For their fifteenth and final studio album, 2011’s Collapse Into Now, R.E.M. commissioned a series of short films for each of its dozen tracks. Renaissance man James Franco was among the auteurs picked for the project, lensing a pair of clips for “That Someone Is You” and “Blue,” though neither was ever released.

But on Friday, Franco’s music video for “Blue” made its long-delayed debut, putting forth a hazy shade of Hollywood and glimpses of its neon-lit underbelly. Lindsay Lohan makes an appearance in the video as does Franco, both in and out of drag.

“Blue,” whose lyric gives Collapse Into Now its title, features vocals by Patti Smith, who reunites with R.E.M. on record 15 years after guesting on “E-Bow The Letter.” The band’s first single from 1996’s New Adventures In Hi-Fi was released that fall and I find “Blue” is similarly suited to brisk temperatures. Its gorgeous feedback drone also recalls Out Of Time standout, “Country Feedback.”

Purchase R.E.M. – “Blue” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.