“These songs take place in wide open spaces,” remarks Michael Stipe. “There is the impression of air and breath and flying away.” It’s a gravitational deficit that gives paradoxical weight to R.E.M.’s recent reinvigoration. Following a tumultuous two-year period that began with the departure of drummer and co-founding member Bill Berry, the band has continued to evolve through open-ended creative recalibrations on stage, in the studio and deep within the collective consciousness of the remaining three members.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that Bill’s leaving was a low point for all of us,” comments Peter Buck. “It felt like we were on our last legs. But we all worked hard to turn that around and I think it’s paid off on this album.”

“We were thrown off stride,” adds Mike Mills. “We had to get comfortable working as a trio and our last album reflected that process. This time around we were fully functioning as a group.”

Expanding on the subject of 1999’s Up, predecessor to Reveal and R.E.M.’s first outing as a threesome, Mills continues, “We built those songs brick by brick in the studio, with plenty of overdubs. For the new album, we played together in the studio, and I think the result has a warmer and more human dimension. There’s real interaction, and you feel that listening to it.”