R.E.M. - In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
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Free Music Notes for In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
Free Music Review: Time for REM
Hit: 4 Stars
"In Time: The Best of REM" is an 18 track compilation of songs from 1988-2003, two of them recorded especially for this album. It has most of the tracks I wanted and a couple of nice surprises.
REM are a pretty decent rock group. They've got a down-to-earth sound, I think, and often there's such a warmth to Michael Stipe's lyrics you can almost physically feel it (like in "At My Most Beautiful"). It's very accessible stuff too, and is great from the first listen. That's not to say they don't experiment with sounds and studio tricks too ("Daysleeper", for instance, features an old Mellotron keyboard, which are always cool). There's a bit of everything, and it's done well and uniquely. I like the sillyness of "Stand", I like the long harmonies in "Orange Crush" and the Syd Barrett-esque stutters in "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" ("sub-stub-sub-substantial"). It was interesting hearing Patti Smith make a guest appearance of "E-Bow The Letter" too.
The two bonus tracks are "Bad Day" and "Animal", both recorded just for the compilation. "Bad Day" has a clear but bassy production and quickly ambles while singer Michael Stipe rambles about the things that can get you down on a bad day, some more abstract than others. "Animal" is a bit more electronic, though its just as poppy, with lyrics that allude to this and that to add to the atmosphere of the track.
The booklet doesn't have any lyrics, but every page is filled with liner notes from Peter Buck, commenting and reflecting on each of the songs on the compilation and how they were made. It's pretty interesting reading. He reveals that during the recording for "Stand" he had just got a wah-wah pedal, and the solo he takes on it is him trying it out for the first time. (I haven't heard the song the same way since.) In the background are various pictures of the band from music videos and the like. I thought the heavy paper for the booklet was a nice touch, seems to suit the band well.
As a casual fan, I would have preferred to have "Shiny Happy People" and "Bang and Blame" on here rather than say "Electrolite" (as there are already a couple of piano driven songs here) and the Vanilla Sky track "All the Right Friends" (though it is a decent song). Still, it is a fairly good selection. I was glad to get "The Great Beyond" from the "Man on the Moon" soundtrack, after all. Worth a listen.
Free Music Review: good but what if.
Hit: 4 Stars
With the remarkable IRS compilation just released, the question has to be presented...could this cd have been as good as that one is?
I am not going to compare this cd to that one, as the IRS cd is heads above this one, but is that because the music of that era simply is better or because the songs on this cd don't cover the period as expertly as the more recent best of does?
And I Feel fine covers a six year period...this one adds a decade to that figure. And yes, REM, but out albums more frequently for IRS than the band did in its current run at Warner Brothers.
But you have five albums plus for the IRS best of, Warners has 7 cds worth of material, which is one of the main problems, the music of R.E.M. changed a great deal throughout that period that the critics who maintain that the music does not all play cohesively together are correct. A much better compliation would be IN TIME the best of R.E.M. 1988-1996, or all the R.E.M. albums that feature the original line up. Seperating the non Berry songs into a future possible best of part III disc would have created more of a central focus on the band in their most univerally popular era of music and a much stronger album overall
The album presented here should have looked something like this:
1. "Man on the Moon" I have no problem with this song being the first on the cd as it is a prime of example of Stipes writing and the bands playing at this time, plus it is from AFTP which is the central album that middle era REM put out.
2. "Great Beyond" released out of the era presented, the song does feature R.E.M. at the top of the later stage game. This song does work well following the prequel song before it and is one of the few times that eras mix well. If I had to break the rules, I would leave this song in. But I also think that it would work well on a "third" best of cd, one where R.E.M is taking a look back at their catalog. In era where they are having movies inspired by songs that they have made. Taking this song out I would replace it with "Country Feedback" a song which does flow nicely following "Man On the Moon" and like "Radio Free Europe" is a signature song after the opening mood setting track.
3. Bad Day, this is a little bit of cheating on their part. It is clearly from the IRS years, which is perhaps why I like it so much. It deserves to be on some kind of best of. Or, they could have saved it and put it on as the opening track of Around the Sun, perhaps setting a better tone for the entire album.
And I Feel fine doesn't need to have any new material on its best of portion and it benifits greatly from it. Take Bad Day out, base an album around it and it wouldn't feel out of place. Perhaps a here would be a good place for a more up tempo Green number such as "Pop Song 89".
4. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth". Fits right here.
5. "All the Way to Reno", not a bad song, but clearly out of place, with its rather lounge vibe. move it to the third best of and put the no exuse for leaving it off "Drive" here.
6. "Losing My Religon" all the better after "Drive" nice one two punch.
7. "E-Bow the Letter" leave it here. Great song.
8. "Orange Crush" Ditto.
9. "Imitation of Life" this song works, one of the few that blends, I think its a great song but for integrity, put
"Bittersweet Me" here instead, one of the many NAIHF songs skipped.
