R.E.M. – In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003

I just purchased this from a Salvo's shop for $2... bargain!!!. But upon looking at my comprehensive iTunes catalogue, I have noticed a few big hits missing from this compilation. In particular Bang And Blame and Shiny Happy People..... WHY?????. Not happy about these two hits missing, as these tracks are the original hits featured on compilations from the early to mid 90's and the levels of those 80's and 90's compilation CD's (and CD's in general) are VERY low compared to the mastering levels of 2000's onwards.

Utterly pointless best of collection, especially as it begins in 1988 (for obvious reason). To be honest, I could make a far better REM collection/best of than this, oh wait, I have (and of the 20 songs I chose, only 6 feature here).

R.E.M. attracted the attention of discerning post-punk audiences by virtue of Michael Stipe's barely intelligible vocal delivery of even less comprehensible lyrics, Peter Buck's raucous, reedy guitar, and Bill Berry's fervent, forceful drums. From incredibly murky sonic beginnings to the crystal clear versality of the post-IRS years, R.E.M. have forayed into a vast array of musical territories over the course of three decades, making subtle adjustments and enhancements to their distinctive sound on each of their dozen or so albums. Upon g to Warner in 1988, Stipe's songwriting steadily improved to the extent that his enunciations and abstruse lyrics grew increasingly friendly. Into the bargain was heftier production values, which spruced up the dense basslines, rolling rhythms and nasally vocal harmonies they refused to discard, adamantly preserving a modicum of their underground roots, a fact that went over the heads of those unaccustomed to garage rock and bubblegum pop, not to mention R.E.M.'s largely inaccessible primitive aesthetic.

"In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003" is a distillation of the most commercially successful material in the band's catalogue, i.e. the Warner years, and naturally, this certainty results in the compilation being divided into two phases, one heavier, the other less so. As the group's strong sales streak started to nosedive in the late '90s/early '00s, a disoriented period for Stipe and co to say the least, it makes sense that the culminating phase of R.E.M.'s augmented creative fertility is represented the most herein. By juxtaposing the standout singles alongside rarities and unreleased gems, R.E.M.'s cult status and vehemently alternative musical identity is called into question slightly, but not so much that it is tarnished. Certainly, the obscure additions of outtakes and oddities does come at the expense of worthier highlights from under-represented albums, though as I previously mentioned, this is due to the band still wanting to prove they have not lost the depth they had in their infancy. After all, compilations in general should not be more coherent and enjoyable than parent albums. "In Time" contradictorily triumphs in that respect to some degree, but that is merely because their post-"Monster" output is largely inconsistent. For what you get, namely the rock radio staples "Man On The Moon," "Everybody Hurts," "Orange Crush," "Losing My Religion," and "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" and the particularly excellent soundtrack cut "The Great Beyond", complaining about what is missing rather than what is included would be missing the point. A full picture of R.E.M. is unlikely to be compiled due to label restrictions, therefore this imperfect platter, which redeems itself by consolidating the insipid non-Bill Berry chapter in the band's convoluted life cycle, serves as a handy sampler that modestly brings listeners up to date with the Warner era.

Rating: 4.5/5