Soundcheck

Debating R.E.M.'s Return to Form

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking yet, says one critic. Another argues that they've lost their edge. Today: a debate over the return of R.E.M. Plus: a conversation with the band’s guitarist, Peter Buck. Also: Pavement is considered to be one of the most influential alternative rock acts of the 1990s. The band's lead singer, Stephen Malkmus went solo after they broke up in 2000, and he's currently on tour with his backing band The Jicks. He joins us to share their new album, "Real Emotional Trash."

Listen to the whole show

R.E.M.'s Shiny, Happy New Album

Soundcheck Smackdown: Music critic and author Michael Azerrad claims R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking ever. Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis is not convinced. In the first of a new weekly series of musical debates we have both on to discuss the return of one of the most dynamic bands in rock history. And we talk to R.E.M.’s guitarist Peter Buck.

Tell us: What do you think of the new R.E.M. album? Are you ready for a "comeback?"

Jim DeRogatis on "Accelerate"
Michael Azerrad's Spin article on R.E.M.

Stephen Malkmus

Starting in the 1990s, Stephen Malkmus led Pavement, the band many consider to be the quintessential indie underground act. With his band the Jicks, Malkmus continues to please fans of thinking-man’s rock with his backing band, the Jicks. Their latest album is “Real Emotional Trash.”

Stephen Malkmus Web site