R.E.M.'s fourteenth studio album in twenty-eight years, and the first since their induction into the oft-considered meaningless Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame is like a time capsule thrown back from the future. The Athens-bred folk rock heroes have become a stadium rock band over the years, and at long last, they've stopped writing songs like one. Accelerate's action-packed 35 minutes features tunes that were written and worked out on the road (remember the old days, when bands worked our the new stuff on the road?), and packs an incredible punch when lined up next to the group's last couple of releases.

In what seems to be a particularly political move, Stipe & Co. have thrown caution to the flash and glitz of the ridiculous super band touring life and reverted to stripped down, old fashioned rock music that focuses on guitars and pissed off vocals. Maybe they've just had enough with the rest of us, or maybe they've learned a lesson from several years of earning their bread with live shows, not record sales, but in either case they've seen the future of their careers (Stipe is said to have claimed, "If we make another bad record, it's over.") and said decided they're not quite done yet. On the rumored advice of U2's The Edge, the band worked with producer Jackknife Lee (makes you wish they'd take a lead from R.E.M., don't it?) and run themselves ragged, just like young rockers, on the tour and press circuit. Their appearance at SXSW, while befuddling in the context of what the festival claims to accomplish, was a big statement, signaling a return to the roots and raucous of what makes good rock bands last, even when no one wants to buy records: everyone will always pay to go see music, and veterans who pound the pavement like champs will earn our respect even if the overall quality of the music isn't what it used to be.

R.E.M. MySpace
R.E.M. Accelerate
"Super Serious" (YouTube)

Akron, OH's gritty blues rock duo return with a brutal, helluva stompin' record. Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums) utilized Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) for Attack & Release which is their fifth effort, but the first to be produced in an actual studio. What does it take to get the garage rock out of the garage? It started when Burton contracted Auerbach and Carney to write songs for Ike Turner. Turner died, but the odd trio wound up landing on something: Burton agreed to helm the new album, which in some ways betrays the band's lo-fi roots, but doesn't betray the spirit or essence of the sound. In fact, the extra oomph good production lends to Carney's kick, the even flow of cymbal crashes, as well as the tight flow of Auerbach's vintage '70s psychedelic blues guitar works wonders: all of a sudden we're listening to a band that we could listen to on the radio. And it's good. Real good.

The Black Keys @ Nonesuch
The Black Keys Official
The Black Keys MySpace

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American Babies: American Babies
Annuals: Wet Zoo EP
Anti-Flag: The Bright Lights of America
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Apples in Stereo: Electronic Projects for Musicians
Apollo Sunshine: Apollo Sunshine (with bonus tracks)
Apollo Sunshine: Katona
Astrid Williamson: Boy for You
Billionaires: Really Real for Forever
The Black Keys: Attack & Release
Borko: Celebrating Life
Bryan Scary: Flight of the Knife
Camphor: Drawn to Dust
Canadians: Sky with No Stars
The Carter Family: The Acme Sessions, 1952-56
Colour Revolt: Plunder, Beg, and Curse
David Ford: Songs for the Road
Diamond Galas: Guilty Guilty Guilty
The Electric Pop Group: Sunrise EP
Fall Out Boy: Live In Phoenix
Kathy Mattea: Coal
Los Campesinos: Hold on Now, Youngster
Kylie Minigue: X
Lili Haydn: Place Between Places
Matthew Ryan: Matthew Ryan Vs. Silver State
Ministry: Cover Up
Moby: Last Night
Mono In VCF: Mono In VCF
Murdocks: Roar!
Muse: Haarp (with DVD)
Paddy Casey: Addicted to Company
Poi Dog Pondering: 7
Proclaimers: Life With You (special edition)
The Quarter After: Changes Near
Radiohead: Nude (import single)
R.E.M.: Accelerate
Robyn Hitchcock: Shadow Cat
Rolling Stones: Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack
Sandrine: Dark Fades into the Light
Sevendust: Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow
Shel Silverstein: Hairy Jazz (reissue)
Shel Silverstein: Inside Folk Songs (reissue)
Sun Kil Moon: April
The Sword: Gods of the Earth
Tally Hall: Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
U2: Ballad of Ronnie Drew (import single)
Unwed Sailor: Little Wars
Van Der Graaf Generator: Trisector
Van Morrison: Keep It Simple
Various Artists: In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2
Various Artists: Lick It Up: A Millenium Tribute to Kiss
Various Artists: My Blueberry Nights (soundtrack)
Various Artists: Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story (import)
Willie Nelson: One Hell Of a Ride (4-CD box set)
The Wood Brothers: Loaded
Yelle: Pop-Up