Hey, there’s this unknown band hailing from Athens, Georgia, who’ve got an album out soon that everyone, but everyone, is going to be raving about. They’re called REM and…

*phone rings in background*

“What? Everyone’s heard of them? They are one of the biggest-selling artists of all time? Really? I’ve written about them before, you say? Really? Gosh. Maybe I shouldn’t put them in my New Year New Music articles then? Really? You don’t think anyone gives a toss? Fair enough.”

Tortured introductions aside, REM have a record out soon-ish. It’s called “Collapse Into Now” and they’ve been busy giving out MP3’s and doing videos and blog posts and all sorts over at their website here. Me, being me, have totally missed all this. But I haven’t missed this new track, “Oh My Heart”, which gives every impression of being an actual, proper, quite good REM song. Yes, wonders will never cease. They haven’t exactly been great, the last few records, so let’s hope that they have got their mojo back and do something as good as “Automatic For The People”. Go on, chaps.

Oh My Heart by REM:

Speaking of their mojo, they’ve clearly got the Bonkers Mogwai Song Naming Mojo¹ thing going by calling their songs “Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I”, “Mine Smell Like Honey” and “Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter”. There’s more information on NPR here.

Oh, and it’s Michael Stipe’s birthday today, which he shares with my mate Bill. Happy birthday fellas.

Pre-order the album here.

¹ See
here for more. “George Square Thatcher Death Party” is my favourite so far.