accelerate, the first studio album in four years from rem, finds modern rocks most acclaimed band returning to the stripped down, guitar driven power that first enraptured fans. helmed by the band and, for the first time, jacknife lee (co producer of u2s how to dismantle an atomic bomb, the hives, and snow patrol), accelerate puts the 2007 rock and roll hall of fame group once again firmly behind the wheel of alternative rock, a genre rem helped invent. all songs were written by rem - michael stipe, peter buck and mike mills. recorded in dublin, vancouver and athens, its the bands first studio album since around the sun in 2004 and the 14th of their glorious career. long time collaborators drummer bill rieflin and guitarist scott mccaughey also feature on the album. many of the eleven songs that shape acceleratewere road-tested during a 5 night residency at dublins olympia theatre in july 2007. uptempo highlights include the rocket fuelled living wells the best revenge, the classic man sized wreath and the blistering first single supernatural superserious. less pacey but just as arresting are hollow man and mr richards. packaging here is every bit as deluxe as you d imagine: 180 gram black vinyl, paper wrapped gatefold jacket with 2 pockets, lyric insert sheet and cd disc in plain white paper sleeve.