This album reminds me of classic alt guitar rock REM - 'Document' and 'Lifes Rich Pageant'. The first three tracks are a breathless thrill. Some great classic on form 'slow songs' on this too. Welcome back REM, I always knew you were and are a great band and great bands don't lose it, they just get a little diverted now and then!

Don't get me wrong this is a good CD but there's just something not quite forfilling enough about it and the only thing that i can put my finger on is the mastering. The sound is pretty raw to the extent that to get a reasonable level I've had to turn the bass nearly fully up so that there's a bit of 'ooomph' to it.
Apart from that the songs are good and this does sound very much of REM of old but with that being the case it does sound like they've recorded this in a garage.

I have been a BIG fan of REM and all of the musical offshoots of Messrs Stipe and Co and always listen openly to what they have to offer.

To me, in a nutshell, REM have not produced their best work in the past 10 years, okay, there have been minor shining moments 'Daysleeper', 'Electrolite', 'So Fast So Numb' to name but three.

This album is a short sharp shock to my system, it barely takes you past the 30 minute barrier and whilst the tracks are punchy, gutsy and full of verve and 'spunk', I would have liked to see a little more substance to each track, creating more of an 'album' rather than a 'taste of things to come'.

Stipe turns 50 years old later this year, I hope that he, Buck and Mills go on to create new records that will continue to create a buzz in the music industry.

All in all, a great album, not brilliant but far better than their recent offerings.