In Time (The Best Of REM 1988-2003) - R.E.M. > Reviews > Just 'In Time' For REM

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	-
Disadvantages:	-

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

As the first music review that I’ve written for which I can give very little background information on the band (something I’ve become known for doing), I am fully aware that this may not go down as well. What information I know on the band is scratchy at best, if not incorrect, so you shall have to settle for a straight opinion on the album this time round. Michael Stipe, admired from a far by my personal favourite Kurt Cobain, is a man that has been through a lot of difficult times in his life, yet has continued to churn out classic hits one after another, culminating in this collection of the very best, titled ‘In Time - The Best of REM 1988-2003’. All the big hitters rear their ugly head at some time or another, as well as couple that I hadn’t had the pleasure of previously hearing, yet am delighted to have been able to do so this time round. Even for someone that has the tendency to play safe and rarely travel outside of my current music scope, REM come across as a breath of fresh air, plodding guitars and emotional vocals make for a winning combination that as far as I’m concerned, may it long continue. From the melodic plod of ‘Bad Day’ to the pure emotion of ‘Everybody Hurts’, this is a greatest hits package that is truly worthy of the name (Guns ‘n’ Roses take note) and is a package that could do no better to represent a band that have been one of the most influential for the last two decades.

It seems as if the term ’true professional’ had been invented simply to categorise the genius that is Stipe. A man that goes about his work with the ease and grace only expected of the very best, it’s no surprise that his band have had the career that they’ve had, producing song after song of impeccable quality that could easily top many-a countdown chart. His strength, as it is with the majority of front men, is his ability to write the most beautiful songs with seemingly little effort - culminating in, for me their finest track, ‘Everybody Hurts’. It’s lyrics scream of depression and of struggling through the hard times in your life, yet knowing that there is always a light on the other side as long as you’re prepared to make that effort to get there - a message very useful considering the number of needless teen suicides that occur in this day and age. Music has, and always will play with it’s listeners minds, whilst the majority of the Green Day wannabes talk of making out, bands such as REM take a far more mature stance on such issues and release songs that really do touch you and make you think, and for such things, I refer you to ‘Losing My Religion’.

“that’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight, loosing my religion”, lyrics that touch more than your ears with their subtle yet obvious message. It’s one of those songs that you simply can’t fail to relate to a past time, a time when not everything was as it should be. Everyone has a song that they turn to in times of need and despair, to find solace in the lyrics, to find a comforting sound, and for me ‘Losing My Religion’ best represents the answer to all those requirements. The likes of ‘Man On The Moon’ and ‘Nightswimming’ are all that can be expected of a band that have matured their sound and enhanced their fan base over the last few years, one an acoustic backed gem, the other a piano led solo, showing the diversity within the band and the limits for which they can, and have reached. Despite being one of the most unheralded bands of the last decade, REM have managed to keep a steady hold on the direction of their career, allowing them the freedom to control what songs are released and which are consigned to the scrap heap. Speaking of which, having read around before writing this review, I can safely say that I agree entirely with the argument that tracks such as ‘Stand’ should not have been given preference over the classic ‘Shiny Happy People’, although the argument from the REM camp that the song is simply too corny for such a release is vaguely understandable.

The fact that I’m not what you would consider to be an REM ‘fan’ makes this all the more interesting to write, as I have no pre-conceived opinion on the band nor it’s music, yet definitely like what I hear. Stipe as an individual, is one of the quieter individuals in the rock world, preferring to take a background seat and allow the money men to promote whilst he writes and records the next masterpiece. From the point of view that this is the first REM record that I own, it is seen to be my introduction to the band, with such it does a great job of selling the band and it’s music to me through it’s 18 tracks of moving yet uplifting music. Comparisons to other bands styles are nigh on impossible to make, as their music is seemingly unique from every other band of the last decade, making it hard to understand just why they aren’t more popular within the mainstream music scene. ‘Bad Day’, which at time of release was known as a new song, is another typical Stipe product, blending the up-tempo beats with his piercing tones to produce one of the finer moments on the album. Scrolling through my mind, I believe ‘Bad Day’ had an appearance on one of the many world disaster movies that have been floating around the cinema chains over the last few years, surely a more than profitable move for the record company in getting the track some early attention, a move that has never hurt anyone.

Of course, with the addition of tracks such as ‘What’s The Frequency, Kenneth ?’ (a personal favourite of mine) and ‘Daysleeper’, the chances of this album faltering were non-existent from day one, with assurances of success helped by some decent production and a near spot on track listing, REM have in their possession one of the finest greatest hits packages of recent times, eclipsing the plague of three chord punk currently making it’s way across the pond. From the perspective of someone who wasn’t a fan prior to purchase, I can safely assure anyone considering adding it to their collection, that this is well worth the paltry price for which you can find it. So to not exclude my customary Nirvana mention, I have to say that as an idol to Cobain, with his influences more than evident on the bands legendary ‘MTV Unplugged performance’, Stipe is not only a legend in his own right, but an icon for icon’s, and his band deserve to be treasured and heard - give it a go, you won’t regret it.

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
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

Thank You