Accelerate is the 14th studio album by R.E.M., released on March 31, 2008 in Europe, and on April 1 in North America. Produced with Jacknife Lee, Accelerate is intended as a departure from the 2004 album Around the Sun.
R.E.M. previewed several of the album's tracks during a five-night residency at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, and recorded the album in a nine-week schedule. The first single from the album, "Supernatural Superserious", was released in February 2008.
In late March 2008, the band released Accelerate as a digital web streams on iLike six days prior to the American release of its physical album in April. Michael Stipe said R.E.M. wanted to experiment with its distribution system, citing the change in the music industry since the release of Around the Sun. A deluxe edition of the album was released in addition to the standard edition; it includes a DVD featuring filmmaker Vincent Moon's film 6 Days, which includes behind-the-scenes footage and performances of various songs on the album. Two B-side tracks, "Red Head Walking" and "Airliner," are included as bonus tracks, along with a 64-page booklet. The vinyl version consists of two 12 inch discs each running at 45 RPM, and contains the full album on CD.
R.E.M. previewed several of the album's tracks during a five-night residency at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, and recorded the album in a nine-week schedule. The first single from the album, "Supernatural Superserious", was released in February 2008.
In late March 2008, the band released Accelerate as a digital web streams on iLike six days prior to the American release of its physical album in April. Michael Stipe said R.E.M. wanted to experiment with its distribution system, citing the change in the music industry since the release of Around the Sun. A deluxe edition of the album was released in addition to the standard edition; it includes a DVD featuring filmmaker Vincent Moon's film 6 Days, which includes behind-the-scenes footage and performances of various songs on the album. Two B-side tracks, "Red Head Walking" and "Airliner," are included as bonus tracks, along with a 64-page booklet. The vinyl version consists of two 12 inch discs each running at 45 RPM, and contains the full album on CD.
Track List (Click on the song title to view its lyric):
All songs written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.
1. "Living Well Is the 1. Best Revenge" – 3:11
2. "Man-Sized Wreath" – 2:32
3. "Supernatural Superserious" – 3:23
4. "Hollow Man" – 2:39
5. "Houston" – 2:05
6. "Accelerate" – 3:33
7. "Until the Day Is Done" – 4:08
8. "Mr. Richards" – 3:46
9. "Sing for the Submarine" – 4:50
10. "Horse to Water" – 2:18
11. "I'm Gonna DJ" – 2:07
Bonus tracks
12. "Redhead Walking" – 2:11
13. "Airliner" – 2:21
14. "Horse to Water" (Live from Athens) – 2:17
15. "Living Well Is the Best Revenge" (Live from Athens) – 3:12
16. "Until the Day is Done" (Live from Athens) – 4:06
17. "Supernatural Superserious" (Live from Athens) – 3:25
