REM's

Collapse Into Now isn't groundbreaking, but feeling comfortable in their old skin has produced REM's best effort in years.

REM: Collapse Into Now – review 2011

And REM's 'Orange Crush,' all the way back in '89. slida

BB Video: "Man in the Sand," by Gordon "Violent Femmes" Gano - Boing Boing 2009

As we waited for someone to show us to a table, I suddenly realized that the two guys standing closest to me at the bar were REM's Mike Mills and Bill Berry.

Binky Philips: I Didn't Go To Woodstock, But I Lived There Binky Philips 2011

Initial listens to REM's first new single since 2008 were spent affecting a geordie accent, repeatedly saying, "Uberlin?"

This week's new singles 2011

Just as I was turning to Susan to whisper, "Check it out, REM's rhythm section is standing right in front of us at the bar..." my eyes met Mike Mills' and I watched as his eyebrows shot up and as he turned to Bill Berry and said, in a low voice... and I swear this is true...

Binky Philips: I Didn't Go To Woodstock, But I Lived There Binky Philips 2011

As we waited for someone to show us to a table, I suddenly realized that the two guys standing closest to me at the bar were REM's Mike Mills and Bill Berry.

Binky Philips: I Didn't Go To Woodstock, But I Lived There Binky Philips 2011

There were, predictably, those who observed that REM's split had come a decade and a half too late, that the US rock band should have called it a day long before their albums started to be reviewed with the dread words "return to form", before they were forced to downscale stadium shows into arenas.

In praise of … REM | Editorial 2011

Never one to leave his fans disappointed, Tarsem is the visionary genius who brought us REM's video "Losing My Religion", the dual markets Pepsi commercials "We Will Rock You" featuring Enrique Iglesias and Egyptian superstar Amr Diab separately, as well as the Jennifer Lopez starrer The Cell.

E. Nina Rothe: A First Look at Tarsem Singh's Immortals E. Nina Rothe 2011

Here's mine: a recliner, a six-pack of Mackeson Triple Stout and REM's Document album.

The End-of-the-World Survival Kit 2009

REM's creative decline in the last decade coincided with the loss of drummer Bill Berry and their apparent need to make more keyboardy and acoustic albums, rather than the elemental rock that made them such a 1980s/90s force.

REM: Collapse Into Now – review 2011