MUSIC REVIEWS REM’S ACCELERATE

By R. A. Pearson

REM, the popular 1980’s alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia, has a new CD out entitled Accelerate. The CD is the band’s move back to the music that made them one of the most popular bands of the last two decades. Accelerate is anchored by the song “Supernatural Superserious,” a single released prior to the release of the CD, yet emblematic of the entire collection of music on the album. The opening tune, “Living Well is the Best Revenge,” is also a hard hitting emotional song destined to help move the CD to the top of the charts.

The entire CD contains 11 cuts and lasts under 40 minutes. Several songs of interest include, “Man-Sized Wreath,” “Hollow Man,” “Houston,” the title tract “Accelerate,” “Mr. Richards,” “Sing for the Submarine,” and “Horse to Water.” All of them with Michael Stipe’s unique voice and Peter Buck’s hard-hitting guitar riffs.

REM is Michael Stipe on lead vocal, Peter Buck lead guitar, and Mike Mills bass. They were joined for Accelerate by Bill Rlieffin on drums and Scott McCauqhey who plays guitar, bass, and a number of other string insterments. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee who co-produced U2’s 2005 Grammy Album Of The Year How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Accelerate is seen as a major rebound for REM after their 2004 release Around the Sun, a CD which was not well received by their fans. The songs are available for download at most download locations and several are expected to do well.

Van Morrison’s new CD, Keep It Simple, released on April Fool’s Day 2008 contains 11 cuts, each composed by Morrison for the album, his first album of new material since 2005. The songs on the CD sweep the musical spectrum from blues to easy rock. The opening cut “How Can A Poor Boy” and fourth song “Don’t Go To Nightclubs Anymore” are typical Morrison blues while the third cut “That’s Entrainment” is typical Morrison rock but seem a little weak. However, the album seems to open up with better cuts in the second half of the CD. Songs such as “Lover Come Back,” a bluesy, my baby left me train song, and “The End Of The Land,” a song about a journey to the seashore, are vintage Morrison. The title cut, “Keep It Simple” “Behind The Ritual” and “Song Of Home” help make the second half of Keep It Simple a stronger CD.

The CD features simple music rhythms, featuring easy guitars, steel guitars, bass, drums, percussion, organ and a little banjo here and there. Morrison’s voice is strong and calming, and on such songs as “Song Of Home” Morrison reminds the listener why he has been a feature on the music scene for over thirty years.

Sheryl Crow’s latest CD Detours released earlier this year will remind the listener of the old Sheryl Crow especially of her debut CD Tuesday Night Music Club. The CD is contains obligatory anti-war songs such as “God Bless This Mess” and “Shine Over Babylon,” but it goes on into a more emotional mood only Crow can produce. Songs such as “Love is Free,” “Now That You’re Gone,” and “Love Is All There Is” make this CD an major part of any Sheryl Crow collection. The old guitar riffs and beats are back as Crow reunites with producer Bill Bottrell, who worked with the artist on her breakthrough debut album Tuesday Night Music Club that won three Grammy Awards.

The CD is reflective, personal, and the music is great; furthermore, if any artist has had Detours in their life, Sheryl Crow sure has had a few. It’s a great title for a great CD.

The Atlanta band, the Jackson Price Band, has posted several songs on its myspace page for fans and listeners to hear and download free of charge. A few songs on the site include “Little Red Sports Car,” “The Road,” and “Nothing To Loose.” The band’s address is http://www.myspace.com/jacksonpriceband so check it out.

The Clarion Issue sends it condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Bo Diddley who died on June 2, at the age of 79 in Florida. He was a founding father of rock 'n' roll known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat. In 1987, Bo Diddley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the second annual induction dinner, and in 1996 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the seventh annual Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards in Los Angeles. He also has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame

Diddley’s major songs included, “Bo Diddley,” “I'm a Man,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Say Man,” “You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover,” “Uncle John,” “Before You Accuse Me,” and “The Mule.”

Diddley never made a lot of money from his music. He came along in the days when record companies made the bulk of the profits from artists’ work. While Diddley appreciated the honors he received he said they “…didn't put no figures in my checkbook.” Didley influenced many musicians and singers of the rock genre. He said, “I held the door open for them and they ran right by me.”

Bo Diddley will be missed. His influence and music will live on forever.