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REM are VERY loud
"WE'RE gonna be loud,"
announced Michael
Stipe. And he wasn't
lying. REM are back with
a vengeance.
Marking the release of their
14th studio album, Accelerate,
and the 60th anniversary of
London's Institute of
Contemporary Arts, the band
took over the prestigious
Royal Albert Hall for one
night only.
Smartly
dressed in a
suit and tie,
a smiley
Stipe looked
delighted
to be back
on stage.
The set
list was
dominated
by tracks
from
Accelerate. In fact, they played
all but two off the new album,
which is released on Monday.
Already receiving rave
reviews, the 34-minute album
marks an obvious change in
direction for the band.
Rocky, fast, guitar-led and
loud, REM sound like they are
once again having fun and are
focused, compared to 2004's
Around The Sun which the
band themselves have admitted
suffered from a lack of
direction.
The new songs went down
a storm at the Royal Albert
Hall - those that weren't on
their feet dancing
were enthusiastically
tapping
along.
But of
course it
was the
old classics
that got the biggest reactions.
A welcome rendition of the
beautiful Drive, from 1992's
Automatic for the People, sent
shivers down the spine.
The catchy The Great
Beyond, which Stipe said had
been added to the set list at
his request, got everyone
singing along.
And the final track of the
night, Man on the Moon, had
the 5,000-strong audience up
on their feet and echoing
Stipe's enigmatic hand gestures.
The summer of 2008 promises
to be a real high for REM
as they set off on a world
tour.
And Hampshire is in for
a real treat when the
band call at the city's
Rose Bowl in August.
I, for one, cannot wait.
REM. will be
at the Rose Bowl
in West End on
August 27. For tickets
contact the box office
on 023 8063 2601 or
visit livenation.co.uk
11:17am Wednesday 26th March 2008
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