniable. While R.E.M. has not recreated Pet Sounds, what they have done is found a spot to settle down into. What kept their post-Automatic work from being exceptional was their diving into different waters, experimenting, and never totally emerging with anything unique. What the past two albums required was a bit more effort on the part of the listener. What Reveal reveals is a common ground, with programming that meets the early, easily accessible R.E.M./Athens sound.

The band has rarely sounded as convincing as they do on the singles “Imitation of Life” and “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star).” “Summer Turns to High” and “Beachball” are straight out of the school of Brian Wilson. The beauty of “I’ll Take the Rain” is the result of some of the finest song-crafting that R.E.M. has ever done. Michael Stipe’s vocals throughout are the equivalent of a sunshiny day. What results is one of the finest albums of the year.

Even though they were never really gone, Reveal gives assurance that R.E.M. is back, doing what they do best – creating music that is instantly accessible and will be studied, envied, and imitated for generations to come.

A better summer-time album would be a rare find.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 7 2001. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry