REM - In Time ; The Best Of Rem 1988-2003

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 27 / 10 / 2003

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Review

'In Time' is the new 'Best of' compilation of the Athens, Georgia-based band R.E.M. , and covers the years between '88 and 2003, all of which they have spent on Warner Brothers. The band spent their earlier recording years between '83 and '87 on I.R.S. which was considered their weird time. but I think this was their better creative period and it was this time that built up their fan base. R.E.M. produced one album for Warner Brothers before they hit the big time with the commercially appealing 'Out Of Time' which produced the world wide hit 'Losing My Religion' which is featured here. Their next single 'Shiny Happy People', again a world wide hit. however isn't here as R.E.M. see themselves as a serious band and that song and a few others as just bubblegum pop. 'In Time' is available as a single disc and also as a very limited edition double CD. The single disc is for the non fans, and features 3 new songs all which sound like I.R.S. period material. It is, however,pretty much a great collection and a good starting point if you do need a starting point for this fine U.S. band. It is not in release order and is not remastered but as they were put out. The songs are, therefore, a bit mix and match, but for me it works bar apart from 'All the Ray to Reno' which is very slow and which then runs into the very fast 'Losing My Religion'. The limited and very pricey double CD comes with a poster, is in a slip case andhas an attractive booklet explaining why each song is there. It is for the hardcore fan , but really if you are a hardcore fan, it is a bit of a letdown. Everything on this except for one or two songs has been out on albums, DVDS, video films, and CD singles as B sides. It works well though and it is good to have it all collected on one disc.

Track Listing:-

1 Man On The Moon
2 The Great Beyond
3 Bad Day
4 What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
5 All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)
6 Losing My Religion
7 E-Bow The Letter
8 Orange Crush
9 Imitation Of Life
10 Daysleeper
11 Animal
12 The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
13 Stand
14 Electrolite
15 All The Right Friends
16 Everybody Hurts
17 At My Most Beautiful
18 Nightswimming

Label Links:-

http://www.warnerbrosrecords.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosrec