Yesterday had a bit of an R.E.M. planet alignment; I got up a little early to grab some pre-sale tickets for their Hollywood Bowl show next month, and then popped out at lunch to get the new album on its release day. And the album is good, though I haven’t decided whether it’s good because the last one was so dull (that I didn’t even buy it), or it’s actually good on its own merits. I’ve already listened to it twice, as it clocks in at not much more than a half an hour, on the way to and from trivia (a crash and burn evening, oh well) and out to The Scene in Glendale, where I stopped by to check out their photobooth.

The album is noisier, catchier, and looser than a lot of their recent stuff, which, come to think of it, hasn’t even been that recent. I’m excited to see them again, hear the new material live, and add to the tally of classic American outdoor venues where I’ve seen them over the years: Great Woods, Jones Beach, Red Rocks, and now, the Bowl. Should be a great first concert of the summer.