Accelerate - Hope It Lives Up To The Hype

With their SXSW performance tomorrow (you can listen to the webcast on NPR) and the news that Accelerate will debut on iLike/Facebook on March 24th, the hype for R.E.M.'s new album is everywhere. I sure as hell hope it lives up to expectations. Editors lead singer Tom Smith liked what he heard from the album when I talked to him in January.

Here's the first video from the album, for the track "Supernatural Superserious," a decent song but not a classic by any means.

If you want a classic, try this on for size:

[mp3] R.E.M. | So. Central Rain (live in Cologne, 2001)

You can get the entire show (2 CD's worth) here.

I'm still excited about seeing Stipe & Co. this summer with Modest Mouse and The National. I haven't seen R.E.M. since the Up tour. I just couldn't bear to pay the $75 for tickets to DAR last time they toured.