R.E.M. - We Are Hope Despite the Times

by Kevin Wierzbicki

The beloved alternative rock band R.E.M. is encouraging their fans to stay informed, engaged, and vote during this election season. The band was supportive of activism and social responsibility throughout their career and many of their songs feature potent lyrics about social ills and overcoming them. The band feels that now is the perfect time to revisit these songs and really listen to the lyrics for inspiration. So they've teamed with Craft Recordings to release a digital only compilation called We Are Hope Despite the Times which features 18 tracks. The compilation's title comes from the lyrics from "These Days" from the 1986 release Lifes Rich Pageant: "We are young despite the years/We are concern, we are hope despite the times." The thought-provoking track list features songs that were big hits as well as deep catalog cuts:

1. Turn You Inside-Out
2. Pop Song '89
3. These Days
4. I Believe
5. Fall on Me
6. Welcome to the Occupation
7. World Leader Pretend
8. Drive
9. Begin the Begin
10. Finest Worksong
11. Exhuming McCarthy
12. Just a Touch
13. Cuyahoga
14. Disturbance at The Heron House
15. Swan Swan H
16. Ignoreland
17. Stand
18. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)