Yahoo! Music Review

Released on 18/02/08
Label: Warners

There comes a time in every mega-band's life when it becomes apparent that, save for the occasional bolt of inspiration, their days of being relevant productive members of music are behind them. From then on it's all about touring the hits to death. Miraculously REM have managed to stave off the inevitable for longer than most, but if 2004's lacklustre "Around The Sun" album suggested time was running out for them, "Supernatural Superserious", their first new material in four years, is the confirmation.

It's a very REM record. Which is to say it's instantly recognisable as REM and sounds an awful lot like a lot of their other records, without actually sounding like anything in particular. It's REM: big and grand, yet not quite epic or anthemic; enigmatic yet only vaguely intriguing. With inspiration having apparently deserted them, and with little sign of the bankable songwriting which made their more sedate moments shine, "Supernatural Superserious" is a predictable jingle-jangle in the background. Business as usual then for Stipe and co, and progressively that business appears to be keeping the faithful happy.

    by Dan Gennoe