The Worst Joke Ever

Around the Sun - 2004

Without a doubt, Around the Sun is the most disappointing album that R.E.M. has ever released. It's a limp fish of songs that were written as if the band wasn't even really trying. They put more effort into their best of, In Time, that came out the year before. The new material that was on In Time had me hoping that the next R.E.M. album would be a return to rock 'n' roll form. I was sadly mistaken.

The strongest songs are definitely the singles, "Leaving New York" and "Aftermath" in particular. But even these songs feel like weak efforts and more like pandering to the mainstream masses for AOR airplay. "Wanderlust" attempts to pick up the tempo and stands out a little, but still it's overwhelmed by the rest the underwhelming songs on the record.

I can't even bring myself to write much more about Around the Sun without feeling sad and let down. This was the first R.E.M. album that I had to make myself listen to all the way through and I was only able to after several attempts. At this point, I was ready to give up the band.

2 out of 10