R.E.M. "Collapse Into Now"

     They say first impressions are hard to break, and they are important, but most artists worry about how they finish up their career a little bit more. No musician or band wants to end their career with a bad album, and because it was the last album released in their category it would end up in recent memory. Of course the band will be remembered for their landmark albums, groundbreakers, timeless classics; if any, this is in general people. Either their 2004 release was misunderstood and under appreciated, or it just wasn't as good as previous material. It seemed to be over, but in four slow years as the band orbited Around The Sun contemplating when to come down they recorded an album that would help Accelerate their return to form and arrival back to Earth.                                                                                                                       This record is a continuation of the sound they embraced on that last record. That is a compliment because that was a great record; it has its tender folkier moments and its rocking power-pop workouts, and that is not a bad thing. The first song is an anthem for someone that may be a belated "Discoverer" of great anthems like living well is the best revenge, or whose pride prevents them from admitting that they were too late coming to the party. You all know that this is their last record, and I wish them "All The Best" in future endeavors and in a full, happy continuance of their lives; they deserve it. It was a nice change to take this cup of green tea for the third stop on this train to "UBerlin" instead of taking another shot of power-pop. First single and next track likes to sing for the submarine as we sing the chorus, and "Oh My Heart!" How it cannot stand these forces."This place needs me here to start/This place is the beat of my heart." Acoustic guitar is the parallel to the lyrical side of remorseful celebration which never actually reveals what is being celebrated (sarcastically, I'm sure), but I do know that "It Happened Today" The question is just how bad, if,  it was because Joel Gibb and Eddie Vedder come to join the celebration in the background. I really like the arpeggiating piano, chimes, and the dreamy harmonious atmosphere of this next song; along with the inspirational lyrics, undeniable sing-ability and the notion that "Every day is new again/Every day is yours to win/And that's how heroes are made." Hmmm, this song is peppy, has a real nice rhythm, but doesn't seem to be as driven as other tracks. You know how I hate assumptions, because everyone else's smell like crud, and "Mine Smell Like Honey" only because I give people a chance and don't assume. May I ask a favor, to give me a chance? In fact "I would dare you, but I know I don't need to /You're going to do just what you want to" and ignore me like the rest. If I said I despised this next song, what could I say? "Time, time, time it cannot revive." So what could I do? What would you prescribe? "Walk It Back." If the next song was a story I would totally read it as it involves the adventures of "Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter" which is a very fun song to listen to lyrically and musically. I don't know, but it's a rush just to read the lyrics. I know "I have, have got a lot to learn" about writing. Can someone tell me what this song reminds me of? I don't know, but this short burst of power-pop reminds me of something or someone; maybe "That Someone is You." The next song is indie-pop lullaby about dreams of our heroes and dreams of the future that stars "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I." The final song is nowhere near to make me "Blue" because the song ends this album on a very high note. Mostly spoken word, that sounds like Kevin Spacey(?), with some of Stipe's vocals among a instrumentals that just fit so well; reminds me of a western ghost town which ends at about four minutes, and then the energy picks up; the song is book-ended with a piece of the first track on the album. Then there were two lives versions of the opening track and the opening single.