R.E.M. released Around the Sun in 2004. During production of the album in 2002, Stipe said, “[The album] sounds like it’s taking off from the last couple of records into unchartered R.E.M. territory. Kind of primitive and howling”. After the album’s release, Mills said, “I think, honestly, it turned out a little slower than we intended for it to, just in terms of the overall speed of songs.” Around the Sun received a mixed critical reception, and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard charts. The first single from the album, ” Leaving New York “, was a Top 5 hit in the UK. For the record and subsequent tour, the band hired a new full-time touring drummer, Bill Rieflin , who had previously been a member of several industrial music acts such as Ministry and Pigface , and remained in that role for the duration of the band’s active years. The video album Perfect Square was released that same year.
Around the Sun released
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