Well, a lot has happened since I last focused my geekery on R.E.M.’s upcoming album. The band has announced a release date (March 8), posted the track listing and released the first song from the album, Discoverer. You can get it too by visiting the band’s website and joining their e-mail list.

I like the new song. I don’t love it, but it rocks so I feel comfortable that everything isn’t synthesizers and overdubs. I saw on Facebook or somewhere that some people were comparing it to “Finest Worksong.” That boggles my mind.

Yeah, this does sound like something they would open a show with, but it doesn’t come close to the legendary bombast that Worksong provides. It’s a neat little guitar riff that eventually builds into something fun, but I don’t think it will join the legendary cadre of concert staples. It’s just a fun little song. The band has a lyric video up on Youtube, but I haven’t looked at it yet. I probably will eventually.

Regardless of how the music comes out, I think we can all agree that the lasting effect of “Collapse Into Now” will be the song titles. “Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter” and “Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I” intrigueme the most while I love the Stipean coyness of “Mine Smell Like Honey.”

How many days until march 8?