In Time (The Best Of REM 1988-2003) - R.E.M. > Reviews > Great..but not enough

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	It holds a greant raneg of tracks spanning there carrer
Disadvantages:	Its still missing one or two amazing tracks !  !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I had just had this album stolen last week, you might not think a week is a long time, but in less than that I have grown to love this album and its wholeness, beauty of songs and appreciate this band a whole lot more.

People say R.E.M and they think, "loosing my religion", it’s stupid I know, how can one band just some up one song in a persons mind. Well now this album will expand and open their minds to 15 years of great music, original and groundbreaking in every sense. They may skip a few tracks to begin with, just to get to there favorites, but one day they will play the album all the way through, and appreciate and realise that each song is as powerful, lovable and significant as all the others.

From a band that lost their drummer a few years back, and have just brought out two new singles, a best of and a DVD of live material and videos spanning the years. From right back to 'orange crush' there first single on top of the pops, where they first staked there claim, Michael Stipe using a megaphone to cover his mouth, because back in those days the bands had to mime to the backing track, its so lame but true. It showed that this bad was beyond conforming to convention and that they had already broken away from mainstream, they were above pop culture, and were making music that was to create peoples minds, open there soul and next to most things, sing and dance to. You can really get to love the songs, and I love the fact its so easy to understand the words, the rhythm, its just nice to sing along to these songs, and it doesn’t matter if you understand them or not, or if they are popular or not.

I watched an interview with the lead singer, and the biggest trouble he said with this album was what songs to put on there, because they wanted to give a range from all years, but they had on idea in which order they should do it. I think it would not of mattered how they did it, because either way you would still listen to all the songs one way or another.

The first song - Man on the moon I believe was for the soundtrack of the movie with the same name, its just a great song, I think a lot of people know this one. It follows into the great beyond, not a personal favourite of mine but nonetheless, a song written very well. This man has way with words and his song writing ability is among the highest.
Bad day track 3, is a latest release, based around the hype of media and how it can interfere into peoples lives, a real hit on modern day antics and problems that the press give to people. Once you are into the album there is not turning back, 'what’s the frequency kenneth' is lively and sounds great in the car, 'all the way to reno' is slower in the pace and i dislike this song, its not my taste, and i think it could of been replaced by a much stronger R.E.M song.

Loosing my religion, is an all time classic for this band and in modern music, played with a simple riff on a mandolin, its fruitful, I like that word, it’s a good way to describe this song. E-bow the letter, is something different, however can catch you like fever and make you listen to the whole track. The album then goes through such popular songs as orange crush, there first hit, imitation of life, sounds not well known, but everyone has heard it some time or another, daysleeper, (a favourite of mine, its beautiful and well written). Animal is the next track, and is there newest of all releases, the video is a little crazy, and so is the song, I didn’t like much the first few times, but I saw it live on telly, and it soon changed my opinion, after that I couldn’t stop singing it.

Now comes to the end of the album, this is the best part for me, I listen to the first 11 songs, just to build me up for these last few, they are well built songs, that give range of all emotions, and the music in all these songs changes, the riffs, the drum beats, all have individual character, and make it hard not to repeat each song after a listen
"The sidewinder sleeps tonight" This is my all time favourite song, great words, great great great, I cant say much more, Stand, electiolite and all the right friends, help to see more of R.E.M than most people can take, and just show that no matter when these songs were made they are still so good now. Track 16 'everybody hurts', all I can say is this song is covered so much, by the young up and coming singers to the older generation, its a song for everyone, and everyone can relate to it, which gives this such a lift above the rest. It then dies down with 2 slow and moving songs, 'at my most beautiful' is slender in tone, not loud, not noisy but still can make your ears turn round and listen to his words. And now to 'night swimming', I traveled to Prague a few weeks back on coach, no matter how uncomfortable I was when trying to sleep, as soon as this song cam on, I could not help but sit still, close my eyes and listen!!!

If you do not have this album, then ask your self why? Do you have a reason? This music was made for everyone and so everyone should enjoy!!

A short to note why it is bad
the missing tracks -- 'its the end of the world', lively and fun, its a real gem!

'The one I love' - truly beautiful, powerful and stirring, it needed to be amongst this album!!