One last hurrah for the boys as we knew them.

Hot off the Monster tour with some recordings in hand, R.E.M. was ready to make their best album in years. New Adventures in Hi-Fi meanders in all the right ways, keeping you on your toes with new ideas and unconventional choices. "E-bow the Letter" as the lead single? Great. "How the West Was Won and Where it Got Us" as the opening track? Hell yeah.

But it's not all happy... stick around to the end to hear the sad tale of Bill Berry's departure from the band.

Links:

• R E M Only in America - YouTube

• R.E.M. - I will survive - YouTube

• REM - Live For Today - YouTube

• Revolution - YouTube

• Tricycle (Instrumental) - YouTube

• Wichita Lineman by R.E.M. (Live in Houston, 1996) - YouTube

• R.E.M. - Be mine (Mike on bus version) - YouTube

• Love is all around by R.E.M. (1991) - YouTube

• R.E.M. New Adventures In Hi-Fi interview 1996 (The New Music) - YouTube

• REM - The Passenger @ Stockholm - 1998 - YouTube

• R.E.M. - How The West Was Won And Where It Got Us (Official Music Video) - YouTube

• R.E.M. - E-Bow The Letter (Official Music Video) feat. Patti Smith - YouTube

• R.E.M. - Electrolite (Official Music Video) - YouTube

• R.E.M. - Bittersweet Me (Official Music Video) - YouTube