If you don’t already know, I have been a fan of R.E.M. for years. When I was in high school, they became one of those favorites that most of my other friends didn’t like. Some of their older albums hold a special place in my heart. For example, “Fables of Reconstruction” is a great album and has two of my all-time R.E.M. favorites on it – “Driver 8″ and “Kohoutek.” It think it came out in either 1984 or ’85. I only remember playing this album over and over again. Every song hit me in a good way and very fast this album became a favorite.

And since I don’t have the album anymore, I may just download it from iTunes.

Two Saturdays ago, I had the opportunity to see R.E.M. in Jones Beach. Ugh, the weather … heavy rain, flooding, thunder and lightning … but I won’t trade that concert for anything. A super concert by a great group.

Then this past Thursday, I attended their concert at Madison Square Garden with a friend who is absolutely a huge R.E.M. fan. She was so happy with the musical set — when they played “Rockville” or “Driver 8,” her eyes lit up. It was a pleasure to attend a concert with someone who cared about the music. The concert paid tribute to a lot of their older music, as well as their current album. Most people seemingly weren’t happy with the concert since they sat on their hands for most of it.

But it was a wonderful musical experience and was a week I will not forget.