Drops: 'Collapse Into Now,' by R.E.M.

Sometimes being legendary can be a drag - so much to live up to, so much new ground to break - and that weight nearly crushed R.E.M. a couple of albums ago.

But with their stunning rebirth on "Accelerate," Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills

cut themselves free. Now, on

"Collapse Into Now" (Warner Bros.), they sound almost giddy, showing a playful side we haven't seen since 2001's "Reveal."

"I feel like an alligator, coming up the escalator," Stipe fizzily declares in the dizzying "Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter," which features Peaches sounding like a long lost B-52. "That Someone Is You" enthusiastically rhymes "Sharon Stone Casino," "Scarface Al Pacino" and " '74 Torino" in the kind of Buck-driven guitar rave-up that used to be commonplace in the "Reckoning" days.

"Mine Smell Like Honey" sounds like it came from that era, too, especially as Mills' backing vocals beautifully bounce off Stipe's growl and Buck gets a bit jangly. "It Happened Today" brings back the lush loveliness (and mandolin) of "Out of Time," while Eddie Vedder adds some poignant harmonies.

For "Collapse Into Now," R.E.M. let go of the idea that each album has to have a singular sound and simply let the songs dictate their approach. The result is more organic and a whole lot of fun. Who says legends can't enjoy themselves, too?

R.E.M.

"Collapse Into Now"

GRADE A-

BOTTOM LINE Losing their inhibition, finding fun again