R.E.M. - Dead Letter Office
List Price:
Our Price: $7.97
You Save: $4.01 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $0.85 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: R.E.M.Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1990-10-25
Music Label: A&M
Soundtracks:
- Crazy
- There She Goes Again
- Burning Down
- Voice Of Harold
- Burning Hell
- White Tornado
- Toys In the Attic
- Windout
- Ages Of You
- Pale Blue Eyes
- Rotary Ten
- Bandwagon
- Femme Fatale
- Walters Theme
- King Of The Road
- Wolves, Lower
- Gardening At Night
- Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars)
- 1,000,000
- Stumble
Free Music Notes for Dead Letter Office
Free Music Review: Humble beginnings and the choice leftovers
Hit: 4 Stars
I had nearly forgotten about this record when I started re-perusing R.E.M.'s catalog the other day, but this was one of my favorites by the band from Athens. Not only does it collect a large number of covers and b-sides that wound up on the cutting room floor of IRS, it also contains the hard to find Chronic Town, the band's debut Ep that never enjoyed formal release on Cd.
Chronologically speaking, that EP was a glorious beginning for a group whose vocalist was otherwise incomprehensible to his listeners. We wondered at length what Stipe was actually saying (even coining the term "Michael Stipe diisease" for any singer who mumbles too much), but in the end we had to content ourselves with great music, even if the vocals were little more than a melody of their own.
As for the rest of the disc... well, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Unlike other catch-all compilations that seem to cash in on the loyalty of fans while delivering little in the process, the b-sides and covers are infinitely listenable. When taking in these tracks it becomes quickly evident the affection REM has for such bands as the Velvet Underground and Aerosmtih. Other homages such as Roger Miller's 'King of the Road' communicate a deep connection to the south (and country music in general) and leave one wondering what other influences REM might be hiding.
Dead Letter Office may be the kind of Cd you would prefer to cut, paste, and burn onto a couple blank discs, but it stands on its own as a document of REM's early development and the bands they owe so much to. Well worth your time.
Dead Letter Office Poster
While purists will insist on an undiluted copy of the band's 1982 Chronic Town EP, R.E.M. completists (and those who just like a lot of tracks for their money) will be grateful for the inclusion of 15 additional B-sides and curios on this 1987 compilation. Not surprisingly, the non-Chronic material is a mixed blessing: while R.E.M. were much beloved for being notorious cover-whores during those early Athens live shows, their reverent takes on Velvet Underground classics stand the test of time far better than their odes to Roger Miller and Aerosmith. But all that will be forgotten by the time Chronic Town's "Wolves, Lower" kicks in, signaling the official arrival of a band that forever changed the face of Southern rock. --Bill FormanAlternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in REMember?
R.E.M. - Around the SunRelease date: 2004-10-05; Published: 2004; Music CD
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - UpRelease date: 1998-10-27; Music CD
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - RevealRelease date: 2001-05-15; Published: 2001; Music CD
Best price: $2.57
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Fables of the ReconstructionRelease date: 1992-08-06; Music CD
Best price: $8.39
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - GreenRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Dead Letter OfficeRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.82
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - AccelerateRelease date: 2008-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - ReckoningRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - MurmurRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.24
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Lifes Rich PageantRelease date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $6.89
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-FiRelease date: 1996-09-10; Published: 2001; Music CD
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Out of TimeRelease date: 1991-03-12; Music CD
Best price: $4.72
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - EponymousRelease date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - AccelerateRelease date: 2008-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - GreenRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - DocumentRelease date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Lifes Rich PageantRelease date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $6.89
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - MurmurRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.14
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - Fables of the ReconstructionRelease date: 1998-01-27; Music CD
Best price: $6.87
Price in other shops:
R.E.M. - ReckoningRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops: