REM's Finest - Day 13

Album – Reveal (2001)

Highlight – I’ll Take The Rain

Reason – After the difficult recording of Up and the transition to from 4-piece to 3-piece supported by backing band, not to mention departing from producer Scott Litt, REM returned after 3 years with a new album (note the ever-widening gaps between albums).  Fans had only the meta-tastic sunshine bliss of The Great Beyond (from the Man On The Moon soundtrack) to chew on, so this was a long-expected release and was hailed from the outset as one of their finest.

Certainly, in the lead single Imitation Of Life, and album opener The Lifting, REM had a vibrancy and passion not seen since Monster, but with a greater diversity of palette.  Beat A Drum, All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star) and Disappear proved that REM could almost do anything and do it well.  It’s the sound of a band still at the top of its game after 20 years together.  And one might say, it was their last truly great album.

Stipe Gayness Factor – 7.  If Automatic was the Death album, Monster the Sex album, New Adventures the Travel album & Up the Electronic album; then Reveal would be the Space album.  Probably biding his time before the Gay album to follow...