Akashic Books, 128 pages, hardcover $23.95

What happens when REM front man Michael Stipe and beloved alt-rock chick Patti Smith collide? You get a photo book by Stipe entitled Two Times Intro: On the Road with Patti Smith. Stipe compiled this collection of photos from Smith’s 1995 tour, and it is wonderful.

In Two Times Intro, Stipe shares emotions, thoughts, and memories with his at times blurry and other times unabashedly sharp imagery. The collection documents two weeks in 1995 which Smith spent touring; her creative process, preparation to take stage, and personal moments of offstage happiness all sit alongside one another. Stipe combines his photos with interview excerpts and quotes from both friends and Smith herself to add depth to the work.

A photo collection of a band is by no means a new concept, but Stipe’s personal friendship lends something greater to the overall vision of this book. It isn’t simply a set of snapshots of performances, but rather a collection of rare moments. The personal nature of the anthology makes it all the more enticing and enjoyable. Smith, in all her glory and awe-inspiring talent, is portrayed in the truest light.