When I sat down for this week's segment, went into a somewhat wordy explanation of how how R.E.M. used to be a kick-ass rock band with one foot rooted in 70s-style Aerosmith and the other in Velvet Underground jangle-pop, who somehow and finally rediscovered their 80s muse in the 21st century. I know, me wordy. Hard to believe.

Then I realized, despite their latest, 2008's Accelerate (also snagged at the recent Warner Music Group sale which landed me the Heavy Metal Box and so much more for less than $30), blessedly turning up the amps for the majority of the album and having an actual drummer for the first time since original skins-man Bill Berry left in 1996, they were still the ignorant Democrat shills who were much more interesting when you could barely understand the words coming from Michael Stipe's mouth. Sure, Accelerate's easily their best music since Monster, but -- and it's my own damn fault for having to read every liner note in every album I own -- they can't resist the urge to cite inspirational quotes from Sinclair Lewis and William S. Burroughs before the lyrics to "Until the Day Is Done," their contribution to the anti-Bush landscape which ranks only slightly higher on the subtlety scale than Mellencamp's "Rodeo Clown." Bra-vo, fellas. So glad the whole buck I spent on the CD went to a worthwhile charity and not your pockets.

Fortunately, though, in the years after Berry left and R.E.M. released one boring, drum machine-laden album after another, I tuned out and got into bands like Slobberbone, Louis XIV, Diamond Nights, Tony C. and the Truth, and another led by a couple Alaskan brothers currently outta New Orleans, whose Hail! Hail! will hopefully get released sometime this year. They make no apologies with their love for Bon Scott-era AC/DC and David Lee Roth-era Van Halen, they're a perfect antidote for pretentious wienies like Michael Stipe, and as they like to say, they are here to kick your ass. Ladies and gentlemen, from 2007's Fire for Hire, they are Supagroup ...