‘Return to form’ is something of a critic’s crutch, trotted out all too often whenever veteran artists issue new music. But when R.E.M. issued Accelerate in 2008, the album really did comprise the band’s most consistent work since being reduced to a trio by the departure of drummer Bill Berry in 2007 (read my original review).

Major credit goes to Jacknife Lee, who produced the tightly-focused Accelerate, and his return for R.E.M.’s forthcoming album, Collapse Into Now, is a big reason March 8th can’t come soon enough. Still, as recent reports describe, the new set is not Accelerate II, but said to be broader in sound than its predecessor. Patti Smith, a longstanding member of the Michael Stipe Mutual Admiration Society also returns (the rock vet sang on the New Adventures In Hi-Fi highlight, “E-Bow The Letter.” Her longtime collaborator Lenny Kaye also guests to the trio’s latest effort, as does Eddie Vedder, Joel Gibb of The Hidden Cameras, and electro-rapper Peaches.

R.E.M. has revealed the tracklisting for Collapse Into Now, their 15th studio album (seen at right), and some details about which tracks feature whom have also emerged. Eddie Vedder pitches in on “It Happened Today,” Peaches and Lenny Kaye both appear on “Alligator Aviator Autopilot Antimatter,” while Patti Smith contributes vocals to the closer, “Blue.” No word on where Joel Gibb fits in yet.

We recently got our first listen to what R.E.M. has been cooking up on Collapse Into Now via this year’s fan club single. “IHT>U>EDIYTW,” an instrumental medley of three tracks from Collapse Into Now, comprised the B-side (“It Happened Today,” “Uberlin,” and “Every Day Is Yours To Win,” for the super-slow). The A-side is a cover of new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” a recording noteworthy for featuring the return of Bill Berry, but not Michael Stipe, who’s weirdly absent (Mike Mills handles vocals). Listen to the pair of tunes here.

While only fans who previously signed up can get their hands on that exclusive Christmas release, R.E.M. are gifting all interested parties a tune off their forthcoming album, a free download of “Discoverer.” Stipe sings with wild abandon on the Collapse Into Now opener, a tune that at times is loosely reminiscent of “Crush With Eyeliner”:

Free download of R.E.M. – “Discoverer” via the band’s website.