I order you to buy Accelerate NOW.

The polished studio cuts will blow you away.

It is R.E.M.'s best album since "Automatic for the People." No fucking doubt.

And while you're at it, check out this interview with Michael Stipe:

"I'm for Barack Obama all the way. The Clinton campaign has took a desperate turn and has, I think, shown its true colors. How dare they use fear against Americans after these past seven years? I'm really tired of politicians telling me what to be afraid of. On the other hand, Obama is hopeful, grounded and clearly intelligent. He is, relatively, an outsider to the beholden D.C. club, and I think that is what America is calling out for; not a career politician but a true outsider candidate. He represents I think the true spirit of the beginning of the 21st century."

"Looking back," Stipe continues, "I feel like we've all had enough of the fear and the arrogance, and losing our place in the world. Our very big idea of a country and democracy has been brought to a near end by very small people."

(continued)