New R.E.M. LP In Works!

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts) - REM guitarist Peter Buck is hoping to head for the studios "sooner rather than later" to record REM�s 13th album. Buck made the confession in an interview with REM fan site murmurs.com. Buck, who has been writing fresh new material for the band, also commented on the state of the music industry and his hopes for its future during the extensive chat.

Although Buck is already involved in various other projects including the third album from his instrumental band Tuatara, he acknowledged his primary focus was still REM.
"I'm working on songs for the new record," Buck said. "Me and [REM sideman] Scott [McCaughey] play together a lot. I do think it's good for us to keep working on a regular basis and not turn this into a kind of hobby. It has to be something important in your life that you work on."

However, Buck said he was in no position to push the other members of the band into the studio until they are ready.