R.E.M.'s last outing Around the Sun was a critical and commercial flop — but their "great American band" tenure isn't up yet. The band's newest (their 14th!) studio album, Accelerate, swerves in a totally different musical direction, returning to form with a stripped-down, ballsy attack and pop hooks to spare. Tonight's Hollywood Bowl performance is a showcase of their new songs produced by Jacknife Lee (who's worked with big guns U2 and Green Day in the past). Opening for Michael Stipe and company are Modest Mouse and another "great American band" in the making, the National.