 
|
|
Audio CD
Publisher: Warner Bros / Wea
Greatest hits release features 18 tracks. German exclusive pressed onto 180 gram double vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve. Warner Bros. 2003.
How do you condense 15 years of music down to 76 minutes? In the case of this survey of the second phase of R.E.M.'s career, the answer is: Exceptionally well. The dangling carrot for diehards is two new songs; the rapid fire "Bad Day" hurtles along like the kissing cousin of "It's the End of the World as We Know It," while "Animal" is anchored by a majestic drone reminiscent of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." In a surprising, but gratifying move, the rest of the program shortchanges the band's breakthrough, Out of Time (no "Shiny Happy People"), to better accommodate movie soundtrack contributions, and spotlight gems from the less commercial, post-Bill Berry albums Reveal and Up; with its baroque piano and multi-tracked vocal harmonies, the Beach Boys homage "At My Most Beautiful" is particularly gorgeous, while the burbling keyboards and slightly dazed singing of "All the Way to Reno" will appeal to Flaming Lips fans. --Kurt B. Reighley
| Customer Reviews: |
|
| |
| A good collection/selection of songs but over-compression/excessive loundness has butchered the sound of otherwise great songs |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
 |
|
I bought the 2-CD set and posted a comment there. Since it applies to the first CD, which is this offering, I'm reposting my comments here. Happy shopping...
I've been a fan of R.E.M. for some years, and bought this CD in part because my collection of their best works is incomplete (the bonus CD also appealed to me). But when I fired up the first CD in my music player, I was aurally accosted by overloud/bass heavy/distorted sound blasting from the speakers. After enduring a few minutes of each song in the hope of hearing a glimpse of the sound treasures the original releases provide, I gave up and mentally tossed this CD in the trash. In my opinion, these great songs by R.E.M. were butchered by whatever sound engineer that had his or her finger/hand heavily on the loudness/compressor button/slider in/on the mixer program/machine. Or perhaps it was a foot.
In fact, to call the first CD a re-release of R.E.M.'s best hits of that period could not be further from the musical truth. This CD's sound for such classics as "Man on the Moon" and "Losing My Religion" resembles what one might hear from the original releases if someone listened to them with the stereo or music player volume turned up so loud as to overload the speakers far beyond their normal operating volume. Perhaps this CD should be added to the collection of "music" that the police/U.S. Army/FBI use to aurally stun holed-up hostage takers/dictators/wanted criminals into submission, but it surely should not be considered a half-reasonable re-release of otherwise great songs by a ground-breaking and much-loved band. And the result is that I feel pretty much ripped off by the record company that produced this CD.
And since I can't return this CD (I had to open the case to listen to it), I would love I know the name and email address of the record execute of the music company that produced this CD so that I can ask the musical horse's behind who approved of this disaster for half of my money back! Only half, mind you. After the bludgeoning my ears received from listening to the first CD of this two CD set, I haven't yet built up the courage or desire to listen to the bonus CD. I'll let you know when I do. If I do...
|
| about the music CD...Best of REM......... |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
 |
|
The music is so so only after shops in Singapore sell this album (double disc album) which could also be found on Amazon.com. These shops in Singapore are HMV Singapore and Gramophone. What I could say about the nice pieces of music they have out of the so so album are track 8 - orange crush, track 9 - imitation of life and track 12 - the sidewinder sleeps tonite. Recommeneded to those whom are interested in this genre of music.
In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
Review by:
Dr, MR Franc MBBS (PhD) GPS Ang Poon Kah
director lou ye - Ang Poon Kah for film summer palace.
|
| In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
 |
|
I enjoyed this album for the most part. The outstanding song on this album was "Losing My Religion". The lyrics were provocative and rich. Delivery of the song was extremely talented. Guitar accompaniment most striking. I recommend this album for this one song alone.
|
| Solid But Not Spectacular |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
|
|
You would think that since R.E.M. have been able to elicit both critical praise and achieve widespread popularity- at least at one time or another throughout its career- a compilation that highlights its work would be an easy task. It's apparent that's not the case because there has yet to be collection which provides Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe full justice to the ensemble's reputation. Just as "Eponymous" before it- there are additions and omissions which perplex even the most ardent of this band's audience. "E Bow The Letter" is a mediocre exercise which gave R.E.M. an excuse to work in conjunction with Patti Smith. "All The Way From Reno," "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" and "Stand" work well within the context of the albums they originate from but not in this package. In addition- new entries such as "Animal" and "Bad Day" (the latter of which was a prototype to the superior "It's The End Of The World As We Know It And I Feel Fine") would have been more suitable for "Around The Sun" to give that release the punch it was without. Where on Earth is "Bang On Blame," "Bittersweet Me," or the alternate edition of "Radio Song" (all of which were exceptional singles if not necessarily "hits")? Why weren't superb covers of Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan," Roky Erickson's "I Walked With A Zombie," or "Wall Of Death" by Richard Thompson fit for inclusion? Still nonetheless- a rarity such as the rollicking "All The Right Friends" is a nice surprise. The plea of "Losing My Religion," "Man On The Moon," and the sociopolitical churn of the rock driven "Orange Crush," are obvious selections but at least they belong here. In short "In Time" might be appropriate for many with only a casual taste for the band but those with extensive insight on R.E.M. will walk away with the thought that this could have been better.
|
| R.E.M. 1988-2003 |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
 |
|
The item was in excellent condition, and I have truly enjoyed listening to the CD. Thank you for your quick and timely mailing, and its excellent condition.
|
Man on the Moon
The Great Beyond [from Man on the Moon soundtrack]
Bad Day [previously unreleased]
What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)
Losing My Religion
E-Bow The Letter
Orange Crush
Imitation of Life
Daysleeper
Animal [previously unreleased]
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
Stand
Electrolite
All The Right Friends [from Vanilla Sky soundtrack]
Everybody Hurts
At My Most Beautiful
Nightswimming
|
