In-Car Entertainment

I've been putting off listening to this album for a while. When you've enjoyed previous records by a group, and then you hear on the grapevine that their latest effort is receiving unfavourable reviews from critics and fans, it's not an encouraging sign. The CD sat in my "to be listened to" tray and other newer purchases passed it by. Was it really that bad?

Finally today it made it to the car. There's a strong start: 'Leaving New York' has received considerable radio play (especially on the sort of station I listen to), and it's easy to hear why. A strong message, catchy hook to the chorus, nicely arranged - all present and correct. The second track 'Electron Blue' also made it to the airwaves, somewhat surprisingly considering its rather grating synthesised start (befitting of a radio edit, I'd say). But again, a gentle love song, very much in the new R.E.M. keyboards-not-guitar style, does the job, wouldn't hurt anyone.

And then you realise, that's the problem. The whole album is like that. Bizarrely, too, because Stipe's message is often political: 'Make It All Okay' being an anti-Iraq war protest, but sung almost in the style of a restrained letter to The Times. There's no real zest or zing here. The whole thing moves along perfectly happily. I got stuck in a traffic jam on the way home, but didn't get at all agitated, thanks to this CD. But should R.E.M. really be producing mood music?

In some ways, you feel as if the band are trying to get back towards Automatic For The People. They've been commercial, they've been experimental, they've been through all that. Reveal was great, I thought - solid tunes, but no sell-out, R.E.M. do a Radiohead and live to tell the tale. So to receive this perfectly servicable but unfortunately rather bland album is rather a let down. After more than a quarter of a decade in the business, I'm afraid we expect more than good enough. And I'm happy to believe it's there, waiting for the next album release.