In a couple of weeks, R.E.M. will release what it calls a definitive retrospective on their 31-year career, “Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982-2011.” The band’s website has started a number of initiatives to promote the release of the 40-song collection. They have a “Song of the Week” with various performances of a signature tune, including covers. They have videos for “We All Go Back To Where We Belong,” one of the new songs which will be released. They are pulling out all the stops.

I don’t really care very much. I mean, I will buy the album. Not right away, but I will get it because the 20-something versions of Sitting Still I currently have on my computer just won’t cut it. I know I already have the one which will appear in the collection, but this just means it might show up more often in Shuffle Play.

But on the whole, meh. I’m not that bummed that they broke up, but I wish they had waited a while before releasing such a blatant money-grab. To be honest, the only real anticipation I have is for the liner notes which hopefully will include some more cool stories to clutter my geeky brain.