R.E.M.: Collapse Into Now

R.E.M.
Collapse Into Now
Warner Bros. Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: No argument here - Collapse Into Now is an enjoyable guitar record from R.E.M.!

Album Review:
As I was checking out this record for review, I was talking to friend about R.E.M. and the release of their 15th album Collapse Into Now. In not so many words, he said he had always been a big fan but had been out of touch for awhile because he was tired of critics pumping up every release as R.E.M.'s "return to the glory days", "return to original form" and "(insert new album name here) is their best record since Murmur". Of course I have already seen all of these descriptors used for Collapse Into Now and although some of those pieces are probably true - let's face it - it won't ever be 1983 again and trying to replace that youthful hungriness is impossible. What I can say is that I much enjoy the R.E.M. that breaks out the guitars and just wails some catchy power pop rock songs. That simply describes Collapse Into Now, as the band clearly examined their catalog and remembered what worked. There are bits n' pieces all over this album that will remind you of Out Of Time, Green, Fables and Automatic but the real question is - are the songs as strong? That answer is probably no but Collapse Into Now is still entertaining as its 12 songs feel like R.E.M. celebrating themselves. They sound great in a shuffle playlist, they are memorable and catchy, Patti Smith and Eddie Vedder guest vocal, and most of all - Stipe, Buck and Mills sound 110% committed to the music. They do sound re-energized throughout this record and not only do they seem to be enjoying themselves but you can't ask for more emotion on "Oh My Heart" or gritty guitar in "Discoverer", while "That Someone Is You" scorches by in 1:44 and surprises you with its raw outbursts. Sure, Collapse Into Now is not a record to be compared to R.E.M.'s early classics but for this period in time - this R.E.M. is still pretty fun to listen to and sometimes that is what music is all about!

Key Tracks: "Discoverer", "UBerlin", "That Someone Is You"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Big Star
U2
Hüsker Dü

R.E.M.: Fables Of The Reconstruction [25th Anniversary Edition] [Fire Note Review 7/14/10]
R.E.M.: Live At The Olympia [Fire Note Review 11/30/09]
R.E.M.: Reckoning [Deluxe Edition] [Fire Note Review 6/26/09]
R.E.M.: Murmur [Deluxe Edition] [Fire Note Review 12/1/08]
R.E.M.: Accelerate [Fire Note Review 3/31/08]

R.E.M. Website
R.E.M. MySpace
R.E.M. Facebook
Warner Bros. Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony