Michael Stipe Endorses Barack Obama

Yeah, I know, the snarky response is, "Wow, this would have mattered in 1994." But Michael Stipe, rock & roll Hall of Famer and lead singer of R.E.M., is a tireless advocate of numerous progressive causes, especially investing the historic preservation of band's home town of Athens, Georgia.

And in January 1993, Stipe performed with Natalie Merchant at the Clinton Inaugural.

How times and attitudes change. Here's what Stipe has to say now:

I'm for Barack Obama all the way. The Clinton campaign has took a desperate turn and has, I think, shown its true colors. How dare they use fear against Americans after these past seven years? I'm really tired of politicians telling me what to be afraid of. On the other hand, Obama is hopeful, grounded and clearly intelligent. He is, relatively, an outsider to the beholden D.C. club, and I think that is what America is calling out for; not a career politician but a true outsider candidate. He represents I think the true spirit of the beginning of the 21st century.

Here, here.

R.E.M. has a new album coming out today (in the U.S.) called "Accelerate," which is their best since, well, the early 1990s, scoring well on Metacritic and sounding like a concerted to bring alienated fans back into the fold.

For you old-timers (I know Markos is/was a fan of the band), the record sometimes sounds like Document and Lifes Rich Pageant. There is energy, enthusiasm, and righteous anger... but there is a deep-seeded and unshakable sense of hope, too. Remind you of a certain presidential campaign?

If you're pretty pissed off about the last 7 years, and I know I am, pick up Accelerate at your local independent record shop or go to iTunes and download "Living Well's the Best Revenge," "Houston" (about Hurricane Katrina) or "Horse to Water" and you might find some resonance with the music and lyrics. And, no, I don't work for Time Warner.

Happy Tuesday, friends!