As far as choruses and drumbeats go, REM’s Reveal is a step down from Up. That’s despite the titles of the first two songs, which seem to imply further artistic elevation. High, with a dreamy snare and hazy chords, conjures 1980s Phil Collins. That’s a good thing. The Lifting, even with a rhythm section pleasantly reminiscent of Can You Feel It by The Jacksons, never really gets off the sand.
There’s a Beautiful Beach Boy ballad on the last album, but this entire Reveal has a warm summer atmosphere. There’s a Beachball flying thru the sky. The shiniest gem, Beat A Drum, has the sun reflecting in the back of Michael Stipe’s eye. Cool in contrast are the spacey sound effects on Saturn Return, which throws what sounds like a referee’s whistle into the mix, and the album’s Rain song.
my rating : 3 of 5
2001