10. "Daysleeper" again good but more later day, why not "World Leader Pretend" for overall mood?
11. "Animal" I am tempted to say this is the worst song here and glaringly proves the point that the two eras don't mix. Take it out and go back to Out of Time for "Near Wild Heaven" yeah, let Mills mix things up a little here, this discs "Rockville"
12. "Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" some are critical of this song (even the band), a little too close to "Shiny" but it is a must moment on this disc. It would be weird without it.
13. "Stand" can't leave this out even if many fans hate it. Call this the required part of the disc.
14. "Electrolite" always a little iffy for me but a popular highlight of New Adventures so it can stay, many love it.
15. "All the Right Friends" belongs on the second disc of And I feel Fine. Here, it feels forced and another carrot thrown out of place by Warner Brothers.
16. "Everybody Hurts" A worthy must.
17. "At My Most Beautiful" love the song, clearly off Up though and representative of the Beach Boys faze that they would fully explore with Reveal. A more fitting song would be "You Are the Everything" an overlooked song from Green.
15 b. "Strange Currencies" sets up the closer very nicely.
18. Nightswiming, a great ending to the album.
So the album that should be without much altering would consist of:
1.Man on the Moon
2.Country Feedback
3.Pop Song 89
4.What's the Frequency, Kenneth
5.Drive
6.Losing My Religon
7.E-Bow the Letter
8.Orange Crush
9.Bittersweet Me
0.World Leader Pretend
1.Near Wild Heaven
2.Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
3.Stand
4.Electrolite
5.Everybody Hurts
6.You Are the Everything
7.Strange Currencies
8.Nightswimming
So there you have in my opinion the much better mix, Like I Feel Fine, a good mixture of all the cds (you can add more Bang and Blame, Leave and maybe Me In Honey if we can match 21 songs) and still no Shiny Happy People.
You are left with a very worthy, if still slightly inferior sequel to the IRS disc.
Free Music Review: Too much missing
Hit: 2 Stars
No "Radio Song", "Turn You Inside Out", "Crush with Eyeliner", or, most shockingly, "Shiny Happy People"? Guess I'll wait a few more years for Warners to put out a better best of, like IRS just did of REM's early years.Free Music Review: Recurring Best
Hit: 5 Stars
There are endless ways to assemble an R.E.M. anthology, let alone one from any other group, but this selection is marvelous. It is not only put together for their best work; it is arranged like an album. Many fans have lamented the absence of some big songs, like "Shiny, Happy, People," but this collection works well together.
Few will doubt that their music is still progressive, shimmering, and hypnotic (living up to their name). Their big hits are innovative and surreal. "Man on the Moon," "Orange Crush," and "Daysleeper" are evocative and elicit almost a subconscious response. The selection also gives us a chance to experience their worthy albums firsthand. It hardly seems redundant when one can capture "The Great Beyond," "Animal," and "All the Right Friends," after losing a chance to get them firsthand on an R.E.M. album. They also draw much of their best music. Unsurprisingly, they pull four off of 'Automatic for the People,' yet we still can enjoy the fruits of that classic, including "Find the River" and the original "Drive" on the original CD. Furthermore, "Electrolite," "E-Bow, the Letter," and "Imitation of Life" provide solid material from albums that occasionally faltered in small pockets. From the mesmerizing mid-tempo songs to their expert fast-forward work, 'In Time' in one of the most thoughtful collections presented.
Paying a little more money is worth it for the '...Special Edition' instead of this one. On the second disc there are collected songs from sources other than R.E.M. albums, like "Revolution," from the 'Batman and Robin' soundtrack. There are also excellent unplugged versions of "The One I Love" and "Pop Song '89". Subjectively, their spare version of "Beat a Drum" is better than on 'Reveal'. Some selections aren't as wise as the first disc. Edward Rice Burroughs' reading of "Star Me Kitten" is entertaining the first time, then it wears thin. I am also surprised having seen the group live why they would include a lackluster live version of "Drive," but they make it up with fine live versions of "Turn You Inside-Out" and "Country Feedback". R.E.M. is worth the extra CD.
Free Music Review: Words of Wisdom
Hit: 5 Stars
REM is a great band along with the likes of the Beatles, Pearl Jam, Queen and the Grateful Dead. I mention these because of a previous posting giving this a single star. I can't believe this guy Dick W. giving this a one star and pouring out that baffle-gaffasaurous dribble. I really thought it was an odd review. So, I checked out his other reviews and he slams all the above artists and others. There was only one band that didn't get a 1 star review but instead got a 5 star review. Guess who: The Bee Gees??? hee hee... And went on to praise them for not subscribing to being a pretty boy...
The song list looks pretty good and agreed with some that it leaves out some other great songs. But, it will make a good addition to my CD library.