"Accelerate" is the fourteenth studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008. After their less critically acclaimed previous record, "Around the Sun", the band returned to a more stripped-down sound, a clear departure from the aforementioned album. The overall dismissal of their recent work pushed them to revert to their older, more rock-oriented sound found in this album.
Produced by Jacknife Lee, who has also worked with bands like U2 and Snow Patrol, "Accelerate" was recorded in Georgia, Vancouver, and Dublin. The album generally received positive reviews and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling approximately 115,000 copies in its first week of release. The lead single, "Supernatural Superserious", was released in February 2008.
Please note that while listening to the album, fans can expect to hear varying music styles across different tracks. For example, some songs have a harder, punk-influenced sound, while others lean more toward pop. In essence, this album is representative of R.E.M. returning to their roots and delivers the dense guitars, cryptic lyrics and unstoppable energy the band was known for in the 80s and 90s.