Bolder, Better, and Reissued: R.E.M.'s "Best of" In Time
Written: Feb 23 '05 (Updated Feb 23 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Eighteen good, sometimes great R.E.M. songs...
Cons: There's so much missing...
The Bottom Line: The Best of R.E.M.? Maybe.
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| lambchops's Full Review: In Time: The Best... [CD & DVD-A] [Digipak] - R.E.... |
R.E.M.’s career can be split easily into two eras. The first was that of the college rock darling from 1980 through 1988 when the band called IRS home. They released five albums on that label—all of which were largely praised. The 1988 compilation Eponymous covers most of the bases of the early R.E.M. years.
The second R.E.M. era began when the band hopped labels to Warner Brothers and quickly released 1988’s Green. That album in conjunction with the previous one (1987’s Document) were the ones that really put the band on the map. From the point of Green on the four-man band was at the top of their game. Releasing hit single after hit single and hit album after hit album they earned three Grammy awards for the amazingly popular 1991 album Out of Time.
Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass), and Bill Berry (drums) released a string of well-selling and generally well-received albums through the 1980’s and 1990’s. It wasn’t until drummer Berry left the band with an aneurysm that things started to go a bit sour. That shouldn’t come as a shock—percussion more important than any guitar or voice to alt-rock music. However the band managed to continue on and has to date released three additional albums sans their founding member. For better or for worse, this is the R.E.M. that the world currently must deal with. Sometimes good, sometimes great, sometimes melodramatic, and sometimes forgettable we must love them and hold them and realize that they were one of the most important forces in rock music of the last twenty years.
In 2003 (and now reissued and expanded for 2005), the band released another greatest hits collection this time bringing together eighteen of their best songs from 1988 through 2003. The Best of R.E.M.: In Time 1988-2003 is a necessary, entertaining, and representative retrospective of the first fifteen years of the band’s second era. Even better is that the reissued and expanded album includes a second disc with the 2003 release on DVD Audio in addition to a video documentary, video for the single Bad Day, photo gallery, and Bad Day multi-angle rehearsal video. If you’ve ever wondered just how good a band could sound in advanced resolution stereo surround then by all means check out this fabulous two-disc release.
As it is, the music is very impressive. Most of the songs I love and cherish from R.E.M. since my teenage years are included. From Losing My Religion to Stand and from What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? to Nightswimming there are fully eighteen songs to enjoy. And considering the addition of one new song Bad Day plus the DVD Audio disc for the reissue there is something here for the long-time R.E.M. fan plus any newbie. Penny pinchers that don’t care much about the context of a song could get away with buying Eponymous and In Time with little trouble.
In Time isn’t arranged chronologically or even by how popular a song is. It is assembled so that the songs sound great. It is about as close as a best of compilation can ever be to being a “complete vision.” There was definitely thought put into the order of the songs. If one thing can really be learned about the band from this album it is that in truth the second phase of their career is dominated by two distinct styles. The first was that of a band on the rise and in the limelight. They knew how to put together a great pop song and what would get played on the radio. Pretty much anything was a hit. But when Monster (1994) was released the band seemed to be beginning to step away from MTV audiences. At first it was subtle but as albums continued to be released the change was obvious. When Berry left there was no more questioning the band’s move back to the underground college-alt-rock territory.
Man on the Moon starts things off. As one of the band’s best songs to date, it is as good a place to start as any. A dedication to Andy Kauffman, it is a gorgeous and heart-felt homage. It is the kind of song that fans and non-fans alike enjoy. Speaking of great songs, Losing My Religion, Everybody Hurts, Stand, E-Bow the Letter, Orange Crush, The Great Beyond, and Daysleeper too are included. There is a little bit here for everybody, but what is most striking is what is missing.
This is by no means a “greatest hits” collection. It’s important to distinguish “best of” from “greatest hits.” Hits refers to songs that were hit singles. “Best of” refers usually to songs that fervent fans and the band themselves deem to be most notable. They can be on in the same, but are often not. While they are indeed good or great songs, it is hard to listen to selections like All the Way to Reno, Electrolite, and All the Right Friends and realize that they were included over hits/singles including one of my personal favorites Bang and Blame, Pop Song 89, Strange Currencies and Bittersweet Me. However, we as listeners must realize that a single-disc collection does indeed have limits.
In Time is a good, bordering on great collection. Until R.E.M. releases a career-spanning retrospective nothing will entirely satisfy everybody. There will always be something missing, there will always be something there that “shouldn’t be.” If I have one complaint it is that Monster and Out of Time are rather underrepresented especially in comparison to Automatic for the People. If you’re a fan of R.E.M. check out this reissue (and the simultaneously reissued eight Warner Brothers albums).
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Man on the Moon [Automatic for the People, 1992]
02. The Great Beyond [Man on the Moon Soundtrack, 1999]
03. Bad Day [new]
04. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? [Monster, 1994]
05. All the Way to Reno [Reveal, 2001]
06. Losing My Religion [Out of Time, 1991]
07. E-Bow the Letter [New Adventures in Hi-Fi, 1996]
08. Orange Crush [Green, 1988]
09. Imitation of Life [Reveal, 2001]
10. Daysleeper [Up, 1998]
11. Animal [new]
12. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite [Automatic for the People, 1992]
13. Stand [Green, 1988]
14. Electrolite [New Adventures in Hi-Fi, 1996]
15. All the Right Friends [Vanilla Sky Soundtrack, 2001]
16. Everybody Hurts [Automatic for the People, 1992]
17. At My Most Beautiful [Up, 1998]
18. Nightswimming [Automatic for the People, 1992]
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Related Reviews:
Reckoning (1984)
http://www.epinions.com/content_121661787780
Green (1988)
http://www.epinions.com/content_40352255620
Recommended:
Yes
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lambchops
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