It’s been a long time since I was hypnotized by the sounds of "Murmur" in my college apartment, yet now it only seems like yesterday. R.E.M.’s new release, "Up," brings back some of the mood of the early days, yet displays their vast maturation through a convergence of past and present. Looking in from the outside, things had seemed pretty bleak for R.E.M over the last couple years. This band, that I like to think of as the quintessential post-punk alternative band, didn’t seem like it could go on. Their last album, "New Adventures in Hi-Fi," was not met with the raves or airplay of the past. Health problems hit Michael Stipe and Bill Berry during their last world tour. Then, with drummer Berry’s departure from the band, what was one to think? For one who has been a fan almost since day one, I was a bit unhappy about all this. Well, happily they’ve proved themselves to be truly enduring artist, and thankfully, loyal to each other.

  In some ways the mood of "Up" captures the downs of the last couple years, yet remains melodic, bombastic and artistic. "Up" has a lot of the subtle angst, urgency and intensity of "Murmur,: but it ingeniously mixes in the pseudo-psychedelic sounds of middle years and the power of the more recent releases. One thing can be quickly noted on this release that is different than any other R.E.M. release is that Stipe’s vocals are generally distinct and understandable. One does not have to listen through layers and layers on intonations and verbal notations to hear what Stipe is saying. Not that this was a bad thing, but now that the band has progressed through this transition period, it is nice to hear Stipe’s emotions and thoughts at the forefront, floating above a cushion of ethereal and profound musical intonations.

  The tempo of the first 3 tracks changes abruptly with each track - a fight of emotions and styles. Track 1, Airportman, is an eerie, intense and laborious introduction to the down of "Up." Track 2, Lotus, is the opposite of Track 1. Bright and funky sounding, it is something of a new direction in sound. The lyrics of both, however, are the typically convoluted. The third track, Suspicion, is a melodious display. Aspects of Stipe’s voice that have not been emphasized in the past come out in this song that sort of fights between past and future styles. The album continues through a slow progression in intensity. Ultimately we feel a struggle for musical transformation that is grounded by R.E.M.’s use of their vast archives of magnetic sounds. The album is an overall experience to be listened to from beginning to end, but other standouts are "Daysleeper" and the final track, "Falls to Climb."

  Though they don’t plan on touring to support this release, it doesn’t change the music. A tour is a celebration of the music, but the music is what it is. While it does disappoint fans like me who were so blown away by the last tour, it’s not going to stop me from listening to this CD over and over. This CD is somewhat of a cathartic experience for me. Molding together two turning points in the life of a late Baby Boomer/early Gen-X’er. R.E.M. was music that I listened to when I was just beginning to mature musically and emotionally and now they come back with a re-birth of sorts. A reflux of the old molded into a coherent vision of the future. A great transition CD for a band that changed the course of music.