After a few challenging albums, it seems Reveal was billed as a return to REM's classic sound. Comparisons to U2's comback All That You Can't Leave Behind were raised. And when lead single "Imitation of Life" sounded like it came from 1991, the rumours of a back-to-basics album looked to be true. That expectation was dashed in about the first 10 seconds; as layers of strings and keyboards wash over the opening bars of "The Lifting", it's clear Reveal is essentially 'Up Part 2'. The production is slightly less overwhelming than on Up, and the album does sound a bit more like old-school REM. But there's still the same sense of being kept emotionally removed from the songs, and of the band speding too much time fiddling with songs that are best left alone.

Although they share similarities, Reveal does have a different feel to Up. Here, REM use the sunny pop of Out of Time as a template, which is at least better suited to the Wall Of Sound treatment they give the songs. Brian Wilson is an obvious influence on several tracks, and the album in general feels brighter and more optimistic than the sober Up. Some of the individual songs are stronger, helped no doubt by the slightly more organic sound. Lyrically, however, the album seems a bit lightweight (one criticism that could also be made of Out of Time), which is perhaps why keeping the listener emotionally at a distance doesn't matter as much as on Up.

In all, it's not quite the comeback REM seemed to be hoping for. The problems that plagued Up, and would plague Around the Sun, are present here. But there's enough of the traditional REM sound to partially compensate for this, and it's the best of the three art-pop albums they made.

2 1/2

Its R.E.M. at their middle of road most. And believe me, they have walked further down the road, so here the mediocrity tends to at least produce minor results. Heck there's even a song or two that actually matter.

I have always thought it an odd coincidence that U2's startling return to former glory All That You Can't Leave Behind came out roughly the same time as R.E.M.'s "Reveal." This is an album made to be eager to please, discarding the electronic squonking that buried what was worth hearing on Up (think U2's Pop) and delivering an album that honed in the band's strengths. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was revealing, yet "Reveal" got left behind.

To me, "Reveal" is a massively underrated album. R.E.M. continue with their new-found Brian Wilson fascination on "Summer Turns To High" and "Beachball," shimmering instruments set apart from creamy harmony. The first single and video, "Imitation Of Life" should have been this album's "Beautiful Day," and brings back the R.E.M. of Peter Buck's jangle guitar. "All The Way To Reno" delved into Michael Stipe's lyrical irony (who thinks they'll find stardom in Reno?) along with a dreamy chorus.

There were plenty of other songs on this album that merit note, but the one that hooked me was "I'll Take The Rain." I played this song and U2's "Walk On" during 2000 and 2001 when I needed a boost to my spirits.

"I used to think
as birds take wing
they sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
and claim your best.
If this is what you're offering?
I'll take the rain."

Given the spectral production on "Reveal," it gives the aching sadness of the song an amazing emotional sweep. "Reveal" is an album where Buck, Stipe and Mike Mills find themselves comfortable working not just as a trio, but as an R.E.M. trio.

Reveal is a quiet melodic album with a lot of fine songs that are bound to grow on you. First impression may be that only the two singles "All the Way to Reno" and "Imitation of Life" - and yes they are standouts - among the very best of their long list of hit-singles.

The opening "The Lifting" is one of the punchier songs, and a great one too.

The quiet ballad "I've Been High" is a moving song that seems get get better with everytime you listen to it.

Another favourite is "She Just Wants to Be" with its quiet acoustic start and great chorus.

Musically there seem to be a lot of inspiration from Brian Wilson - "Beat a Drum", "Summer Turns to High" and "Beachball" are very good examples of this - all fine tracks.

Though maybe not as high-profiled as classics like "Life's Rich Pageant" or "Out of Time" I would easily rank "Reveal" as one of REM's strongest and most consistent albums.

Like the Beatles and few others, REM has moved from their rock and rolling mass-appeal youth to a sophistication that both maintains their distinctive sound and delivers hope for the new. There are several wonderful tracks here but I nominate Beat A Drum as the best song of the 21st century. It will be difficult to displace.

It's a good album but a little overproduced. A better mood is conveyed and it's perfect to listen to on a Sunny day.

Not as good as Automatic For The People or New Adventures In Hi-Fi, but they are still experimenting after the departure (a song from NAIHF!) of Bill Berry. I think the next album (due for release in 2004) is going to be alot better judgeing on Animal and Bad Day that will be on the In Time: Best of REM 1988-2003 coming out in late September 2003.

I love Beachball and all the way to Reno. I highly reccomend this cd.

harmonic

It is great that there still is a truly GREAT group around that continues to release albums.

I feel a surge of hope for rock'n' roll. I bought "Reveal" with my own money and felt that it was worth every cent. "All the Way to Reno" is one of those songs you just have to love. "I've Been High" is my far-and-away favorite, with "Saturn Returns" coming in second. Not as good as "Automatic for the People"---how could R.E.M EVER get that good again?---but what counts is that I now have hope in my heart instead of the pain and sorrow that *NSANE and B(ull)ritney S(h*t)pears give me. Keep it up, R.E.M., and take care, everyone!

Just shows that they're as strong as ever!

THE LYRICS ARE NOT STUPID THERE CUTE.I'M VERY PROUD OF R.E.M. ONCE AGAIN.THE BEST MUSIC OUT THERE IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

I'm a huge fan of "Automatic for the People," and I had high hopes for "Reveal." At first, I liked its mellow, kind of '60s, folksy sound, and I thought it would grow on me quickly. Well, that's not what happened. For some reason, I just didn't get into many of the songs, and I found a few of them slightly to highly irritating. "Imitation of Life," the song they play a lot on the radio, makes me cringe. What's the deal with the dopey lyrics? "That's sugarcane that tasted good/That's cinnamon, that's Hollywood." And "Like a koi in a frozen pond/Like a goldfish in a bowl." Give me a break! I MUST be missing something here... Anyway, the CD is OK to play as background music, but it's nothing special. Play it when you're in a mellow mood, and try to ignore some of the more annoying lyrics.