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

Never get tired of this album

It's missing some big hits, but includes a good amount of songs in 1 CD. I listen to it very often now.

There are endless ways to assemble an R.E.M. anthology, let alone one from any other group, but this selection is marvelous. It is not only put together for their best work; it is arranged like an album. Many fans have lamented the absence of some big songs, like "Shiny, Happy, People," but this collection works well together.Few will doubt that their music is still progressive, shimmering, and hypnotic (living up to their name). Their big hits are innovative and surreal. "Man on the Moon," "Orange Crush," and "Daysleeper" are evocative and elicit almost a subconscious response. The selection also gives us a chance to experience their worthy albums firsthand. It hardly seems redundant when one can capture "The Great Beyond," "Animal," and "All the Right Friends," after losing a chance to get them firsthand on an R.E.M. album. They also draw much of their best music. Unsurprisingly, they pull four off of 'Automatic for the People,' yet we still can enjoy the fruits of that classic, including "Find the River" and the original "Drive" on the original CD. Furthermore, "Electrolite," "E-Bow, the Letter," and "Imitation of Life" provide solid material from albums that occasionally faltered in small pockets. From the mesmerizing mid-tempo songs to their expert fast-forward work, 'In Time' in one of the most thoughtful collections presented.The second disc is hardly a memento. The moments are mixed, but very worthy, overall. Their rendition of "The One I Love" unplugged is a completely different song. It is beautiful with a more tender meaning. "Pop Song '89" nearly does the same, but is a fine, unplugged rendition all the same. Then, we have another chance to hear "Revolution" on an R.E.M. CD, instead of on the soundtrack. "Don't Talk to Me" is another beautifully done number. The other works are subjective. I vote in favor of the more spartan arrangement of "Beat a Drum," but their live version of "Drive" doesn't even elicit for me their worst moment at a concert. On the other hand, "Turn You Inside Out," and "Country Feedback" do make nice concert souvenirs for those of us lucky enough to see one of the best concert bands ever. Other novelties abound. William S. Burroughs doing his--almost literal--reading of "Star Me Kitten" provides some amusement, but doesn't wear well on repeated listenings. Their alternate versions of "The Lifting," "Leave" and "Fretless" are worthy, but not necessarily better than the originals.R.E.M is a great band with the wise and persnickety judgment to give listeners a splendid cross-section of their work that is expertly arranged.

A few years ago, my daughter recommended several CDs by artists that she thought I might enjoy. (She and I have always shared a love of music.) One of them was “In Time: The Best of R.E.M., 1988-2003."I had heard of R.E.M. before, but didn’t know much about them. I knew they were an American rock band that had a whole bunch of hits in the 1990s and 2000s, and I even knew a couple of their songs – “Losing My Religion” and “Everybody Hurts” – from hearing them on the radio. I borrowed my daughter’s CD and listened to the whole album.I liked “In Time: The Best of R.E.M., 1988-2003” so much that I recently purchased the MP3 version of it for myself. This is an extraordinarily good album. It’s got a very strong line-up of songs, from the ones I’ve already mentioned to others like: “Man on the Moon,” “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?,” “Orange Crush,” and “Imitation of Life.” I find the lyrics of all these songs very original and interesting, and I really enjoy the band’s musical style.I’ve read some of the arguments about whether “In Time: The Best of R.E.M., 1988-2003” really includes “the best” of R.E.M. at the expense of other, better songs. Of that I’m not sure; all I know is that “In Time: The Best of R.E.M., 1988-2003” is a terrific album in every respect, and that all of the songs that are included are excellent.Although this particular genre of music – alternative rock – falls a little outside the realm of what I usually listen to, I now spend a lot of time listening to “In Time: The Best of R.E.M., 1988-2003.” Highly recommended.

I was never a huge fan back in the day and yes, I occasionally heard a song or two on the radio, but many of these were first time listening's. The band could definitely write a hot single and it was great when all the members played together in the band. I am still not a die hard fan but this certainly fills in the spaces in my memory. I still say that their debut album was excellent though. Surely paved the road for many other bands that wanted that hip vibe back in the day. Why the vendor didn't ship both of my orders is a mystery to me. Next time fellows, think a little before you ship stuff to the states. Postage is high enough as is.

Thank you for such good memories! I will be back. 😀

I don't find this best of for examples like Bittersweet Me and Drive regular version being excluded. Texarkana and Country Feedback are great. Most everything off cd 2 i disliked. I really enjoyed E-Bow The Letter. Clearly has a lot of great ones but i have a feeling there are really great cover songs and obscure songs i would have liked better because i was very unmerciful in this case compared to Rotten Apples with bonus disk Judas O where i kept like every single track on my mp3 from it and was missing just Mouths Of Babes and Ugly. Here my main issue is things like The One I Love is a real meaningful song to me but this version was unkept. Usually every REM album would have some song i'd enjoy a lot that would not be on a best of so i'd just go with the albums.

This REM album sounds great, really good track selection considering it’s a ‘best of’ not a greatest hits so some tracks are not here, but nevertheless a great compilation and a legendary band sadly missed

I bought this CD for the song "Everybody Hurts. " The most evocative song for these troubled times (COVID19)All the tracks are brilliant but that one touches you most.

Yes I know REM went on for another ten years or so but this CD has almost everything you need on it from this excellent group Great songs and clasic hits. Thank you Rarewaves for your prompt reply to my query, I will recommend you to friends as a reliable supplier and I will certainly buy from Rarewaves again.

This is the third CD from Amazon I have bought from Amazon this year that is faulty. Because of the auto rip feature. I was able to download the music from Amazon. Since the normal down load price is higher than the CD I am not out of pocket, but it would be nice to have a playable Physical CD. I wont bother sending the cd back as on the two previous occasions Amazon replaced faulty cds - the replacement CDs were faulty. I did get my money back, but it is a bore.Do not but CDs from Amazon

A quick head's up regarding the copy protection others have commented on - seeing as Amazon lump reviews under multiple releases - it is worth noting that (for some reason) there is no copy protection on the CD included in the "Double Disc Digipack CD + DVD-A" version, admittedly at a much greater cost. Unless copy protection has been added to newer printings, my disc is from 2012.