REM
 Collapse into Now - Warners 2011 Comments:"Collapse into Now" from 2011 is the fifteenth and final studio album from REM. Even before the group started the recordings, it was more or less decided that it should be the last album and that it should be a worthy and positive goodbye. There is quite a variety in mood and styles on the album; there are some slow and beautiful songs; there are mid-tempo songs; and then there are a little handful of rockers.
Four good singles came from the album; quite different from each other. "It Happened Today" is a light up-beat song with fine crisp acoustic guitars. "Mine Smell Like Honey" is a solid rocker with a great chorus. "Überlin" is REM in the very melodic corner; a song in the vein of "Losing My Religion" - a highlight for me. "Oh My Heart" is light and crisp too - a waltzing song with mandolin and harmonica. "Mine Smell Like Honey" was commercially the biggest success of the four; "Überlin" also did quite well in some places.
In addition to the singles, it is worth highlighting the strong opening track "Discover" - with lovely guitar sound and a kinship with earlier classics such as "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
The piano-accompanied "Walk it Back" is also strong; though in a completely different way. It's an anthem-like song with a haunting melody.
To sum it up it may not be one of the group's very best albums, but definitely a worthy goodbye.
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