We have known for a while that R.E.M. was working on its 15th studio album. The guys had reportedly finished the bulk of the work earlier this year. Now we have some news (second item), courtesy of lawyer/advisor/guru Bertis Downs.
Downs also confirmed previous reports that REM’s new album had been completed in the last few weeks, with producer Jacknife Lee at the helm. He told the BBC it is titled “Collapse Into Now.”
Speaking to Billboard.biz following his keynote address, Downs would only say he was eying a spring 2011 release and that he think it’s the “band’s best record yet.”
Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy, Ohboy.
Now that the geekery is over, I have to ask a serious question – why wait until spring? Seriously. If they are done, what necessitates holding the release for four to six months. Let’s face it, R.E.M. is not the juggernaut it used to be. So it’s not like they are going to build some U2-like marketing plan to develop anticipation for the album.
Besides, they have always done things their own way. So release the album now, then plan the tour for later. Let us savor the work – and please drop the “best album ever” schtick, Bertis, because we have heard that boast too many times – instead of hearing nuggets of info between now and spring.
Stop bringing facts and reality into this discussion!
I know they can’t just release it (and from what I read, the mixing is done. Not sure about the mastering) but I have a hard time believing they need up to six months to get all that stuff done.
So by done do they mean the recording? I would guess they mean just the recording and mixing and maybe the mastering. That leaves stuff such as artwork, packaging, and yes, publicity to do before they release it.