As an R.E.M. fan (maybe even super fan?), I am always interested when someone covers one of their tracks. Brand New’s Jesse Lacey just released his cover of “Bad Day,” a song that many R.E.M. fans might not even know as it never appeared on any studio albums, only on 2003 compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003. Truthfully, of R.E.M.’s 21st century singles, “Bad Day” is one of my favorites. It has a mix of “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” kinetic energy with heady political commentary. For his part, Jesse Lacey does a faithful cover of the song. His Michael Stipe is uncannily accurate. On a cold listen, it would be very hard to tell if the track was an acoustic version by R.E.M. or a cover. Who knew Lacey had that in him?