REM: First ever live album released

R.E.M.'s first-ever live album came out last week, featuring concerts recorded at the Point Theatre in Dublin on February 26th and 27th, 2005. The shows marked the closing nights of R.E.M.'s Around The World Tour in Europe. The two-disc R.E.M. Live features rare performances, including "I Took Your Name" from 1994's Monster and as well as the previously unreleased "I'm Gonna DJ." The shows, which feature 22 tracks, are also available on DVD.

Bassist Mike Mills tells us that some of the band's songs are meant to be heard live: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "The last couple of records have been pretty studio-sounding, which is fine. But there are a lot of songs on there that sound completely different as live songs. They take on a whole new energy. And we like presenting these songs to people in that different way."

Mills tells us that the band members don't need a hit single to feel successful: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "It is and that's never been our aim or our goal. We just try to do whatever it is we're doing to the best of our ability. And I think you're gonna have ups and downs. And that's certainly understood. But it is nice to know that what you're doing is good and that these recordings are good -- and to know that if people get a chance to hear them, then they'll probably like them."