All these years, R.E.M is relevant

Any suggestions that R.E.M. had lost its rock ’n roll roots and its focus after 28 years as one of the music industry’s iconic bands have been laid to rest with the release of “Accelerate,” the group’s first studio album in four years.

It’s more than good, according to “Rolling Stone,” which called the release, “The best record R.E.M. has ever made.” And the crowd that turned out on Rockefeller Center Tuesday to hear Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills play a trio of songs seemed to agree, greeting the pioneers of alternative rock with enthusiastic cheers.