MARCH/APRIL 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MARCH/APRIL 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A

How did you approach this album the time I added my parts, it was defi nitely and if that had been some band’s fi rst or differently from Accelerate? cooperative songwriting, even if one guy second album I think it would have been With Accelerate we were going for short, had the basic idea. hailed as a masterpiece. We set the fast, loud songs. With this record we had no bar so high that it’s hard for a record to rules about what kind of songs we wanted. Do fans read things into R.E.M.’s songs be heard objectively. So we just took the songs we thought were that you didn’t intend? best from every one we wrote, and as is often I would hope that fans would read things Which is your least favorite? the case with a good R.E.M. record, there’s into the songs that we don’t think about. People think Around the Sun is our weakest a nice diversity of songwriting styles. I’ve had people suggest things that are and I would agree, but not because of the often more interesting than what we think songs. The songs are good. What happened Why record in different cities? the songs are about. The great thing about was we tried to do too much. We stopped It’s just more fun for us. It’s more inspiring Michael’s lyrics is that they’re often very and did a greatest-hits record [2003’s to be in a city we like. In the case of New nonlinear and leave room for the listeners In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003], we Orleans, it’s a city we’ve loved for many to interject themselves, which enables you did a tour and then tried to fi nish the record. years for many reasons. Berlin is a city to personalize the song. That was a disservice to the songs, because we’ve always wanted to spend time in it made it hard for us to focus. but never had the chance. So it’s purely Did you ever consider splitting? the fact that we draw inspiration from the With any relationship or business venture What do the older records sound like towns that we’re in, and hopefully that carries or combination thereof you’re going to have to you now? over into the record. your nadirs. We have had moments when we It’s hard for me to listen to our records sat down and talked to each other and said, for pleasure, because I end up analyzing Did you do a lot of takes? Most every song is a fi rst or second take. That’s the way we like to work it. Jacknife and his engineering team [Tom McFall and Sam Bell] have it set up so that even when you’re in there just messing around you get that on tape, and that’s often what you keep.

How did you pick your guests?

Anton Corbijn Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck We knew we wanted Patti on the record in one capacity or another. Lenny plays in such a different style than Peter that we knew it would add a nice dimension R.E.M. to the record. Pearl Jam happened to be After three decades, still showing the kids how it’s done playing in Berlin when we were there, so we invited the guys over to hear the record. While they were there we said, “Hey, Eddie, “LET’S SING AND RHYME, LET’S GIVE sound. “The last two records have been Patti Smith (who contributes a spoken-word you want to wail on this song?” He said it one more time,” sings R.E.M. frontman a redefi nition of ourselves,” acknowledges segment to “Blue”), her longtime guitarist sure, went in and did his thing—and it Michael Stipe in “All the Best,” a song bass player Mike Mills. Lenny Kaye and Pearl Jam singer Eddie turned out beautifully. from the group’s 15th and newest album, Mills, Stipe and guitarist Peter Buck, Vedder. We spoke with Mills about writing, Collapse Into Now. “Let’s show the kids who formed R.E.M. in Athens, Ga., in revelations and R.E.M.’s latest rebirth. Is this a political record? how to do it.” Especially coming from a 1980, recorded Collapse with Accelerate We never wanted to be known as a political Taping PBS’ Austin City

lyricist known for his obtuse wordplay, it’s a producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee in several Where did the title come from? band, but occasionally politics are in your life Courtesy of Scott Newton Limits, March 2008 loud-and-clear statement for a band in the very different environs: New Orleans’ Music It’s actually the last lyric that Michael sings in and they’ll fi nd their way into your songs. But midst of an artistic renaissance. Following Shed, Nashville’s Blackbird Studios and the last song, “Blue.” Patti Smith suggested it’s something we don’t seek out. With this the departure of drummer Bill Berry in 1997 Berlin’s legendary Hansa Tonstudio. “The it, and we gave it some thought and decided record, Bush is out of offi ce, we’re happier ‘We have had moments when we the group struggled to adapt to life as a sound really doesn’t change that much that was a pretty good idea. with our president and politics matter a bit sat down and said, “Do we want three-piece, reaching a creative low point when you shift from studio to studio,” Mills less in terms of songwriting. with 2004’s much-panned Around the Sun. says, “because we’re basically using the What does it mean to you? to continue?”’ But the veteran outfi t came roaring back same equipment, same engineers and I’m a person who believes in living in the R.E.M. has always shared songwriting to life with 2008’s blistering Accelerate, same musicians.” Those musicians included moment, and what the title is saying to me credits equally. Why? “Do we want to continue or do we not?” them and dissecting them. I can’t and Collapse Into Now even more multi-instrumentalist Scott McCaughey and is that there’s no more important time in your Peter made the suggestion at the very That’s healthy for any relationship. It’s good objectively sit and listen. But if I’m talking compellingly recaptures R.E.M.’s classic drummer Bill Riefl in, as well as guests like life than right now. beginning of R.E.M. that we should credit to clarify where you stand and what your to friends and they mention something all the songs to everybody, because what motivations are. We’ve had two or three of and I want to hear what they’re talking breaks bands up as much as anything those over 30 years. about, I will give a listen. I marvel at a lot else is a principal songwriter getting all of it. We’ve put together an amazing body ‘We’ve put together an amazing body of work over the money. We also knew that it would Name R.E.M.’s most underrated album. of work over 30 years. It’s both enjoyable 30 years. I marvel at a lot of it.’ be all of us contributing. By the time Reveal [2001] is clearly our most and a bit embarrassing. Bill Berry got through with a song, or by underrated record. It’s a beautiful record, –Jeff Tamarkin

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