R.E.M

Collapse Into Now

Ashamedly, Maxim took a secret dislike towards the poor lady PRing the new R.E.M. album due to our sheer GREEN-EYED ENVY. "Yes, I have heard it, and it's brilliant!" she gloated, while apologising that our own copies wouldn't be available for - gah! - WEEKS. Billed as 'one of 2011's most important musical events', Collapse... oars its way round punchy stadium-rousers ('Mine Smell Like Honey') and delicate hair-strokers ('Every Day Is Yours To Win'), plotting a journey that's vintage, varied R.E.M.  While not revolutionary, it's another spooning of fine listening pleasure from the enduring Georgian kings. (That's Georgia as in the U.S. state, not the Soviet off-shoot).