The band sounded OK, but the album was nothing that was going to bring anybody back to the R.E.M. albums, 'Cuyahoga' was the only out-of-nowhere choice there otherwise, they were barely represented. And the tracklisting bore this out: not only was Sun the most represented album there with a whopping six tracks, but most of the other songs were the usual, predictable hits (a little 'Losing My Religion' here, a little 'Everybody Hurts' there) and questionable album cuts (like 'So Fast So Numb,' a decent but middling selection from the otherwise lovely New Adventures In Hi Fi, and 'I Took Your Name' from the always- bleghh Monster). Live, came out in '07 and focused on a few 2005 shows in support of Around the Sun, quite possibly the least exciting R.E.M.

R.E.M., surprisingly enough, have issued only two official live albums in their entire 25+ year existence - and they've both been released only in the past couple years. I mean, I expected quality, but I did not expect this much quality. And not only was I not disappointed - I was enthralled. So when I heard they were putting out a double-disc live album, one that was getting more-than-decent reviews, I figured it was worth a shot. They are a band that cuts me deep, you see. I have madethisprettyobvious in the past, but it is worth repeating. To celebrate this holiday of thanks I will go ahead and write about a band that I have written about many times before and has nothing to do with Thanksgiving: R.E.M. Oh hey! Today is Thanksgiving in these United States! I hope most of you have enjoyed your turkey and stuffing and gravy and naptime. Measured in raw commercial reach, R.E.M.’s appeal may be getting more “selective,” as the euphemism goes, but on this new live double. Extended live lap through rarities and new ephemera. S five-night residency at Dublin's Olympia in the summer of 2007 functioned as working rehearsals for their 14th album, Accelerate, with the band testing out each of the songs, exploring arrangements, finding breaking points, and pairing them with older songs that informed.

'This is not a show,' murmurs Michael Stipe at the start of Live at the Olympia and it's not quite misdirection.

Rem live at the olympia rar