Their Final Bow

On this day in 2011, R.E.M. (my favorite band of all time) released their fifteenth and final studio album, Collapse Into Now. It’s a return to a formula that has worked so well for R.E.M. in the past. Combine some slow, beautiful love songs with enough mid-tempo and rock songs to complete their music journey as a band.

Opening with an announcement of Peter Buck guitars and pounding drums (from Bill Rieflin), “Discoverer” has been described by Michael Stipe as “one of the only autobiographical songs” of his entire career. The track reminds me so much of “Finest Worksongs” as a powerful kicking off point.

Keep the volume up for the next track, “All the Best” a fuzzy guitar track with Stipe spitting lyrics about a soured relationship and the bitterness around it (“It’s just like me to overstay my welcome”). As always Mike Mills backing vocals and bass playing are the hidden gem of an R.E.M. song.

“Oh My Heart” is a gorgeous yet heartbreaking song about New Orleans and the aftermath of Katrina. It’s classic R.E.M., straight from Automatic for the People, with Buck’s mandolin and the waltzing tempo. The muted horns add a sweet touch to a darker song.

Later on comes my favorite from the album, “Mine Smells Like Honey”. Arguably the most straightforward rock song on the album, the song shines at the chorus with the gorgeous harmonizing of Stipe and Mills (who I’m still waiting on a solo album from him). This is classic R.E.M. at their finest.

“Walk It Back” is the perfect next track - after the louder tracks on the album, the piano-led track is a gorgeous song that highlights Stipe’s vocals. It’s almost the most calm song they’ve done and it works as one of the best tracks on the album.

In the world of head-scratching songs from R.E.M., I present “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter”. It’s a raucous, punk-like track that allows Peter Buck to share the shredding on his guitar work with the legendary Lenny Kaye, and Stipe trades vocals with the fantastic Peaches (Canadian electroclash musician-singer). It’s a scorcher!

“Blue” closes the album and their career out with help from friend Patti Smith in a track that feels like it would fit so well on Monster or New Adventures in Hi-Fi. It’s a sprawling, hauntingly arranged track with Stipe using more of a spoken-word poetry style rather than singing. It’s pretty appropriate that Smith appears on their final studio recording as it was Smith who inspired Stipe in the first place.

Collapse Into Now will never be my favorite R.E.M. album, but there are some fantastic gems and the album serves as a reminder that after thirty one years, the band allowed themselves to continue to make their music and go out as one of the greatest ever.