With the recent release of REM’s live DVD recorded in Dublin, now is a good time to get better acquainted with the band. And no better place than the blog created by one Matthew Perpetua.

Matthew is a dedicated REM fanatic who has set himself an unusual mission to post an entry about every song on every REM album. Matthew has now entered 133 chronological missives ranging from the personal to the poetic.

As an introduction to one of rock’s most enduring and eccentric bands, this is a good place to start and a unique perspective of REM’s vast back catalogue.

The only thing missing is an explanation of Michael Stipe’s fondness for weird face paint.