Reports are coming in from the first two of R.E.M.’s live rehearsals in Dublin. The band is playing through ten completely new songs, plus a song that debuted on the Around the Sun tour called “I’m Gonna DJ.” They’re also throwing in songs from their catalog that are said to be similar in tone to the new material. Reviews of the two shows have been strong, with Rolling Stone saying the songs have the potential to make up the “most bold R.E.M. release in years.” The old songs that have been played include some of my favorites, like “These Days” from Lifes Rich Pageant and “New Test Leper” from New Adventures in Hi-Fi. I’m even hearing that Mike Mills’ backing vocals are more prominent these days.
If they spend the next year and a half fiddling with the material and sucking all the energy out of it, I’m gonna go curl up in the fetal position with a copy of the aforementioned New Adventures.