“Quality” is how bassist Mike Mills characterizes R.E.M.’s 15th studio album Collapse Into Now, and I admit I agree. After the lukewarm reception of 2008’s Accelerate, R.E.M. is back with 12 tracks of solid rock songs as well as some atmospheric soundscapes that were recorded in Portland, Berlin, New Orleans and Nashville. It is not so much that R.E.M. is broadening their musical horizons (there are no experimental tracks nor genre-busting flourishes) but they are moving beyond the boundaries of the core trio (Stipe, Buck and Mills) to incorporate contributions from contemporary heavyweights Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Peaches, Eddie Vedder, and Joel Gibb (The Hidden Cameras). Collapse Into Now is a thoroughly likable album that fans will surely enjoy. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Big Star, Camper Van Beethoven, The Feelies, The Minus 5, Patti Smith, Television, 10,000 Maniacs